Oooh, this sounds fun. Maybe I'll build something to show, when I come home(In school right now). <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Cant really comment, since i dunno whos even a judge.
Cant wait, Drunken.Monkey, least you could get a free mousepad <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
All right then, status report. So far I've had <b>HanzGrub3r</b> and <b>ShenTraX</b> offer their services as judges; I don't see why not. 3 looks to be a good number, I might take another app or two though.
I don't know how much time it takes one to make a good RR; I'll keep the deadline at the end of April then. Deadline is now April 30th, with judging starting over the weekend I suppose.
Good to see that we're finally getting some mapping interest!
[edit] First post updated with prizes! Check 'em out! [/edit]
On another note, it would be nice to get a headcount in here; how many people are mapping for the competition as of now? (Don't worry if you aren't in on the action yet, there's still time).
[offtopic] *does his 100th post dance* [/offtopic]
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I don't know how much time it takes one to make a good RR; I'll keep the deadline at the end of April then. Deadline is now April 30th, with judging starting over the weekend I suppose. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'd prefer to wait until they are officially submitted. If anyone has an official submission of a final-finished RR, Post a note on the thread, and we'll PM you to get the working BSP to evailuate. (include the bsp in the thread if you <i>really</i> want to)
The RMF/Map files are not needed at this point, but you may include anyways if you want to skip a step. The winner will have to submit these files anyways to be able to add your room into the Map (pass-it-on 2 thread).
HanzGrub3r, I guess you'll either be a judge or a participant, depending on whether you get off your lazy @ss and map a RR for us <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
i guess we'll have to come up with a judging/scoring system to use.
e.g.----- --------------------------- *note porno/racist/anythin not acceptable by NS standards is disquallified (shouldn't be a problem anyways, but through i'd say it)
All scoring is 1-10 1. Unacceptable 2. Barely Acceptable 3. Below Average 4. Slightly below average 5. Average 6. Slightly above average 7. Above Average 8. Way Above Average 9. Excellent 10. Unbelieveable (da shiznit)
Lighting ... Colors (nice choices of, or bad contrast) ... Shadows (Nice use of) Architecture ... Movement (player blocking, space considerations) ... Design / Geometry (creativity) Texturing ... Useage (everything seems to fit) ... Alignment Particle system (if not included, skipped) ... Useage ... Functionality (working, visualy correct) ... Creativeness (overall great placement adds to atmosphere, etc) Secret Room (not included=skipped section, not revealed on posted scoring) ... Usage (unique, and not anoying. Profain/obscene get disqualified) ... Entertainment Value Miscellaneous
Sub-sections are averaged, then main sections are averaged for the Total-overall score. The individual judges scores are then averaged together for a Final score.
If this sample is acceptable let me know, Hanz and John...
Well, you always seem to be a step ahead of me, I wasn't planning on coming up with a scoresheet until we have an idea of who the judges will be...but that's fine. As for me, I'd put another category under "architecture" for "creative geometry".
<!--QuoteBegin-john_sheu+Apr 16 2004, 01:14 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (john_sheu @ Apr 16 2004, 01:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, you always seem to be a step ahead of me, I wasn't planning on coming up with a scoresheet until we have an idea of who the judges will be...but that's fine. As for me, I'd put another category under "architecture" for "creative geometry". <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> lol..
Well we could rephrase the <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Architecture ... Movement (player blocking, space considerations) 1-5 ... Design (creativity) 1-5 <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> to say <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Architecture ... Movement (player blocking, space considerations) 1-5 ... Design / Geometry (creativity) 1-5 <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And there should always be the good 'ol "miscellaneous: judges' discretion" category... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Point assignment of 1-5 might not be finely graded enough; I'd go for 1-8 (or 1-10 if you're one of those weenies who can't think in anything other than decimal <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> )
K i've added all the spawnpoints, jointeam signs, and necessary infestation.
- theres three fans on the alien side (shown below), the two on the walls do not work, while the one on the roof spins at an agonizingly slow rate due to the infesation.
-the infestation was done using a bunch of wedges and vertex manipulation, fun stuff
I had a thought regarding of posting of pics and perhaps a deadline? would it be best to set a deadline soon and have people submit even just a name of their readyroom. That way we know how many maps we are going to be dealing with and it also lets everyone else know who is entering the competition? and then also make a point of people only being allowed to post 1 or 2 pics a day regarding their map so there is no "pre-juding" by anyone else??
The whole point of the competition is pretty screenies, ready room only maps have very little function asside from thier prettynessness. I would guess that prejudging wouldn't be that bad a problem because everyone knows you can't get the real feel of a room from screen shots alone anyways.
