Deus Ex Mapping & Modding Contest

~[A]lex~ · Post by **~[A]lex~** » 17 Apr 2008, 15:39

Hello all!

I would like you all to view this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw3c1M8Ozd4

We at http://www.dxalpha.com are holding a competition for the best map/mod produced in less than a month. We're offering a small cash prize. So, for those familiar with Unreal Editor and Unreal Script for Unreal Engine 1, please participate or help us advertise this competition!

The contest will be taking place at:
http://www.dxalpha.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=135

Information about the contest:
http://www.dxalpha.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12710

Post by **Kuchcik** » 17 Apr 2008, 17:57

Is making maps based on the ones from another games is allowed? Like, I want to make a map like Riyadh from UrbanTerror (www.urbanterror.net). It's another engine (Q3A) so I cannot copy/import anything. Is this allowed?

~[A]lex~ · Post by **~[A]lex~** » 17 Apr 2008, 19:01

Kuchcik wrote:Is making maps based on the ones from another games is allowed? Like, I want to make a map like Riyadh from UrbanTerror (www.urbanterror.net). It's another engine (Q3A) so I cannot copy/import anything. Is this allowed?

We want unique maps, so no. Sorry.

Post by **ShadowRunner** » 17 Apr 2008, 19:16

The Judges are all [A] members... how does that work?

If an [A] member wishes to enter, surely there is a conflict of interest. [A] have some pretty good mappers, I'm sure the judges are objective, but it's the rest of the community that concerns me more...

Would it not be better to have a panel of judges from each mapping community, not just one...

or even better, let the community decide... put all the maps on a server and ask ppl to vote on a forum...

in any case if I won, I would just redonate the money back to Alpha's "secret" project that they've been asking for blind donations for...

The concept is good though, there are plenty of mappers around at the moment and it's a good idea, it will raise the standards and quality of next month's maps...

EDIT: ah, I realize now it's an [A] competition and [A] money etc... fair enough that the judges are from [A]... and also they are looking at specific things in the maps that players wont...

Post by **chin.democ.** » 17 Apr 2008, 22:23

Nice idea, I won't be entering becuase I don't agree with the rules, but I'd love to see how this pans out, it will get mapper's mapping and that can only be a good thing.

Sike · Post by **Sike** » 17 Apr 2008, 23:10

lol nice. I'm gonna enter. This might be a good way for me to get back into mapping again... haven't touched the editor in almost 5months I think :shock:

Vaan · Post by **Vaan** » 17 Apr 2008, 23:39

yeah this is a good idea, if i can get unreal ed working again i might enter.

~[A]lex~ · Post by **~[A]lex~** » 18 Apr 2008, 10:08

chin.democ. wrote:Nice idea, I won't be entering becuase I don't agree with the rules, but I'd love to see how this pans out, it will get mapper's mapping and that can only be a good thing.

What rule don't you agree with then?

Post by **ShadowRunner** » 18 Apr 2008, 12:08

Vaan, I didn't know you knew SDK

Right now, my agenda is almost entirely to update maps that are getting voted a lot on the server, same for [A] Jon, he is editing an existing map of mine already... I'm currently finishing off the Arab Town, upgrading Amtrack, working on DXSG maps, I don't know if I will have time to enter.

Your idea to make the chevrons move and the stargate to power up and down was very nice, I might just work on that...

probably I will enter something that is not going to win, but is worth showing [A] and the community.

What puts me off entering as well is the fact that a good map is a matter of opinion. Also I am surprised that you and Dae will judge, no disrespect but surely are not Jon and Vodun far better judges of what is a good map.

these are just thoughts, the real issue is the fact that I am working on existing maps...

Maybe my suggestion that the public get a vote, or a panel of judges from every mapping clan is a good one? Or leave this competition as it is, but participate in the organization of a more neutral panel of judges and a competition that involves the community players more...

let me give you an example, AMTRACK was rejected by DXMS, but is one of the most popular maps on our server now. Plenty of maps that got rejected by DXMS, are played a lot here.

Area51_TheDayAfter is technically a much better map than Area51Bunker_V3_152, but everyone loves Nobody's version much more.

Mappers are not the best judges. My time with dxms proved that. The best map is the one that players can't get enough of... the one that everyone is talking about... I don't give a *love* about fps, size, technical quality, if it looks good, fresh and it's giving players orgasms...

In fact I am tired of trying to please the mapping community, players are my raison d'etre, I let them judge my work...

but still it's a good competition, I wish every one luck.

~[A]lex~ · Post by **~[A]lex~** » 18 Apr 2008, 15:03

ShadowRunner wrote:Vaan, I didn't know you knew SDK

Right now, my agenda is almost entirely to update maps that are getting voted a lot on the server, same for [A] Jon, he is editing an existing map of mine already... I'm currently finishing off the Arab Town, upgrading Amtrack, working on DXSG maps, I don't know if I will have time to enter.

Your idea to make the chevrons move and the stargate to power up and down was very nice, I might just work on that...

probably I will enter something that is not going to win, but is worth showing [A] and the community.

