2006 Mapping competition.

Hey Orph, welcome to Mapcore Thats a lot of effort you put into your first post here eh?

Anyway, I think a contest is just what the amateur modding community could do with. Things have been pretty slow lately, at least in the Source scene, so maybe this would help pick things up. I think something that might help would be to try and make it multi-community, which is obviously the reason for the post. I'm thinking, take it further though. Rather than having a Snarkpit contest and "inviting" others, it could be a general mod scene contest. Entrants from Snarkpit, Mapcore, TWHL, Interlopers, VERC, Rust, wherever, using their own communities for submissions, discussion, and so on. Hell, make it multi-engine and allow entries using BF2, Doom 3, Quake 4, FEAR, etc... I think that could really get the entry numbers up and hopefully tempt in people who would normally be put off by a contest run by the Snarkpit and using the Source engine only.

wish I could participate. Good luck!

i cant see if its for hl1 or 2... some help?

There is discussion about whether or not it should allow both engines. A single engine contest would make it easier to judge, but keeping it open to HL1 (or even other engines) would probably see more entries.

I think it would be cool to leave it open to any engine, and instead use a theme to ensure maps are comparable and fair to judge against one another.

I'd love to help organise or take the reins or whatever, but it would just be a really bad idea for me at the moment. I've uni commitments as do a lot of others at the moment, so I really need to set my priorities. On the other hand, I don't think you should launch this contest half-baked. I wouldn't suggest charging on come the weekend just to get the ball rolling. Better to wait a few weeks and get the concept and rules of it nailed down and polished - it will maximise the chances of the contest going off successfully.

I think, if we were to open the contest to any engine, then we would need a stronger theme than "build a room". Personally I would prefer a stronger theme anyway, though I can see your reason for suggesting that one.

From a design standpoint, creating one giant room is probably going to get you a lot of shitty entries. I like the idea of a contest, but I don't know how many people are going to be able to stick to the rules and still make a fun map.

Yea, make it open criteria.

I don't think open is a good idea - I think the theme should be tightened, not slackened off. I know it might limit entries, but I don't see the point in a contest where everybody can just throw in what they were working on anyway.

Quote from Bl1tz

From a design standpoint, creating one giant room is probably going to get you a lot of shitty entries. I like the idea of a contest, but I don't know how many people are going to be able to stick to the rules and still make a fun map.

The point of a challenge is that it's CHALLENGING

I think it's a great idea.

Well, really, what does it matter if there's shitty entries?

They won't win.

Quote from Orpheus

OK, this is how I see it coming off. Use this as a guide.Everyone should know Mazemaster. I am sure that Nick won't mind me using him as an example. Anyway, you should know him. If you don't, do so cause he is one of the best out there.

OK, pretend that Mazemaster is making Island_17 today, for this contest. He makes the entire map that you can see from the top of the light house. You are restricted to the top of the light house. You say to yourself, "Man, this is one fine looking map" End of story. Don't attempt to over complicate the contest.

Now, expand that to whatever you want to make. I don't care if you made the Eiffel tower, or the pyramid of Giza.. You're only restricted to your imagination.

If you think this is a contest for creating a usable map, forget it. This is 100% creativity, of the useless kind.

Now, go vote, and join up... YOu know you want to. :wink:

Fair enough, but I personally wouldn't want to play a map that isn't "usable" (fun.) When we did 100 brush mapping contests in the Quake community, the maps that won were the ones that had the best gameplay, because really, what's the point of making a level if it sucks to play it?

Maybe it's just me, but I hate playing maps that are basically just big arenas unless that's the mod (and even then, stuff like Rocket Arena gets old after a short time)

I certainly wish you good luck with your contest by all means I just don't think you're going to have many skilled mappers who want to make giant sealed-off rooms.

I think the point is to have fun making an entry, rather than actually striving to win the contest. Good gameplay, bad gameplay - oh well, just get off your ass and make something.