Snarkpit Forum Index » General Banter » 2006 Mapping competition.
2006 Mapping competition.
1
23
...
45 next page »
locked
Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Orpheus on Thu Apr 13th at 11:22pm 2006

I have watched each competition thread rise and stall in mid flight to many times now and had a thought today. A competition that anyone can finish, no matter what time constraints they have.
This competition will be "One zone of influence"
The area can be as small as a closet, or as big as an amphitheater. The only restriction will be, that it can have no exits. You cannot leave the area in any way, be it a doorway, or a teleporter.
The area will be judged on these categories.



  • Originality
  • Creativity
  • Attention to detail
  • Craftsmanship
  • Complexity


The area can be purely fictional, as with a bridge of a starship.
The area can be purely functional, as with a garage/workshop.
In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by the most original creation. Garages are a dime a dozen so to speak. But a very well crafted garage could very well win the whole thing.
The area will be judged by the whole membership roster, but to maintain order, a panel of overseer judges will make sure that each person is fairly represented. The overseers will, or can be voted into position. The choice is up to the entrants.
For the sake of sportsmanship, and motivation to my fellow peers, even yours truly will submit something. In this way, it will illustrate that even someone with my work schedule can make one stinking area.
The contest will begin (To be announced). But only one Month Fellas, whichever month that may be.
The prize will only be the prestige you will gain by participating in an event that will hopefully spark new ideas for mapping.
I submit this idea for the good of the Snarkpit, but will leave it to a vote. I feel that it is a contest that has a foreseeable ending and some fantastic results.
I also hope that every member who submits a room will offer it for public use after the contest ends. This may promote some wild combinations for a map or three.
This idea is also up for vote as you can see, and can be hashed out for details for the next 24 hours or so. After that, the result of the vote will determine if it proceeds or not.
Opinions?????
[EDIT]
I was also thinking that, we should restrict ourselves to original texture sets to assist in compatibility.
Another thing to consider strongly. Anything made into one area... HL1 mapping,CS,TFC,OP4... anything HL related. I am sure that most of us have enough games installed to download and vote for our favorites.
My last suggestion for tonight... Anyone with connections to other HL2 related sites please pass on the word. This might entice a few dozen newer mappers to creativity.
[EDIT 1a] A great suggestion is to submit as many rooms as one wishes. As long as each room follows the criteria. (Thanx Stadric, I thought of this today too but forgot to include it into the original post)
[EDIT 2]
Has anyone besides me noticed that the cuss word filter doesn't work in the polls?



The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Gwil on Fri Apr 14th at 1:15am 2006

Just to kick us off on the feedback stakes, I voted yes and thoroughly support the idea. It means i'd get something released, for one :P




Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Stadric on Fri Apr 14th at 1:18am 2006

I like it, simple and original(Simply original!)
My only gripe would be wether or not I could submit more than one map.
I like it both ways, because that way we wont be flooded with so damn many entries.
I'd participate in this.



Also change the texture of the dock. Docks are rarely tile. -Facepunch
As I Lay Dying



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Orpheus on Fri Apr 14th at 2:00am 2006

I was wondering, should we add "Complexity" to the judging categories?

[EDIT]

Oh, and I would consider a Rats theme to be one room, as long as you couldn't leave it, or enter anything within it. Entering say, an enclosed doll house would be leaving your room. At least IMO, but thats a judgment call for a majority vote.

Of course, a Rats map would be unoriginal, but the room could still be unique. Thus original in a sense.





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by fishy on Fri Apr 14th at 2:09am 2006

? quoting Orpheus
The contest will begin March 15th 2006 and end May 15th 2006.

arggh, you've given yourself a months head start. no fair.




i eat paint



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by ReNo on Fri Apr 14th at 2:21am 2006

Hehe, I hope that was a booboo on your part Orph and not just underhand tactics at play <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_lol.gif">

I think its quite a cool idea, but the limitation of "a room" is kinda difficult. Maps aren't always too easy to define in terms of obvious rooms - for example, when does a sheltered alcove stop being an alcove and become a room? I guess we can just go with a bit of common sense rather than semantics though eh?

