News posts

The New Snarkpit Arrives!

Tue Aug 19th 2008 at 11:10am by Gwil

After many months of hard work by our dedicated and talented coder, larchy, the new Snarkpit has been completed. We've been up and about for nearly a week now and naturally, there are still bits and bobs that need ironing out and perfecting - you can help us along by visiting the forums and posting fixes or suggestions. If you've just come back from a long hiatus and you're somewhat confused by the white layout, you can go "back to black" courtesy of the dark side - click the Snark perched up in the top right corner.

Also rumbling along currently is another discussion for a mini competition, suggested by the indefatigable Riven - ideas so far are for a straight up, fast firing small DM map or a haunted house. I know which one I have plumped for, but we can't start anything until Riven has recieved more feedback, so be sure to wheel on over and leave your thoughts and ideas.

After all, despite something of a downturn both here and in the wider community of mapping and modding, Valve are sticking their neck out to help and encourage users to pick up their mice and start clipping and carving (!) with the aim of getting content into Team Fortress 2. The forthcoming Heavy update ran off user feedback, and features a new user created map - cp_steel, this is on top of ctf_turbine and cp_fastlane that were both drawn from the mapping community and included in the last update. Why wait? Break open your teamplay box and slap down some brushes today!

Team Fortress 2 Design Document

Tue Jan 15th 2008 at 3:14am by Gwil

While browsing my clan forums today and encountering a thread about the new content for Team Fortress 2, I noticed a link to a PDF file by Valve. Essentially it talks about "Illustrative Rendering In Team Fortress 2" (I assume it started as a Powerpoint presentation) and other technical hooha, but importantly for potential TF2 mappers it illustrates aesthetic principles behind the Red/Blue teams, as well as non aligned entities such as the medi-vials/ammo crates.

It's well worth a look if you're just starting out in the TF2 mapping scene and want to recreate the Valve look and feel we see in the full game. Check out the PDF file here.. There's also a bunch of other Valve docs available from their website, so have a scratch around.

On top of that, there's concept art of Badlands (an old TFC map) - possible conversion to TF2 en route? Here's hoping so!

User posted image

Snarkolicious Improvements

Tue Dec 4th 2007 at 1:31pm by Gwil

As most of you will have already read, we the benevolent deities of Snarkland are proposing improvements, additions and changes to the site. The site wouldn't be what it is without its extensive userbase and collection of design work that accompanies it.

Naturally then, we are interested to hear your thoughts on what you would like to see in the relaunch, and have duly started a feedback thread over on the General Banter board. You can read it and share your thoughts here

Competition Deadline Looms!

Sat Feb 24th 2007 at 5:39pm by Gwil

Just a quick reminder to you all that entries for the "Doors" mini-competition are due in for the overlap of Sunday night/Monday morning - 00:00GMT. You can find all the appropriate details in this thread. With a bit of cramming, it's not too late to get your entry ready.

Good luck to everyone, and we eagerly await the end of this new competition.

The Snarkpit vs TWHL - A Team Deathmatch

Sat Feb 10th 2007 at 2:22pm by Gwil

The world has not seen a contest as epic as this since the Galactic Empire faced off the impudence of the Rebel Alliance. So, hold your breath, get a ringside seat and cheer on your favourite side or star player!

And don't forget to widdle in TWHL's half time oranges.

Check out the forum thread here or alternatively, the thread at TWHL here

Snarkpit 2007

Mon Jan 15th 2007 at 4:04pm by Gwil

Mini Competitions and Community Comments

I hope you all had a fruitful and enjoyable Christmas and New Year, and are now enjoying the best you can the woes of being back at work or school. Luckily for me, I'm not back yet. Ha! Anyway, with the new year, the shadowy forces behind The Snarkpit administration have decided to get us all busy with Hammer again. First up for January, is the proposal for mini competitions. Recognising we not all have the time to produce a whole map for compos, we're scaling down.

The timescales will be shorter and the objects more achievable by a wider range of peoples, and hopefully we will be introducing more editing disciplines outside of mapping into them.

Check out the thread here -
http://www.snarkpit.net/forums.php?forum=1&topic=7503&6

All input is greatly appreciated. Oh, and while you're here - why not look to the left of you and check out and comment on the new maps your fellow mappers are churning out.

Watch this space for more news!

Snarkpit Crew Map

This one continues to haunt us! Orpheus has dug up the BSP feared lost, and is asking for contributors to drop by here and help give some closure to the mammoth map. Check it out!

Regards,
Snarkpit Staff

Merry Christmas

Mon Dec 25th 2006 at 1:49am by Gwil

I don't believe in the current mode of Christmas myself, but will extend the seasonal good will to all of you who contribute to the site :razz: A merry Christmas and a happy new year to all our users, friends and enemies :smile:

Have a good one!

The Snarkpit

2006 Competition Ends With Two Noble Entries.

Sun Jul 16th 2006 at 2:08am by Orpheus

Dewdle wins 1st place for the HL2 entries.

M_Gargantua wins 1st place for th HL1 entries.

My congratulations to all the entries for their participation.

The stat percentile of votes for the group are as follows:
Modularity- 23%
Cathedral- 30%
Serene- 23%
Roman_Pool- 15%
Deep_Spaces- 7%

Bar_Remix- 15%
Garg- 46%
Stricken- 7%
Polluted_Coast- 30%

2006 Competition Update: Voting Time.

Tue Jul 4th 2006 at 2:51pm by Orpheus

OK guys, unless I receive some serious problem with a map or three, this will be the thread to vote in.

Remember: There are HL1 and HL2 entries. You will need to vote once for each.
If the entry does not follow the guidelines, it cannot win 1st place. If a map nominated for 1st is questionable, a board of impartial judges will decide its conformity.

Good luck to each and every person who entered.

(about the only thing we never decided was, how long should we allow the voting process to last. my personal opinion is 7 days. Post your opinion if it differs. thanx)

Modularity
Cathedral
Bar_Remix
Serene
Roman_Pool
Deep_Spaces
Garg
Stricken
Polluted_Coast

2006 Competition Update:Spoiler shots for your viewing pleasure.

Sun Jul 2nd 2006 at 3:58pm by Orpheus

I will post links just as soon as I am able. For now, here are a few spoiler shots. These took me hours so... Moan softly about the quality since I really don't wanna hear all the sorrow. :wink:
G.Ballblue
M_Gargantua
Pvt. Scythes
Mr. Insane
Evilis
Blister
Naticus
Kasperg
Dewdle