Summer Prefab and Modelling Contest

[MadJack]

Summer Prefab Contest

Starting Monday June 14th we will accept submission for the Summer Prefab Contest.
Please do not send anything before the contest is opened because they will be deleted.

Here are the rules. Please read carefully.

1 - Categories:

Buildings (Ex: bunker, house, fence)
Landscape (Ex: terrain)
Weapons
Furnishing (Ex: Bed, lamp, couch)
Vehicles:
	-Static (Used as decoration mostly)
	-Moving 
Misc. (Anything not fitting the above categories)

2 - File Format:

Because of different issues with prefabs, mostly rotation, we came to the conclusion that we should accept more than one format. Main format will be .map but submission can be made in .ase or even .md3 as long as the ORIGINAL .map is submitted with the texturing. The content of the .map and .ase and/or .md3 must be identical!

3 - Triangle Count:

There's no set count for prefabs but we think that anything over 7500 tris might be a bit high. We will still accept submission higher than that so don't worry if you exceed it. Keep in mind that a door with 8000 tris is different than a fully furnished building.

4 - Time

After much debate, we decided to give participants 60 days to submit their work. Some might think it's too much. We decided that because summer is almost here and a lot of people will be gone during summer hiatus, some leaving early, some later during the season. So we think that having a longer period of time will give everyone a chance to participate.

Official closing date: August 15th 2004

At that date, we will nominate finalists in each categories and a public vote will be held to determine the winner of each category.

5 - Misc. Rules

No revisions will be accepted before the closing of the contest. Make sure it all works before submitting.

5 - Judging:

Finalists will be selected on the following:

	- Originality
	- Workmanship
	- Scaling
	- Usability
	- Aesthetics
	- WW2 relevance
	- Texturing

6 - Submissions

All submissions must be made starting June 14th 2004 and before August 14th 2004
Include the original .map work, one or more screenshots and the optional .ase and/or .md3 file in a PK3. Do not forget to add the custom textures and/or script if need be. 
You can only send ONE prefab in EACH category.
Don't forget you cannot resubmit the same prefab! Only after the closing date will we accept resubmission/bugfixes.

You can either submit by going on my site (in sig) or send me the prefab at this place: danyrioux (arobas) vfemail (dotty) net

That's it! Get prefabbing! :D

I would like to ask everyone to put their hand to the task and help us submit the contest to mapping sites you visit. The more prefabs we get, the better the ET mapping community will be.

Please, keep the thread on topic.

This contest brought to you by MadJack, Mr Tickles and LaggingTom
EDIT: Converted to Sticky thread. Sock

[LaggingTom]

Psssh… I should be before Tickles!

Just like to note that everything will get considered. You can relax if you’re worrying about your prefabs getting modified (by us) without your explicit permission. Unless, that is, my cat gets loose on the keyboard again. Heck, it’s how my last map started

[sock]

All people interested should post to this thread and not create a million new ones showing a single prefab. A quick count of people entering would be cool and maybe screenshot progress so everyone knows what sort of standard of brushwork is being created.

MadJack: I assume you will be keeping an eye on this thread and the friendly prefab mapping competition?

Sock
:moo:

[MadJack]

Thanks a bunch sock

I’ll do my best to keep them in check but I don’t think it’ll be a problem since most people here behave pretty nicely

While I’m thinking about it… Mr Tickles will have to leave in the following weeks from University to where ever he’s going so we will need a judge or two to replace him. Send me an email.

As sock suggested, it would be nice to have a head count for those that want to participate.

[Ifurita]

I’ll contribute something.

1. Can we contribute objectives?
2. Can we submit multiple entries
3. Can I submit my zeppelin or is that too big (~5,000 units long)

[blushing_bride]

can you be more clear regarding making a whole a building because really i could go absolutly nuts just making a single building. for example could you just make the exteroir of a building or just make the interoir or does it have to be both.

