Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

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sektor2111
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by sektor2111 »

I'm not going for Chaos/Halloween types.
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by Terraniux »

Now we have the rules and the theme will be Chaos/Halloween.
Cool.

But where's the border we draw, when it comes to scaryness / f*ck3ed up shit. Some people are frightened of some stuff.

I assume there will be no form of censorship, or if there is, where is the limit?
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by papercoffee »

sektor2111 wrote:I'm not going for Chaos/Halloween types.
Why not?
Be a little bit creative. :mrgreen:
Terraniux wrote:But where's the border we draw, when it comes to scaryness / f*ck3ed up shit. Some people are frightened of some stuff.
I assume there will be no form of censorship, or if there is, where is the limit?
Well I would say no real gore? I mean pictures from the news or history. No real dead people, this is a game. Keep it game gory. :wink:
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by nogardilaref »

papercoffee wrote:Keep it game gory. :wink:
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by Dr.Flay »

If you focus on gore you are going down the wrong path. Gore can be added in battle with a mutator.
Scary/lonely/desolate/harsh/hostile/
These are more what you want to evoke.

I mentioned for example a Dentist clinic as an example of a place that scares some people. A mini-mode map in a medieval dentist room could be fun.
If you don't like spiders then a monster map may be a direction to go. Fall into a spider nest and it is lunch time.

For a lazy option just do whatever you would do anyway. but use the Chaos logs textures and set the map in the Chaos realm.
It could be just a regular arena, but in a parallel world.
If in doubt think fire and lava, spikes and traps.

Don't forget if it is set in this Universe you can use the Liandri resources.
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by Red_Fist »

Anyone playing UT will not be able to play unless they have UT Gold, is why Chaos flopped.

So if you use stuff from it, or play it, you NEED Chaos installed.

I liked the crossbow the most it seemed. Chaos has some cool stuff, well thought out.
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by papercoffee »

That's why said MyLevel the shit out of this deco stuff :mrgreen:
Just to be on the safe side.
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SilverSound
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by SilverSound »

I should probably learn how to use MyLevel then.


I've always stayed the hell away from it! It always caused crashes and problems for me. Scary stuff.



Imagine working on a map for a while only to find out that you can't open it anymore because of "myLevel" :omfg:
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by sektor2111 »

Last time I was dropping there perhaps 50 MB if not more. The danger exist indeed, I was almost to fail. I think I have even explanations:
- I've imported stuff from source A, Source B, Source C;
- sources were using a bit of "forced" work;
- let's say source B and C were having a common root but deviating a bit - Editor at this point has ruined some textures which I had to re-import from one single source and... using directly simple PCX files...

What to do
It is advisable to save map from time to time in different stages and testing these stages before continuing. When turns into sh!t just fallback to "Last known Good Configuration" - like a Windoze. If not say "bye bye" to your work. A good way is to spend time mapping with a clear mind. If you are tired (daily jobs and such), leave Edy alone (Editor). If you piss him off it will be grinding teeth at you. You cannot imagine me when I was figuring that when I got 40MB and I had to finish last zone, Editor was constantly running away without even to blink or to make a beep, it was simple vanished like a ghost. I have open finally a MyLevel map which was the evil source of last thing added, and I have deleted a suspect sound from there, then I open my Map and quickly I removed bad Pawn and saving it in next 3 seconds. Bug has gone - luckily as I can say. MyLevel content from now on unused was discarded. I'm agree that I was pushing limits there but I've learned that nasty lesson. If any small error can be seen, stop using that stuff and save map ONLY if it looks in a good state. Every single bad build and error might affect Level.
If resources used are good (see codes around) MyLevel is not that bad. It will prevent "ChicoRuinedPackages" type occurrences and Level is not affected. Other bad samples are more at this point.
For future I'll prepare a "macro" texture importer for being triggered in console using only normal PCX files with 256×256 resolution as are stock textures. One hit I got at some render problem and I suspect that I was using textures with more colors and a higher resolution.
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by papercoffee »

What sektor said and...
Go to your UnrealTournament.ini look for the [Editor.EditorEngine] section.
edit this:
AutoSave=True
AutoSaveTimeMinutes=5 (I set it like this because of the insane tower map, you can set what every minute you like)
AutoSaveIndex=8 (how many maps should be saved)

