Results of the 2048³ mapping contest !

[Strahlemann]

Some of you may have followed the progress of the 2048³ mapping contest in the editing forum. The name of the contest says everything. The goal was to build a map inside a cube with a side length of 2048qu (quake units). The deadline was the 1.8.07. Until now 2 of the 5 judges were able to hand me a review

And here are the results:

1st place: Strength by Strahlemann
Gameplay: 8.75
Visuals: 8.5
Sum: 17.25


Download: Strength

Gameplay: 8
Visuals: 7
Comment: here we have a cool industrial looking map here, which is played more vertically than horizontally. It plays well, makes use of some rampjump ramps, and a new invention by Strahlemann: Boostpads, that is, jumppads that push you in a way you could just as well walk - simply so you get more speed. Maybe its layout is a bit too complex. With the visuals there are two problems... the many grates cause moirees while walking a bit, and... this industrial look, it's kinda dull. But if one really wants this look, it's one of the best things you can make of it.
Bugs: moirees on grates (maybe they should use blendfunc blend instead of alphafunc)

Gameplay: 9.5
I have played some 2on2 matches and the gameplay is good. Somewhat confusing with all the
vertical action and teleporters thats hard learn.

Visuals: 10
Looks like a UT2004 map

2nd place: Temple of Eternal Night by tZork
Gameplay: 5
Visuals: 9.5
Sum: 14.5


Download: Temple of Eternal Night (striped version)
Temple of Eternal Night (full media version including additional textures 'n stuff. Mappers should download this one)

Gameplay: 6
Visuals: 9
Comment: really cool but odd looking map. Weird signs moving upwards are teleporters, and the whole thing looks... strange. But cool. And totally over the top... there's just too much of the strong colors, too much red, too much pink... anyway, this is a map people will remember. Now to gameplay... the layout of this map isn't too obvious, and teleporters are not easy to make out at first. The map is just kinda hard to understand at first. Also, it's too dark at some places, which does fit the visuals, but gets annoying while playing.
Bugs: none found

Gameplay: 4
I *have not* tried it with others but it looks like 4/10. It looks too symmetrical

Visuals: 10
Looks awesome. Every weaponspawn and teleporter have cool animated signs. And the map is interestingly lit.

3rd place: Red by cortez
Gameplay: 6.25
Visuals: 5
Sum: 11.25


Download: Red and Blue(download for both of cortez' maps)

Gameplay: 6
Visuals: 6
Comment: a cool looking remake of a map of Quake 1. Plays very well, many good jump combinations - very fluent gameplay. And nice lava traps to fall into Wink
Bugs: visually, I have to subtract points for the bad texture alignment and some zfighting issues. Also, detail brushes weren't used at all apparently, which caused a very bad and annoying rendering bug at '-586.5 +670.88 +12.28' which causes the whole screen getting black when looking in some directions. This is commonly caused by q3map2 creating portals that are too close to each other and cause roundoff errors, and the mapper should prevent this from happening by using detail brushes where appropriate. The author hasn't done this. Also, the map looks like it has suffered from scaling by some odd factor of 81/64. If this map gets completed, it would probably be worth scores of 8 each.

Note: I tested this map without any OpenGL extensions, because it crashes the nvidia driver on Linux, Quadro FX 540, for some reason. The bug is in the nvidia driver, not in DP and not in the map, so it didn't affect the scoring.

Gameplay: 6.5
I *never played* it with others. But the gameplay looks like 6.5/10

Visuals: 4
Nothing fancy, clean and simple brushwork

4th place: Timeprism by ihsan
Gameplay: 4.5
Visuals: 5
Sum: 9.5


Download: TimePrism

Gameplay: 7
Visuals: 7
Comment: The time prism in the middle of the map consists of three stones, which - from the inside - teleport you to one of three eras - an ancient egyptian one, a middle age one and an industrial one. So basically, you have three small arena maps and you can teleport between them. It sure looks nice, although not very detailed.
Bugs: the egyptian sand sometimes inhibits jumping again to keep speed.

