Design section challenges

[Penney]

I sent an idea off to blink and haven't heard a reply but I'm eager to hear what the rest of the community thinks!

In short it's a map battle but of course theres something unique about it. One member starts it off, I was thinking myself but another would be fine. One person a month is elected to take a digital camera and explore, find one specific location and start taking reference shots, texture shots, shots of different things to make into props, and basically once all the images are hosted participents have about a month to recreate the area or fabricate their own using the architecture shown, create custom textures, custom props and the final product is either just showing aesthetics or is an actual playable area.

I feel that this type of battle would get people competitevly involved with working with timelines and with specific content provided while I'm sure it could get more people into making their own custom content. I think it would be really cool to see the interpretation's of different members based on series of photographs.

Critisism please!

[Mr. Happy]

I like the idea but I think the challenge of having to create new props and textures in that time might be overwhelming for people whom have other RL and mapping responsibilities.

And not everyone has the skills to do that in the first place.

I think this might end up actually limiting the number of people that can join.

[Sorrow]

If most is brush based, all is well That or I could try it all in max...

[Penney]

I suppose props would be a bonus, I wasn't thinking anything too fancy in terms of props but custom textures would be cool, they arent as hard as props

But custom textures seem pretty easy.

And I suppose the main thing people would be looking for is recreating lighting and shapes of architecture.

[Sauce]

sounds like a good idea, and might be a good way for someone to take over barrakid's place.

I like it, but as usual, wouldnt enter.

And if i did then i would pull out

[Garrador]

Why not a squad of: Prop modeler, Texture artist, Level-designer?

Then the map can be totally costum, and that would be awesome to see.

Anyways, like the idea but i hate to be an asshole; most of stuff like these has its own ability to die when there is so much work involved.

But I'm not saying it will if it's started. It's all up to the member who wants to do this.

A interesting idea! =)

[Penney]

I was thinkin most of these type of things die out after they get more complex!

The only way the map battles work so well is because their pretty simply laid out, and I would like to see this go as simply as it could. Plus I really don't think groups of people would work out so well in the end, they fall apart pretty easily when they're poorly set up which I have the best feeling they would be.

I guess the idea is more complex then it needs to be but I really don't think a few extra textures would be that hard to come up with. But I think judging would be more based on the lighting and architecture.

I just think the simpler the better!

[Penney]

ok yes the simpler the better! The only way I could see this definetly going threw would be if each competitor had to mimic the proposed architecutre of the pictures.

Their is one building with weird metal angled walls that would be cool to work from, but perhaps we could also work with images in magazines and on the internet too!

I am going on a road trip from Nova Scotia to Alberta at the end of july so maybe I'll come back with some good shots too!

But for now I think it's best if we go with architecture, it's simple to work off of, anyone who can use hammer can atleast try without piles of reading and exausting effort and it's just something new to spice up the old map battle scene.

I'll write up a super sexy proposal and fire it off to the sun!

[Sauce]

perhaps just give everyone a new model pack and texture pack and maybe even some new sounds and get them to work with those. they must include a certain number of the custom content in the map, and are allowed to if they wish, make their own custom content.

[Mr. Happy]

This is sounding better and better

[Penney]

That sounds pretty snazzy, I like the idea, but who's going to make the props? could be a community project I suppose! prop and texture packs for multiple themes, have the photographer take the photos and say "Hay! Use this prop pack and use this texture pack and lets see what you can do!"

How many items of content would be in each packs? I would say start the packs small and slowly add after each battle or so.

Though we could build the packs a different way, or we could just expand the type of battles. Anyone ever consider prop battles? Someone writes up a detailed description, probably should include a drawing of somekind and the goal is almost the same as standard map battles!

Duno guys what do you thinks? I'd like to get somewhat of my original idea off the ground though without making it overly complex at first, we can always add later as more people join and try.

[Sorrow]

I say somebody takes a picture, that's it, try to recreate it the best way you can with whatever resources you can get your hands on, be it hammer, max, both, dunno.

[Penney]

that's a pretty broad scope but I think it has something to it

[Penney]

The only thing that concerns me is how judging would go, just best resembelence no matter what program?