20 Brush Map Competition Idea

20 Brush Map Competition Idea

Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 11:26am
Le Chief
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Posted 2011-01-13 11:26am
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I saw this thread on Mapcore.

What do you guys think? I think it's a really fantastic idea for a mapping competition we could have here.
Rules:
  • Design a visually stunning, playable level using only 20 brushes. With the minimum create the maximum. :)
The following cases DO count towards the brush limit:
  • Each displacement surface counts as a brush.
  • Each decal/overlay/sprite counts as a brush.
  • Invisible platforms.
  • Non passable brush based entities.
  • Visible brush based entities.
The following cases DON'T count towards the brush limit:
  • Passable trigger volumes e.g trigger_once
  • Brushes to prevent bugs/glitches e.g clip brush to smooth the gradient of a staircase.
  • The 6 brushes that compose a one unified "global" 2D skybox do not count towards the brush limit.
Other Rules:
  • No physics/static/dynamic/ragdoll props.
  • No 3D sky boxes.
  • Entries for Half-Life, Half-Life 2/Ep1/Ep2 or Half-Life 2 Deathmatch please.
  • Unlimited light entities, weapon/ammo entities etc etc
  • Custom content allowed.

Aaron's Stuff
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 12:14pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 12:14pm
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I think I recognize more names there, than here.

Strangely enough, my membership there is still active. shrugs

About the idea.. I dunno. Somehow having something less than useful at the end of a competition seems odd. If I can get my editor up and running, I might be game.

Personally I think a 20 texture competition would be more challenging cause you'd have to have something playable at the end. With 20 brushes you'd end up with a bunch of abstract art entries and nothing useful. (at least from a gaming editorial standpoint)

/2cents.

The best things in life, aren't things.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 1:09pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 1:09pm
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Orpheus said:
Personally I think a 20 texture competition would be more challenging cause you'd have to have something playable at the end. With 20 brushes you'd end up with a bunch of abstract art entries and nothing useful. (at least from a gaming editorial standpoint)
I disagree, I think you could make a playable level with 20 brushes. The idea is to try and push yourself and think outside the square to create something visually stunning and/or playable with only 20 brushes.

Here are some of the results from previous times this has been held:
User posted image
User posted image
User posted image
User posted image
User posted image
User posted image
The main idea is:
  • 20 brushes only, each brush can have as many faces as you want.
  • A displacement surface (face) counts as a brush.
  • No physics/static/dynamic props.
  • Unlimited light entities, weapon/ammo entities etc etc
  • Custom textures allowed.
  • No 3D Sky boxes (it breaks the spirit of the competition).

Aaron's Stuff
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by G4MER on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 1:41pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 1:41pm
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I noticed all just float in a Skybox... Cool as they are, I am not sure how they play regarding FPS and all that jazz.

So when you say 20 brushes your saying 20 walls/floors/etc? That have to equal out to 20 and no more... Does the skybox count?

Could I make 20 floors and use models as walls? or do models count against your use of brushes.. because I can make a map almost entirely out of models and not have many brushes in it at all.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Finger on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 2:01pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 2:01pm
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I might actually have time to do something like this. Sounds fun. What game - Halflife 2 Deathmatch?
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 3:37pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 3:37pm
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I dunno. Knowing how the engine cuts brushes into fragments I'd say each of those screens contain closer to 1,000 brushes.

I guess someone would have to hammer out the details signifying what exactly defines a brush.

The best things in life, aren't things.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Niborius on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 4:51pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 4:51pm
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Orpheus said:
I dunno. Knowing how the engine cuts brushes into fragments I'd say each of those screens contain closer to 1,000 brushes.

I guess someone would have to hammer out the details signifying what exactly defines a brush.
Like you may use the block tool 20 times, and change the brush's vertex into anything you like.

At least that's what I think
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 6:15pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 6:15pm
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Niborius said:
Like you may use the block tool 20 times, and change the brush's vertex into anything you like.

At least that's what I think
How about we use one block and subtractive the rest... :hee:

Seriously though, would it count as one if you used displacments to manipulate it into a shitload of shapes? :uncertain:

The best things in life, aren't things.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by G4MER on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 6:36pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 6:36pm
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Will Player Clip Brushes, and Hint Brushes also count against the 20 count?

I like the idea of this contest.. but we need to define the rules really well.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Riven on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 6:41pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 6:41pm
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Orpheus said:
Somehow having something less than useful at the end of a competition seems odd.
What did you mean by that?

