Post by Windecker on Mar 27, 2011 16:51:03 GMT -5
After a very long wait, we come to you with something that we dare not call a contest ( due to the apparent lack of prizes ) but a challenge.
The challenge is to create a complete map within a period of 30 days.
This map should have a functional layout and be fun to play. It should include all necessary pickups and come with way-points.
Your map should also be visually appealing, meaning well textured and well lit.
Map must have pickups so as to be suitable for regular game-play. We do -not- want to see maps that are only playable in insta.
Capture the flag, and team/ffa maps are permitted. Don't go making something so large that you can't finish on time.
---- Entering the challenge ----
-Entrants are required to make a thread under this board ( Rules & Submission ) following the same layout as stated in RaZgRiZ's Application Template
-One entry is required per person, or per team.
-Teams of Two people are permitted.
-Entrants are required to post a minimum of two progress reports weekly; more if they so choose. These can be in the form of an image, a series of images, or an ogz file. You can submit these by replying to your own thread, and attaching files.
-These help us find people who decide to cheat and this is a necessary precaution. ( If somebody joins and submitts their finished map two days later, we have reason to believe that the map was already done before hand, hence this requirement )
---- General Rules ----
- Do not plagiarize. All work submitted must be your own.
- Do not create inappropriate content within your submission
- Do not edit another entrant's submission, or have anybody else edit you own entry. The only person who can edit your map is you, or a team member if you are on a team.
- Copying content from existing maps is not permitted or tolerated.
- Use your common sense. If there is something you are absolutely unsure about, or things that you don't think are allowed but not stated, then ask here.
- Please refrain from commenting on other people's Entry threads. It creates clutter. You may contact them via personal messaging if your heart demands it.
- Custom textures and models May be used, but it is preferable if only textures and models are used that are included with the game.
-If custom textures or models are used that are not made by you, the entrant, a text file containing the proper licencing is required indicating permission of use. ( This is a non profit organization, everything is free to distribute, blah blah blah )
- If a person has entered Solo, another person MAY join that person to form a team of two. Their entry post must be modified to suit ( both their names and a team name if applicable )
-Some think that credit for the map may be given to the other teammate where it is not due, but keep in mind that it is the First member who allowed the other to join him or her.
---- General workflow and pointers ----
Here's something that I follow, personally, and it may be beneficial for new mappers to read this. ( or it may not )
- Plan out your map, You may do this during the 2 week application period. Write down your ideas, make sketches, etc.
- Choose a general theme or style and gather references of that theme so you can accurately recreate it
- Create your basic map layout; refrain from detailing. Get your basic layout built and playtest it, then elaborate upon it and improve.
- Add weapons, health, armor, waypoints, etc at this point for testing.
- A good layout is fun. It may be slightly challenging in areas and keep a player alert. It should let the player choose where he or she wants to go, and not force linear movement.
- A good layout may be small and contained, and may have a single focal point, or it may be large and complex, with multiple focal points.
- You should sculpt your map to accomodate for various types of gameplay. Areas that emphasise the use of specific weapons can greatly improve the mechanics of a map.
- Detail the map after your feel your layout is up to spec. Lay down general textures, then work in passes and work on each part of the map evenly.
- Make your map memorable, but don't overdo it. Add visually unique areas to keep players interested, but avoid making them distracting.
- Lighting is key. Lighting should add to the mood and feel of the map. Lights serve more purpose than just making walls visible. ( Intense shadows cast by a 5:00 sun are far more impacting than a 75,75,75 skylight ) ( on a side note, the word is lighting, not lightning. )
- Texture choice and application is crucial. Textures should work with each other. A red brick texture slapped over a trim of 3 foot sandstone blocks -Does Not- work. Textures should work with each other visually, and help bring out geometry.
- Textures are meants for specific things. If you have a texture for a storm drain, don't use it for all your walls.
- Clip your map properly. Geometric details may cause disturbances in gameplay, such as players getting stuck, or not being able to go up stairs fluently. Proper clipping should allow the player to move fluently through the map without getting hung up.
- Playtest. Test your map with some friends, or have somebody else play it against bots. Lots of errors are generally found at this point, and minor gameplay and visual tweaks can still be made.
- If you are content with your map and think it is completely finished, submit it to the Submissions Board as a new thread, titled with your ID number and user name.
Submitted map:
Map must be packaged correctly, if you are unsure of proper packaging, see the Quadropolis Packaging Guide
The package should have:
packages < Base <
YourMap.ogz ( The actual map file )
YourMap.cfg ( Optional; may not be needed )
YourMap.wpt ( Waypoints )
YourMap.jpg ( Mapshot; Image to be displayed on load. )
If models are used, they may either go in the models folder, or in the entrant's own specific folder.
---- Summary ----
There will be a 14 day period for applicants. You are -Not- to start working on your map until this period has ended, though we can hardly tell whether you do or not.
After this period is over, all entrants will have 30 days to create their maps.
On the final day, entrants will submit their works under the Submissions board, with their assigned ID number. ( ID numbers will be assigned to each entrant by an Administrator once the contest has started, )