[Ifurita]

Just keep in mind though, that the crazier you go on any prefab, the less likely someone else will use it, since it won’t quite fit in. I’ll probably submit a small prefab built around a nebelwerfer prefab I already have

I’ll add some sandbags, a few sections of broken wall, and loose rocket rounds lying around

[LaggingTom]

MadJack is peacefully sleeping after a long night of working over this, so I’ll reply.

1. Can we contribute objectives?
2. Can we submit multiple entries
3. Can I submit my zeppelin or is that too big (~5,000 units long)

1. If by objectives you mean a few entities linked together, then no. There are plenty examples of that floating everywhere. Thought MadJack may wish to expand to a new category, so don’t close yourself off to that possiblility
2. You can submit one prefab for each category, but remember, no revisions.
3. I doubt my computer would be able to handle looking at that prefab, so for this, we need to wait on the big organization man

Also, our headcount stands at three at this point(capslock trojan, Ifurita and Genesis) and hopefully, more will show interest

can you be more clear regarding making a whole a building because really i could go absolutly nuts just making a single building. for example could you just make the exteroir of a building or just make the interoir or does it have to be both.

As Ifurita said, we want these to be usable, if you make one building that just works with YOUR map, then it’s not going to do very well. Iffy’s bunker example on his webpage is a perfect example of what we’re looking for.

Edit: Overlooked something

[S.S.Heirpie]

We have just opened a site for mappers at: http://www.enemyterritoryunited.com/
you will notice that there is a spot for uploading prefabs, before the prefabs are shown they have to be validated first, which is done on a daily basis, So if you want to pitch in and help the Et mapper community that would be Great!!!

Thanks
Pie

[neotic]

pie… you dolt. it shouldbe enemy territory devided… because were at war. helllooooooooooooooo

[michi.be]

Here’s a small 5-10min quickie I’ve done in 3dsmax and photoshop using 3 three different photos and simply composite them together.
I will do some rock/cliff models for my next map but will release them for other mappers too.

[MadJack]

@ michi.be, impressive work but don’t submit that because you made it in 3D MAX. Though I think it looks wicked

@ Heirpie, sure, we’ll send you all the prefabs if you want when the contest is done and wrapped up So what will YOU submit? lol Oh and a mention of the contest on that site would be great!

@ blushing_bride. Frankly, you can prefab about anything you want. You can prefab a whole city block if you feel like it but you have to ask yourself if that’s convenient for a mapper. If you’d like to make a very elaborate house exterior or a house that is fully furnished, I don’t see why you can’t do it.

@ Ifurita, btw that Nebelwefer looks great.
As for objectives I can’t see why it shouldn’t be done but just keep aware that it might not be suitable for everyone so my suggestion would be to make something that could be used as an objective. Like a dynamitable wall with all the brushwork included. Entities might break a map with clashing key/values already in. Just the basic setup shouldn’t be a problem.

If you mean more than one submission in the same category then the answer is no but you can submit one prefab in each category as Tom said.

Zeppelin is fine by me. The contest is not to decide if it’ll be used by other mappers I agree that it’s a bit on the huge size but hey if you want to submit it, sure, we’ll accept it.

@ Tom, not everyone lives in prehistory with a TNT2

Some ideas/suggestions when making prefabs.

Try for a large audience. Even if there are categories, you have to think in a general sense.

What are the odds the prefab will be used? The important point is if you make it too specific people won’t be inclined to use it if it means re-texturing a whole castle exterior to make it fit or end-up changing 2/3 of the brushwork.

When I think prefab, I think about boring stuff to do, or repetitive work like stairways or railing. Other things might be a comm. tower, a cavern, etc.

Don’t forget that it doesn’t need to be big, small things matter too.

Last notes: If you want to submit a prefab like the Nebelwefer that can shoot and or move include a readme on how to set it up and with a rundown of key/values so the mapper knows what to expect and make the necessary changes to either the prefab or the map.

Please include a readme.txt in the PK3 you submit. That way you are protecting your work and you can give kudos if you feel like it.

