Outline
The aim of the contest is to build a self-contained area of any size. The only restriction is that you must not be able to leave the area you build - whatever that area is. As some examples, you could make a bedroom, or a Colosseum, or a vast post-apocalyptic wasteland - the only common restriction is that you cannot exit the area through any means. We are looking for creative, atmospheric, and visually impressive entries. We are not looking for playability. This contest is basically to see what your creative juices can come up with. Visual distinction being second only after having a good time.

Deadline
The deadline for contest entries is June 30th. The actual start date will be May 1st. In spite of the fact that policing the start date is impossible, this WIP thread will not be unlocked until May 1st. After that time, the two original poll topics will be locked and redirected to this thread.In this way, all preceding topics will be contained within the official thread. It is hoped that any additional threads begun by the authors will also be routed to this thread, even if they are posted upon other web sites besides Snarkpit.
A G-Mail account will be set up specifically for the contest submissions. The details concerning the address will be posted at a later date. Stay tuned for more info.

Judging
The contest will be judged by the entire membership roster. Each member will be allowed to vote only once. The contest will be judged by these categories;

• Originality - Pretty self explanatory.
• Creativity - If it cannot be original, shoot for the most impressive unoriginal concept.
• Attention to detail - The tiny things will count most.
• Craftsmanship - A rose by any other name is still a rose.
• Complexity - Think outside the box.

The entries may be split into categories if several entries are received for different engines, but this depends on the number of entries received more than anything. In other words, do not be discouraged from making an older engines map if the predominant entries are of a newer type. Your creation is just as important as anyone else's.

Rules

• You are expected to map an area/zone/room. The choice of size is entirely up to you. The only restriction will be that you cannot leave the zone you create. Thus, if you build the Eiffel Tower, no one can leave the observation room at the top. You can build all of France, but your player Start must remain at the top with all exit routes clipped off. If you are unsure, get in touch with myself or any other site admin and they will let you know if your idea abides by the rules.
• The limit of the zone you create is entirely up to you. It can be as small as a closet, or as large as the entire city you presently live in.
• Custom assets, such as textures, props and sounds, are allowed. Be sure to include all custom assets with your submission, and obtain permission to use them where necessary. We expect you to follow up on all copy righted materials. Its not the Snarkpits obligation to do it for you.
• This contest is intended to be fun. No map is expected to be functional for fragging purposes unless the author specifically desires it to be so. A closet for example could not be played, but a killbox could as long as the guidelines are adhered to. Also, just because you are restricted in the zone, that doesn't mean that if you desired to release a second version that you could not plan ahead for such an eventuality. The map can be 100% complete for fragging if you desire, just as long as the contest entry is a controlled area.
• Entries may use any of today's common engines. We are primarily a Half-Life / Source engine community, and as such most entries will probably use those engines, however if you feel like entering something for Far Cry, Quake 4, Unreal Tournament 2004, or something else, let us know and we will see if we can accommodate for it. If using the Half-Life or Source engines, entries may be made for any of the more common games and mods, including Half-Life 1/2, HL2DM, CS, CS:S, DoD, and DoD:S. Entries for other games or mods should be cleared with us first.
• And last but certainly not least. No screenshot will be permitted to be posted exceeding 150k. No exceptions!! This is to ensure that our 56k members have a fighting chance to be a participant in the WIP thread. Thumbnails are preferred as well.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Because it is May 1st somewhere today, I officially announce that the 2006 Snarkpit competition open for business.

Let the games begin.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

I'm still having a couple of hours before midnight. Are we supposed to
create separate threads for each of our maps or do we just clutter this
one with images and information on what we are doing? Anyways I've
started with a HL map and I'm hoping to post first images tomorrow and
some information.

[Edit] Stoopid me... I didn't notice that spot which says: It is hoped that any additional threads begun by the authors will also
be routed to this thread, even if they are posted upon other web sites
besides Snarkpit. [/edit]

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''Everyone wades in s**t until they're competent enough to walk on it. Jesus style.''
Dystopia - Empires

Feel free to have your own thread mate, just post some screenshots or whatever in here too. I know its a bit confusing - Orph and I had discussed this very matter - but its nice to have something central to the contest and this is that hub. I think a good approach would be to make your own thread, and post any screenshot updates in here with a link to your thread for feedback and suggestions.

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

My idea: Tis not "Concept Art" but "True Artistry"

I give my word that I have yet to begin my map, so don't go thinking that I have begun as of yet but.. I did do some preliminary tests and have decided that this is feasible but, just barely. The only trouble that I seem to have is that Hammer will not render at the 1,200 feet that I need, let alone anything longer which I will eventually need. But I feel that even if I fail, my map will prove my own personal boundaries. At the end, all I wanna do is have fun with it. This map will be to scale, or as close to scale as I can ascertain.

