This thread flared brilliantly for a while and burned itself out.

Does this mean you guys have lost interest or are you simply waiting for someone to grab the bull by the horns?

I mean seriously, there is more to a competition than being a contestant...

If you all are waiting for the admin to do all the work, you may be disappointed to know that they have enough on their collective plates already.

I already apologized for my absence. It was unavoidable. Now if you want this to proceed, hammer out the last bit of details and lest see how this will go shall we? I know that you think its already been discussed to death, but its obvious to me since its stalled that something is lacking.

And I refuse to blame the admin. There were/are plenty of long standing Snarkpit members who could have already gotten this event under way.

Now, get posting..!!??

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

If you announce it they will come

M_Gargantua said:
If you announce it they will come

You seem to fail to grasp that I am not to sure that it is I who should.

The last competition didn't come off exactly like I intended.... I am to proud of everyone to chalk it up as a failure... Far be it but the truth is I am not sure that I am the right person for the job.

We have ample choices to pick from other than myself from the non-admin members.

Be that as it may, I will announce something soon if no one else will. I may not have much faith in myself but I damned sure am not intimidated by it either.

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

<span style="color: silver;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">[size=16]SNARKPIT 'MAP A TRAP' COMPETITION RULES*

<span style="color: gray;">[size=10]*as interpreted by Dark Tree, and not necissarily final.[size=13]

1. The contest ends Jan. 31st at 11:59PM.

2. There will be two categories to submit under: HL1 and HL2.

3. Users may submit ONE(1) entry per category.

4. THREE(3) medals will be given per category: Gold, Silver, and
Bronze, with ONE(1) overall winner from EITHER categories. The winner
will be labeled the SnarkPit Platinum winner and either be either the
Gold medalist from the HL1 or the HL2 category. In the famous words of
Highlander: "There can only be ONE".

5. The map(s) MAY be allowed to use custom content (eg: homemade textures, sounds, models, etc).

6. The maps can be as big or small as you desire. One room will be
SUGGESTED, but NOT REQUIRED, as there is only supposed to be ONE(1)
trap; Which brings us to the next rule

7. You will only be graded on ONE(1) trap, so if you have a bunch of
traps in connecting rooms, choose one of them, or include a text file
explaining which one you want to use, and if they are all connected,
you might want to explain that as well in the notes so your entry is
not overlooked.

8.[/size]</span>[/size] The trap will be graded on its
functionality (how well it gets you), it's visual appeal (brush
construction), and originality. Obviously HL1 mappers have a tougher
time making the visual appeal as shnazzy, and our judges will keep that
in mind.

9. Lighting and sound are not required, but encouraged...if it comes
down to the wire and there are two evenly balanced entries, but one is
fullbright and the other is moodily lit...well...you get the idea.

10. The trap can be as hidden or as visible to the player as the mapper decides.

"Yes! ok! But what really constitutes as a trap!"<br style="font-family: Verdana; color: silver;">
Google: '</span>[/size]</span>[size=13]a device in which something can be caught and penned.'

Having said that, note that being trapped doesn't NECISSARILY mean
killed. Just that the player does in fact become trapped and from
there, you can have some after effects if you desire.... (crushing
walls, gas, etc)

As you can see, the options are wide for interpretation...and if you
have a question, feel free to PM a competition mod (as yet to
be decided) and tell them your idea to see if they say it's ok.

And as for your reward for being at the top of the competition, I see
no reason why having the pure pride of being the best isn't good
enough, and maybe sometime in the next month or two there might be a
prize thought up. If you REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALY want, I will paypal $1.
to the winner.

11. No judge(s) can enter. I'M LOOKIN at YOU, Orpheus :wink:

12. Have fun!

---

any other ideas or contrasting beliefs as to what should be done?

---[/size]

<span style="color: white;">Sounds good to me. As soon as we get a few more people to judge I can't see why we can't kick this thing into gear. :biggrin:
</span>

Andrei said:
<SPAN style="COLOR: white">Sounds good to me. As soon as we get a few more people to judge I can't see why we can't kick this thing into gear. :biggrin:
</SPAN>

i 'll be a judge for HL2 if needed (i haven't got HL1 or HL2sp anymore, only HL2dm).

---

These words are my diaries screaming out loud

Let's start this officially! I'd sign the Dark Tree contract.

I see no questions open, except perhaps, who will be the official judges now (with the right amount of enthusiasm from the contestants it shouldn't be too hard to find some respectable members to have a look at the traps).

---

Why snark works.

