The Future

[Ale]

That would be scary to actually give the cow some powers around the board

[KILLA-COW]

Perhaps you should be that second admin KC?

Sarcasm alert.

Did I say I should be it? I suggested it as an idea.

Plus, next battle kthxplz.

[Dead-Inside]

Killa for design section admin!

[Jest@]

Plus, next battle kthxplz.

I'll give it a bit longer on the vote. If I ever get into dire straits time-wise again, I'll consider a second admin for sure. Should be ok for now. Just had a bad week

Anyway, any more suggestions for the future of the battles?

What would you guys think about these ideas? These are very much just ideas, don't assume they're going to happen.

-Allowing GMod? I've always been afgainst it, but ability to quickly pose characters could be handy. My fear is that stupid maps might get votes for their 'comedy' value...

-Video entries? I'll post up a how-to for recording videos without fraps, then anyone can enter a video - max res 800x600, max length 30 seconds, which I'd find some hosting for somewhere. Video entries could be voted on separately for a 'trial period', to see what people think.

My concern with video is that you need to put a lot more work in - for a well-thought-through map battle entry you only work to make your screenshots, you dont need anything else. Everything could look totally fucked from another angle. With video, the amount of mapping you have to do goes up and up.

[KILLA-COW]

Plus, next battle kthxplz.

I'll give it a bit longer on the vote. If I ever get into dire straits time-wise again, I'll consider a second admin for sure. Should be ok for now. Just had a bad week

Anyway, any more suggestions for the future of the battles?

What would you guys think about these ideas? These are very much just ideas, don't assume they're going to happen.

-Allowing GMod? I've always been afgainst it, but ability to quickly pose characters could be handy. My fear is that stupid maps might get votes for their 'comedy' value...

-Video entries? I'll post up a how-to for recording videos without fraps, then anyone can enter a video - max res 800x600, max length 30 seconds, which I'd find some hosting for somewhere. Video entries could be voted on separately for a 'trial period', to see what people think.

My concern with video is that you need to put a lot more work in - for a well-thought-through map battle entry you only work to make your screenshots, you dont need anything else. Everything could look totally fucked from another angle. With video, the amount of mapping you have to do goes up and up.

No and no. I think the choice phrase is don't fix something if it ain't broken!

I don't think GMod should be allowed because it takes the rawness out of the mapping and people would just enter ridiculos entries. I think keep it to hammer and hammer only.

Also maybe video's could be tried out but again I don't think it's particularly neccesary, it'd also be harder to vote on I mean with screenshots you've got 1-3 definate areas, with a video some areas could be really good and others really bad, some might get extra votes for a longer video, some might not have suitable software, etc. I think just stick to screenshots.

I think what would be a good idea are a few speed battles, where maybe a day is given to create a specific map maybe only one screenshot, it'd break up the waiting for these long map battles, maybe like a speed battle in between would be good.

[Psy]

This is a mapping website. FUCK GMOD!!!

[vecima]

i don't think gmod should be allowed on every battle, but a "do your worst on gmod" theme for just one battle might be ok.

video battles would be awesome. though, it should almost be a seperate catagory with a different point structure for the winners. also they would require more time than the average map battle.

i definately vote yes on video battles!

EDIT:

...I'll post up a how-to for recording videos without fraps, then anyone can enter a video - max res 800x600, max length 30 seconds...

... some might get extra votes for a longer video, some might not have suitable software...

you can record in the source engine. you don't need any extra software, and you can set the FPS, you're computer doesn't even have to be able to run it well. also, he said they would have length constraints.

[leadphalanx]

I'm going to suggest the same thing I always suggest, who can make the best brush based model. I suppose there should be a certain theme, such as cars, planes, etc.

[Jest@]

leadphalanx, I think you're pretty much alone in that request...anyway, please keep suggestions in their proper place, this thread is for comments on the way battles should be structured, no what their content should be.

How's this: add a third Battle type for skills-cased challenges; so we have mapping-skill battles and the more artistic/conceptual ones like the current map battles.

Themes for the Skills battles could be the kind of things people quite often call for; one light source, no props, limited area, must use certain textures/models etc: the challenge is to build the best you can from a limited toolset. Themes for the Design battles (replacing the current Map battles) could be the more artsy ones - general, almost abstract themes like the one's we've had before, where the challenge is to come up with a visual concept and then build it, with as little focus on the tools used as possible.

There's a difference in emphasis between the two, and it seems like this is the only way I can satisfy both types of suggestions.

Question is, would people participate in A if there was B going on at the same time? will the battles get too cluttered? Any more battles and the skickys list will start getting pretty heavy! Is having so many battles running at once (skills, design, modelling, maybe some day soon texturing) gonna be a blessing or a curse?

[Mr. Happy]

Running more than one battle at the same time seems like a double edged sword. It'd be cool because you'd probably get more entrants over all, and people might be more interested in one than the other but I fear that each battle would get few entrants by itself to make it a real and fair competition.

Unless you staggered them, maybe start one three days before the deadline of the first, or right on the deadline so that the vote for the last one is going on while the second one is starting?


I don't like the idea of having gmod since that..well, we're mapping here, not machinimizing.

Which leads into video battles. Rather than a fly through a machinima battle would be really cool, although the timeframe would probable have to be in the months rather than the weeks.

Or perhaps a scripting battle? A short scripted sequence, about a minute or two maybe, or a dialogue battle? Who can do the best faceposer work with a provided audio clip and map-setting.


One last suggestion which I've said several times over the past months, I really don't think people should be able to post maps that they made in the past. Your entry should have to be made FOR the contest. It's a little unfair someone can work on a map for years and then see a contest and say "hey! my map could fit that!" wheras everyone else says "hey! a contest! cool! I've got two weeks...."

[MercX]

^^ I agree with all of that. Especially with the not using previous maps for battles. It's not fair IMO.

[Mr. Happy]

Well this is about the suggestion of making news posts about the design battles. Putting it here because you said to keep it out of the rules thread.

Game artist.net sends mass emails everytime they have a competition, interlopers could do the same?

[KILLA-COW]

Once again I propose a second design admin to just keep things going when Jest@ is busy, I don't think there'd be any harm in it, then one can cover for the other, when need be. Just another idea into the boiling pot.

[srredfire]

Once again I propose a second design admin to just keep things going when Jest@ is busy, I don't think there'd be any harm in it, then one can cover for the other, when need be. Just another idea into the boiling pot.

*cough* I'll uh, volunteer. I can come up with some ideas, or something.

I always want to join in with the contests, but I always start going my own way and creating something totally off task, however I love looking at the contestants and judging them myself.

Not that I stand a chance to be actually "something" on this site.

Heh.

[vcool]

I agree with cow here. We DO need a "vice"-design section admin, in case Jest@ is busy with something.

I am not blaming Jest@ or anything, everyone has their lives (some don't...).

I mean this could be just one person who could be voted for by the members.