Mini-Competion 2009

General Info:

• Goal: [color=#BF0000]To design and build an in-game vista scene that represents a theme of ancient vs. futuristic[/color] (A.K.A. old things contrasting things yet to come.)
  
  [color=#FF40FF][b]
• [UPDATE]:[/b][/color]The competition will run for three (3) weeks from the time of this posting until October 11 (Sunday) @ 23:59 your time zone.
• All entries are to be uploaded online from any available free service with the appropriate download link posted in this thread. OR they may be e-mailed to: riven (AT) genecy.net if you wish them to be kept secret until voting. They may be released at anytime before the deadline to count.
• Winner will receive one free copy of Left 4 Dead through Steam gifting (courtesy of Finger), and $60 in USD via a valid Paypal account. One stipulation: There must be at least three (3) valid entries from three (3) different people in order for the prize to be awarded to the winner.

Guidelines:

• Must be able to run in any available licensed Source engine or GoldSource engine Valve Game. No Mods or add-on packs.
• Your map must be uploaded within a .zip folder. Not doing so may disqualify your map.
• Your map should be labeled as follows: spmini4_your_SnarkPit_alias.bsp Example: spmini4_riven.bsp
• You must include a readme text file (.txt) in your submitted .ZIP file that includes the title of the game it should be loaded into for it to run properly.
• All custom content is allowed; i.e. custom textures, sounds, and models, etc.... Please be sure to credit the custom content you did not make!
• Your map must be designed and created specifically for this contest; maps already uploaded or submitted for other competitions are NOT allowed.
• You are allowed to post WIP screenshots of your map in this thread and anywhere else on the web, however, if you post your download link in this thread, we will take it to be your final entry submission, so post your playtests outside of this thread. You may start a map profile for your entry as well, but in order for it to be counted, it must be uploaded and linked in this thread or e-mailed to the address posted above.

Voting:

• Judging will be based purely on looks and sounds alone (moving things are a plus). But for the map to qualify it must adhere to the ancient vs. futuristic theme somehow.
• Judging will be put to a vote by the community for two weeks and a winner declared after.

Tips:

• What is a vista? Well, by definition it is:

• -A distant view or prospect, especially one seen through an opening, as between rows of buildings or trees.
  
  -An avenue or other passage affording such a view.

• For level design my own personal definition is:
  
  -A playable space that opens up or reveals a larger inaccessible non-playable space.
• It should be encouraged (but not necessary) for members to use custom content!

Feel free to ask any questions about the competition in this thread! I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can!

As usual, any updates will be highlighted in pink.

Get creative and have fun!

-Riven

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

I don't understand what do you mean with "ancient vs. futuristic"?Could you explain me what do you mean with that?
edit:
Never mind!

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Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

When I think again-I don't understand what do you mean with "ancient vs. futuristic".I tried to translate it my self-but I failed.So,could you explain me what do you mean with "ancient vs. futuristic"?

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

Harr, finally. Let's see what I can piece together in 2 weeks...

@tnkqwe: Riven's the referee, so I don't want to spread any outdated information about how this competition will be done, but guessing from former discussions, I think that the theme refers to having both an ancient and futuristic part in your vista, ideally with a sort of connection between the two. A conflict between two worlds, if you will.

Well, Reaper is right, but I'll explain it in different words for you.

By Ancient we mean old (probably really old) and by futuristic we mean new things yet to come that don't exist yet. When we say "vs." which stands for "versus" in the most general sense, relating to this competition, we mean "contrast" OR "against".

So, you can take the theme to mean: "Old Contrasting Things Yet to Come". So in short, yes, you are supposed to represent both in your map, and yes, it can be of whatever you can imagine that might represent those two descriptive words.

Update in Pink

[EDIT]: I also added a rule about not being able to make your map for a known (or unknown) mod or add-on pack for any of Valve's games. It must be for their games only.

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

I am so outta practice and I never did get the idea behind the vistas in game down, so I may have to pass on this.

You know what, I'm in.

Me too.

Whoa 2 weeks, I'd better get started!

"Muhnay" said:
I am so outta practice and I never did get the idea behind the vistas in game down, so I may have to pass on this.

It's really very simple muhnay. You're just making a large space that the player can see but not get to, like a view. Like if you're driving somewhere and you go to a lookout on a mountain and see a nice open view, that's a vista. However, you can also make a vista (view) in an interior space, an indoor vista/view.

In addition to the vista, you also need to make a small space where the player is and can look at the vista/view. The player isn't supposed to walk within the vista/view, just see it from the small space.