<span style="color: violet;">

Let's start this officially! I'd sign the Dark Tree contract. I see no questions open, except perhaps, who will be the official judges now (with the right amount of enthusiasm from the contestants it shouldn't be too hard to find some respectable members to have a look at the traps).

I sign the Dark Tree contract too. :smile: Time to get this show on the road again! Sad that we lost AtM though. :sad: He has been a powering engine for some of the recent competitions(modeling challenge comes first to my mind, although that idea seems to have died off). :smile: I say forward we go!
</span>

---

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

It is my understanding that Master Dark Tree will be in charge this time out.

/me congratulates a worthy choice.

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

That's right, Dark Tree will be sorting us out a neat-o little
competition page with full rules, regulations and details in the next
few days. As for judges, I guess that's his call? I figured Dark Tree,
Orpheus + 1/2 more.

Watch this space (ie the front page) folks.

Well now I've upgraded my computer and can run Source engine games without them crashing every time, I'd be interested in seeing what crazy contraptions you people come up with :smile: In fact, I can't think of many/any better ways to spend a lunch break or two :biggrin:

---

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

Just a thought. Participants should be allowed to use custom content as long as the submission A) has all custom content packed in the .bsp file OR B) the submission comes as a custom mod, both options under the condition that the submission must be smaller than X mbs.

Would 10mb be too limiting?

---

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

I think it's quite generous. :biggrin:

<span style="color: silver;">There will be a 4.47 GB maximum file size limit for each submission. Stay tuned in the next few days for finalized rules and official competition page.</span>

That is exactly the attitude we needed around here.

/me bows

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

There will be a 4.47 GB maximum file size limit for each submission.

---

Why snark works.

The submission to end all submissions.

WARNING: LARGE IMAGE LINK!

I still have some tweaking to do yet. In fact, I am thinking a lot yet
but my new machine with my new 7800gs will run a map at 1600x1200 and
still get 57 FPS on
Swamplight_Final.

/me thinks thats pretty snazzy

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

Your machine got the big cojones. :heee:

um...

been two weeks guys.

how about ANYTHING?

Sorry. Still waiting on a proper response from the mods.

Not an easy task getting things moving. I had free reign and still it was hard.

Running a competition is tough, I don't envy you this time. You're gonna find that even after things get moving, there will be people throwing wrenches into your fine machinery.

Shoot me a PM, if I can do anything... Like staying out of the way. :wink:

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

Orph you handled the last one pretty damn well, I'm sure DarkTree will do good job on this one with your help. :smile: I can wait until things get sorted out as long as I know that they're going to get sorted out eventually.

---

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

Mmm, since I doubt i'll have time to submit anything, could I be one of the judges? :biggrin:

(bump...)

/long creaking sound

/fast snapping sound

I didn't miss this competition?
Or is it just something you guys are voting for?

Sorry.. I don't feel like reading through 8 pages to figure out exactly what's going on. I'm literally about to pass out from being awake for so long.

Oh, we wanted to do another competition, but finally nothing happened. So, yeah... :smile:

---

Create-ivity - a game development blog

Nothing happened?
So no competition? :sad:

SNARKPIT 'MAP A TRAP' COMPETITION RULES*

*as interpreted by Dark Tree, and not necissarily final.

1. The contest ends Jan. 31st at 11:59PM.

2. There will be two categories to submit under: HL1 and HL2.

3. Users may submit ONE(1) entry per category.

4. THREE(3) medals will be given per category: Gold, Silver, and
Bronze, with ONE(1) overall winner from EITHER categories. The winner
will be labeled the SnarkPit Platinum winner and either be either the
Gold medalist from the HL1 or the HL2 category. In the famous words of
Highlander: "There can only be ONE".

5. The map(s) MAY be allowed to use custom content (eg: homemade textures, sounds, models, etc).

6. The maps can be as big or small as you desire. One room will be
SUGGESTED, but NOT REQUIRED, as there is only supposed to be ONE(1)
trap; Which brings us to the next rule

7. You will only be graded on ONE(1) trap, so if you have a bunch of
traps in connecting rooms, choose one of them, or include a text file
explaining which one you want to use, and if they are all connected,
you might want to explain that as well in the notes so your entry is
not overlooked.

8. The trap will be graded on its
functionality (how well it gets you), it's visual appeal (brush
construction), and originality. Obviously HL1 mappers have a tougher
time making the visual appeal as shnazzy, and our judges will keep that
in mind.

9. Lighting and sound are not required, but encouraged...if it comes
down to the wire and there are two evenly balanced entries, but one is
fullbright and the other is moodily lit...well...you get the idea.

10. The trap can be as hidden or as visible to the player as the mapper decides.

"Yes! ok! But what really constitutes as a trap!"
Google: 'a device in which something can be caught and penned.'