My map will follow this pattern. I have yet to determine if I will restrict you to the bottom or the top. :biggrin:



Hoover Stats:
726.4 feet high (221m)
1,244 feet wide (379 m)
660 feet (203 m) thick at the base
45 feet (13 m) thick at the top

So much for my closet. :razz:

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The best things in life, aren't things.

I don't know. I mean you proposed the compo and got things rolling, so
technically you're the organizer. Shouldn't you be judging or organising entries (and such) rather than
competing?

BTW, what are the people competing for?

It's still April 30 in maryland :razz:

Keeping my map top secret until the 1st.

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Breaking the laws of mapping since 2003 and doing a damn fine job at it

Andrei said:
BTW, what are the people competing for?

Just the recognition of making the best non-playable map in Half-Life history.. Isn't that enough?

And, would it help if I promised not to win?

mumbles

As if. I couldn't win if someone guaranteed that I'd be the only participant. :rolleyes:

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The best things in life, aren't things.

I was playing with some ideas ... I probably wont complete many or any of them since I have a lot of time constrictions.

Idea i.

Put the player in a train (not reminicint of the HL opening scene) but, more along the lines of Knocking of Heavens Door, with crazy crap happening everywhere. The train could get assaulted and other stuff too. It'd be awesome. This would be SinglePlayer with NPCs (I'd aim at more balance between detail and functionality though) I imagine it'd involve teleporting to differet areas, just to keep the load low, but that would still be within the guidelines ... since you never leave the train car :smile:

Idea ii.

Recreate areas from Metal Gear Solid. I love this game, to death. And it's beautiful in a lot of aspects. I just thought it'd be fun to recreate some of the areas in the game. I even thought about doing some cool stuff with the camera so it stays at a 3rd person arial angle.

http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/589712_20040205_screen023.jpg

I don't know if I'll even get time to attempt either of the ideas.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

I'm in, it's 3D skybox time!

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

Stadric said:
I'm in, it's 3D skybox time!

LOL, you could always make a cloud and have it float inside. That would fit all the criteria.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Can the room also be a plane? that fly's? traveling without actualy moving :razz:

I woke up sick and grumpy this morning so I will try to be civil. The outline is pretty basic:

[quote]Outline
The aim of the contest is to build a self-contained area of any size. The only restriction is that you must not be able to leave the area you build[/quote]

If you cannot envision your plane within these guidelines, then I don't know what else to say.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

i gonna create a spacy effect :razz: a spaceship/room in a 3d sky box that moves instead of you :razz: it realy gives you the feeling your floating in space when i first turned on the galaxy it rotated to fast :razz: it was a real puge ride :smile:

To get this thing started i am showing of a very very alpha of my map

Its aptly named Stricken
rgin=2>

Oooh, HL1 huh? Needs sexier lighting but it's a nice start :smile: I'd reconsider the texture used on the "blocks" at the top of the support bars on the walkway though - I think that texture claims to be steel, but I've never seen it look good in any circumstances!

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

Yeah the steel texture is pretty bad however it is used. Switch to one
of the "generic" groups (search your tex browser) and there might be
something a little better.

I just might.. yes.. yes I will.

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Bar Remix

By Joseph "G.Ballblue" Breeden





[size=24]

The Following images are a trap and a secret compartment. If they infringe on the competition rules, then tell me now.





[size=13]My entry in the "single room" competition. :smile: I'm hoping to extend the bar area and add a small library.

This room was originally built for the now dead map of mine, INTERNET.

[/size][/size]

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Breaking the laws of mapping since 2003 and doing a damn fine job at it

If the trap leaves the room.... It prolly is against the guidelines.. Its a gray area because if the trap is necessary to the room, then it could be considered still in the room.

I was also hoping for new material. Can this be a second entry? Making something new for a first entry would be preferable.

Also, anything submitted, be it new or old must be unreleased.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

If the trap
leaves the room.... It prolly is against the guidelines.. Its a gray
area because if the trap is necessary to the room, then it could be
considered still in the room.
I was also hoping for new material. Can this be a second entry? Making something new for a first entry would be preferable.

Also, anything submitted, be it new or old must be unreleased.

<span style="font-weight: bold; color: yellow;">The trap and secret
compartment aren't nessasary and can bite the dust, and they probably
will just to avoid confusion. They were just part of the original
design.

<span style="color: cyan;">I'll take a look into what I can do :smile:
I'm currently juggling another Sven-Coop map ATM, but I'll take a look
into it. I was hoping that this would be my primary entry,
though, since I really liked the architecture that I had made an put
quite a bit of time into it originally. Also, the library
addition I intend to add was not part of the original Internet map.

