The Unreal Tournament 3 "Old School" Contest Officially Launches

[hal]

As we mentioned on Wednesday, 3DBuzz and Epic Games are kicking off an "Oldschool" level design contest for Unreal Tournament 3. Today, the official page for the contest launches along with all of the rules and regulations. You'll have through June 30, 2008 to complete a Deathmatch level using only stock assets. Some of the judging criteria is listed below:

• Artistic and Architectural Style. We want to see how well you can use the assets that come with the game to make a believeable environment for the player.
  
  
• Originality. No remakes of old levels are allowed. We will be looking for you to put your own personal touch on your level in order to make a unique gaming experience for the player.
  
  
• Flow and Gameplay. This is absolutely key. It doesn't matter what your level looks like if it plays terribly. It should be fun for the players so they want to keep coming back for more.
  
  
• Performance. If your map won't run at an acceptable framerate on an average system, then the odds are that a great deal of people will simply not be able to enjoy it. There is always a compromise between what looks good and what will run well. We want to see who can overcome the limitations and make a level that not only looks great, but runs smooth as well.
  
  
• Quality of Work In Progress Update Posts. This is just as important as every other part of the judging. We want to see your progress detailed as you go along and we want others to learn from you as well as help you through the development process by providing comments and criticisms. Think of this as the testing process for your map.

 

[Bazzwano]

sounds kool, sucks that its only DM, i dont have plans for a Dm map, good luck to those who enter

 

[zynthetic]

only stock assets
Originality

I know what they meant, just a poor definition. At least it all wasn't used in the same sentence.

 

[fleshsniper1]

You guys think someone who barely knows how to map can learn in time and make a decent enough map to enter, not to win but just to make it... Im trying anyways , the possibilities of winning and the prize is too tempting.

 

[Zak]

You guys think someone who barely knows how to map can learn in time and make a decent enough map to enter...

I'd say yes. And it really is a case of "nothing to lose, everything to gain." Go for it, and best of luck!

Zak

 

[TheSpoonDog]

Hmm I was thinking of entering, but now that I see it's just DM... I'm not so sure (why the hell would they restrict it to DM?)

 

[Zak]

why the hell would they restrict it to DM?

The short answer is logistics. We're keeping this first contest very simple and highly focused because 1) it's easier to judge, 2) we don't have tons of prizes for multiple categories of maps, and 3) we don't want to have to compare maps of different types to one another. Even in the mighty-mighty Make Something Unreal Contest, they separate each type of map into categories.

If this one takes off and gets some participation, you can look for a continuation in other directions or perhaps an expansion. But we've got to start somewhere.

Thanks!

 

[Lruce Bee]

Honestly, anyone who has even a half assed level on the go should re-visit it and go for this because the way I see it, there isn't going to be a lot of competition, certainly not the kind of volume you used to get with the previous titles.
DM is a great choice because the level can be really small, say a one on one arena and contained, whereas a VCTF level just through it's sheer size could be a bit of a grind imo.
No custom content again eases the pressure a bit so it's just a case of throwing something together that utilises the stock stuff.
Nice to see no re-makes allowed because this does push forward your level designing skills as an individual.
My advice is try and use the lightest texture set provided in game and lighten these levels up a bit.
Almost all the maps I've seen on the forums so far and without exception seem waaaaay too dark.
A map that's light and airy with good contrasts of light and shadow will stand out from the crowd.
200,000 tons of girders, high tech trim and lit with 4 x 12 watt spotlights isn't going to win the judges over so let that daylight flood in baby!

Good luck to all those entering.

Lruce

 

[fleshsniper1]

Well guys im going for it. This well help me in my TC. Im going to try everyday and work at this. Maybe ill be a pro after the contest X)

 

[Aggressor]

My advice is try and use the lightest texture set provided in game and lighten these levels up a bit.
Almost all the maps I've seen on the forums so far and without exception seem waaaaay too dark.
A map that's light and airy with good contrasts of light and shadow will stand out from the crowd.
Lruce

Shhhhhh, this should be kept secret so that I can win!

Yep, for god's sake people, make more bright and colorful maps. Heck, I'm in, just to see if I can make a map that's bright enough so you can see the next wall. Though the one month deadline is kinda limiting.

 

[Ionium]

So we're supposed to take 100,000 screenshots for the noobs?

 

[hal]

Why is it that you seem condescending to new mappers, Ionium?

Look at the kind of stuff some of the top level designers do for the community. Take Hourences, for instance... he's got a whole site filled with stuff to help the beginner. So do some of the other veteran mappers.

Doing stuff to help other designers better their own work is more admirable than excelling at your own, imo.

 

[Ionium]

I mean people should have the VTM's to help them, plus 3dbuzz is releasing free videos to help newbs, why do we have to document every single static mesh we put in?
And what if the map is like 95% done already? Do we get fux0red over on the judging? Seems unfair.

 

[Hazel.H]

Well guys im going for it. This well help me in my TC. Im going to try everyday and work at this. Maybe ill be a pro after the contest X)

Good luck!

Same to anyone else who is thinking of entering, go for it! And if you think "I'm not good enough yet" that's a good start, because it means you're open to looking at your own work critically and improving on it.

 

[daloonie]

I'll totally make a mess of it. So I'll go and enter and make a big BSP wonder!

 

[Jackal]

DM-BSPHoleHOM.ut3