<!--QuoteBegin-Some tall guy+Apr 17 2004, 06:23 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Some tall guy @ Apr 17 2004, 06:23 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> might wanna add the pic <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> You've used the doortrack trim on the walls, but on the trim facing us there's a yellgrey one instead. Also, that "Spectate" sign is extremely ugly, please choose another one <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Yeah, guys, just a generic pointer; please use "Observe Match" instead of "Spectate", as it *is* rather ugly.
As to the contest itself, looks like we'll have three judges; myself, <b>ShenTraX</b>, and <b>HanzGrub3r</b>. Unless we hear some heart-rending cires of agony here, that'll be final. For deadlines, I'd recommend that we set the deadline for "expressing interest" at Friday 23.4.04 (sidenote: I'm not German or even European, but I *do* like how the format their dates <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> ), with entries due on Friday 30.4.04. Judging to take place over the weekend.
Please add pics of your RR if you choose. It not only shows progress, but what the competition is up against. I suggest adding 'show pics' if you will. But i wouldn't suggest adding pics that would spoil the RR's If you have something you may think i spectacular you want to savor, i would highly suggest <i><b>NOT </b></i> posting those screens. You dont want to give out your suprises, know what i mean. Anything to your advantage is a good thing. Showing eevrything could be bad. <i>"Hey, i like that i can do something better than that in my RR...."</i>
etc....
If you want to name you RR thats fine, i sugegst a in-rr decal depicting the author. Since the RR will be absorbed into the NS_Map game tread, i dont know if they'll change the name to match the RR's name.
Lots of people like to name their work though, so if you include that inside your RR too, thats cool. No points against/or added for this inclusion. If you dont add something tho, you will just get your name in the credits.
[sidenote] if 2 people are co-creating a map, please not that i can only offer 1 prize from the choices. It'll be up to the creators who recieves it. But its only one, not one per author. (sorry) [/sidenote]
Since this contest is heating up, I thought that, as a judge, I might post some of my "judging paradigms" (cookie to those who know where I got that phrase from! <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> )
1. I like atmospheric, subdued lighting and particle effects. Example: that "slightly hazy hall" in ns_bast located at the bottom of the elevator from marine start. Well-placed fog is really nice, as well as lighting to accentuate it. And I do like being able to locate the "source" of any lights; i.e. no disembodied light_spots. Plus, care should be taken with texlights so that the light does not "wash out" the contrast on the entire texture. 2. Plain and simple, I *despise* flat walls. One of my dearest wishes for the HL engine is bumpmapping, to add depth to otherwise 2-D walls. Look at the <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=58601&st=0' target='_blank'>ns_achio</a> thread, especially at the screenies on the first page; those are the kind of hallways I like; not bland, but with some striking geometry to it. 3. Claustrophobia isn't a nice feeling to get, and certainly, in an enclosed space such as an RR there is a danger of getting that way. There should be some plausible way for the players to have gotten in---the "door-to-nowhere" is a good example, but perhaps a bit clich?. 4. Lastly, it's nice if the room feels like it has a <i>purpose</i>. Of course, this is hardly required, but it might figure in subconsciously in my decisions <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> . Random computer screens, chairs, etc. tossed around won't get you points---there should be a <i>reason</i> why the room exists, a <i>reason</i> why there are people running around in the room.
As a sort of postscript, regarding detail textures: I have a feeling that det-texing the RR might be a bit of a hassle, and it might even conflict with the map proper. So det-texing is for now unneccessary and perhaps even frowned-upon, at least until the whole map (map + RR) is done. Then we can det-tex them as a whole.
Those are my thoughts, <b>ShenTraX</b> or <b>HanzGrub3r</b> care to add on?
Wich texture style can we use? If this map is going to be used in another map it'll be kinda weird if you come with yelgrey style and the other map has panel textures (just an example).
So, could you give us an idea what textures we can use?
<b>Naigel</b>, Any texures are a good. The end RR may have to be re-textured some to fix the texture restrictions of the game map thread, but we are going all out before hand.
<b>john_sheu</b>, my judgement will be mostly on creativity. I've seen a lot, and i want to see the unseen. Everyone has their own unique designs, so this will be interesting. Everyone likes detail. 1000 pollys are a lot, you can certainly fit a lot of extras in a RR.
Can I make a suggestion requirement..I'm not head judge or anything so I wont force this on anyone (hopefully someone else will do that <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> )..
If you use custom textures - compile them into the bsp please! and if you have custom sprites please use a directory structure in the zip.. make the world a user-friendly place...
<b>My Map Judging Brain</b>
In my little mind this is a little different to normal "judging" simply because this is a readyroom and it is supposed to entice me to play... I'll tell you what I like and dislike tho..
