And here comes a rule change already!
I removed the rule that permitted custom scripts in MyLevel in favor of a pure no-stock-content solution. This will avoid any complications with judgement; after all, people might argue that any script is "non-invasive". Being forced to use zero custom content will make things more interesting.

I hope we have some 6-hour maps this year too. Last year's little maps were hilarious.

How can we verify a map to be valid?
I'm willing to believe that every classic Unreal player is true enough to not cheat.

But what if I create some unbelieveable, kickass content and someone starts to believe "c'mon this this dude toke a month to create this, submits and is all like I've did this in 6 hours!"

.unr files (and all files actually) will have a "date created" date in the info

I highly doubt anyone will try to cheat anyway...it's not like there's money at stake or something

And we all know, it is impossible to move content from one map to the other. But honestly, making more than one map won't be rewarded (I say that as a judge). So there is enough time to complete the submission in 6 weeks.

BTW the podium from the 8th anniversary contest won't participate (or will Waffnuffly and Qtit?). And back then the top 3 used Scripts. Perhaps there will be a surprise this time.

This was what was said in the old discussion thread, so I guess last year's winner will not participate.

Maybe Waffnuffly will at least give us a motivating and informative speech on what it takes to win?

It's all just as well; there's no way I'd be able to top TLF this time around.

Speech: eat lots of black beans; they are good for you and taste delicious

Are Hellburgers good mapping energy?

I was wrong about Qtit. I thought he would finish Day of the Titan first ... or his racing simulation ... or his project arisen from the 8th anniversary speedmapping contest ... or his other 3 projects. Honestly, I would like more to see him doing something involving UnrealScript.

@Waffnuffly
How should look a time schedule? After how many weeks should you have finished mapping? How long does it take to correct small issues, lighting, gameplay, texture modifications in relation to mapping?

Rather than devolve into some kind of QA fiesta, I'll just relink my original entry thread here:

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=988

It pretty much details the process almost day-by-day from start to finish (and post-launch).

Keep in mind though that everyone has their own mapping methodology, their own target goals along the way, and their own opinions about what should be prioritized. I spent most of the competition doing geometry work and hacked together gameplay at the last minute, but it seemed to have worked out at least mostly OK for the initial run (aside from the impossible-to-locate climbable chains, haha).

I was also greatly advantaged by having a complete map plan right from the start and self-imposed constraints (no indoor geometry, lots of climbing, heavy combat) that I used to keep myself focused. If you can do that, you'll be a lot better off, but you'll need a clear idea of where your map is going right from the start, or at least a very clear idea of what the setting will be composed of.

I would recommend trying to be done with basic geo by the half way mark and spend the rest of the period optimizing and doing gameplay/story/detail work. You WILL miss the mark for geo because UE1 hates you, so if you set the mark farther ahead, you'll be better off when you wind up having 2 weeks left in the contest for everything else instead of just 2 days.

But how exactly do I approach a map:
Can I take all 6 weeks and work on little bits until total time is hitting the 6 hour margin?
Or do I have to finish within 6h from the point on whenever I started?

My goal is obviously to start a map- and finish it within the next 6h whenever I started.

How do you guys approach it?
Try to give me some exact examples of procedure how anyone would do it.
This is my first time contest!


Thanks

You have six weeks to finish a map within the rules of the contest; that's it.

You think TLF was made within six hours?

I'm curious where the idea of having to finish your map in 6 hours came from. Were you thinking about the 6-hour last-minute entries to the 8th Anniversary contest?

This is an unanswerable question. You have to just figure out what works for you by experimenting and, mainly, just doing it. There's no one-size-fits-all specific step-by-step mapping guide.

Also no, there is no six hour limit. In theory you could spend every single second of the entire six-week span mapping if you wanted, though I imagine you'd be dead before the end of the first week :I