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2005 Mapping Competition thread
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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Leperous on Sun Jun 19th at 4:45pm 2005

Yes it's okay, again as long as there's something pretty surreal/'trippy' about it.

And I'm already getting spammed to hell on this competition account <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/argh.gif">





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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Orpheus on Sun Jun 19th at 4:50pm 2005

? quoting Leperous

And I'm already getting spammed to hell on this competition account

So, I shouldn't tell you that I placed the ad on the server MOTD then?

I can remove it.. Give the word and its gone.





The best things in life, aren't things.



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Crackerjack on Mon Jun 20th at 2:27am 2005

Hell I didnt enter the last one might as well shoot for this one But considering my recent patterns in mapping I might not even get to it hehe... Ever sinse HL2 I have had such a hard time sitting down and getting some mapping done.... been having to much fun with my social life hehe. But hopefully this will bring me back into mapping mode <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">


Nightwatch Level Designer
Crackerjack Level Design Site



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Paladin[NL] on Thu Jun 23rd at 11:01am 2005

? quoting Campaignjunkie
and I also agree with Myrk: the regular HL2 texture set seems kind of limiting for the theme of this contest. Obviously those who can get custom textures / models are going to be at the greatest advantage. But it's usually that way with every contest

I see this as an encouragement to use normal textures. The reward would be far greater if you could come up with something truely unreal with your plain ol' HL2 textures.

? quoting Reno
Yeah CJ, they are hardcoded into DLLs, but provided they use a standard naming convention it seems they are picked up automatically by the engine so you don't need to make a mod in order to use custom shaders. I'm not 100% on this and as I said there seems to be very little info around on the subject, but from what I've found from looking into it thats how it seems. I doubt DLL's could be downloaded from a server, but I think they could be distributed with a map or material pack ok.

I also believe this is correct. I've encountered some problems with using different versions of a map. For example, if you would extract a HL2 singeplayer level from the CFG, alter it, and place it in the corresponding folder (mind you, not the CFG) and run the game, you would end up playing the altered version of the map.

First there's a check if there's a newer version of the file. If not, the standard file is loaded. If true the custom file is loaded.

/5 cents (we dont use 2 cents anymore in Europe )





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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Campaignjunkie on Thu Jun 23rd at 10:37pm 2005

Yeah, if I use the regular HL2 texture set, I always inevitably turn towards imitation, and I imagine a lot of other people have the same problem. But kudos to you if you can still be fresh and original! <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

Right now though I'm struggling with a different problem: layout. I've drawn a dozen layouts and I can't really come up with anything. Anyone have any advice as to how they come up with their layouts?




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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Paladin[NL] on Fri Jun 24th at 7:10am 2005

Lay-out of my competition entry was fairly easy...bit random. I always 'try' to base the lay-out on the eye-candy that you create...no point in making gorgeous looking area's if anybody never walks through them because there isn't enough 'hardware' for them to find...



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Loco on Fri Jun 24th at 10:26am 2005

? quote:
Right now though I'm struggling with a different problem: layout. I've drawn a dozen layouts and I can't really come up with anything. Anyone have any advice as to how they come up with their layouts?

Yep: "inspiration". By this I actually mean inspiration rather than a cheap clone of a map. All maps have different levels. Have a look at a good map with a good layout - UT2004 is always a good start - and then see how the levels are laid out and in particular, connected. Then modify in the extreme. A slight modification of this tactic is to play a level you like having not played it for a while, and then try and recreate that layout in your map or on paper after quiting the game. There is no way on earth that you will come up with the same layout, but you should have a reasonably good one.

I by no means use this for all my maps, but I've tried it recently and it worked quite well.



My site



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by $loth on Fri Jun 24th at 11:46am 2005

With my layout i'm trying to make sure that the walk ways around the edge's aren't too far away from each other, and then have way's to get from each bit to another but not too easily, if any of that made sense.




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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Loco on Fri Jun 24th at 2:30pm 2005

Come to think of it, what's the policy on previews and critiques? Presumably preview stuff is allowed, but what about specifically asking for critiques and suggestions for competition maps? Only reason I can think of for not allowing it is to prevent maps from coming from an army of people having input.

Sorry, probably a daft question. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">



My site



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Campaignjunkie on Fri Jun 24th at 8:13pm 2005

I'm pretty sure critiques are okay. It happened a lot last competition, anyway. How would Lep regulate such a thing anyway? I assume private messages are private... Right? <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">




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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Dark_Kilauea on Fri Jun 24th at 8:46pm 2005

I thinking of trying one of those optical illusions where you have staircases that go up down left and right, defying gravity. Only problem I see is that it would only work with one person at a time, ie. I'll use gravity entities and teleporters to complete the effect.

Now with all this said, noone can steal my idea :P

I'm gonna need a lot of help with this...

Until later...