<b>Likes:</b> 1) Grandeur - i.e. an epic readyroom is what I am getting at.. Something that says to me "wow, I'm gonna get a kick out of this map".. This doesn't necessarily mean massive in size... Think of the ns_nothing readyroom, it isn't very big but it has a grandness about it that smells of class.. It prepares you for the map.. Now, as we aren't making a map here, it is a little bit more difficult - so perhaps this makes this all the more challenging <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> 2) Atmosphere - I wanna see those particle effects happening...I wanna see overlayed texture lights... I wanna see creativity... I don't want to see a big room full of steam ...atmosphere shouldn't become the key attraction...if you look at a room and all you see is the particle system then you've done something wrong.. atmosphere is just that - creating mood WITHIN an environment and not creating an environment within a mood.. 3) Attractiveness - This is especially important in a readyroom ...the whole point is that your readyroom should make me wanna run down the corridor and join a team... It really shouldn't be a stop point... That's why you use the old lure and spawn trick...lure them into committing to a team to see what is around that corner... 4) Detail - can't stress this enough. And I guess it's the general rule with all ns maps.. detail and in essence a sense of reality is important.. <i>(and before someone says "this is make believe" - well, we are in a fairly detailed universe (ns universe) and there are constructs within that which define the reality - so ner)</i>..keep things interesting by flooding the readyroom with detail (not beyond r_speeds of course)..If you have a window that looks outside, what's stopping you from showing a bit more of the spaceship/planet/moon/etc outside ...or if you have a computer screen, what's stopping you from creating some sort of interface and chair ....just something that makes the universe complete...
<b>Dislikes:</b> 1) 90 degree angles - this isn't hard and fast ruling but mix it up a bit... if you want a completely rectangular/square door - fine, but add some trim around it that makes it interesting to look at 2) Flat walls/floors/ceilings/doors - speaks for itself. 3) Laziness in geometry through texturing - Ties into 1 and 2..don't let the texture do all the work..build geometry that will use the textures..not just a flat wall with one texture on it.. 4) over-scaling of textures - if it's more than 3x...it's just not good.. 5) wasted r_speeds - this is more from a mappers point of view. bad mapping technique (like cylinders that slice up the wall) wont earn any browny points from me.. 6) unoriginality - we've seen ns_nothing, we've seen ns_bast etc etc etc...give us something new and fresh...
and finally 7) No funparks, or giant toothbrushes or anything remotely unconnected to ns... it might look funny and be clever..but this is ns...keep within this universe and leave the stupid maps to CS..
*PHEW!*...that was longer than I thought it would be..
My preference in terms of the judging of the maps would be to either have the deadline for entries (to be judged) as Americas friday (thursday in Australia) which would give me Americas saturday (friday in Australia) to judge the maps..as i am away that whole weekend..which kind of sucks...but I really want to be a judge...up the other two guys..but I wont be able to help out if the judging happens over the weekend...
OK, now I know what's wrong and what's good, I'm all set to buid a super ready room... BUT, every time when I look at someone else's ready room (some tall guy for instance) than I just lose my 'thing'.
However, I'll keep on trying to make a stunning ready room... I won't quit!!
Comments
*me hides in corner...
<!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Cant really comment, since i dunno whos even a judge.
Cant wait, Drunken.Monkey, least you could get a free mousepad <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
All right then, status report. So far I've had <b>HanzGrub3r</b> and <b>ShenTraX</b> offer their services as judges; I don't see why not. 3 looks to be a good number, I might take another app or two though.
I don't know how much time it takes one to make a good RR; I'll keep the deadline at the end of April then. Deadline is now April 30th, with judging starting over the weekend I suppose.
Good to see that we're finally getting some mapping interest!
[edit]
First post updated with prizes! Check 'em out!
[/edit]
[offtopic]
*does his 100th post dance*
[/offtopic]
Drunken.Monkey ? (maybe)
Naigel
Some tall guy
Wurmspawn
DaveL ? (maybe)
Cobra^ + MrBen (cooperative effort)
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'd prefer to wait until they are officially submitted. If anyone has an official submission of a final-finished RR, Post a note on the thread, and we'll PM you to get the working BSP to evailuate. (include the bsp in the thread if you <i>really</i> want to)
The RMF/Map files are not needed at this point, but you may include anyways if you want to skip a step. The winner will have to submit these files anyways to be able to add your room into the Map (pass-it-on 2 thread).
e.g.-----
---------------------------
*note porno/racist/anythin not acceptable by NS standards is disquallified (shouldn't be a problem anyways, but through i'd say it)
All scoring is 1-10
1. Unacceptable
2. Barely Acceptable
3. Below Average
4. Slightly below average
5. Average
6. Slightly above average
7. Above Average
8. Way Above Average
9. Excellent
10. Unbelieveable (da shiznit)
Lighting
... Colors (nice choices of, or bad contrast)
... Shadows (Nice use of)
Architecture
... Movement (player blocking, space considerations)
... Design / Geometry (creativity)
Texturing
... Useage (everything seems to fit)
... Alignment
Particle system (if not included, skipped)
... Useage
... Functionality (working, visualy correct)
... Creativeness (overall great placement adds to atmosphere, etc)
Secret Room (not included=skipped section, not revealed on posted scoring)
... Usage (unique, and not anoying. Profain/obscene get disqualified)
... Entertainment Value
Miscellaneous
Sub-sections are averaged, then main sections are averaged for the Total-overall score. The individual judges scores are then averaged together for a Final score.
