I agree - I think the comp should be very short ( a couple of weeks?).

I vote for the vista challenge - it seems very focused, creative, and wouldn't really take that much work since you are literally building a 'room with a view'. Who knows, since we are actually offering some Booty, we may get more entries.

Sure I'd give it a try.

I'd prefer this to be very restricted, but short.

I'd join but I have exams towards the end of October and the beginning of November so I'd like to have my entry done before then.

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Ok, So in the midst of me starting up classes again, and also working on the compilation map, my Snarky senses are telling me that you guys are rearin' for a new competition!

The last post in this thread was made in June, It is now September 2nd. If say we started a new competition near the end of this month, and it lasted for however long we agree upon, would we have any takers? Are any of you guys interested and available to participate in a competition (mini, or full) starting near the end of this month?

Please respond yes or no, and state how long you would want it to last (doesn't matter what kind of competition it might be).

=================THE IDEAS THUS FAR:=================
Aaron suggested a Vista-scape

aaron_da_killa said:
my idea for the competition was to produce a map with a vista. There are pretty much no restrictions except that the judging on the winner would be done on how cool/detailed/creative etc etc the vista was and that designers should build their maps to highlight the vista only. Here are some ideas for possible vista maps to get those creative juices flowing:

• A barren desert landscape
• A vast combine interior space
• A futuristic city vista
• A combine-exhausted planet landscape
• A view from a space station
• A jungle vista featuring the weaving river

And Juim suggested Map from Postcards/Images

Juim said:
Juim: Postcards. Find a postcard, no matter how involved or detailed the picture is, and try to re-create it in Hammer. Once again, performance would not have to be an issue, as I think theres some amazing amount of detail that could be squeezed into a map if performance issues were cast aside. The same rule would apply though. It has to compile. Send a pic of the postcard, a screenie of the map and the bsp.

Any more ideas? -I'm up for either TBH.

Also: The prize will definitely include a full digital copy of L4D for the PC (courtesy of Finger). AND some cash money above $50! (Might be able to work out secondary prizes)

The responses in this thread over the next couple of weeks will be the ultimate deciding factor whether we have a competition soon or not! -So....

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Well to be honest, the idea of creating a vista from my own imagination and me having total control over it is more interesting to me but I guess I'm up for creating one from a photograph. The deadline for my flash game has been extended to include my 2 week winter holiday so I guess I can squeeze in a little something.

That sounds cool. If everyone is attempting to do the same image the best way possible, every mistake will be scrutinized. Also, it would be neat to see how different people attack the same problems.

Ah, so you're thinking about re-creating something from a real picture, or say a postcard image? (which could be an artist's painting or something). -What if (and this is just me talking on the whim) we found a postcard image (per se) that was itself an image of a vista of some sort and the competition was to re-create that vista-(image)?

[EDIT]: As far as time goes, (when we plan on getting this started) I wouldn't be able to join anything for another week (until I can re-build my work comp).

I'd be down for something small, not too time intensive.

I like the idea of creating something from a postcard or a picture.

The vista idea doesn't get me too jazzed up, but I'd be down.

Ok, then I understand ya. Basically, a small walkable area, and then a huge vista to look at. It doesn't matter how you spawn-in or that the space should end, The player quits the map when they feel like it. There's no objective or obstacle in the way. The only goal is to be able to look out at a vista. -gotcha.

Any other suggestions? When do we want to look at doing this?

Well, I imagined it to be some sort of level (singleplayer or multiplayer, it doesn't matter) that is centred around a vista of any sort, no restrictions there.

You can make the level as large as you want but it would be wise just to make something small and focus on the vista, it's pretty open ended I guess. That's it really, nothing else matters. Toss in a story if you like, at least like a bit of context is always good. But just ideally a vista as the main feature and a bit of space around it to compliment the vista, people should focus on ambiance, mood, detail, aesthetics and whatnot.

And my definition of a vista is a space of any sort, usually large and open that players can't walk amongst, but can see and may interest players and distract them during gameplay. For example, at the start of Half-Life 2 Episode 2, that large open space where you can see the destroyed Citadel, that's a vista, and the scene where you can see the bridge with combine walking along it in the distance a bit further in the game, that's also a vista.

@ haymaker: Ahh hehehe, you got me.