Just an idea that I had that I thought was pretty cool...

[Axion]

I was just sitting here thinking about how we have a couple of collaborative projects circulating here on the boards, when I thought, "Wouldn't it be kinda cool, if we had something along the same lines, but for a competition instead?", and this is what I came up with-

We could have an informal mapping contest every month or so. A theme would be decided on (like a destroyed village, or rocket facility, a farm, basically anything), and whoever produces the best map within the time limit would win. There wouldn't be any prizes or anything, but I think it's a cool idea, because we would all see how people individually work and how their own personal style would come out in the maps they make. People could work individually, or in teams of two.

It would also help to encourage some people who might be stuck between projects or ideas have a little fun and get inspired again.

What do you all think? Does this sound like a cool idea, or is it just a little too over the top?

[echo_rancid]

I like that idea, especially if we worked in groups of two or more. This way if the one mapper gets stuck on something having to with mapping or scripting the other mapper could possibly help. A month is a short period of time, or maybe Im just slow at map making but Ive been working on my current map since January. The time could always be longer or shorter Im sure. Im up for it.

[Mulkaccino]

I think that's a good idea. I think it'd be fun to have restrictions as well i.e. Make a obj based map based on a farm, but it has to be within a skybox with dimensions AxBxC. I think that would really put peoples brains to work and make them think 'inside the box.' Of course it could be anything, I was just using the skybox bounding, farm theme, and obj based map as an example.

It'd have to be put in place after the current community maps are complete, or else we'd be spliting resources between too many projects Great idea.

[Yarik]

I would be up for a project like that, and the rules would include something like, "This file cannot have map parts that were created before the date xx/xx/xxxx" So that way no one tries to take old parts of maps and put them together, everyone will have an equal chance.

[dooguesgoober4]

Yeah...good idea

No prefabs allowed, unless you made them yourself!!

[tltrude]

The maps would be junkyard quality, if the mapper is rushed. Say the contest it to make a farm. All you would get is plowed earth and two square boxes with door holes! If you are going to do it, then all contestants must vote on the best map (can't vote for your own). And, each contest should be set up with a time limit, not a fastest mapper wins kind of thing.

[Yarik]

Of course not, that would be way to ridiculos.

[Bjarne BZR]

Hmmm... this sounds nice... Actually there is no need for the .MAP staff to do this for you. You just decide it in a thread, and when the time is up you all post your maps and finally create time limited poll to decide the winner each time

We could create a separate forum section for it... If you really want to run such competitions, It would be a shame for us to stand in the way

[lizardkid]

I'd be up for that, though i'm working on The Battle of Cote D'Azur right now....

though if it came to a vote i see no harm in doing that. my vote would be full steam ahead for the new thread.

[kai0ty]

hmm, sounds like fun, i got no project right now so id be up too it. i like the box dimensions rule, and i think that if u want better maps the timelimit need to be longer, but if u want a "see how much u can do in this time" kind of contest thatn a month is good.

[Axion]

I'm glad that a lot of you guys like the idea. As for the time limit, it doesn't have to be a month. I just threw that number out there as an example, because flexibility with the time limit is important, depending on the type of map and theme that is decided upon.

If you have any more ideas/rules that you'd like to propose, please go ahead, because this thing won't work unless all the people who wish to participate can come to a mutual agreement on how this should work.

[echo_rancid]

Here is what I think:

1) We should have a post where people can sign up, let the post go for a week see who wants in and how many want in, then we can lock that post, well someone can Im sure.

2) Along with signing up which would just be name or yes or Im in or whatever, the person can also put the type of map they would like to make...say farm, or destroyed town, or nighttime farm, or so on and so on.

3) If thats not a good idea then maybe a neutral party, someone who is not involved in the contest can pick what kind of map we all have to do.

4) I think the best way to do this would be in pairs because then you have a mix of ideas. Also if one runs out of ideas the other may have more which then may help the other mapper get an idea and so on a so forth. Also one mapper may run into problems which may take a long amount of time to figure out in fix. Having to people working on one map I believe will greatly decrease the chances of this.

5) As for rules:

1) No use of prefabs.
2) Custom textures are allowed of course.
3) No screenshots are to be posted. Load screen can be posted with the Download at the very end.
4) Date must be settled by a neutral party and all Downloads must be posted before the end of that date or disqualification will take place.
5) If you need more time on any map, 50% or more of the teams/individuals must agree to lengthening the time, else time will not be extended.
6) Can not post the download of your map anywhere before the specified ending date.
7) Map is to be mapped and scripted by the team/individual and by no one else.
8) Voting will take place after the finish date. Then there will be a week of testing out each others maps and then voting for your two top favorites. We can set up a pole for this or something along those lines. NO VOTING FOR YOURSELF!

- Not sure if we should open the voting to those outside the competition, that is a possibility.
9) HAVE FUN!!!!


Anyone want to add to these rules...or comment on them...

Also an Idea...Have one post dedicated to Questions and Answers that only the teams/individuals can post in specifically for the compition...and posting at all in this would be entirely up to each team/individual.

Just don't take this to serious, as in I GOTTA WIN, I GOTTA WIN...Have fun, help each other out if someone has a specific problem, who knows maybe they could help you out sometime, and Let's make some Damn good maps, shall we?!?

[Shifty]

I to am also up for this axion mate allthough I doubt i'll be participating for a while, i'm workin on a Stargate Mod.

[Bjarne BZR]

I'll take a thinker on this and try to come up with a format that could work in the best possible way.

What I would like is:
- That it should involve a minimum of direct administration. I'll look into the possibility of giving someone of you moderator rights if you would require it to make your vision run smothely.
- You guys to keep posting your ideas and requests here. What would you like it to be? How would you like it to work?

This could become really cool

[Scronty]

Afternoon, All.

They don't have to only be contests on entire maps.

There could also be contests based around a single topic.

i.e.
a house.
boat.
guard towers.
maze.
tunnels.
trains.
bridges.
your own abode.

That way, we could have short contests as well as the longer "entire obj map" contests.

Also: prefabs would only be allowed in contest "obj" maps if they were created within a "prefab" contest.

Cheers,
Scronty