Dark_Kilauea
DVS Administration
http://www.dvstudio-production.com/



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Paladin[NL] on Sat Jun 25th at 6:11pm 2005

? quoting Dark_Kilauea
Now with all this said, noone can steal my idea

This is what I have done with my 'floating-isles' map...justed posted the idea in the 'maps' section and voila, a pattent on the idea <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif">





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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by BlisTer on Sat Jun 25th at 10:45pm 2005

? quoting Paladin[NL
]
? quoting Dark_Kilauea
Now with all this said, noone can steal my idea

This is what I have done with my 'floating-isles' map...justed posted the idea in the 'maps' section and voila, a pattent on the idea

i'm sorry to break this to you, but an idea can never be protected, only how you work out that idea. E.g. in movies,books,... the idea/theme of a student loving her teacher cant be protected, only how a writer works out that theme in a specific movie,book,... can be protected.

So if someone wants to make a staircase map, he can. he will probably have a totally different map then kilauea anyway. since you posted a screenshot, one can be "forbidden" to work ou that idea in a similar way, yet he can materialise your idea in his own original way.

Of course, there is very little chance that this will happen, since originality and common sense will vote against them, but still, pure objectively speaking they should have the same chance as you.

Anyway, it's better not to post your idea untill when theres not enough time for someone to make a whole map.

and no, my theme isnt one of these two




These words are my diaries screaming out loud



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Adam Hawkins on Sat Jun 25th at 11:07pm 2005

? quoting Paladin[NL
This is what I have done with my 'floating-isles' map...justed posted the idea in the 'maps' section and voila, a pattent on the idea

Umm....but you stole my idea! etc. etc.

http://www.snarkpit.net/maps.php?map=742

Good luck with your map though. I gave up on mine due to all the vertex manipulation it would have needed to get it how I wanted. smiley




You Got To Get Through What You've Got To Go Through To Get What You Want But You Got To Know What You Want To Get Through What You Got To Go Through



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Captain P on Sun Jun 26th at 11:49am 2005

You're not going to model then, Adam? Or using dismaps?

Anyway, the floating island idea is quite old actually. I remember Tomb Raider 2 having such a level. Not to forget the many 2D games... :P. It's how you work it out that can make your map original. Good luck bytheway.



Create-ivity - a game development blog



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Adam Hawkins on Sun Jun 26th at 12:26pm 2005

Considering my map was for HL1, I don't think displacement maps would work <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">

This competition seems to be really quiet this year, nobody other than the few that have posted here entering?




You Got To Get Through What You've Got To Go Through To Get What You Want But You Got To Know What You Want To Get Through What You Got To Go Through



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Orpheus on Sun Jun 26th at 12:58pm 2005

? quoting Adam Hawkins

This competition seems to be really quiet this year, nobody other than the few that have posted here entering?

Because HL2DM was a disappointment thats why.

I still like HL, but.. The drive to play it is missing.

Shame really. I played HL1 online with 56k for nearly 2 years.. Played it almost daily.. I have broadband now and can barely work up a 20 minute session.

I do not wanna sound like a doom sayer, but /methinks HL2 won't last as long if they do not do something soon.





The best things in life, aren't things.



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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Dr Brasso on Sun Jun 26th at 1:58pm 2005

? posted by Orpheus
? quoting Adam Hawkins

This competition seems to be really quiet this year, nobody other than the few that have posted here entering?

Because HL2DM was a disappointment thats why.

I still like HL, but.. The drive to play it is missing.

Shame really. I played HL1 online with 56k for nearly 2 years.. Played it almost daily.. I have broadband now and can barely work up a 20 minute session.

I do not wanna sound like a doom sayer, but /methinks HL2 won't last as long if they do not do something soon.

big jon, i think you nailed it square on the head....at this point, other than the simple fact that i love the mapping aspect of it, hl2 in general still stands in the corner .....scolding the makers wont really do, because it IS a leap in technology, but it suffices to say im not overly enthusiastic about getting to the pc to play it anymore.....doesnt live up to the hype.....and that really bums me, as i was so looking forward to it.... :/ im thinking that if everyone was truly honest, they would prolly agree....

is it just me, or has the general attitude of some of the newer mappers especially disheartening?..where have all the mikeys, and yaks, and others gone?....rare to see them, and im sure its not all due to course work etc.....if the game was up to snuff, they'd be here dead on it, one way or another.... kindof a depressing thought......sorry...

anyway, im not sure if ill even attempt a comp entry, id like to get into the serious materials manufacturing end of it, as it seems that still gets me passionate, and connected to the game.....to be continued.....

Doc B....





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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Andrei on Sun Jun 26th at 2:42pm 2005


? And I Quote:

HL2DM was a disappointment



I agree. If valve don't release a massive update which fixes all the bugs and implements some new, DECENT maps (not like that runoff shi-t, which the dream-update should either fix or remove), then HL2DM is heading on a one-way trip to endsville .




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 Re: 2005 Mapping Competition thread
Posted by Captain P on Sun Jun 26th at 9:29pm 2005

Strange, I like HL2DM, though I probably don't play enough to encounter those bugs everyone's complaining about...

Hmm, perhaps it's just the start that's uneasy? From the well-known HLDM mapping to the relatively unknown HL2DM? I don't know, but that's one of the reasons I started mapping for HL2 so late. It's new, costs time to learn, time I didn't had that much.



Create-ivity - a game development blog




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