Newdark Novice Contest - Interest?

Iceblade on 17/11/2015 at 23:21

Here is the 128,000 contest entries. The missions seemed to be of a good size for novice construction.

(https://web.archive.org/web/20061101153025/http://www.keepofmetalandgold.com/contest4.htm)

And you could still implement part of your mission idea in the contest and then expand it afterward.

Grandmauden on 18/11/2015 at 00:33

Thanks. :thumb:

I'll be sure to play and replay some of these missions to get a good feel of the size limit. Not to mention I've been meaning to play The Burrick's Head Inn again! :)

Iceblade on 18/11/2015 at 15:03

Looking back, it seems KOMAG's contests generated the widest variety of FM concepts. It seems outside of these contests, most missions are fall into cathedral/temple/monastery, city, mansion, or fortress missions with limited design originality beyond the story. Not that is bad or unavoidable, it is just rather interesting that those contests resulted in that level of variation.

I guess the small sizes and contest atmosphere encourage more creativity in mission design.

FireMage on 18/11/2015 at 17:22

I understand what you mean Iceblade! :)

It is always more interesting to get more variations. But do not force it, especially for a novice contest! ;)

Iceblade on 18/11/2015 at 18:34

Only forcing going on here is the removal of a theme. :D

Also, uniqueness is only half a point towards the total score. Big factors are gameplay/fun, story, use of space, and design (focused more on polish and architecture that is more than simple boxes). The details novices should focus on.

Squadarofl on 18/11/2015 at 19:32

Am I forbidden to enter this contest ? I released a mission along Firemage & Skacky but I consider myself as a novice since I never did anything beyond architecture and audio works; It was the work of my two senpais :p

Iceblade on 18/11/2015 at 20:22

Hmm...since it was a team project and the other members were the ones doing much of the legwork with regards to polish, scripting, story, and object decoration; I will allow you to enter the contest.

Iceblade on 19/11/2015 at 06:37

Okay, I'm blind. I thought KOMAG's fourth contest was larger than the first 2.

Looking at the missions from those contests, I think 262,144 feels better for this contest. It also limits the need for space saving technical wizardry. As a result of this larger size, blue rooms should fit within the contest boundary. Scenery can still exceed the boundary.

Kurhhan on 19/11/2015 at 13:16

I don't like another restriction, now with cubic, so don't count me in the contest. Sorry Iceblade but I think Brethren and FireMage has better sense what the newbie contest should be.

Iceblade on 19/11/2015 at 14:12

New restriction? The dimensions don't have to be equal. The mission area just has to fit within a rectangular prism area brush no greater than 262,144 cubic units with any orientation.