Dungeon Defenders Map Contest ($1,000 Grand Prize!) Thread

Introducing our first ever Dungeon Defenders Map Contest! We’re looking for the best original PvE map to put into our Ranked mode.
Dungeon Defenders was built on a modified version of the UDK. You will need the game in order to participate. Our development kit is available as a free DLC on the Steam Marketplace.

We’re asking people of all experiences to give it a shot. If you’re looking for a beginner’s tutorial to our DDDK, our kind and gracious leader Jeremy has written a handy how-to guide our forums. (I can't provide a direct link because I'm new, but you can Google DDDK Tutorials to find it.)

Here's the full breakdown of the prizes:

1st place: Map inclusion into Dungeon Defenders Ranked & Open mode, $1,000 prize and a DunDef prize pack (TBD)
2nd place: $500 and a DunDef prize pack (TBD)
3rd place: $250 and a DunDef prize pack (TBD)
4th place: DunDef prize pack (TBD)

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Official Rules

1. Maps should be traditional Tower Defense, supporting 4-6 Heroes. Use of special mechanics like fans & magic carpets is fine. Boss fights are also allowed.
2. Custom materials are allowed.
3. Collaborations are allowed. Multiple authors can pool their talents on a single submission, and split any prizes that may be awarded. However, only 1 map per author is allowed. So whether you choose collab or solo, make it count .
4. Maps created prior to the start of this contest are ineligible.
5. Do your best to make the map actually work. You will not be disqualified if the map contains errors. I.e. a particular monster spawn is broken, last wave doesn’t end properly, whatever. However, you will suffer a small penalty in the scoring process.
6. Winning maps will be owned by Trendy Entertainment. (This is here to insure the winning map can be included in the game without issue).
7. Entries must be submitted no later than June 21 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Judgment Procedure

These are the categories that will be used, but the questions are just examples to get you thinking in the right direction.

1. Balance: Does the design of the map make sense? Are the pathways intuitive and easy to follow? Does the map provide obvious chokepoints while still allowing creativity in building Towers? Is the number of Monsters fair for a given difficulty? Are they too strong or weak? Is the DU allotment strict or generous?

2. Originality & Style: Is the overall design new and exciting? What did the author do to make the map unique? Did the author actually create something new, or just copy/paste pieces of existing levels? What about replay value?

3. Detailing: Is the map intricate and beautiful? Is there a high level of polish to the map? Does the map fit the style of the Dungeon Defenders universe? Do the individual detailing choices make the map feel put together, or discordant? What part of the Castle or Etheria landscape could this represent?

4. Optimization: Does the map have proper clipping & border restrictions? (Can you jump into a pit and not die?). Is the monster pathing appropriate, or do they regularly get stuck on the geometry? (Small factor: Did the mapmaker try to keep file size reasonable- lightmap optimizations, etc?)

Eligibility

* To claim the cash prize you must meet the age requirements for your state and country.

Submission Guidelines
To submit your map, please send an email to contest@trendyent.com with the following subject and body. By entering the contest you agree to the aforementioned rules.

Subject:
DunDef Map Contest: [Map Name] [Author or Team Name]

Body:
Name, Birthdate, Address for all Authors
Map Name
URL to download Map
Brief description of Map and what you were trying to accomplish

We hope you consider this opportunity, and we can't wait to see what you'll come up with!

Sincerely,