Isn't yodalman and thehalflifeman33 the same person.

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Aaron's Stuff

yodalman, you're a cool guy and stuff but I'd advise against spamming in the official thread for one of our mapping competitions.

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Aaron's Stuff

Ok, I cleared up those 7 spam posts by yodalman/thehalflifeman33 that were between aaron's last two posts. Come on now, you know better than that... Please, for questions and entry submissions only.

-Thanks

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

I can try..

I'm almost ready with my entry.But I might tweak it a little after I post the map.So,can I post an updated entry after I have sent the first entry?

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

Yes, just please be sure to specify which one is the latest and which one to ignore.

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Other than me and tnkqwe, has anybody else started?

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Aaron's Stuff

Heavy work in progress still.

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Aaron's Stuff

I'm gonna make a strip club with naked ladies. You cant get to them from here.. but you can look!

Hey nice one Aaron. It reminds me of your HL1 street map in layout and those trees also remind me of it too. Are you expecting this scene to have some animation in it?

@Muhnay hah, and for the theme would you give them stone boots (ancient) and lighter-than-air bras (futuristic)?

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Naw, man.. wanna see?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MpP7J8M-Do

If that is not the best mix of the theme then I dont know what is.

I wondered if it was possible to literally ‘sex-up’ a CCTV camera with simple mechanics…and by using the imagery of a pole dancer question the roles played in voyeurism, such as who holds the power …the observer or the observed.

Nice one Arron!

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

Thanks guys.

"Riven" said:
Hey nice one Aaron. It reminds me of your HL1 street map in layout and those trees also remind me of it too. Are you expecting this scene to have some animation in it?

Aww you remember. Well yes I'm heading in a similar direction but hopefully this will be a lot more polished than my street map.

I am expecting to have some animation in the scene.

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Aaron's Stuff

This the first version of my entry.For thees who don't have half-life they can see the screens: http://www.filefront.com/14602889/spmini4_tnkqwe.zip
P.S.I forgot to add a "readme" file,so all the credits go to Gearbox fot the grass textures,and the Snarkpit for the models.

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

tnkqwe, is this the map, or screen caps of your map? What game is it for? How do I install it? I think if you cant be troubled to follow the instructions and include a read me with the info requested you should have your entry not considered.

Muhnay said:
is this the map, or screen caps of your map?

Both.

Muhnay said:
What game is it for?

Half-Life 1. He sort of mentioned that in he's post "For those who don't have half-life they can see the screens".

Muhnay said:
How do I install it?

Just like Half-Life 2 maps, put the bsp inside the Half-Life maps folder and models inside the Half-Life model folder.

tnkqwe, nice entry. I know I've said it before but your mapping skill has really improved, I don't know why I keep expecting novice work from you. The ancient vs futuristic theme was clear in your map, and the map itself was visually nice. I liked the interior corridor where the player is, the nice organic grass/rocky surfaces and the pipe line in the futuristic half was a nice touch. Would have been nice if you put some sound in your map though.

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Aaron's Stuff

I'm planning to add a vent and some birds in the sky.I wonder how to make the lighting better.But I don't have an idea what sounds to add.But I'll think about it.

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

This is the second version of the entry.
New things:
-steam coming out of the pipe(the sound is not working for me for some reason)
-vent in the corridor
-new grass texture
-new rock texture
the download:
http://www.filefront.com/14616687/spmini4_tnkqwe.zip
This time with a readme file.
Enjoy.

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

YAY, a readme file!

Ah, tnk, this one is much, much better than the first, even if most of the changes are subtle.

The new textures here make all the difference. All it needs is some sound, and I'd think you'd be in business.It might of had sound, but every time I started up Half-Life, the menu music would cross into the map after I loaded it; I tried to get it to cut off by restarting, reloading, loading different maps, and other ways, but didn't feel bothered to look online for a solution =not that big of deal

The steam is nice, and the vent (was it there before?) is nice too. I didn't notice it before, but whichever, it's a nice detail. Makes me think it's a connection zone between research facilities or military outposts. If I were you though, I'd raise one of the doors just about knee height and add some kind of active scene behind with like flashing red lights and destruction sounds. That could add some high contrast to the serene landscape you have outside the windows. -Could give it more "atmosphere."

Very nice!

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Version №3
-new area(you can't get in)
-added sounds
-added a moving crate(you will find for what is it added)
-added 2 slaves in the new area
Download: http://www.filefront.com/14625633/spmini4_tnkqwe.rar

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

I don't have a credit card and a PayPal account.So how Am going get the money?

