.Map :: MoHAA Mapping

another idea for one of the map contests could be, besides a theme, but which side the player is on. i know i've never played an Axis map but ones i've made, and if there was the other side of the war maps, i think that would be cool. i may be jumping ahead of myself but it seemed like a neat idea.

Sorry guys, havent been around for awhile, but this is a very very very cool idea Axion! First off, id like to say...

Where do i sign up?

second off, instead of judging eachothers maps, there is a group of judges, neutral of course. These judges didnt create a map but they download all of these maps, and grade them in different categories...
-Gameplay
-Prettyness (architecturally)
-Creativity
-Clean (no duplicate brushes, etc. Errors in the compile )

And maybe a few other things, um.. the 'categories' are up for title changes, i just said those for starters off the top of my head.

M&M wrote:i have a decent number of posts yet this is my 1st map and im not that good .and jv_map has a huge number of posts and he hasnt done a map yet .

Hey! That doesn't mean I can't map

Anyway, yes the forum is still only open for moderators. Just setting some things up, then it will be open for everyone around

btw I really think some kind of prize is very important to motivate people for this contest... not sure what it could be though

Hmm, thinking of a prize is going to be tough...
perhaps the winner could:
-Be the first person to explore and (beta test?) new maps.
-Some type of Selects team where the winner of each month gets put into the Selects group and when at the end of the season (a year perhaps?) those Selected mappers will get together and create an insane map.
-Some type of 'special authorities' gift. Becoming the 'best mapper' will give you new rights and a special rank?
-Gets to have a skin of his design made by the .map community. instead of a skin, maybe a mod of somesort maybe?
-Gets to chose the next theme for the next month's contest, gets to make the rules for the next contest.. etc.

I dunno, these are just a few ideas for winning.. be free to expand.

Afternoon, All.

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First up: I don't think forcing people into teams is such a good idea.

People should be allowed to produce their contest entries by themselves or as a team if they wish; A thread could be created for people to post whether they're available to be included in a team ( plus their capabilities, skill level, preferences, timetable, etc).
I've worked with far too many people who say they've got skills (and don't), have plenty of time (and you don't see them on msn for weeks-at-a-time), or just keep changing their minds on what they want something to be.

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Second up: Having the winner choose the next theme is a good idea.

It's worked at various other sites for 3d model-creation contests, however don't forget that reality does actually get in the way sometimes; meaning that the winner might disappear for a while before finding out they've won - hence... no new theme would be supplied. In that case, the moderator for the forum would supply the next theme (or ask for ideas on the next theme).

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Third up: Having contests on a per-week basis is a good idea.

Might still be able to have a month-long contest if the theme is quite complicated; this would be covered by allowing the time for the contest to be extended if enough contestants ask for it.
Note that these contests are not for people still struggling with basic mapping tutorials (of course everyone is welcome, however they'd probably complain on the short time-limit or the theme being to complex for them).

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Fourth up: All files must be made available by the contestants upon end of contest.

This includes the bsp, map, scr, any shaders/ textures/ sounds, etc for people to be able to:
1) Recompile the map in full.
2) See just how people built their various chunks of architecture.

Even those contestants who didn't manage to complete their entry should make their files available. This would be an opportune way for them to get hints and help on where they need to develop their skills and ability.

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Note: I'm looking at this as a learning experience and a bit of fun.

Cheers,
Scronty

A thread could be created for people to post whether they're available to be included in a team ( plus their capabilities, skill level, preferences, timetable, etc).

Yes, good idea. And to add to that, I think you should also post your prefference in type of map, that way making teams would be easier because the people interested in the same map style could team up without a conflict of interest right off the start.

BTW I have seen some of JV's maps on his site and he CAN create great maps.

As far as the "theme for the next map" idea, we would have to come up with a theme idea as we are in the current contest, and could include this theme idea with the files given up at the end of the contest so when the winner (s) are chosen, that theme will be read and imposed for the next session. That way it doesn't matter if the winner goes on vacation so to speak.

The judging should be by other .map members who are not participating in the contest to avoid as much bias as possible. And there should be a set number of judges. (volunteers)

This could really revive ALL the mappers/scripters out there. I like it.

I also think it would be a good idea to have ONE set of parameters for the map i.e. style, obj., perspective, theme, and size. That way it is easier to compare for the judges.

I have been following this thread with great interest, looking at all the ideas that you all have. I am also liking this idea very much.

