THE CUBE CHALLENGE: Rules and discussion

The poll results are in - and a sequel to our 1024^3 challenge from a few years back is the winner!

This challenge is simple: Build an entire level contained within a 1024x1024x1024* cube. You may use as much or as little of the space as you need, but no more. We had killer turnout in our last one, with ReNo's level "Weaver" bringing home the top prize:

* Dependent on engine player scale; 1024 is based on id/Valve player scales.

[Blocked Image: http://www.reno-vation.net/content/Weaver5.jpg]

Our rules are simple:

Quote

Build an entire level contained within a 1024x1024x1024 cube.

***This is based on approximately Source/id tech player scale (64-72 units) and will vary as follows for other engines/editors***

Quake */Doom 3: 1024x1024x1024

Half-Life/Source: 1024x1024x1024

Call of Duty: 1024x1024x1024

UT3/UDK: 1344x1344x1344

Gears of War: 2048x2048x2048

Unity: 32x32x32 (based on player height of 2 units)

The challenge will begin Friday, February 18th, and end Sunday, March 20th at 11:59PM US CENTRAL time (GMT -6)

A submission thread will be opened in the final week of the challenge. Post a download link to your level along with up to 3 screenshots of your work.

You will have roughly one week to review all entries before voting begins. A single vote will be held for the overall winner. Voters will be allowed to vote for their top 3 entries, and the level that receives the most votes will be declared our winner.

You may:

- Use any engine/editor/game/mod of your choosing. If it is not already listed above, you must verify the scale of your engine before the start of the challenge

- Create a single OR multi player level

- Use unlimited brushes, meshes, effects, etc.

- Include non-accessible background detail that extends beyond the playable space

You MAY NOT:

- Allow any living player to move beyond 1024 units in playable/accessible space on any axis. The 1024 bounds MUST be defined by walls, sky, collision, or a kill volume.

As with the previous challenge, there will be no prize other than the pride of knowing people thought you were awesome

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Much like the last thread, feel free to also use this as a WIP thread during the challenge.

Edit 02/17/11: updated with final(?) rules

Quote from Campaignjunkie

How do you judge a singleplayer vs. a multiplayer level though, exactly? Apples and oranges... APPLES AND ORANNNGES

The judging isn't the single player vs. the multi-player, or the HL2 vs. UDK, but the creative use of the space to create a good level But, we can revisit this if people really want to limit it to MP-only. Regarding Aalexanderrr's question below, I would consider L4D survival or other similar co-op modes to still qualify as a MP level.

Quote from Froyok

I think for the UDK we need to do this :1024 inch (source engine) = 1024/0.75 = 1365 UU

(UU = Unreal Unit)

If we keep the default player size of the UDK...

That's UT3 scale as well, right? Roughly 96-ish units? Maybe we round to 1344 to keep things on a nice 64 grid? I'm assuming most of our entries will be Source-based, but I'd like to keep things proportional across the other engines. Alternatively, we could lock it to 1024 across the board and that's just one of the limitations you have to work with.

Quote from Froyok

So, we can make hole in the wall with more details behind ?It's just the playable part which are limited to the 1024 cube ?

Yep! As long as the player doesn't cross the base 1024 cube, you can border the level however you want (but you'll be judged on how you use the space inside, not outside

Quote from Aalexanderrr

Are L4D2 survival levels allowed? Survival is not exactly SP but it could be quite fun putting map like that together.As for non accessible area, does area where commons spawn but players cannot access count as one?

I'd say go for it. If you can set up a good survival arena in that space, more power to you. I would say any and all AI spawns in single player should be contained inside the 1024 bounds, however.

Quote from Vilham

can a boundary also be like nothingness, ie if you jump you fall and die? Ie the top of a sky scraper?

On X/Y, I'd say no - the ledge would have to exist inside the 1024 space, likely with the skybox forming the 1024 boundary. On the z-axis, I'd say it's fine as long as the kill trigger rests at or above the bottom of your 1024 cube. Sound fair?

These are all open to interpretation, too - if anything here seems unfair, we can address it before things start up.

How does the timeframe sound to everyone? Is 4 weeks ok, or do we want to go 5? Or even 6 since this is technically a "real" level inside a small space?

Quote from Serenius

In Gears of War the scale is 1 UU = 2", which is quite different from UT3/UDK. Player size is around 96x96x144. This is gonna be a small map.

Gears in particular would need a special scale rule (possibly 2048^3). It's a massive scale difference. I'm ok with matching those proportions; let's just get a tally of engines people want to use, the rough scale conversions, and see how everyone wants to handle it.