Map Battles - Suggestions Part 2

[Qwiggalo]

I reckon that would require too much custom content for some people to have the time/ability to make in my opinion, but it was quite a nice idea!

That's the point of a "challenge" IMO I want a challenge to make me have to make those custom models.

[Mighty Monk]

Yeah, but then the title of the entire challenge needs to change in my opinion.

I know, it's good to be multiskilled, but alot of people unfortunately aren't. At least not enough to create props and architecture through modelling that will be good enough. I know if I attempted to make anything more complex than a crate, I'd just get laughed at and could potentially void my entry into the contest.

And don't even get me started on sorting out the textures and eventually running it in Hammer...

Anyway, my main point is, a contest involving that much work ruins the accessibility.

[Armageddon]

Okay so I went over to facepunch a few days ago. Only because I like to watch the machinima and look at the screenshot edits. Anyway I decided to go to there mapping section to see if it was any good, it was OK but not the best. I saw that they where having a mapping contest "128x128x128 room contest" I went to the thread and the challenge was. "Make a room that is 128x128x128 units. Decorate it and submit it. 3D Skyboxes are aloud.". I was think that making a room that size and decorating it would be cool to do on interlopers. So there is my suggestion.

[Megadude]

• Healthy living?
  
• Alien planet?
  
• What will civilisation look like 1000 years from now?

[Armageddon]

[*]What will civilisation look like 1000 years from now?[/list]

That one! That one!

[Chopium]

I think this may have been discussed before, but I think we should have gameplay oriented challenges along with visual challenges. The base game should be the same for everybody, so I would suggest a gameplay oriented HL2:DM Mapping Challenge because..

-Almost anybody can get it for free/really cheap.

-It's very simple to map for

-Playtesting together would be a fun experience for the Interlopers Community.

-It would allow newer members to compete with experienced members

Restrictions on the maps would mostly be for file-sizes if there's not a map bundle for download when all the submissions are in. Other restrictions could be for map size, layout theme, and objective (team based) because the game allows for a lot of custom things going on in maps.

Playtesting would occur on an Interlopers server hosted by Interlopers or a member. In order to get the maps you can either download in a zip file from this site, or through the server as you play. Playing would occur during set nights where all the maps are in rotation at least once. If players don't get to play the map, then they would either try it in sp or vote for the maps they played.

This could be really fun, so I hope you all consider it.

[RawMeat3000]

Yeah, but then the title of the entire challenge needs to change in my opinion.

I know, it's good to be multiskilled, but alot of people unfortunately aren't. At least not enough to create props and architecture through modelling that will be good enough. I know if I attempted to make anything more complex than a crate, I'd just get laughed at and could potentially void my entry into the contest.

And don't even get me started on sorting out the textures and eventually running it in Hammer...

Anyway, my main point is, a contest involving that much work ruins the accessibility.

Well teams have always been allowed, so it wouldn't be as much work as you might think.

And actually I think some sort of team battle would be a great idea.

[Phott]

I'd like to see a gameplay contest for hl2:dm but with map size limits ("size"x"size"x"size")

[punky]

I'd like to see a gameplay contest for hl2:dm but with map size limits ("size"x"size"x"size")

I'd love to see and join that too

[Major Banter]

How about "Sanctuary"?

S'good.

How about "Your room" or something similiar... Like the room you are sitting in when you map.

A good idea, but the typical 'custom content' problem comes up again.

Just a note of clarification on that; there won't be a foreseeable map battle based upon using your own content - while it's encouraged, basing a map around custom content or forcing people to use it immediately puts noobs out of the contests, which is decidedly unfair. However, I could always toss about the idea of an 'Elite Map Battle', which is far more challenging than just a theme.

With, say, dimension limits, Phott?

Well teams have always been allowed, so it wouldn't be as much work as you might think.

And actually I think some sort of team battle would be a great idea.

I've never actually seen a team, and while it's all well and good again for the elite, what about beginners? But again, could consider for the idea of Pro battles.

-Almost anybody can get it for free/really cheap.

-It's very simple to map for

-Playtesting together would be a fun experience for the Interlopers Community.

-It would allow newer members to compete with experienced members

A damn fine pitch. However, I've got to put paid to a few of your points I'm afraid.

1. I won't pay out money to play a map battle - OB cost enough. What about people with no access to money? i.e under-16s?

2. Yes, it's also an inferior engine with limited props and textures.

3. If people start packing in loads of custom content we're looking at a lot of chunky BSPs. And what if our computers struggle with HL2, like mine? I can map them fine, but I can't play them properly. What if you simply can't be fucked? And doesn't mapping a full level take a lot, and I mean a lot longer than just a scene?

4. Would it? So do the artistic challenges of scene making. Gameplay is a damn sight harder.

[*]What will civilisation look like 1000 years from now?

That, I like. A lot. Might need to trim it a bit though.

Anyway, I'll run that little lot by 904, see what he thinks. While I'm bothering to do this by the way, a 128x128x128 or whatever size room battle sounds extremely interesting - tell me what you think of that! It'd be an unusual twist on a template battle for sure.

[Mighty Monk]

I think a size limit would be nice; guidelines certainly help!

But I'm curious as to whether this would then need to be playable? With the current setup of how the Map Battles seem to work here at Interlopers, and by that I mean just taking screenshots of our work, would a size limit really mean anything?

Obviously, I'm asking a question here, so go on, embarrass me with the obvious answer I can't seem to work out

[Major Banter]

Go and make a 128x128x128 box and try to make a scene in it.

You'll soon see what I mean when I say - we'll notice.

And it's not embarrassing - asking questions means you've got more balls than the people who don't, so kudos to you sir.

[Mighty Monk]

Okay, cool. Thanks.

Well now that I'm assignment free from College for a fair while now, I should be able to cook something up this time. I hope.

[Major Banter]

City College by any chance?

[Mighty Monk]

Nope.

Great Yarmouth College.