The maps will be saved as:
Auto0.unr
Auto1.unr
Auto2.unr
...
Auto8.unr

Edit------------------
Btw.
papercoffee wrote:Those are the results:
  • Game-types: any 13 16%
    Game-types: DM 3 4%
    Game-types: CTF 3 4%
    Game-types: DOM 4 5%
    Game-types: AS 2 3%
    Game-types: MH 1 1%

    Filesize: any 9 11%
    Filesize: 2MB 0 0%
    Filesize: 5MB 2 3%
    Filesize: 10MB 6 8%
    Dimensions: any 6 8%
    Dimensions: 2048uu 0 0%
    Dimensions: 3072uu 3 4%

    Dimensions: 4096uu 10 13%
    Dependencies: any 5 6%
    Dependencies: MyLevel only 2 3%
    Dependencies: default files only 0 0%

    Dependencies: MyLev and def 10 13%
Now we have the rules and the theme will be Chaos/Halloween.

Name suggestions:
  1. Autumn Chaos Contest
  2. Spooky Mapping Contest
  3. Undead Chaos Mapping
  4. Mapping Contest of Hell
We still have to decide on the name of the contest.
Or I decide on my own :lol2:
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by SilverSound »

Ah! Thanks for this guys.

Good info. This will help fix some potential issues I might have working on a map.
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by nogardilaref »

papercoffee wrote:
papercoffee wrote: Name suggestions:
  1. Autumn Chaos Contest
  2. Spooky Mapping Contest
  3. Undead Chaos Mapping
  4. Mapping Contest of Hell
We still have to decide on the name of the contest.
Or I decide on my own :lol2:
The best names are the simplest, so I suggest:
Chaotic Mapping Contest
or CMC for short (DM-CMC-SomeMapName)
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by Dr.Flay »

Red_Fist wrote:Anyone playing UT will not be able to play unless they have UT Gold, is why Chaos flopped.

So if you use stuff from it, or play it, you NEED Chaos installed.
Anyone not paying attention to what I said will talk B.S.

Try the original Chaos maps for yourself in regular game modes and do not add the mutator.
.....Shock Horror ! The maps are normal !
None of the maps use actors from the core.
None of the resources rely on the core mod.
They are regular normal UE1 resources.
The only reason you would need Chaos installed, is if some idiot did exactly what they were told not to do, and put core mod actors in the map, possibly breaking the map from being used with a newer version of the mod.
DO NOT PUT CHAOS MOD COMPONENTS IN A MAP !!!
All needed resources will be swapped if the Chaos mod is running

If you want to play Chaos in any maps then yes you need the mod, but if you connect to a decent server, magically the files arrive on your PC so you get the Chaos mod !

I will repeat 1 last time
Make the maps correctly and they will work for everyone that does not have ChaosUT.

I will tell you what, if anyone makes a map that only works in Chaos, it will not be allowed in this contest.
Does that help clarify things?

Anyone would think that servers cannot send a mutator or textures to a client !
Personally I would recommend that people don't upload their maps to servers that are not configured properly, that way textures and decos will be sent like normal.
I suggested a shared resource collection for a theme to help reduce replication and file size, and perhaps foolishly assuming the servers we will be uploading to are capable of sending textures and decos.
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by SilverSound »

Could someone post a list of Texture resources to use when creating a chaos map?


I personally use https://wiki.beyondunreal.com/Legacy:Te ... ckage_(UT) For all my texture finding, but a list for Chaos related texture packages would be easy for others to follow.
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Re: Mapping Contest Theme Discussion

Post by OjitroC »

SilverSound wrote:... a list for Chaos related texture packages would be easy for others to follow.
I think you'll find there aren't any specific Chaos textures (apart from the logos, decos, etc - plus trees of course). Best thing to do is have a look at some Chaos maps - if you don't have any (they have the prefix CUT so DM-CUT_Horus, for example) then go to the Chaos site mentioned earlier in this thread and download the two map packs. These will give you a good idea of the overall theme and of the kinds of textures used. Check out all the Chaos u files for decos, trees etc.
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