Gameplay: 2
I *never played* it with others. But OMG the gameplay looks like 0/10

Visuals: 3
Not much to look at. Some medieval parts looks nice.

edit: I never spotted the teleporters on timeprism.
So I hereby change the scores to gameplay: 2/10 visuals: 3/10

Now there are 2 maps that both have an overall score of 8 and share the 5th place !
(sorted by higher gameplay-score)

5th place: Blue by cortez
Gameplay: 5
Visuals: 3
Sum: 8


Download: Red and Blue(download for both of cortez' maps)

Gameplay: 5
Visuals: 4
Comment: A small DM map in blue irena style. Nothing really special in terms of gameplay, but a worthy map for deathmatch. The different doors provide interesting trickjump capabilities that may help you when chasing an enemy. Visually, however, I don't like the map that much - it looks quite dull, everywhere this blue (although this effect was in fact intended by cortez).
Bugs: There is a small graphics bug near '-43 -304 +315' at the door. Should be easy to fix. Also, the teleporter lets you face the wall after teleporting.
Bonus: You can play electro or grenade basketball here! There's enough hoops for that... and they all feature a Nexuiz sign on them! So it's blue, and amusing!

Gameplay: 5
I *never played* it with others. But the gameplay looks like 5/10

Visuals: 2
Very blue/white-ish. At my settings all walls looked completely white.

5th place: Cubical by FrutieX
Gameplay: 2
Visuals: 6
Sum: 8


Download: Cubical

Gameplay: 4
Visuals: 5
Comment: Here we have a totally atypical map. Many different levels above each other. One big jumppad in the middle, and many interesting side rooms. I doubt I have seen it all there. I just think it's over the top and actually harms gameplay to have so many hiding places... too bad the middle jumppad often hurts you.
Bugs: not enough light, really, the map is much too dark, which is the main reason for its poor gameplay mark. The stairs at the corners can't be seen at all. Apart from that the map is fine... just not really special looking. So although the map may not be good at this contest in its current state, I see much potential here. Relight it, maybe add some cool texturing or coloring, and it will get many fans.

Gameplay: 0
I *never played* it with others. But OMG the gameplay looks like 0/10

Visuals: 7
Very interesting. It looks more like a modern piece of art than a map

[Strahlemann]

If the other 3 judges send a review, these will be added and the scores will be updated. I just didn't want to wait another week...

[cortez]

ok the results are sure from the beginning or did anyone expected something else and Morfar and this call you a comment:

I *never played* it with others. But the gameplay looks like 6.5/10

you are really LAZY
and then you want that i make a ctf version of Toxic shame on you

[tZork]

Only scored by 2 of 5 the judges ...?!

[morfar]

Sure I'm lazy Cortez

One other thing. I did not play THAT 'blue' map... I got something completely different from Cortez on irc... edit: judging by divs comment I think those are just the wrong screens

One other other thing. Too bad only 2/5 judges sent in scores.

One other other other thing. I never spotted the teleporters on timeprism.
So I hereby change the scores to gameplay: 2/10 visuals: 3/10

[Strahlemann]

Indeed wrong screens. Fixed that and updated the scores for timeprism which now holds the 4th place.

Again: if anyone sees Bundy, k0jak or esteel (the 3 remaining judges), bug them about their comments and scores.

[Mr.Carlyle]

One other other other thing. I never spotted the teleporters on timeprism.

The teleporters are the three big black "pillars" or objects in the middle of the map. Just run into the inside of them to teleport to different section of the map.

[k0jak]

I'll try get my reviews to you by friday night, but i've got 2 night shifts this week, so im going to be not around much and quite tired.

[Strahlemann]

I'll be away till monday, so take your time

[divVerent]

I would like these maps (all of them) to be included in the next Nexuiz release. The code is basically stable, and I think SavageX and Vermeulen will agree to include them as extra PK3s (downloadable from the alientrap server then)... but for this I need your permission to release them under the GPL, and some fixes. Later, they may be part of the official distribution.

• Strahlemann: well, the map is done and working well as is... and fits Nexuiz in style. Looks like a good candidate for permanent inclusion...
• tZork: as said, your map's visuals are over the top, but very cool... not exactly in Nexuiz's design, would probably need to ask Vermeulen and SavageX to include it permanently but I want it to be included too. Also because of its large download size...
• cortez: you know what to fix... can you make a fixed version soon? Thanks. I hope the coordinates I provided help you. Or alternatively, I can try to fix them myself. Would that be okay with you?
• ihsan: if you have any idea on how to improve your map, go ahead, otherwise I'd take it as is; but it would maybe be good to light up the "industrial" room a bit.
• FruitieX: light it up a bit, or actually more than just a bit... other than that, it's fine.

I'd like to see fixed versions of the maps, "yes, include it" or "no, I don't want it to be included in the next release" from all of you soon

Thanks in advance