I also think the dates need to be changed - starting tomorrow (I assume that's what you meant right?) is too early. Fair enough, a month is plenty of time for a room, but we can probably get the word out a bit if we start it in a few weeks time instead.



Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Orpheus on Fri Apr 14th at 2:46am 2006

Yeah, I am sleepy.

/me fixes.

I can assure you that I have built nothing this year. Hell, I only updated Hammer last week, remember?

Definition: Room- Anything that is contained within one region. (I would consider the Grand Canyon one region, if you were silly enough to make it and have no exits.

And as far as the date goes... Anything works for me as long as the duration is but one month.





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Stadric on Fri Apr 14th at 4:48am 2006

Ok, going good so far, but I've got a question:
Can we have other rooms visible in any way, just as long as the player cannot enter them.(I forsee a conflict involving skyboxes and monitors)



Also change the texture of the dock. Docks are rarely tile. -Facepunch
As I Lay Dying



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Orpheus on Fri Apr 14th at 12:31pm 2006

? quoting Stadric
Ok, going good so far,

Really? My concern is mounting. Its been hours and there are 3 paltry votes. Even if its the suckiest idea since... killboxes, I'd have expected many more votes.

For a site clamoring for new maps, you'd think some response would be apparent. Even negativity.

*shrugs*

I envisioned a clamor of excitement.

Now, at to your question. The overseers would determine if the map fell into the prescribed criteria. Thats their purpose. If a map was submitted that was outside the design, they would ask the party to edit it. That simple.

Now, the way I see it, the description is relatively simple. An area/room/region/zone/continent can be made. You cannot leave it.

If someone built a hallway in an office building 30 stories tall. They could make the offices, but bar the players from entering any of them. If the author truly wanted reality, then the offices would be a must to add to the creativity and complexity. No one would win a competition making a hallway with 35 closed doors.

If someone wanted to make an airport landing field. They could, as long as they couldn't enter any building within the field or any planes for that matter.

If someone wanted to make an airplane, that would be great, as long as the passengers couldn't leave. The later, after the competition is over, the two authors could combine the maps to make one airport that functions.

Skyboxes don't count. You cannot enter them so adding one to your map wouldn't count as making two areas. Your map would be your area with a nice skybox.

Keep up the good questions but try not to complicate this into stalling... Like all the other competitions that failed to materialize.





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by reaper47 on Fri Apr 14th at 12:43pm 2006

? quote:
I think its quite a cool idea, but the limitation of "a room" is kinda difficult. Maps aren't always too easy to define in terms of obvious rooms - for example, when does a sheltered alcove stop being an alcove and become a room? I guess we can just go with a bit of common sense rather than semantics though eh?


I think in order to give a "room" or any area in a map depht and atmosphere there must be at least a small seperate area that's not necessarily visible from every corner. That doesn't mean it has to be a seperate room, though. But a "sheltered alcove" should be explicitly allowed IMHO.

Also from what I read gameplay/layout is irrelevant for the contest? It's all about the looks?



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by snowforskate on Fri Apr 14th at 12:51pm 2006

I think its a great idea for a new mapping comp. But 1 room? meh



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Orpheus on Fri Apr 14th at 12:53pm 2006

? quoting reaper47



I think in order to give a "room" or any area in a map depht and atmosphere there must be at least a small seperate area that's not necessarily visible from every corner. That doesn't mean it has to be a seperate room, though. But a "sheltered alcove" should be explicitly allowed IMHO.

Also from what I read gameplay/layout is irrelevant for the contest? It's all about the looks?

Think of it like a giant prefab contest. The usability will come into play if/when someone attach's it to another map.

Truly, the contest is only to spark creativity, not functionality. No one is ever going to frag one room but, the room might spark someone, specifically the author into creating a whole map.

