So what do you think about this idea?

So someone makes a s**tty starting couple of rooms... and the first contest is to improve it, you know, something you can do in a couple weekends of free time. So the winner of that get's their version official... Their map becomes the next base. And the next contest is to add a bit more to the starting few rooms. And the winner of that gets their map (with the original winner's map) as the new official map.

And so on, until we have a complete map (or series of maps)

And judging would be on quality, texturing, layout, how well it blends with the rest of the map, etc.

So what do you think?

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I voted in favor of you passing the pipe towards me.
It could work, but we would probably spend too much time deciding on the base map. If you've got a good one in mind (or we could ask someone from facepunch to do it (meaning no disrespect, but FP's standards are way below ours)), I'd go with that.
This type of thing would be great for teaching proper mapping techniques, so I'm in favor of it in theory.

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

i like it, as it basically thrives on what always makes a competition fail; lack of motivation to complete a map.

Here you simply start, and where ever it takes you, once you lose interest you submit. Because we build on previous builds, the final product will idd be a fairly completed map. It will also feel like a snarkpit group project.

If there's enough interest you should team up with Orph to set the wheels in motion. Maybe set out to search for a base map already.

Also it might be best to adress the issue of HL1 vs HL2 in the early stages.

My view on competitions has changed when I found this 1024 Units HL2DM competition thread over at mapcore.

That's the right way to start and hold a competition IMO:

Wanna do it? Yes? OK, to participate - participate please. Screenshots in this thread.

No negotiation. No compromises. Nothing complicated.

If they just weren't such a pro-mapper club. :/

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Why snark works.

Well sure, that is a good way to do contests. But is it the only way? I don't think so.

As for the map, I don't know about you, but I can throw together a s**tty map with naught but dev textures in like 10 minutes. A bit longer in hl1, but then, I don't have a dev texture I can apply to everything, and I'm obsessibe compulsive about it at least looking textured right if using real textures...

And HL2 vs HL1... HL1 would be easier, it is simpler than source mapping, but I'd prefer it to be for HL2, for just that reason

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It worked wonderfully at Mapcore reaper, but they are a far more active community than we are here, regardless of how "pro" or otherwise the place is.

I think that your idea is pretty damn cool actually Fjorn - I'd almost certainly have a crack at it. I'd be up for throwing together a quick starting map too if people wanted - nothing too complex, but a basic room layout with some ideas for people to build upon.

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

i dont know duncan....are you qualified for the task bro?...*****runs like hell....

Doc B... :dodgy:

/votes yes

Questions:
What kind of time frame are we looking at here?
Who judges the winner? would it be an open vote?
What about restrictions how much people can add?
Thoughts on allowing custom content?

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o

What kind of time frame are we looking at here?
Well, I think it'd be around a month or so per section.

Who judges the winner? would it be an open vote?
Judging... If someone like Orph was willing to judge, that'd be awesome
If not... I don't see why an open vote wouldn't be the next best option

What about restrictions how much people can add?
For the first section It'd be limited to the starting map, you'd have to keep the same starting layout, but you can add doors, split a room into two rooms, etc.
For the rest... I'd say as much as you wanted, it just has to attach the the previous rooms some how (even if its just 1 door... or 3 pathways...)

Thoughts on allowing custom content?
I personally have no problem with this. However, the custom content would have to be made available if the person who added it won the current section, so that others can use the same content to blend with the previous area(s)

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Keep it tighter than a month I think - two weeks would be better for small scale improvements I think.

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

voted one, wanted to vote three as well, that's some inspirational stuff as far as I'm concerned

Keep it tighter than a month I think - two weeks would be better for small scale improvements I think.

Agreed. Plus I don't want to wait 7 months to ever get my had on it.

okay, so time limit... starts on a friday and ends the 3rd sunday after that (16 days with 3 weekends) judging is monday to thursday, next stage starts up the next friday

That sound good to everyone?

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Fine with me; who goes first?

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon

oh, and one more thing needs decided... hl2sp or hl2dm?

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I had been thinking HL2DM, but now that you mention it this format could work really well for a single player map! Single player has my vote.

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o

Yeah, I thought of it as a SP map, but I know snarkpit likes the dm maps :smile:

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I forgot to make it clear that I do like your idea, Fjorn. I just brought an example that impressed me.

I also don't think of being "pro" as something negative, I just remember those maps, full of custom Maya modeling and high-res, normal-mapped custom textures over at mapcore which made me feel kinda helpless. :biggrin: But the competition I mentioned is default textures/models only for example.

My point is: Maybe just starting the thing, looking what happens and keeping it all in a nice, simple, thread is better than discussing it to death. Your idea is great, Fjorn. Just make a starting thread for it and you've done everything for it you can and it's up to us to make it work. Everyone can make a front-page news post on the 'pit so spreading the word shouldn't be the problem. :smile:

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Why snark works.

reasonable enough

Edit: I'll start it up soon then, as soon as I get a starting map for the contest. I believe ReNo offered to do that, so when he gets that done...

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o

I'm finishing up my map for the Mapcore contest just now so I won't get a chance to make the starting map until after that is done. Deadline is April 30th (Monday) so it's not too long, but if anybody else wants to have a crack at it instead then be my guest :smile:

On this topic, what are you looking for in a starting map. Something really simple - just a rough layout of a central area using dev textures or something, letting other people extend both the layout and add in their own theme / detail / lighting? Or would you prefer something that sets the style and theme? Or a full layout with no detail?

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

Really, it just needs something to set the first part of the map...

so really a simple layout with no lighting/etc with dev textures would work just as well as a plain map that sets the starting theme

so really, It'd be up to you (or whoever takes it up instead) as to what kind of starting map.

Although, if I was making the starting map, I'd prolly do a rough layout with dev textures

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I think a simple start to a map would be nice, dev textures and blocky shapes, not necessarily any lighting. Then the contest and voting could be on creating a setting and theme for it in addition to expanding on it in fun and awesome ways.

I still think a single-player map would have better and more interesting results than a deathmatch map, btw. Nobody else has stated a preference, maybe "SP vs DM" should be put to a vote? (perhaps with a 'only vote if you are going to participate' stipulation)

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o

Well, I'm losing power on the 10th for 15 days to 2 months, so You'll have plenty of time to discuss it amongst yourselves and get it started

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