Once again, though, if anything comes up I'll see what I can do. :smile:

The
Original "Internet" map is unrealesed, and is currently dead. The
only remnents of it are a few vids and some screenshots.

</span></span>

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Breaking the laws of mapping since 2003 and doing a damn fine job at it

Oooh, HL1 huh? Needs sexier lighting but it's a nice start I'd reconsider the texture used on the at the top of the support bars on the walkway though - I think that texture claims to be steel, but I've never seen it look good in any circumstances![/quote

Yes lighting is extremely beta theres one light there.

Expect much more detail and better lighting soon.

The metal texture will be most definfetly changed and im thinking of making the supports circular

Oh btw I have to say this but the snarkpit forum software is really really buggy

Mr.INSANE said:
Oh btw I have to say this but the snarkpit forum software is really really buggy

I doubt it if you have noticed anything original but by all means post your observation in the site suggestion/bugs thread in the general forums. Ever once in a while someone discovers something new. :smile:

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Also "really really buggy" is a bit of an overstatement...

The SP isn't really buggy; "browser incompatibility" is what it really is, apart from a rather bloated database :razz:

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Breaking the laws of mapping since 2003 and doing a damn fine job at it

I seem to be predisposed to making maps with circles in them. Double_Trouble, my failed castle and now this damn dam map. I spent hours literally vertex manipulating the thing only to compile it with about 9 of those child errors.

Sad thing is, Hammer shows no error, but after compiling its obvious where they are. I have 64 sections and only 9 errors so perhaps it won't be to troubling.

Dammit, why the circles.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Orph ... why the hell aren't you using displacements for the dam face? Seriously, making something as large as you were implying and not using displacements is odd, to say the least.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Crono</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Orph ... why the hell aren't you using displacements for the dam face? Seriously, making something as large as you were implying and not using displacements is odd, to say the least.</DIV></DIV>

Because I am stupid? What do you want to hear? That I bring a big hammer whenever I work on a car?

It never occurred to me for one, and.... I cannot picture it coming out as perfect as I can do it by the old way. Hoover dam is pretty uniform. My rendition is pretty close to the images I posted too.

If, you can show me how to make it look that sweet with displacements, I'm all ears.

What I built today took hours but looks fanfreakingtastic... except for those child errors.



May not look like much to you but thats a hard days work and.. Its freaking huge.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

I have PMed you, since this type of banter shouldn't clutter up this thread.

---

Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

I could be totally outa my mind, and tell me if I am, but (I'm assuming
you're making the Hoover Dam) but that's seems way too curvey and the
bottom seems too fat.

Here's my ref that I'm basin this off



You have more views of what you've created, and if I'm totally off, ignore this post.

Good luck with building that in HL1, Orph. Rabidmonkey built a similar version in HL2 and it needed heavy optimization to run properly. :smile:

Reno? Where's your entry? C'mon, I want some eye-candy! :rolleyes:

Stear clear of large outdoor environments like dam's, even the smaller dodgier one I made for Hydro killed the fps and it was a huge func_detail surrounded by displacements.

Also Orph you can no longer vertex manipulate arches to make beveled type effects. If you remember I posted something in the Editing forums regarding similar issues of screwy arch brush work that wouldn't detect in Hammer, and I couldn't fix the thing. You'll find the brush work will be fine in Hammer till you reload the vmf next time to work on it, and Hammer will have automatically "fixed" your brush work.

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Ham and Jam Contributor
http://www.hamandjam.org

'Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!'

I'm currently drowning in my honours project, spending hours on writing trivial s**t rather than getting down and dirty with the important stuff. I'll possibly consider doing something in a couple of weeks, but don't count your chickens :razz:

Besides, where the hell is yours mister? Maybe you should finally do that continuation of Persia for the source engine that you kept taunting people with ages ago :wink:

Hey wait, what was with that eye roll? Suggesting I can't make eye candy huh?! Now you've got me riled and wanting to prove my worth :biggrin:

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

Ok, I'll try to create something for this compo, especially after how I failed on the last one.

I'm not sure how big I can go though, really busy with Deep Velocity Studios right now, getting our first media realease out of the way, but if I have some free time, I'll try to come up with something.

---

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

@Frenchy, its nearly to scale. You are just looking at it from the side and... I have yet to remove the ends to make the dam portion.

@crono, I will look into the displacements.

@CJ, its HL2 bud, not HL1.

@Mr. Smith. I fear you may be right, but... I was sure that every grid lined up perfectly. :sad:

@ everyone.. This isn't to create a playable map. If the frames drop to 15, I'm not going to complain. I might for 5-10 but... :smile:

[EDIT]

@ Crono, looks like you're right.

@ Mr. Smith, you were right. I fixed the errors 3 times and they reappeared every time.