This contest isn't about making a map, but to strut your stuff in creating something.. That "Something" is entirely up to you.

As for alcoves... As long as they are not entities unto themselves. If you created culverts that you could walk into in a construction area/room/region, you wouldn't truly be creating another room inside the culvert.

? quoting snowforskate
I think its a great idea for a new mapping comp. But 1 room? meh

But dammit, every time it gets more complex than that the competition falters and dies.

No one says that a hallway will win, but who says that your creation MUST be as small as one room?????

Use your freaking imagination. Create something grand, but restrict it to no exits. Is that to hard to conceive?





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by rival on Fri Apr 14th at 1:07pm 2006

that is a great idea, ill definetly join in.
but im still confused a bit - when does it start?


Bullet Control: $5000 for a bullet.
&quot;I would blow your f**king head off! ...if I could afford it. I'm gonna get another job, start saving some money... then you a dead man!&quot;



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Orpheus on Fri Apr 14th at 1:09pm 2006

? quoting rival
that is a great idea, ill definetly join in.
but im still confused a bit - when does it start?

If the beginning date is the only thing confusing you, you need to head this team.





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by rival on Fri Apr 14th at 1:14pm 2006

? quoting Orpheus
? quoting rival
that is a great idea, ill definetly join in.
but im still confused a bit - when does it start?

If the beginning date is the only thing confusing you, you need to head this team.

we need to get dates sorted, i got an idea and i want to get started.
other than the dates i dont see anything that needs to elaborated on, it all seems simple enough. an area you cant leave or enter.

EDIT: we need judges as well




Bullet Control: $5000 for a bullet.
&quot;I would blow your f**king head off! ...if I could afford it. I'm gonna get another job, start saving some money... then you a dead man!&quot;



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Orpheus on Fri Apr 14th at 1:22pm 2006

The date is unimportant.

1) If we have never seen it, you can claim it was created after the comp begins.
2) the competition is 100% on the honor system. We trust that you will not begin prior.
3) voting for overseer/judges will wait for confirmation that they will be needed.
4) I too think its a feasible concept and one that should bring out the best in us all. If we can get past the "This idea is beneath me" attitudes. I haven't seen anyone here good enough to disqualify themselves through shear experience.





The best things in life, aren't things.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by snowforskate on Fri Apr 14th at 1:45pm 2006

# Originality
# Creativity
# Attention to detail
# Craftsmanship
# Complexity

You could also add these if wanted...

# gameplay/map flow
# Map playability/ how good she runs

Gameplay to me would be an importnat thing to consider. Even tho its supposed to be one room the map could still have horrable gameplay design, or horrable player flow, but still be up to par with all the other catigories.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Rumple on Fri Apr 14th at 1:48pm 2006

? quote:

# gameplay/map flow
# Map playability/ how good she runs

Gameplay to me would be an importnat thing to consider. Even tho its supposed to be one room the map could still have horrable gameplay design, or horrable player flow, but still be up to par with all the other catigories.


This isnt about gameplay

? quoting Orpheus
Truly, the contest is only to spark creativity, not functionality. No one is ever going to frag one room but, the room might spark someone, specifically the author into creating a whole map.



<A HREF="http://rumple.biz" TARGET="_blank">SourDough2.0</A> - With Strawberry Jam



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by snowforskate on Fri Apr 14th at 2:00pm 2006

I should prob get some sleep one of these days...lol Had I, I prob would have realized that b4 I posted.



Quote
 Re: 2006 Mapping competition.
Posted by Andrei on Fri Apr 14th at 4:47pm 2006

I suggest changing the contest theme to "make the best killbox ever!" . A killbox is, after all, a single large room, but axed around gameplay. I was thinking that, given how limited in size a killbox map can be, the mapper can afford to stick all sorts of detail in there. That way we'd be raising the bar for killbox mapping.




1
23
...
45 next page »
locked