I have a few thoughts on it as well.

A week's time may be good for a building, but not for an entire map.
I think development time should be changed according to what the specific contest theme is for that period.

I like the idea of the winner choosing the next theme. I thought that for this purpose, a standard "form" should be used. The form would be used by the winner to set up the next contest theme. For example:
Of course, the comments section would include any type of specific instructions for that contest.

Also of course ( ) Axion should set up the first themed contest, since this was all started by him.

There also should be a per-contest sign-up sheet. Let's say the contest is starting on a Sunday...that Saturday, all those interested in that week's contest should sign up all in the same forum post.

As a matter of fact, I think that each contest, to keep things organized, would need only 5 forum posts....
1) Contest "form" for that week's contest
2) Sign up for that contest (Locked after the sign-up day is done)
3) Questions/Answers about the particular contest and help along the way.
4) Post to submit entries at the end of the period.
5) Review post/winner declaration.

A format similar to this would make it easy to sort out the contest as it goes on.
All the contest posts could start with Contest #1 for the first.....Contest #2 for the second contest and so on.

At the beginning of it all, a locked post with the contest rules would be posted.

This will require a lot of dedication for those chosen to run the contests, and of course (I like that phrase! ) it will rely heavily on the contestants to keep it real and honest.
The purpose would be to have fun, and to share the wealth. The idea of a "prize" for incentive is OK, depending on the prize.

Tltrude's idea of a signature and news post is perfect. Kind of like the Stanley Cup.....you keep it until the next winner is declared....and your name gets "etched" under the previous winner's name......

There is also the possibility of having 2 contests....one for single mappers/scripters, and one for team mapping/scripting. (But that doubles the work of choosing the winner)

I am very involved in the ALsace project right now, but could spare some time to help out with this. I would definately like to participate.

Good luck to us all!

If there were to be prefab contests the time period in which you have to do it should be pretty short. Umm I think somewhere along the lines of 2-3 days at the max. Anyway if we are gonna do this map contest thing, we should wait and see how it turns out first.

I think the idea of prefabs or single structures is a very good idea. Less chance for people to get bored and run out of ideas for a project. It would also be quicker.

What we could do with the winners prefabs or even the top 3 is make a page on this site just full of prefabs. I haven't seen any prefabs on this site and thought that might be a cool idea.

Everyone one could submit 1 screen of their prefab with the DL which would have the .map, .bsp, and .scr. We could have a rule that says what sort of skybox to use and nothing but the prefab on the map.

lizardkid wrote:another idea for one of the map contests could be, besides a theme, but which side the player is on. i know i've never played an Axis map but ones i've made, and if there was the other side of the war maps, i think that would be cool. i may be jumping ahead of myself but it seemed like a neat idea.

darn ,i was planning on posting the EXACT same idea but i thought id better wait until it gets started

jv_map wrote:Hey! That doesn't mean I can't map

ziptie2k2 wrote:BTW I have seen some of JV's maps on his site and he CAN create great maps.

i didnt say u cant map jv ,all i meant was that u havent "finished" one
also,i got about 250 posts b4 the idea of making a map struck me and another 300 posts learning (almost)

jv_map wrote:Anyway, yes the forum is still only open for moderators. Just setting some things up, then it will be open for everyone around

btw I really think some kind of prize is very important to motivate people for this contest... not sure what it could be though

i guess those settings are done cause i managed 2 enter the forum and i almost made a post but i clicked the back button cause i didnt want 2 spam.

and about a prize ,i really think there should be one.and one that is very good .i mean y would i bother with the contest when all ill get is a news post for a week .maybe ill try the 1st contest and the 2nd if i like it ,but the idea will soon die out quickly .im not speaking about money but i cant think of anything that i could want over the net which is valuable right now

cheetos wrote:Be the first person to explore and (beta test?) new maps.

i dont think thats a prize,i think its a curse .he will have to go through all those maps to test them (thats the job of the jury).but i agree about the special rank and other neat stuff .maybe make a player skin that looks like him

scronty wrote:Even those contestants who didn't manage to complete their entry should make their files available.

also it should be manditory that if a certain group didnt finish the map b4 thier deadline they should continue on and finish the map or they wont enter the next contest.i would hate 2 work on a map and not finish in time and thorw all that work because my other team members dont want 2 continue.then they should update the files they sent earlier and the deadline .

