Ottoj55 on 1/9/2005 at 02:14

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Two and a half months ago I announced a contest for novice builders in the editors guild. Tonight the missions are all done and ready for release. In most ways this contest is like Komag's Thief 2 contest, except that to participate you have to be a new author. All these missions are by first timers. To level the playing field the authors had 2.5 months to build a mission under 1,000,000 cubic units involving a bank robbery. The missions will shortly be available at (http://thiefmissions.com) thiefmissions.com As always, a big thanks to Epithumia for the bandwidth and time that goes into maintaining the archive.

The missions are

(http://thiefmissions.com/novicecontest/abankjob.zip) A Bank Job
(http://thiefmissions.com/novicecontest/mechbank.zip) The Mech Bank
(http://thiefmissions.com/novicecontest/risingsun.zip) The Last Gleaming of the Rising Sun
(http://thiefmissions.com/novicecontest/rosaries.zip) Rosaries are Red
(http://thiefmissions.com/novicecontest/sergebank.zip) Serge Bank
(http://thiefmissions.com/novicecontest/taffbank.zip) The Taffer's Bank


To vote on the missions as you play them download a (http://www.jasonotto.net/contest/ballot.txt) ballot here and return it to [email]thief_contest@hotmail.com[/email]

Voting will go on through the month of September. Please play these new releases and thank the anonymous authors for thier hard work.

For more information, the contest rules, and some screen shots of the entries please visit (http://www.jasonotto.net/contest.html)

As per the authors request at this time it looks like the buggy Evendale is being removed, this is caused by a problems locating all the dedx items used in the mission.

VOTING

What good is a contest if you don't vote for the missions. Above are the links to the ballot and the email address to return them to, the categories are the same as Komag's, rate on a 1 to 10 scale, that is worst (1) to best (10)

Space - How well the limited space is used (mission seems larger than it is, not overly cramped, not wasted)

Technical - Visuals (effects), conversations, spells, tricks, animations, interactions, complex systems

Design - Architecture, textures, landscaping, decorating, realism, visuals, lighting/shadows, coloring, models

Atmosphere - Creepy, spooky, tense, exciting, thrilling, reminiscent, provoking, shocking, nail-biting, light-hearted/gay

Sound - Eerie, creepy, emotional, funny, musical, fitting/appropriate, unique, voice acting, tense

Unique - Unusual, far out, wacky, would-never-think-of-that, new, use of Dark Engine, different

Humor - Funny, hilarious, writings, voice acting, gameplay, taunts, looks funny, tongue-in-cheek, dry, LOL factor

Story - Moving, deep, well written, voice acting, immersive, pacing, draws-you-in, thought-provoking, twists, shocking

Puzzles - Challenging, traps, clues, sequences, ingenious, mechanical, detective, keyhunt, button hunt

Game play - Overall fun level, replayability, varied gameplay with difficulty levels, ghosting/sneaking, forced actions

Overall - Overall enjoyment of the mission, not the average of technical scores, just did you like it

Ravenus1 on 1/9/2005 at 03:37

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Man what great timing... I was going through pains.. :thumb:

EmperorSteele on 1/9/2005 at 04:43

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hey, uh, what do i score out of on the ballot? 5? 10? 42?

Also, in A Bank Job [spoiler]Where do I find the "safe" that the leter in the jewelry store is talking about? I need to find this "safe" so i cn find the lever that's inside of it to activate the switch to open the display cases. Theres only two safes in the level, and they're in differnt buildings, one of which i can't open >=.

Speaking of, any idea where i can find a clue pertaining to the combo for the bank vault? I can't seem to get out of this smalle neighrborhood block, though i would think there's a manison somehwere aroudn here or something, right? ir is the one block it?[/spoiler]

Logan on 1/9/2005 at 07:06

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The request to consider results at calculation of Russian fans voices who's don't speak egnlish so can't come here, but very carefully looks for every news.
(http://82.199.102.13/cgi-bin/forum/topic.cgi?forum=3&topic=41)

Clockwork Mifune on 1/9/2005 at 08:14

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EmperorSteele : First, jewellery store.

Hint: [SPOILER]To find the safe, search the 'workshop' type room in the jewellery store very carefully. [/SPOILER]

Dead give away: [SPOILER]Walk into the workshop-type room and shut the door. Lean around the left side of the door frame and look up, there's a small switch there. Turn around and you'll find the shelving unit has parted to reveal the safe mentioned in the readable. Return to the office and check the window frame to the left of the painting behind the desk for another small switch. It moves the painting to reveal the levers needed to open the display cases.[/SPOILER]

The scroll for the bank vault combo: [SPOILER]A patron staying in the inn had a scroll bound in red with him... if I remember correctly, that's the clue you'll need for the bank code.[/SPOILER]

A Bank Job is the only one I've played so far, and I must say, I've already been blown away by the quality! First mission, wooo :eek: .