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Post-Submission contest thoughts
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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by mazemaster on Sat Jan 15th at 4:17am 2005

So now that everyone has submitted their competition maps, what are all of your thoughts?

I know that I had a bit of a crunch for time. Another month would have definitely helped out - I could have made a better 3D skybox, and improved a few other things.

Anyways my biggest surprise is the sheer number of amazing quality maps out there, especially in this short a timeframe. I mean, I look at the mapping forum and I see map after map of equal or higher quality than the official maps - and the official maps are quite good. And the quality maps are not just here on the Snarkpit (although there is a high preponderence here), there are lots of other amazing maps that I've seen on other forums. I'm honored to be in this high caliber of competition.

I don't think Valve predicted this because I could easily see any of a dozen or so maps worthy of inclusion in the official game, and thats just the maps I've seen. [addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Leperous on Sat Jan 15th at 10:11am 2005

My mummy doesn't let me go to the Steam forums on my own, she says it's full of Bad People. Care to share a few direct links?

I would also like to propose that we do some kind of showcase or map pack of all the maps made by people here- basically something to get those maps out there and played!





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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by mazemaster on Sat Jan 15th at 11:03am 2005

I dont go to the steampowered forums either, and TBH I doubt many good mappers post their maps there (though they might). The other places ive seen maps are mainly mapcore, and various direct links from people on IRC.
http://mapcore.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=41&sid=59653e3d5253a6eaa367a06c193a8dfa
http://mapcore.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=31&sid=59653e3d5253a6eaa367a06c193a8dfa [addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by DrGlass on Sat Jan 15th at 4:30pm 2005

I started 3 diffrent maps, and then scraped them all and 5 days before dead line I worked really hard and made a full map. I could of used more time, VIS blocking was hard and diffrent from hl1.

When I posted my info for valve I got ticket number 7800(ish) that is alot of maps to judge.




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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by $loth on Sat Jan 15th at 5:22pm 2005

? quote:
VIS blocking was hard and diffrent from hl1.


In what way?
[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Tracer Bullet on Sat Jan 15th at 7:12pm 2005

? quoting DrGlass
I started 3 diffrent maps, and then scraped them all and 5 days before dead line I worked really hard and made a full map. I could of used more time, VIS blocking was hard and diffrent from hl1.

When I posted my info for valve I got ticket number 7800(ish) that is alot of maps to judge.

Yes, but how many people, like me, registered and never put an entry together? I expect they got at least a few thousand entries though.

[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by omegaslayer on Sat Jan 15th at 7:54pm 2005

#7889 for me, i only wish valve would get my package, right now my package is sitting at a sorting facility [addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by DrGlass on Sat Jan 15th at 8:24pm 2005

omegaslyer: that sucks, I dont know if mine made it in or not...

as for teh VIS blocking... I just had a really hard time with it. The whole level would render. hl1 would VIS block areas for you. I put some hints but they didn't seem to work, infact most of the didn't seem to do anything.

I didn't find out about occular untill I sent my map off.




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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Campaignjunkie on Sat Jan 15th at 8:35pm 2005

Yes, it seems they made VIS a lot less accurate, unfortunately, as a sacrifice for speed or changing it to Source. I found myself whoring Hint brushes like crazy to get the framerate up (compared to doing it extremely rarely).

I think the most difficult part of Source mapping is getting to grips with it's power and it's limits, rather than "learning displacements" or whatever. I had no idea how large of a map Source could support, what exactly would impact performance, what kind of layouts should I strive for, etc. The result is that I overestimated what I could do and made my map horribly immense and bloated.

So, lessons to learn:
  • Learn area_portals and Hint brushes as soon as possible, VIS won't do much for you anymore.
  • The possibilities with Half-Life 2 mapping are much greater than HL1, but not that much greater! Still be reasonable.
[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Cassius on Sat Jan 15th at 8:57pm 2005

I haven't seen many quality submissions outside of the Snarkpit, so I think there's a good chance of a resident member winning. Personally, I'm rooting for Morbid, though I would be rooting for Echo if Reno would show us some more goddamn screenshots .





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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Yak_Fighter on Sat Jan 15th at 9:03pm 2005

I'm just hoping I put the right address on my envelope.

[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Static88 on Sat Jan 15th at 9:37pm 2005

I just got this from USPS.com today........

Your item was delivered at 6:25 am on January 15, 2005 in BELLEVUE, WA 98009. Waiver of signature was exercised at time of delivery.

Whew....

[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by ReNo on Sat Jan 15th at 9:46pm 2005

Very well cass, I've updated with some shots of the sewers

Personally I reckon the winning maps will be ones we haven't seen anything of. I've seen about 20 entries, but there with nearly 8000 applicants I'm sure the actual number of submitted levels will be in the hundreds if not thousands. Most of the really high quality entries I've seen have been either unfinished or unpolished in areas, have played like s**t, or simply didn't actually get entered. I really hope some fellow pitters snag some prizes though
[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by omegaslayer on Sat Jan 15th at 10:18pm 2005

For me its not the prize or the title of making a map that won, it was more of a feeling that my talents would be recognised by a professional company. And what else sucks is that I submitted two maps, mine and a friends, so its a double disappointment. IM NEVER USING FEDEX AGAIN!
[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Cash Car Star on Sun Jan 16th at 3:22am 2005

There's some good German mappers that took it to town on a few CS mapping competitions. I doubt they sat this one out. If Warbeast entered, he's my pick for #1. Definitely some terrific stuff around here though; I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of us placed.



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Fjorn on Sun Jan 16th at 4:52am 2005

mike3d's map is nice too
[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by BlisTer on Sun Jan 16th at 5:52am 2005

? quoting Leperous
Care to share a few direct links?

qua visuals, i think Linga's dm_resistance and Robert Briscoe's dm_depot (if he entered) make a good chance

[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by DrGlass on Sun Jan 16th at 6:36am 2005

The honor of being the best mapper out these is great an all, but 5 grand is far better than internet props if you ask me.




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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Agent Smith on Sun Jan 16th at 7:43am 2005

I had the same problem/challenge with my map CJ, I wasn't sure how big I could go, and ended up over estimating. Oh well, ran about as well as the official maps.

I'm just hoping my map made it in time, or more importantly they collected it. I had to send it using a postal courier service, which was the only way I could get it there in time. I checked the progress and here is the last thing thats come up.

We attempted to deliver your item at 9:22 am on January 13, 2005 in BELLEVUE, WA 98009 and a notice was left. It can be redelivered or picked up at the Post Office. If the item is unclaimed, it will be returned to the sender.

Hopefully someone will notice the notice and pick the bleeding thing up from the post office in time. Curse Valve and their postal submissions.


[addsig]



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 Re: Post-Submission contest thoughts
Posted by Orpheus on Sun Jan 16th at 8:05am 2005

what i have noticed since HL2 was released, is what i noticed about the competition as well.. damned few mappers get any quality feedback.

i don't believe i have ever seen so many maps completed without showing up at least once. :/

if you want my honest belief, the last time there was a contest, they mixed in 50% quality releases with 50% total crap. i bet money that quality will not play a big part in this one either.. valve makes a great game, but in truth, i have seen far better user created maps than anything valve released with anything.

still, even though i realize maps can be made without any outside influences, it rubs me raw to see one show up here for the first time with 100% stamped on it.. it always says "take that".

before any wise ass says it, i have seen many maps reach fruition without one single word from me. its not that i believe that it cannot be done, but i do believe it takes some input.

[addsig]




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