@CJ, I wasn't aware of RabidMonkeys attempt. I hope there will be no crying at my poor attempts at recreating the same/similar scene.

After a hard days work, it all comes to naught. I will have to scrap this attempt in favor of a better solution.

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

Wasn't Rabid working on it for the Black Mesa Source mod? That dam looked extremely impressive. It also seemed to be a majority of displacements, it should have been fairly ok. Then again its the water that kills it.

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Ham and Jam Contributor
http://www.hamandjam.org

'Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!'

Agent Smith said:
Wasn't Rabid working on it for the Black Mesa Source mod? That dam looked extremely impressive.

Yeah, I'm thoroughly impressed. :eek:

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Agent Smith said:
Wasn't Rabid working on it for the Black Mesa Source mod? That dam looked extremely impressive.

Yeah, I'm thoroughly impressed. :eek:

Ah, so that screenshot finally loaded, eh?

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

HL1, HL2, same thing... :wink:

Reno (aka Mr. I CAN'T MAKE EYECANDY), I have something planned; don't you worry about me, bucko! But I won't talk about it because I really don't know if I'll be able to start/finish it. If only I could just finish everything I start!...

But anyway, it's nice to see people making stuff! Gogogogo!

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Updates YAY



I realise i most likely wont win imo im not that good

Hopefully ill atleast get some credit or something

Anyways lighting is around half done more detail should follow

Wow, looks like I got back into mapping and came to visit this fine community at a good time. I didn't know about this until about 10 minutes ago.

Best of luck to all participants. :wink:

---

o

Dear, Mr. INSANE. I think that you should look at this competition in a
bit different way. Winning is not the focus here, improving your
mapping skills are. Of course there's nothing wrong in catching a win
in the process.

And then some commentary:

1.Consider using a different ceiling texture. This is just a suggestion though.

2.Fix the texturing on that console on the right. It's not much, but it annoys me :biggrin:

3.The connection points for those supports seem a bit too sturdy and/or
large, try slimming them a bit or perhaps make them look more like this
\_/.

4.Depending on the look you are after consider adding some light into that hallway in the distance.

I'd appreciate some shots from other directions. And remember you don't
have to listen to me. These are just minor attempts at giving you a
small bits of advice. I'll shut up now and go back to working on my
feeble entry...

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''Everyone wades in s**t until they're competent enough to walk on it. Jesus style.''
Dystopia - Empires

Pvt Scythe

I know that this is to improve skills thats mainly why i entered

Ceiling texture is still alpha im not to sure what to put up there

The computer texture is really obvious i know about it but ive been working on other stuff

The hallway in the distance is going to be a control room once i get working on that area i will light it up it will also be extruded and make the room a little less boxy

Mainly my questions are

Whats a good way to light the upper half?

Wheres a good tutorial on using env sprites?

Hmm, I wonder if I shoudl enter? Btw, do you score extra points if you have custom texures? Im doing mine for HL2 if I enter, but does customisation add extra points, because I sersiuly hate trying to find(Or even worse: make) new materials. And props.

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Hahaha! Im using the INTERNET!

Using custom content doesn't score you anything in itself. The idea is to create a cool, original, and impressive room - whether or not you do it with standard resources or custom ones is down to you. New resources could possibly give you more room to set your work apart, but it really is down to what the person makes.

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

K, because I would rather spend the time on mapping then trying to get custom content. Does anyone know anywhere where I can download materials? Since I dont have a digicam, I cant make my own :/ Unless a GIMP them :sad:

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Hahaha! Im using the INTERNET!

You don't necessarily need a digital camera - there's plenty of great photo stock on the internet. You just need to learn some Photoshop / GIMP skills, which comes easily enough when you just play around with it for a while.

Some photostock resources:
o http://www.mayang.com/textures/ (Great, but a little overused these days)
o http://www.sxc.hu
o http://www.free-textures.got3d.com/architectural/free-door-textures/index.html
o http://www.morguefile.com

Here's some textures I've been working on, though I haven't had time lately because of exams and whatnot. I'm basing the map off of the Bannerman Arsenal.

Phfft. My idea of texture skills is doodling up a texture in wally. Most textures I make are edited HL1 texs.

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Breaking the laws of mapping since 2003 and doing a damn fine job at it

Hiqh-quality textures:

CNCR04S:

http://www.cncr04s.com/hl2.php

Berneyboy:

http://www.chatbear.com/board.plm?a=viewthread&t=354,1105741483,30889&b=4990&id=785776

this is an older map I had made for SvenCoop. it's pretty gimmicky at the moment, but I'm going to update it so it at least stands a chance for the contest (or so I hope, you eye candy bastards will probably rape it)



hehe. tootles.