Mapping Competition Theme Thread

"Theoretically" speaking what theme would you guys like to see in a half life 2 mapping competition? We are looking to run a few comps on Addon DB shortly to get people excited and submitting content!

Here's some to get you started.
- Glass Prison
- Living on the Edge

Edited by: INtense!

Could you open it up to unreal mappers as well? I suck in hammer.

A theme eh? How about, a deralict castle or farm house setting.

I agreed with Grobi, could you open a competition for Unreal Mappers as well as HL2 mappers.
My idea of theme is - industrial or futuristic or may fantasy.

Another theme I thought of, steam punk/cyber punk or victorian london.

To get the best results, keep it vague.

The two you've got are great, in fact I recently came up with a bat shit crazy UT2004 concept that'd fit into the last category too. I probably don't have the skills for it though

Grobi wrote: Could you open it up to unreal mappers as well? I suck in hammer.

not this one soz its hl2

Nemesisd wrote: I agreed with Grobi, could you open a competition for Unreal Mappers as well as HL2 mappers.

it wouldn't be fair having a comp with 2 engines, each has its flaws and benefits

ambershee wrote: To get the best results, keep it vague.

amen good sir

Edited by (in order): TKAzA, TKAzA

How about something like "constant motion", that could spawn something interesting too, depending on your take.

I'd love something in a sort of futuristic cyber-punk theme (in similar style to Dystopia). Which Source game would it be for... HL:DM, CS: S, DOD: S?

It says specifically HL2.

What awards will be in this competition?

ambershee wrote: It says specifically HL2.

mapping is for source, including all official expansions, so you can use them to help map to the theme

Nemesisd wrote: What awards will be in this competition?

Im not in a position to say, sorry
just wait and see

Hold on, so this would be a sp mapping competition?

flooded city
islands
caves

Salohcin wrote: Hold on, so this would be a sp mapping competition?

we are just seeking a theme atm

it wouldn't be fair having a comp with 2 engines, each has its flaws and benefits

Then again, it's also not fair how HL2 is the only game anyone seems to care about.

Edited by: Relto

Ok, how about a city scape or town? Like London or something similar?

Oh, and can the next competition be unreal?

I think competitions should be for great engines no one is using. Dozens of other sites have HL2 mapping competitions all the time anyway.

Chunky wrote: I think competitions should be for great engines no one is using. Dozens of other sites have HL2 mapping competitions all the time anyway.

theres a reason there not using them
there will be competitions for other engines *begs* plz stop forcing me to give away details */begs*

TKAzA wrote:

Chunky wrote: I think competitions should be for great engines no one is using. Dozens of other sites have HL2 mapping competitions all the time anyway.

theres a reason there not using them

Maybe you should mod some more games before saying something like that. Some random examples are Painkiller and Serious Sam. Hell, even Roboblitz is a better choice since it's the first released PC game based on the new Unreal engine. There are a bunch of others if you just browse through the Games section too.

Also, why should it matter which game a map is made for? You say the Source and Unreal engine are too different to compare when it comes to level design. Great level design isn't based on the engine it's for. There are a hell of a lot better maps for HL1 than there are for HL2, even with the major differences between the two engines.

Chunky wrote: Some random examples are Painkiller and Serious Sam.

Painkiller is a pain in the arse to map for. Have to do it all in a 3D package. D:

Shame on no UT. It has a very large and vibrant mapping community!

there will be comps for the following engines, why? cos there popular
- ut
- hl2
- hl1
- quake 3

Edited by: TKAzA

ShortCutMan wrote:

Chunky wrote: Some random examples are Painkiller and Serious Sam.

Painkiller is a pain in the arse to map for. Have to do it all in a 3D package. D:

Shame on no UT. It has a very large and vibrant mapping community!

With some of the best damn level designers out there too - both of the level designers for BloodSport got snapped up by studios before even getting a chance to mod UT2007

Chunky wrote:

TKAzA wrote:

Chunky wrote: I think competitions should be for great engines no one is using. Dozens of other sites have HL2 mapping competitions all the time anyway.

theres a reason there not using them

Maybe you should mod some more games before saying something like that.
Also, why should it matter which game a map is made for? You say the Source and Unreal engine are too different to compare when it comes to level design. Great level design isn't based on the engine it's for. There are a hell of a lot better maps for HL1 than there are for HL2, even with the major differences between the two engines.

I have tried other games, dont assume stuff!
Robo blitz requires SP2 on your pc, i for one dont want that horrible piece of work stuffing up a working set of modding tools.

When it comes down to mapping and dev on different engines there is different stuff to consider, how the development pipeline works for mapping.
It may come out being the same, but thats besides the point.
For all fairness hl2 is very easy to map for, theres 1000 of tuts and videos and i feel its a good starting point to get these type of comps started of with.

You cant compare ut2k4 and hl2 like you cant compare hl1 with quake or quake with ut, its hard enough as you can see trying to prove throughout this is a fair competition, they are very complex.
its hard enough selecting a winner.

More engines more ppl involved, more work, more maps, more sad when they dont win.

One, you should have service pack 2 installed on your computer anyway, it's in no way "horrible" and is about the only thing that makes it safe to go online using WindowsXP. Secondly, being able to use the toolset is only the very first part. I've got a pretty good grip of the Hammer toolset, and indeed most Quake based BSP toolsets, but damn I can't design levels. I've taught one of my friends the very basics, and he was right there, straigh away.

Hell, why not something like FarCry? It will seperate the good level designers from the poor ones, because *anyone* can use the toolset well.

TKAzA wrote:
I have tried other games, dont assume stuff!
Robo blitz requires SP2 on your pc, i for one dont want that horrible piece of work stuffing up a working set of modding tools.

Explain how it's a "horrible piece of work".

Looks like this competition is based more on what you want.