Agh, a lot of these questions are already answered over there, you gotta do some reading!
Orpheus said:
I dunno. Knowing how the engine cuts brushes into fragments I'd say each of those screens contain closer to 1,000 brushes.
Heh, someone needs to read up on their terminology ;)
Of course they don't have 1,000 brushes. brushes are just a tool to to creating engine friendly meshes that cut up visibility. A brush face may get cut up into new polygons because after all, they are rigid models. Food for the mind: VDC: Brush
Muhnay said:
Could I make 20 floors and use models as walls? or do models count against your use of brushes.. because I can make a map almost entirely out of models and not have many brushes in it at all.
This was answered a few centimeters above your post by aaron:
aaron_da_killa said:
No physics/static/dynamic props.
I don't know about you, but how else would you bring in a model properly without using any of those entities?
Muhnay said:
Does the skybox count?
I doubt it; That wouldn't be in favor of the spirit of the idea, because everyone needs one (unless it's indoors). I'd assume they are givens.

And I suppose I'd mention that if we were given enough window of time to complete, I might be able to sit down for a whole Saturday and design and map something out too! This would totally be pretty feasible to spend time on without worrying about it coinciding with other ventures.

-Count me in. :D
Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Niborius on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 7:13pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 7:13pm
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Orpheus said:
Niborius said:
Like you may use the block tool 20 times, and change the brush's vertex into anything you like.

At least that's what I think
How about we use one block and subtractive the rest... :hee:

Seriously though, would it count as one if you used displacments to manipulate it into a shitload of shapes? :uncertain:
On some other topic I read that each displacement surface counts as 1 brush in this competition
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 8:43pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 8:43pm
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Man Riven are you confused. What leads you to believe that my reading something will leave me any more enlightened than prior to reading said document?

Also, Why should we join, or only join their competition? Aaron can run his own methinks.

lastly, why reduce our lagging post counts by not talking about it here?

Perhaps I did use an invalid term. My idea was 20 solids formed into something cohesive. However, where they touched would create new solids. So although I may have used the incorrect term, I meant well.

I will read your link.. I am still a bit fuzzy on this idea of a "brush"

[edit] So according to that page, a brush is a surface you can see within the game from the players standpoint. Now unless I am still confused, each of those screens contains way more than 20.. Less than the 1,000 I thought but still more than 20.

Perhaps someone can further enlighten me?

[edit2] Oddly enough someone brought up the exact same thing I did about the 1,000 solids.. So I ain't the only dipshit. :p

The best things in life, aren't things.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Niborius on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 9:00pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 9:00pm
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Orpheus said:
Man Riven are you confused. What leads you to believe that my reading something will leave me any more enlightened than prior to reading said document?

Also, Why should we join, or only join their competition? Aaron can run his own methinks.

lastly, why reduce our lagging post counts by not talking about it here?

Perhaps I did use an invalid term. My idea was 20 solids formed into something cohesive. However, where they touched would create new solids. So although I may have used the incorrect term, I meant well.

I will read your link.. I am still a bit fuzzy on this idea of a "brush"

[edit] So according to that page, a brush is a surface you can see within the game from the players standpoint. Now unless I am still confused, each of those screens contains way more than 20.. Less than the 1,000 I thought but still more than 20.

Perhaps someone can further enlighten me?

[edit2] Oddly enough someone brought up the exact same thing I did about the 1,000 solids.. So I ain't the only dipshit. :p
A brush can have 100 sides, but still be one brush. In the screenshots they sometimes made an arch brush, but that still only counts as one. :teach:

Hope that explains it, otherwise, just keep asking until you understand it
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by G4MER on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 9:06pm
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Why dont one of you take one of the screen shots and color each brush so we get the idea of what each separate brush is, and how they came under or at the 20 brush count.

I am in for this as well.. just need a better understanding of it.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 9:07pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 9:07pm
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points upwards
SEE I ain't the only confuzzled one. ~o)
Niborius said:
A brush can have 100 sides, but still be one brush. In the screenshots they sometimes made an arch brush, but that still only counts as one. :teach:

Hope that explains it, otherwise, just keep asking until you understand it
Dangit why is this one thread so slow????

OK, so what I am calling solids, are brushes.. Got it.

So, the breaking up of said solid doesn't count against the 20. Got it.

The best things in life, aren't things.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Niborius on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 9:10pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 9:10pm
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I'm going to do what Muhnay said, hold on a minute.

(Could be I am mistaking as well so someone correct me if I am after posting the screenshot)

Edit: Here it is, I counted up to 8 because I think you'll get the idea from there.