What puts me off entering as well is the fact that a good map is a matter of opinion. Also I am surprised that you and Dae will judge, no disrespect but surely are not Jon and Vodun far better judges of what is a good map.

these are just thoughts, the real issue is the fact that I am working on existing maps...

Maybe my suggestion that the public get a vote, or a panel of judges from every mapping clan is a good one? Or leave this competition as it is, but participate in the organization of a more neutral panel of judges and a competition that involves the community players more...

let me give you an example, AMTRACK was rejected by DXMS, but is one of the most popular maps on our server now. Plenty of maps that got rejected by DXMS, are played a lot here.

Area51_TheDayAfter is technically a much better map than Area51Bunker_V3_152, but everyone loves Nobody's version much more.

Mappers are not the best judges. My time with dxms proved that. The best map is the one that players can't get enough of... the one that everyone is talking about... I don't give a *beep* about fps, size, technical quality, if it looks good, fresh and it's giving players orgasms...

In fact I am tired of trying to please the mapping community, players are my raison d'etre, I let them judge my work...

but still it's a good competition, I wish every one luck.

Please, read the description topic to see what we see as a good map and how we judge maps.

//I am suprised that you are not whining. Are you ok, Alex? - K.
// Go *love* yourself, if I ever catch you editing my post again you can forget support from my side, for nothing, not server, nothing. -A.
//I can do whatever I want. Do not use red, it is an admin colour. - K.

Post by **~[FGS]Próphèt~** » 18 Apr 2008, 17:17

ShadowRunner wrote: players are my raison d'etre, I let them judge my work...

i'm starting to like you more and more

~[A]lex~ · Post by **~[A]lex~** » 18 Apr 2008, 19:02

ShadowRunner wrote:Mappers are not the best judges. My time with dxms proved that. The best map is the one that players can't get enough of... the one that everyone is talking about... I don't give a *beep* about fps, size, technical quality, if it looks good, fresh and it's giving players orgasms...

In fact I am tired of trying to please the mapping community, players are my raison d'etre, I let them judge my work...

but still it's a good competition, I wish every one luck.

Then you don't have a shot for the 50 euro's that the winner wins

If your map are technically better, then why not participate in the competition?

Post by **ShadowRunner** » 18 Apr 2008, 19:27

cheers Valgothy, you too, for visiting other clans forums etc...

Alex wrote:what we see as a good map and how we judge maps.

Well I know you are only trying to encourage the community to make better maps, but it seemed in your competition announcement that [A] dont think there any good maps around atm...

DXMP_Command_Post by Face
RTKM_Spirit by Magus
RTKM_Sanctuary by Jima
DXMP_NYCStatue, an edit by Khaamilus
DXSG_Orbital by me
DXPZ_Cybris by Mantra
DXMP_Rooftop_Rebellion by Ketchup
Mainman's second Landerneau
DXCD_Encounter by Chinese Democracy

They are all pretty good maps I think, none of them are perfect, but for a clan to announce a competition cos there arent any "quality" maps around I feel is rubbing the community up the wrong way slightly.

I'm not proud of my work, but I do bring something fresh.
DXSG_Orbital made a lot of people say OMFG and wow and where else can u grav rifle climb 32, 000 unreal unit walls...

DXMP_Starport, I have never seen a map like that before, and apart from shitty vents, it's a well made map...

DXMP_CallOfDuty, I have never seen a map like that before, credit goes to [A] Jon for the idea

AMTRACK is gonna have to be removed if ppl keep voting it, I have never seen a map like that before...

funny, including the 4 maps in orbital that is SIX maps rejected by dxms that ppl love... u just can't tell if a map is good until it goes on a server.

so that's why I think the competition is fantastic idea, but it needs a server and if you guys judge, then I think you need a public vote too, make it like Xfactor or PopIdols on TV, interactive with the whole community. [A] Judges will guide the players and show strengths and weaknesses of each map etc... a very simple message mod, already exists to do this...

Sometimes also a map is hated for a few days and becomes the most voted later, vice versa... it takes days for players to completely discover a map I think...

[A]lex just ask yourself, is DXMS_Iceworld a good map? Is it even a DX map? but it's a lot of ppl's favourite ever map...

Finally, is it possible for a mapper and modder to enter a modded map? IE a map with mods to it... so the mapper and modder worked together and are entering... hoping to win at least one of two categories...

~[A]lex~ · Post by **~[A]lex~** » 18 Apr 2008, 19:50

Where did I say that there aren't any good maps? I said not enough.

Read this topic: http://www.dxalpha.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12710

It will most likely answer everything you want to ask.

Sike · Post by **Sike** » 18 Apr 2008, 20:27

I agree that there are not enough good DXMP maps. This is an excellent way to kick people in the ass and courage them to map some more

DX is such a small community that public vote wouldn't work. Of course when everyone would be supposed to vote for the best map, I would just spam everyone on MSN and ask them to vote for my map and so would everyone else xD

I hope there will be more people participating in this. There are alot of decent mappers in DX who I know can produce good maps

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