Having said that, note that being trapped doesn't NECISSARILY mean
killed. Just that the player does in fact become trapped and from
there, you can have some after effects if you desire.... (crushing
walls, gas, etc)

As you can see, the options are wide for interpretation...and if you
have a question, feel free to PM a competition mod (as yet to
be decided) and tell them your idea to see if they say it's ok.

And as for your reward for being at the top of the competition, I see
no reason why having the pure pride of being the best isn't good
enough, and maybe sometime in the next month or two there might be a
prize thought up. If you REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALY want, I will paypal $1.
to the winner.

11. No judge(s) can enter. I'M LOOKIN at YOU, Orpheus :wink:

12. Have fun!

---

any other ideas or contrasting beliefs as to what should be done?

---

These are the rules. You could start last month! I don't think we'll be hearing much about the competition until it's done. If Dark Tree is bailing on it, then we should do it anyway and hold a public vote (can't vote for your own map type of deal).

---

Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

I need Dark Tree to get in contact with me about this. If anyone sees him at another site, send him my way.

/me is PMing him now.

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

wait, this is a "trap" competition?
I have about 10 traps I've never done anything with.
can I post the link here in this thread?

Check back through this thread to see if time constraints were given (as in a date AFTER which you could start working) I don't think you're allowed to use prior work.

---

Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

<span style="color: silver;">I haven't bailed, mates. I honestly have been waiting on being granted mod status to alter some of the sites structure to implement an html writeup as part of the SnarkPit... but with the little I DID get, I guess we are going to have to host the page on an external site as I guess we can't get a hold of Leperous... the competition's rules will be similar to the above, but a little edited and expanded.... the official rules and all that will be released in a news release on the front page I guess, most likely with a link to a subdomain of darktreemedia.com, where I have full access to make some sort of a compo setup. Many original plans have been aborted that would have been nice to streamline through the pit, but without proper communication, Orpheus and I are kinda flailing around with some help of Gwil.

With that, stay tuned!! Once We get it up and running, I dunno, we will figure it out from there. Like Orpheus, I work too. I will do as much as I can with my couple days off a week and possibly get this thing rolling sooner than you think!

Hold off on mutiny until further notice :wink: .
</span>

ok, got the my trap map fully compiled and ready...
I am trying to "zip" all of the custom textures into the .bsp.
I've run multiple programs to attempt this (cannonfodder's winbspzip,
pakrat,etc...) and all of them give me errors such as "invalid app ID 220",
"this file is version 20, not 19", etc... any suggestions for a working
program that does the same thing?

bspzip.exe in your %sourcesdk%\bin folder :wink:

BspZip on VDC

---

o

Packrat works well for me. Maybe you have to have Steam running in the background (or the other way round)?

---

Why snark works.

Why can't you just wadinclude them and be done with figuring out file structures?

---

The best things in life, aren't things.

Ahoy. Dark Tree, i'll put you in place now and you're free to fire up
whenever you like - i've been caught up of late with the final weeks of
Uni, all assignments are in and lectures over now though, so i'll get
moving.

Try downloading the most recent version of PakRat. A while ago it didn't work anymore due to a .bsp file type update, but I just downloaded the most recent version and it works again.

@Orph: this is about Source, not HL. :smile:

---

Create-ivity - a game development blog

direct file link>
http://upload2.net/page/download/AEASq0taOG5CAww/smack_trap_crusher1.rar.html

Thanks, pakrat worked for me (I think). I tested it in garry's mod and I had no
purple checkerboard textures.

So, I guess this is my submission, if it meets the criteria. If not, I can try to make something better.

link#2

smackintosh, you're like... way ahead.

---

Why snark works.

better early than late, I always say.

I need some of your genes.

---

Why snark works.

Why can't you just wadinclude them and be done with figuring out file structures?

that would have read a lot better if it had been written in light blue.

no wadinclude in hl2

---

i eat paint

ok, was the map supposed to be Single Player HL2?
The map I submitted was HL2 Deathmatch, I'll change it to SP
if needed.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting fishy</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quote:</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Why can't you just wadinclude them and be done with figuring out file structures?</DIV></DIV>

that would have read a lot better if it had been written in light blue.

no wadinclude in hl2



</DIV></DIV>

All this does is confirm just massive the gulf is now in my knowledge about mapping. It never occurred to me that a game like halflife would advance beyond wadincluding. (or a similar method for including textures into a bsp.)
Might be a good idea if I just stop suggesting anymore, since I have not answered a single HL2 question yet.

---

The best things in life, aren't things.