Summer 2008 Mapmaking Contest Results

[RyokoTK]

I had a lot to say here, but then Firefox crashed. Therefore, my map comments are going to be pretty terse since I don't feel like rewriting all of them.

This summer's contest was pretty good. While the turnout is a little disappointing (eight maps submitted), and while there aren't really any truly standout entries, most of the submissions were above-average, and the usage of multiple texture sets was generally pretty good.

The top 6 maps are available on Simplici7y.

FINAL SCORES
1st [65]: $lave [3rd in VD5]
2nd [63]: CryoS [Newcomer]
3rd [62]: Treellama [1st in VD2, 2nd in VD3, 2nd in VD4, 1st in VD5]
4th [60]: The Thug [8th in VD4]
5th [59]: g pack [Newcomer]
6th [58]: W'rkncacnter [3rd in VD2, 4th in VD3, 4th in VD5]
7th [37]: Irons [2nd in VD2, 3rd in VD3, 5th in VD4, 2nd in VD5]
DQ: Longinus [Newcomer]

Rainfall by $lave
Texturing: 14/15
Architecture: 10/10
Lighting: 10/10
Flow: 09/10
Fairness: 07/10
Balance: 10/10
Originality: 5/5
TOTAL SCORE: 65/70
This is a good dueling map, but unfortunately there's little else. Visually very impressive, though the texturing is splotchy in some areas. The only major problem is the invisibility -- the map is very dark, and with the weapons on the map it provides too much of an advantage, especially since the teleporter that leads to it doesn't look like a teleporter. Overall, very good.

Rinse the Valve by CryoS
Texturing: 14/15
Architecture: 10/10
Lighting: 10/10
Flow: 08/10
Fairness: 08/10
Balance: 08/10
Originality: 5/5
TOTAL SCORE: 63/70
A big map, but there's a lot of dead space, which is problematic. Good to look at -- architecturally this map is the winner, and generally the texturing is good but could have been improved in a couple minor spots. Needs fewer weapon types, more guns and ammo.

Velora Pass by Treellama
Texturing: 10/15
Architecture: 08/10
Lighting: 10/10
Flow: 09/10
Fairness: 10/10
Balance: 10/10
Originality: 4/5
TOTAL SCORE: 62/70
Lava and Pfhor really don't work together, even though Treellama clearly tried to make it so. Architecture is good in some areas, but inconsistent. Lighting is superb. Overall layout is fairly boring -- just a big rocket box with an outer ring -- and there's not much to make it especially new. Certainly playable, but not a masterpiece by any means.

Insomnia by The Thug
Texturing: 10/15
Architecture: 10/10
Lighting: 08/10
Flow: 09/10
Fairness: 09/10
Balance: 10/10
Originality: 4/5
TOTAL SCORE: 60/70
The map is another arena-type map. Architecture is good, and the lighting is generally good but needs some work in the outside areas. The map is almost a little too big, and there aren't enough guns or ammo. The texturing is solid, but there are a couple untextured sides -- these should really be cleaned up. A decent map, but hardly unique.

S'phtilis by g pack
Texturing: 12/15
Architecture: 08/10
Lighting: 09/10
Flow: 07/10
Fairness: 08/10
Balance: 10/10
Originality: 5/5
TOTAL SCORE: 59/70
A unique map with some cool stuff in it. Very large, and the weapon choices and distribution are good. Visually the map is good, but not great -- it fails to really impress. The big problem is that elevators don't look like elevators, and with so many elevation changes this is a significant failing.

Tenured Adhesion by W'rkncacnter
Texturing: 11/15
Architecture: 07/10
Lighting: 08/10
Flow: 07/10
Fairness: 10/10
Balance: 10/10
Originality: 5/5
TOTAL SCORE: 58/70
There's too much crap on this map. Too many pillars, too many ledges. Visually the map is inconsistent -- the central building is pretty good, but the outer areas are hideous. The map could be a lot better with some polish.

The Multiplex by irons
Texturing: 10/15
Architecture: 02/10
Lighting: 08/10
Flow: 09/10
Fairness: 04/10
Balance: 03/10
Originality: 1/5
TOTAL SCORE: 37/70
It's a 7-polygon map.

Vectra by Longinus
DISQUALIFIED
Map was incomplete, not to mention so visually complex that it dropped almost everyone's framerate substantially. Even if the texturing and so forth was finished, the map would be unplayable.

[irons]

I can't believe you did this to me. *lochs*

[Drictelt]

It's a 7-polygon map.

That sounds quite original to me, no?

[RyokoTK]

No, it's not, because there's only so many designs you can do from it and it basically boils down to a small one-room map.

Anyway, VD6 is now available on Simplici7y.

[Kidtofu]

Wow, out of everything i heard from these results, there is nothing here that really makes me want to even spend the TIME to get those maps. . .

Yeah, Im glad i dropped out. :/

[eliasj]

Good work guys. Even if no stellar maps came out of it, we got some experience with VM.lua, right?