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

Roll call!!! Who is going to be turning in a entry? Do we even have 3 people attempting this?

http://imgur.com/ox5v3.jpg

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Reality has become a commodity.

We do have three, me you and tnkqwe.

Nice one, the castle looks very dreamy.

I'm not going to be able to finish my entry on time, I'll submit it anyway.

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Aaron's Stuff

Me either.. but I will submit something.

I don't think ill be finishing mine ether. Im not sure it will compile ether. Even at 1/16 in the 3d skybox my structure is still over 3000 units long. (the back clipping plain doesn't go back far enough in hammer... )

At lest we got some people entering this time.

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Reality has become a commodity.

"RedWood" said:
Roll call!!! Who is going to be turning in a entry? Do we even have 3 people attempting this?

http://imgur.com/ox5v3.jpg

Looking good.

This version number 4
-new skybox
Download:http://www.filefront.com/14643649/spmini4_tnkqwe.rar

And how is the winner going to get the money if he doest have a PayPal account os something like a credit card?

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

Why do you assume you have won?

I would suggest you get a paypal account. Or maybe they can just email you the gift certificate for the game, and mail you a MO for the cash.

Not sure whether I'll manage to get it done in time... but I'm trying.

Nice work! Glad to see some entries cropping up! PayPal, is the safest way I know of to transfer funds across the internet. It's free, it automatically converts whichever currency you use and I know it works. If you can't use PayPal at all, then we might be able to work something out (like purchasing & gifting $60 worth of games on Steam to your desired account). Nevertheless, it will be worked out when the time comes; right now we'll just stick to the plan

I wish I could have joined this one myself as well. School started for me again, and I'm all tied up with those projects, and I can already confirm that even if I had attempted, I would have nothing to show for now. But it looks like you guys have made some pretty nice scenes; I can't wait to see the finished products.

Good luck!

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

I don't have pay pal either so if I was to win I'd just maybe donate it to this place.

Tnkqwe, let me know when you release your final version and I'll play that one.

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Aaron's Stuff

RedWood said:
Roll call!!! Who is going to be turning in a entry? Do we even have 3 people attempting this?

http://imgur.com/ox5v3.jpg

I have a 50% build on something...

( ...meaning "late" )

Someone remind me how to add custom textures again.. please!?

I need them for my idea. =)

1. Make texture in photoshop.
2. Download photoshop vtf plugin and save texture as a vtf with the template "compressed texture" or "compressed texture with alpha channel" for textures with an alpha channel.
3. Create vmt for the texture, here is a basic vmt for a bsp texture:

"LightmappedGeneric"
{
"$basetexture" "Metal/cy_metal01"
"$surfaceprop" "metal"
}

• Change "LightmappedGeneric" to "VertexLitGeneric" for model textures.
• Add "$bumpmap" "concrete/cy_concrete_03_normal" for normal maps.
• Add "$decal" "1" and "$decalscale" "1" for decals/overlays.

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Aaron's Stuff

The last version of my entry:
-added a fling eagle in the sky
-made some tweaks
-replaced the solid based lights in the new area with models
Download: http://www.filefront.com/14653663/spmini4_tnkqwe.rar
Enjoy.

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

Well, I know I've always advocated shorter competition times, but now, embarrassingly, I'm running out of time. I might release it after the competition ends, though.

Kudos to those who enter. Good stuff.

How much more time do you need?

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Alright, how about one more week? If the people who entered in time don't mind. You could still use the extra time for additional polishing?

I won't be able to finish my entry by the deadline either but I'm still going to submit it. Not that I mind if the competition is extended but can't you submit yours unfinished too?

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Aaron's Stuff

You may submit whatever you can. I would submit something over nothing, especially if you've put a lot of work into it.

I don't think anyone will be complaining.

• [color=#FF40FF][b]
• Competition will be extended one more week (until Sunday October 11)[/b][/color]

OP and front page updated...

Keep at it!

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Here's a little preview of my entry, it's probably about three quarters finished.

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Aaron's Stuff

Nice! But man, such a tease I wanna see the Vista! -no, wait until it's released; it'll be much more exciting then.

It looks really nice; if anything, I think you could afford to increase the lightmaps for the incoming light from the windows. -And I sure hope it has sounds!

Looking badass! -I wonder what the ancient aspect will be? -I wait in anticipation!

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202