Oh, there should be a text below the arrows, guess I removed it accidentally, I'll just write it below the image

[IMG]http://i54.tinypic.com/29cm539.jpg[/IMG]
------------------------------------These ones are seperate brushes probably
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Niborius on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 9:40pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 9:40pm
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Sorry have to bump, otherwise it isn't noticeable I posted a screenshot. I... think...
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by G4MER on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 10:41pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 10:41pm
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NIB, The ends you call 6 and 8 are part of 7, right? just with many sides? But Could be separate brushes. Thanks for the Image enhancement..
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 11:20pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 11:20pm
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All of Riven's clarifications are correct and no I don't think the skybox should count towards the brush limit either.

Great demonstration there Nib :) Although I cant say for certain, it's been a year since I've been in Hammer but you might be able to make #4 and #5 one brush? Can't remember. :uncertain:
"Muhnay" said:
Will Player Clip Brushes, and Hint Brushes also count against the 20 count?
I think if it has a usability/bug preventing purpose then no it should not count. If it has a gameplay/practical purpose then it counts. SO the hint brush does not count (but I don't see why you would need one), the clip brush may count depending on the use. If it's to prevent a player getting caught on geometry then it doesn't count, but if it's to create an invisible platform or to stop the player falling out of the level then it counts.
Finger said:
I might actually have time to do something like this. Sounds fun. What game - Halflife 2 Deathmatch?
I think it should be open to all Source/Goldsource/Unreal mods/games as long as you follow the rules. Edit: On second thoughts, we want everyone to be able to play them so I'm thinking.. let's make it HL, HL2 or HL2DM singleplayer or multiplayer.

I'm going to add the competition rules to the original post along with NEW competition rules in bold and pink.
Regarding Displacements

To clarify with displacements, this is up for agreement but I think each displacement surface should count as a brush. That is, if you create a displacement from 1 face of a brush, that is counted as 1 brush, if you create a displacement from 2 faces of a brush, that is counted as 2 brushes.

To clarify this point, in the first screenshot there is a floating rounded cube. That was created from 6 displacement maps so that counts as 6 brushes.

Regarding Brushes

I'm surprised some of you don't know what a brush is considering it's basic level terminology.

A brush is a shape e.g cube, composed of multiple faces (polygons) and made up of BSP geometry. In source/goldsource the limitations for a brush are they they have to be convex and each face must be flat when viewing the face front on. To clarify that last point, if you create a brush cube, then open up the vertex manipulator tool and select any vertex and move it that will create an invalid brush because it will create a non flat face.

So basically a brush is NOT an entity, NOT a displacement and NOT a model. If that doesn't help you, brushes are the stuff you must enclose your level in to prevent leaks.

As Riven said, you can see a brush as a "tool" so don't think about how the engine cuts up faces further in game that is not of consideration in this competition.

Aaron's Stuff
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by G4MER on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 11:33pm
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Aaron, I noticed in some of those pictures posted that they have bounce mats and so forth.. do those count against your count?
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 13th 2011 at 11:55pm
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Posted 2011-01-13 11:55pm
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"Muhnay" said:
Aaron, I noticed in some of those pictures posted that they have bounce mats and so forth.. do those count against your count?
Yeah they do. I hope it doesn't seem harsh but the idea is (as my graphics teacher Eric says) "with the minimum, create the maximum". :)
Aaron's Stuff
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Campaignjunkie on Fri Jan 14th 2011 at 2:10am
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http://www.radiator.debacle.us/temp/20b_nara.vmf

The green floater with the disco ball is my level. I've uploaded the .VMF so you can see how it was built. In the Mapcore compo, the skybox is free and non-colliding trigger_ brushes are free.

The math: 24 (total solids) - 9 (skybox & triggers) = 15, and 15 + 5 (the other 5 faces of the cube brush I subdivided for the disco ball) = 20 brushes.
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Le Chief on Fri Jan 14th 2011 at 11:27am
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Posted 2011-01-14 11:27am
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wtf have you DONE valve!! :mad: have to fix my source sdk ffs :zzz:

Thanks for uploading the vmf Campaignjunkie I'll check it out when I fix this pos.

Regarding the trigger volumes, I think that they should be free too, I'll add that to the rules.
Aaron's Stuff
Re: 20 Brush Map Competition Idea Posted by Orpheus on Fri Jan 14th 2011 at 12:12pm
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Posted 2011-01-14 12:12pm
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aaron_da_killa said:
wtf have you DONE valve!! :mad: have to fix my source sdk ffs :zzz:
Sadly after reading stuff here and at mapcore I am not looking forward to setting mine up. Not only will I have to play catchup for a 4 year deficit now I got a hammer that doesn't pound right. :roll:

[edit] maybe I got lucky. No issues setting up hammer. Its scary when no error messages appear. Now I am worried I did something wrong. :scared:

The best things in life, aren't things.