April/May Level Design Contest Theme

[karamazovapy]

This month's contest theme is: 3 VERSIONS!

Possibly the most challenging theme to date, your task is to create three versions of the same level. The trick is that each version must be designed for a different number of players: 2-4/5-8/9+. We've all seen how maps can play very differently based on the number of players logged in. Now's your chance to experiment with that idea! Use gridsize, style, level generators, an expanded pattern...anything it takes to create three incarnations of the same basic idea, each tailored for three different-sized games.

You must submit:
(1) copy intended for four players or fewer (ex. 1v1, 2v2)
(1) copy intended for five to eight players (ex. 2v3, 3v3, 4v4)
(1) copy intended nine or more players (ex. 4v5, 6v6)

Each copy must be identifiable as the same basic level or idea, fit to the appropriate scale. Any gametype or number of teams is acceptable. Maps will be judged for gameplay, aesthetics, innovation, and skill in designing for size.
Note: Maps using 3+ teams/bases will have different player ranges, as six players are more easily accommodated by that style. The small/medium/large rule still applies.

Maps must be PM'ed by: 11:59 PM, Sunday, April 25th.
Three Maps, Three Weeks.

Awesome idea! I'm in.
Edit: What about FFA maps? And can we have multiple submissions?
Double Edit: I request that all maps be posted on the forums by you so that we can judge them better when the time comes. After all, we will probably have like 21 maps (3*7), and going through that on your server, waiting through all the time limits, will be a nightmare.

[karamazovapy]

The level change password follows the same format every month. Ask a member if you're not familiar with the system...you should be able to skip around pretty easily. I intend to use MinPlayers and MaxPlayers in each level file to streamline the server for regular gameplay, though. The whole point of this month's contest is that every map should be a lot of fun whether two people or ten people are playing at any given time. Watusimoto can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Min and Max just guide automatic level selection and don't affect your ability to select levels from the menu.

I don't intend to post all the maps, simply because not everyone wants their code posted. With any luck, everyone will want to log in more so they can actually play each of the maps and we'll get a really wide variety of games!

Any and all gametypes are valid choices. What's important is that each level is appropriately scaled for the number of players. If you get bored and want to create more than one series of maps to fill out the server, you're welcome to submit them. Only one series will be voting-eligible per player.

[watusimoto]

MinPlayers/MaxPlayers is currently non-functional, as I could never work out an algorithm that made sense to me. I'm still hoping to but it into play though, and perhaps this will provide a good opportunity.

Also, I'd suggest that submitters should be able to have as many vote-eligible submissions as they want. After all, one goal is to get more maps and more creativity out there, and if one person generates a lot of ideas, then more power to them!

[karamazovapy]

MinPlayers/MaxPlayers is currently non-functional, as I could never work out an algorithm that made sense to me. I'm still hoping to but it into play though, and perhaps this will provide a good opportunity.

Also, I'd suggest that submitters should be able to have as many vote-eligible submissions as they want. After all, one goal is to get more maps and more creativity out there, and if one person generates a lot of ideas, then more power to them!

Well if MinPlayers/MaxPlayers could get fixed, at least for a linux build, that would be VERY convenient! I'm not sure what algorithm is required, if players specify the Min/Max values in the level file.

The reason for having one vote-eligible entry per person is threefold:
1) It forces people to spend more time on creating one QUALITY entry rather than churning out several mediocre ones. I'd rather have one really good entry than two passable ones that didn't get enough attention.
2) In the interest of the entrant, multiple entries may split votes and turn a win into a loss. It doesn't help a player's chances to have to compete against him/herself for votes.
3) Given the size of the community and the number of maps versus players, it would be easy to produce more entries than voters. A tie of 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1(-0-0-0-0-0-0) isn't very exciting; the 3-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1(-0-0-0-0-0) victory isn't that impressive, either.

I'm hopefully going to enter this one. :3

[watusimoto]

I'm not sure what algorithm is required

Neither do I -- that's the problem But maybe if there are three versions of the same level file, we could use the player counts to load the appropriate version. Perhaps this could be done with a levelgen script.

As for the voting, I read a very interesting book on voting methods, and the fairest way to conduct a poll like we do is to simply rate levels from 1-10, and pick the best from that. It's the hardest system to game, and the most likely to pick the overall favorite.

[karamazovapy]

...is a rating/voting system possible on phpbb...?

...is a rating/voting system possible on phpbb...?

What you can do is make multiple polls inside one topic. Each poll will be for one level, with options from 1 to 10.

[karamazovapy]

...I don't think that's the solution I'm looking for...

...I don't think that's the solution I'm looking for...

Hmm? Why not? It's still all contained within one post.

The problem with a '1-10' system is that when it isn't clearly defined what the individual numbers mean.

5 is directly in-between the two extremes, so logically it would be the average. However, in practice, people usually rate levels "7" or "8" or some other inflated number.

By definition, *all* of these levels can't be above-average, so it seems evident that it is necessary to have a chart that makes an attempt at explaining the meaning of each rating level, as otherwise people will consistently inflate levels' ratings (so that even a particularly horrible level would still get 3 or 4, rather than the 1 it richly deserves). A system akin to mine as shown here might be a nice solution. I prefer the use of seven over ten, because odd numbers have a single middle number, and because seven has symbolic value to me.

Aside from all of this talk of a new rating system, though, remember that if it ain't broke, don't fix it -- the current system may not be perfect, but it gets the job done.

I haven't felt any real inspiration for a level in a long time, but maybe I'll give this contest a shot.

[karamazovapy]

Hmm? Why not? It's still all contained within one post.

Because it's a hackish workaround that would produce an extremely long poll without even doing the basic chore of averaging the result.

Hmm? Why not? It's still all contained within one post.

Because it's a hackish workaround that would produce an extremely long poll without even doing the basic chore of averaging the result.

Yeah, guess so.
Hmm... phpbb is flexible to take some mods, maybe something can be added.

[karamazovapy]

As for the voting, I read a very interesting book on voting methods, and the fairest way to conduct a poll like we do is to simply rate levels from 1-10, and pick the best from that. It's the hardest system to game, and the most likely to pick the overall favorite.

Might've found a fix for this!

[karamazovapy]

*Bump*
I hope you're all working on your levels! I've only received one set of maps so far. You've got TEN DAYS...

I'm cooking up a reeeaal doozy for you all! Can't wait for you guys to see it!

My entry's design is complete, so I'll be able to make it in time.

[karamazovapy]

You have until Sunday night! Get to work if you haven't submitted a set of levels yet!

How many entrants do we have so far?

[karamazovapy]

Five total. Not the most impressive showing as yet, but there are a couple people who said they were working on entries, so we'll see. Of course, five entries means fifteen maps.

If minplayers/maxplayers gets backported to 012a, there will be five(variable) in rotation and fifteen selectable using the levelchangepassword.

[karamazovapy]

*BUMP*
Turn your maps in TODAY!!!

I work until late tonight, but I'll launch the server when I get home. MinPlayers/MaxPlayers has been fixed and will work on the server, so only maps of the appropriate size will load by default. The level change password (MMYY) will allow you to select ANY level, and /next and /prev will take you to the next or previous levels in queue regardless of the number of players.
(that is to say: if you have three players, the next map in queue requires 5-8, and you use /next, the 5-8 map will load even though your numbers would normally be insufficient)

Dang, I was too busy with schoolwork to get my maps done. Ah well, I'll just finish them and put them in my clan folder.

darn i missed it...probobly because i havent played in like...2 months
(only because my laptop mouse is broken so i cant left click...i have to tap the pad to click)

[karamazovapy]

Note that it is now MAY, all you levelchangers out there...