my idea is maybe to make the contest in a project like theme ,where every group works on a map that is connected with other maps (storyline ,theme,map type,buildings ........)then release them all after the contest in a map pack (e.g:contest #1 map pack.pk3 )

scronty wrote:People should be allowed to produce their contest entries by themselves or as a team if they wish;

well ,that would prolly let the best mappers join with each other ,and all others will have a MUCH more harder time in the contest

ziptie2k2 wrote:The judging should be by other .map members who are not participating in the contest to avoid as much bias as possible. And there should be a set number of judges. (volunteers)

This could really revive ALL the mappers/scripters out there. I like it.

well,its not going 2 revive mappers and scripters alone.its gonna revive the review forum also .
while the mapping positions are being filled ,another thread for jury should be also made 4 signups .and this is not going 2 be like bjarne wants it 2 be

Bjarne BZR wrote:That it should involve a minimum of direct administration

its gonna need alot of administration which may involve making alot of moders or maybe an admin!!!

echo_rancid wrote:I haven't seen any prefabs on this site and thought that might be a cool idea.

i agree about that .a prefab site should be made here as well.if the webhoster doesnt allow it then it should be made somewhere else and linked 2.also i think there should be a webpage for this with news,contest time and rules ,hall of fame ,...... and other neat stuff.
i just hope that stuff isnt "stolen" in the contest or after without proper credits.


wow!!thats a long post,i forgot some of the things i wanted 2 say by the time i reached here

edit:
i remember a few important things.
i asked this b4 .
what happens 2 a team if one of the members quits for sudden real life issues or any disagreement of some sort or 4 whatever reason.it would be unfair 2 disqualify the team or continue "as is" .i also dont think there would be standby replacements .


also there should be a limit on the number of contestors in a team and a limit on teams .we wouldnt like 2 have a contest with like 17 teams all having 2-4 mappers

personally i'm interested on what Axion himself thinks on all this. i haven't seen him post on this lately.

sorry M&M , great minds think alike....

one thing that occured to me is that i don't know how many of you out there have time enough to make a good prefab (like the guard shack) in a short space of time. especially if it's a building. there ought to be guidlines for the contests (like prefab, complete map) on how long each would take.

for instance, it's easier and quicker to make a guard shack or watchtower than an entire house. houses take tons of double-brushing and it gets pretty long and i know that unless i worked 24-7 i couldn't make one in 4 days. that's me of course..... so give them oh say 2-3 days for the guard shack (due the afternoon of the third day on whatever time this forum runs on) and maybe a week for the house.

and i'm not sure if anyone's though of this before, but i think that there ought to be overlapping competitions. like one starts at week A, the next one starts at week B, and they all go on until the end of their little time slots and that way nobody gets left out for a month or whatever. it works in archery.

that would also kill the problem of assigning a number of teams, for say only 10 teams can enter in a month-long contest, it could be broken up into 3 teams per week contest.

anyway, that's my ideas for the day....

and i'm not sure if anyone's though of this before, but i think that there ought to be overlapping competitions. like one starts at week A, the next one starts at week B, and they all go on until the end of their little time slots and that way nobody gets left out for a month or whatever

Maybe what we could do is have all of these "weeks" combine and then at the end put all of the prefabs and whatnot together into one giant super level!

dooguesgoober4 wrote:Maybe what we could do is have all of these "weeks" combine and then at the end put all of the prefabs and whatnot together into one giant super level!

i was gonna post about that also ,thats y i said it should have a basic theme or something in common .but after seeing rodneys experience with combined maps i gave up the idea .according to this threadhe has combined alot of maps together and he is getting a compile error

ziptie2k2 wrote:great minds think alike....

i guess ur right

ziptie2k2 wrote:and i'm not sure if anyone's though of this before, but i think that there ought to be overlapping competitions. like one starts at week A, the next one starts at week B, and they all go on until the end of their little time slots and that way nobody gets left out for a month or whatever. it works in archery.

that would also kill the problem of assigning a number of teams, for say only 10 teams can enter in a month-long contest, it could be broken up into 3 teams per week contest.

that wouldnt be wise imho.we would lose the "special" feel about the contest .maybe the contest itself should be split into parts .but as i said it would be better to have a decent(a big number but not 2 big) limit on the number of contestants so the contest can go faster ,smoother,and more predictable (administrationaly speaking)
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