Osu! Incorrect Beatmap Creator Link In Song Select

by SLV Team 51 views

Hey guys! Let's dive into a tricky issue in osu! that's causing a bit of confusion for players. We're talking about the link to the beatmap creator in the song select screen. Currently, it seems there's an inconsistency where the link, while named after the beatmapset's host, actually directs you to the Guest Difficulty (GD) owner. Now, while this might seem like a good thing in practice, the mismatched naming can definitely lead to some head-scratching moments. So, let's break down the problem, explore why it's happening, and discuss potential solutions to make things clearer for everyone.

Understanding the Issue

The main issue here is a discrepancy between the displayed name and the actual link destination. When you're browsing through songs in osu!, you see a name, presumably that of the beatmap host, at the top left. Naturally, you'd expect clicking that name to take you to the host's profile, right? But in some cases, that's not what happens. Instead, you end up on the profile of the person who created a Guest Difficulty within that beatmapset. This isn't necessarily a bug in the traditional sense, but more of a design quirk that could use some refinement.

Why This Matters

So, why is this a problem? Well, for starters, it's misleading. Players rely on these links to quickly find and connect with the creators of their favorite maps. When the link doesn't take you where you expect, it disrupts that flow and can be frustrating. Imagine wanting to thank the host for an awesome beatmapset, but you end up on someone else's profile entirely! It just doesn't make sense.

Secondly, it potentially overlooks the contributions of the host. The host is the one who brought the entire beatmapset together, often coordinating with GD creators and ensuring the overall quality and cohesion of the set. By misdirecting the link, we might be inadvertently minimizing the host's role in the creation process. This is not ideal, considering how much effort hosts put into their projects. So it's important to make sure that credit is given where credit is due, especially considering the nature of beatmap creation in osu! which is a collaborative effort.

Real-World Example

To illustrate this issue, let's consider a scenario. Imagine a beatmapset hosted by user "AwesomeHost", featuring a guest difficulty created by user "TalentedGD". In the song selection screen, the link at the top left displays "AwesomeHost". However, clicking this link redirects to the profile of "TalentedGD". This immediately creates confusion, especially for newer players who might not be familiar with the intricacies of beatmap hosting and guest difficulties. The goal should be to make the information as clear and intuitive as possible, so players can easily navigate and understand who contributed to each beatmap.

Diving Deeper: Design vs. Functionality

As the original bug report points out, this issue might be more of a design problem than a technical bug. The current system prioritizes the GD owner, which isn't inherently wrong. Guest difficulties are a crucial part of the osu! mapping community, adding variety and challenge to beatmap sets. Recognizing GD creators is important, but not at the expense of clarity and accurate representation of the host's role. So, it's about finding a balance that acknowledges everyone's contributions without causing confusion.

The Argument for GD Owner Link

There's a valid argument to be made for linking to the GD owner. Guest difficulties often represent unique and distinct challenges within a beatmapset. Players who enjoy a particular GD might want to easily find and follow the creator for more of their work. Linking directly to the GD owner streamlines this process, allowing players to discover new mappers and expand their osu! horizons. This is a great way to support the community and encourage collaboration among mappers. However, we need to consider the user experience as a whole and ensure that this functionality doesn't come at the cost of clarity.

The Case for Host Recognition

On the other hand, the host plays a vital role in curating and coordinating the entire beatmapset. They're the driving force behind the project, bringing together different mappers and ensuring a cohesive and enjoyable experience for players. By linking to the GD owner instead of the host, we risk diminishing the host's contribution and making it harder for players to connect with them. The host is essentially the project manager of the beatmap, and their efforts deserve recognition and easy accessibility. So it's important to consider ways to highlight the host's role in a way that's both informative and user-friendly.

Proposed Solutions and Improvements

So, how can we address this issue and make the song selection screen more informative and user-friendly? Let's explore some potential solutions that have been suggested and consider their pros and cons.

1. Separate Links for Host and GD Owner

One straightforward solution is to provide separate links for both the host and the GD owner. This could be implemented by adding a second link or a small icon next to the host's name that directs to the GD owner's profile. This approach ensures that both creators are recognized and easily accessible. It provides clear and direct access to both the host and the GD creator, giving players more control over who they connect with. This is probably the most direct way of solving the current problem.

Pros:

  • Clear and unambiguous: Players can easily distinguish between the host and the GD owner.
  • Recognizes both creators: Gives both the host and GD owner equal visibility.
  • User-friendly: Simple and intuitive to use.

Cons:

  • Potential clutter: Adding more elements to the UI might make it feel crowded.
  • Design considerations: Requires careful placement and styling to maintain a clean look.

2. Host Link with GD Information on Profile

Another option is to maintain the link to the host's profile but include information about the GD owner on their profile page. This could be a dedicated section listing the GD creators who contributed to the beatmapset. This approach keeps the song selection screen clean while still providing access to GD information. It also emphasizes the host's role as the central figure in the beatmapset's creation, while still recognizing the guest difficulties.

Pros:

  • Clean UI: Avoids adding extra elements to the song selection screen.
  • Emphasizes host's role: Highlights the host as the main creator.
  • Centralized information: GD information is readily available on the host's profile.

Cons:

  • Extra click: Requires an extra step to access the GD owner's profile.
  • Profile design: Requires updates to the profile page to accommodate GD information.

3. Beatmapset "Card" Proposal

The original bug report mentions a proposal for a beatmapset "card" that could display more detailed information about the map, including both the host and GD creators. This card could be accessed by hovering over the beatmap in the song selection screen or by clicking a dedicated info button. This approach offers a more comprehensive solution, allowing for a richer presentation of beatmap information. It also opens up possibilities for including other relevant details, such as difficulty levels, song length, and mapper comments.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive information: Provides a detailed overview of the beatmapset.
  • Clean UI: Keeps the song selection screen uncluttered by hiding detailed information.
  • Flexible design: Allows for the inclusion of various information elements.

Cons:

  • Development effort: Requires significant design and implementation work.
  • Potential performance impact: Loading additional information might affect performance.

Version and Logs

It's worth noting that this issue was reported in version 2025.912.0-lazer of osu!. Keeping track of the version number is crucial for developers to pinpoint the source of the problem and implement the necessary fixes. Additionally, providing logs can help developers understand the underlying cause of the issue and ensure that the solution addresses the root of the problem. While no logs were provided in this particular report, including them in future bug reports can significantly speed up the debugging process.

Conclusion

The incorrect link to the beatmap creator in the song select screen is a prime example of how design choices can impact user experience. While the current functionality of linking to the GD owner has its merits, the mismatched naming creates confusion and potentially undermines the host's contribution. By exploring different solutions, such as separate links, profile enhancements, or a beatmapset card, we can create a more intuitive and informative song selection screen. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that players can easily connect with the creators behind their favorite beatmaps and appreciate the collaborative effort that goes into making osu! such a vibrant and engaging community.

So, what do you guys think? Which solution would work best? Let's keep the discussion going and help make osu! even better!