Contest idea thread!

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
5,441
3,814
I wouldn't mind another CTF contest. The comp aspect was more of a killjoy than an interesting limitation like "has to have water" or something like that.

But it's just my opinion that TF2 still needs more decent CTF maps. That's always been my approach to contest possibilities. What does TF2 need.

On the other hand, the doomsday mode could do with a little TLC as well.
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
5,441
3,814
Nobody knows what TF2 wants. We thought it wanted consistant applicable game mechanics, what we got were promotional unlocks and removal of any semblance of design theory. But that's a tired old rant.
 

Godling

L2: Junior Member
Oct 26, 2007
55
14
detail contest please
How about a straight up relay without the co-op part.

  • The first stage would be open to everyone and be about building a good layout to the point of needing detailing.
  • Second stage would be 'detailers' entering their name in a draw to select a random map that they then get to detail.
  • Stage three would have lighting done the same way... random draw... light map.
*Personally I think detailing and lighting should be done by 1 person only.. but it's all just ideas.
 

WastedMeerkat

L3: Member
Aug 15, 2009
144
142
How about a straight up relay without the co-op part.

  • The first stage would be open to everyone and be about building a good layout to the point of needing detailing.
  • Second stage would be 'detailers' entering their name in a draw to select a random map that they then get to detail.
  • Stage three would have lighting done the same way... random draw... light map.
*Personally I think detailing and lighting should be done by 1 person only.. but it's all just ideas.

Woah you just gave me another idea! What about having a three stage contest, but instead it'd be like this:


  • Stage One - Everyone enters rough layouts of their maps, going through basic alpha testing and iteration until the layouts are deemed acceptable by their creators. Maps should only use developer textures and the basic 2fort skybox with corresponding light_environment and env_fog_controller settings. This is to make sure that everything is as plain as possible and that there is no preexisting influence on what kind of theme the map will have. At the end of the predesignated time period, all submitted maps will be judged purely by gameplay, balance, layout, and flow. The top 2-5 entries from Stage One will advance to Stage Two. (I say 2-5, but it really depends on how many people would be interested. If we include too many maps for the next stage, it'll be tougher to judge.)
  • Stage Two - All maps that passed through Stage One will be open for detailing/artpassing by anyone. (Maybe even allow collabs?) At the end of the predesignated period, each individual map will have its artpass versions judged and ranked based on aesthetic appeal and how well it complements the layout of the map. Optimization must be taken into account, as well. The top 2-3 artpass versions of each map will then advance to Stage Three.
  • Stage Three - This is where the creams of respective crops will be separated and dissected until we know what's truly on top. All maps that passed through stages One and Two will be judged and ranked based on their overall quality. This will probably be the least time consuming stage of the contest, since it's all purely judging without any new content being created. Judging categories will include all those mentioned in the previous stages; by order of appearance: gameplay, balance, layout, flow, aesthetic, and optimization. The top 3 maps will be declared the winners, and all parties involved in the creation of each map will receive prizes of varying magnitude based on what place their map came in and how much work they contributed to the map. (Specifics can be ironed out later!)

I think this would be an awesome contest. It basically encourages everyone who's good at one certain thing to participate and take part in the creation of a map. Normally, winning a TF2Maps contest requires you to be good at a lot of things and/or have connections with content creation wizards, but this way, we can combine the skills of everyone to create something awesome. What do you guys think?
 
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Pocket

Half a Lambert is better than one.
aa
Nov 14, 2009
4,697
2,581
I wouldn't mind another CTF contest. The comp aspect was more of a killjoy than an interesting limitation like "has to have water" or something like that.

But it's just my opinion that TF2 still needs more decent CTF maps. That's always been my approach to contest possibilities. What does TF2 need.

A lot of those comp CTF maps made decent vanilla CTF maps as well, though, I would imagine. They did a good job of dealing with the common problem CTF maps have of being too easy to turtle and cause stalemates or at least really drawn-out periods with no capturing. The only reason nobody paid any attention to those maps after the contest was over was.........

....what was the reason, anyway?
 

zpqrei

Theme Changer Extraordinaire
aa
Oct 19, 2008
1,067
1,150
A lot of those comp CTF maps made decent vanilla CTF maps as well, though, I would imagine. They did a good job of dealing with the common problem CTF maps have of being too easy to turtle and cause stalemates or at least really drawn-out periods with no capturing. The only reason nobody paid any attention to those maps after the contest was over was.........

....what was the reason, anyway?

They were designed for 6v6. 32-man-instant-respawn-24/7-2fort players don't want to play 32 man on a tiny map.
 

Baraleth

L4: Comfortable Member
Aug 8, 2008
172
54
I have an idea for any contest that comes up, have it so that people can collaborate if they wish. If they do however, they have to do something that is a bit harder or something extra and will be judge harsher than if some one was to do it on their own
 

Jeremy

L11: Posh Member
Oct 24, 2010
829
299
How about a contest where each map entry must be made by two people, no more, no less.
 
Mar 23, 2010
1,872
1,696
yyler and prestige vs mangycarface + ????? mapping contest

edit: mangy has no friends contest won by default
 
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