My comments on the winning maps and submitted ones to Modscon 08.

It is obvious that only 4 mappers entered the contest. Their maps are available in the mappack.
But I think this contest didn't last enough long or people are not really interested in contests anymore due to the quality of the maps submitted.

There's a little preview of what we can find in these maps.

mp_ust_m

Files are incorrect in the map file.
Entirely made with stock prefabs.
Bad lightning/portals.
Missing textures.
No minimap.
Big RED X accross the screen => Bad compile.
75% empty ( even for a sniper map ).


mp_pass

Already released a month ago.
The map layout is not bad.
Bad iwd.
Crashes servers when with other custom maps.
Won't run in TDM on certain mods.
If you fall into the big moat, you can get outside of the playing area and get stuck out there.


mp_kodash

Overall map is not bad.
You can get outside of the playing area very easily.
Crashes some servers.


mp_scrap

The only good map.
Lots of work on details.
Nice layout.
Nice gameplay.
All files are good.
Congrats to Carcass!!


Rules:
5- Entries sent in must be bug free.

Obviously the 3 first maps were not tested before submitting.

7- Entries may not be released to the public until the winners are announced.

2 of them have been released to the public a long time ago.

I think the next contest will have to be prepared and announced in advance. Also it looks like 2 months is really not enough.

My 2 cents.

Bati and I didn't notice that mp_pass had been previously released. What other map was previously released? I think this may result in disqualification.

As for the amount of time to create the map, we provided 10 weeks and that annoying pop-up was there for the last month. I think that there just aren't enough interested parties to join the contest because 10 weeks should be enough to create a map and submit it even if it isn't 100% complete. Having a contest that runs for 1/2 a year or longer is a bit ridiculous unless we are giving away $1000 in prizes or something.. and why don't we? Well, this amount of submission is exactly what we get for every and all contests since the beginning. again,

Can I ask why you didn't join?

I think your comments regarding the contest are valid and I agree with the previously released maps issue.

Edit:
Oh.. and there were 5 submissions but the 5th was incomplete.

edited on Apr. 21, 2008 11:23 am by foyleman

Kodash is the other one. Its has been released more then 3 weeks ago.

I didn't not joined for many reasons. I have like 4 or 5 maps already started. But I still have some problems with few things in radiant, like minimaps and loadscreens. So, instead of submitting incomplete stuffs I prefered to wait until the next contest. By this time my mapping habilities will surely be better ;)





edited on Apr. 21, 2008 11:38 am by Nemo06c

ust_m has been released a long time ago also on m&m


So 3 of the 4 maps has been released earlier.

So the big winner is Carcass!!!!
He deserves the t-shirt AND the coffee mug



edited on Apr. 21, 2008 11:46 am by Nemo06c

All confirmed.

mp_pass released on 3-29-08
mp_ust_m released on 2-29-08
mp_kodash released on 03-31-08

I'm surprised and sad. We need to disqualify the maps for this issue. I don't want to, but we have the rules right there for all to read.

Please, all those that entered, understand that we must stick by the rules or the rules mean nothing. If we decide to accept released maps, then where do we draw the line? Do we accept maps created a year ago or longer? ugh.

Well I must admit this news has saddened me somewhat.

Winning by default does not have the same prestige unfortunately.

I'll take solace in the fact that I was declared a winner before it came to light that the other entries were ineligible.

It is a shame that there were not more entries, and I wonder if the timing of the contest has been its own downfall. A lot of mappers still seem intent on entering the IW contest, even though it supposedly finished weeks ago.
(Recent rumblings on the IW forums seem to suggest otherwise.)

Well, I plan to wear my winner's badge with pride, and I want to thank ModsOnline again for what I hope will help get my name out there just that little bit more.

Here's to the next MODSCON, and to plenty of worthy entries!

I havent really done that much for CoD4 mapping. Just messing around, getting used to the radiant before creating anything serious.

I think the rule for not releasing the map prior to the contest limited it, because so many people wanted to release theirs prior to the IW contest date. I didn't enter because of that stipulation.

A few brave souls entered the contest despite that rule but nonetheless, 4 total entries is... disheartening.

That doesn't take anything away from your excellent map though Carcass, and congrats on the win. From screenies on your WIP thread and elsewhere it looks very professional and well crafted.

edited on Apr. 21, 2008 07:58 pm by illram

illram writes...

We make the no previous uploads of the map rule because people would enter there maps from months ago or even years. Thats not any fun with that, people look forward to mappacks with new maps, Not from months ago.

batistablr writes...

Understandable.

When will the next competition be taking place? I've got a project that I've started on and I'm sure it will take me awhile to complete. You can see my progress under my projects, including multiple high-resolution screenshots.

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/b9b85bf1fd4a0d1e40e64f93b4934a11220a3856.png