About the one submission per category. You can make more than one prefab for each category but only one can be submitted for participation in the contest.

I think that covers it all.

[michi.be]

but don’t submit that because you made it in 3D MAX

But i can sent it in in .ase format. its allowed. if its a prefab contest, then you should only allow .pfb and .map format. if you allow .ase you should allow modelled mapobjects/prefabs too.
because if you turn your .map into an ase model its not a prefab anymore.
maybe another “modelled prefabs” category or something like that?
i could imagine that people would like to see some good quality mapobjects here too. like the submarine or truck model i saw floating through this forums some time ago .

[sock]

@ michi.be, impressive work but don’t submit that because you made it in 3D MAX. Though I think it looks wicked

A prefab is a prefab regardless of what package it is made in. Misc models are prefabs and the more generic models/prefabs/brushwork available for people to use the better. The ASE loophole recently caused problems with a mapping contests and in the end modelling packages were allowed. I understand its your prefab contest but restricting the entries is like cutting your nose off to spite your face. More entries to the competition means more final prefabs for people to use. Maybe you should grade models on how well they are skinned for example?

Sock
:moo:

[CptnTriscuit]

I’ll participate.

[LaggingTom]

Heh, we’ll definately have a talk over this. If, however, this we allow models made out of Radiant via some other program, they’ll be from a seperate category. It’s just not fair to those whom cannot use other programs, through lack of experience, access to the program, or incredible skill with brushwork.

I’ll send a lengthy email to MadJack recommending we add a category: (insert catchy title here involving models created in other programs, yay!)

Of course, you’ll have to state that you did make it this way. In all fairness to those whom used brushwork, of course.

But once more, as I’m not the head, I cannot make a decision. And also, for clarification, the reason we did not want out of Radiant prefabs was because of their rotation issues. But if you find a way (God willing) for them to rotate easily, then I’m sure MadJack will fall in love with you… er, MadJack will appreciate it.

Edit: clarification

[BXpress]

i agree with sock…

you thought i would say anything else?
well, you want me to add my Bridge of Remagen?^^

[MadJack]

The decision to include .ase in the first place is, as Tom said, because there are a lot of issues with prefabs when rotating, brushes can deform, textures lose their alignment etc and since q3map2 now gives us the oh so good ability to fix those problem by converting a .map to .ase is a godsend.

When I decided to not include .ase in the first place wasn’t to discriminate anyone, but rather out of fairness between mappers and modellers. Most mappers don’t use Max or Maya or Blender or they do to a lesser extend. Mappers’ skills are mostly based on map-making and the occasional modelling. Also influencing that decision was the time factor. At first, it wasn’t supposed to be 60 days and I know it takes a while to make a brand spanking new model in a 3D program.

You can blame me for calling it a prefab contest and not a modelling contest then because when I started mapping in 99 prefabs and modelling were two distintive categories. Prefabs were exclusively made in the editor and models etc were made in a 3D program. Now, I guess the distinction have somehow blurred.

That’s my justification for refusing to exclude 3D programs entries.

Now, I’m not an idiot and I refuse to shoot myself in the foot or head or to cut my nose off.

So here is what we’ll do. The contest will now be changed to Summer Prefab and Modelling Contest. Though, obviously, for the reasons I explained above, we will put entries made in a 3D program into the new 3D Modelling classification. Main classifications will not compete with each others but contain the same categories. That way, I think fairness will be kept and everyone will be happy (I somehow doubt that :P).

I will also update the main post to reflect the changes a bit later.

[Ifurita]

I think of a prefab as a prepackaged “thing” that I can drop into my map and use. I use a lot of prefabs that are models + clips + entities (MG’s, lights, tanks, etc). I think those should all be acceptable. I would consider a simple model of a generator with nothing else, a pure model and perhaps disqualify it.

[MadJack]

True indeed. I’m thinking of amending the contest again so we can get the most prefabs possible. I’ll try to come up with something and I’ll post about it tomorrow.