If this sample is acceptable let me know, Hanz and John...
lol..
Well we could rephrase the
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Architecture
... Movement (player blocking, space considerations) 1-5
... Design (creativity) 1-5
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
to say
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Architecture
... Movement (player blocking, space considerations) 1-5
... Design / Geometry (creativity) 1-5
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
updated the score sheet.
- theres three fans on the alien side (shown below), the two on the walls do not work, while the one on the roof spins at an agonizingly slow rate due to the infesation.
-the infestation was done using a bunch of wedges and vertex manipulation, fun stuff
I had a thought regarding of posting of pics and perhaps a deadline? would it be best to set a deadline soon and have people submit even just a name of their readyroom. That way we know how many maps we are going to be dealing with and it also lets everyone else know who is entering the competition? and then also make a point of people only being allowed to post 1 or 2 pics a day regarding their map so there is no "pre-juding" by anyone else??
You've used the doortrack trim on the walls, but on the trim facing us there's a yellgrey one instead. Also, that "Spectate" sign is extremely ugly, please choose another one <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
As to the contest itself, looks like we'll have three judges; myself, <b>ShenTraX</b>, and <b>HanzGrub3r</b>. Unless we hear some heart-rending cires of agony here, that'll be final. For deadlines, I'd recommend that we set the deadline for "expressing interest" at Friday 23.4.04 (sidenote: I'm not German or even European, but I *do* like how the format their dates <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> ), with entries due on Friday 30.4.04. Judging to take place over the weekend.
[edit]
Front page updated!
[/edit]
etc....
If you want to name you RR thats fine, i sugegst a in-rr decal depicting the author. Since the RR will be absorbed into the NS_Map game tread, i dont know if they'll change the name to match the RR's name.
Lots of people like to name their work though, so if you include that inside your RR too, thats cool. No points against/or added for this inclusion. If you dont add something tho, you will just get your name in the credits.
[sidenote] if 2 people are co-creating a map, please not that i can only offer 1 prize from the choices. It'll be up to the creators who recieves it. But its only one, not one per author. (sorry) [/sidenote]
1. I like atmospheric, subdued lighting and particle effects. Example: that "slightly hazy hall" in ns_bast located at the bottom of the elevator from marine start. Well-placed fog is really nice, as well as lighting to accentuate it. And I do like being able to locate the "source" of any lights; i.e. no disembodied light_spots. Plus, care should be taken with texlights so that the light does not "wash out" the contrast on the entire texture.
2. Plain and simple, I *despise* flat walls. One of my dearest wishes for the HL engine is bumpmapping, to add depth to otherwise 2-D walls. Look at the <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=58601&st=0' target='_blank'>ns_achio</a> thread, especially at the screenies on the first page; those are the kind of hallways I like; not bland, but with some striking geometry to it.
3. Claustrophobia isn't a nice feeling to get, and certainly, in an enclosed space such as an RR there is a danger of getting that way. There should be some plausible way for the players to have gotten in---the "door-to-nowhere" is a good example, but perhaps a bit clich?.
4. Lastly, it's nice if the room feels like it has a <i>purpose</i>. Of course, this is hardly required, but it might figure in subconsciously in my decisions <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> . Random computer screens, chairs, etc. tossed around won't get you points---there should be a <i>reason</i> why the room exists, a <i>reason</i> why there are people running around in the room.
As a sort of postscript, regarding detail textures: I have a feeling that det-texing the RR might be a bit of a hassle, and it might even conflict with the map proper. So det-texing is for now unneccessary and perhaps even frowned-upon, at least until the whole map (map + RR) is done. Then we can det-tex them as a whole.
Those are my thoughts, <b>ShenTraX</b> or <b>HanzGrub3r</b> care to add on?
So, could you give us an idea what textures we can use?
The end RR may have to be re-textured some to fix the texture restrictions of the game map thread, but we are going all out before hand.
<b>john_sheu</b>, my judgement will be mostly on creativity. I've seen a lot, and i want to see the unseen. Everyone has their own unique designs, so this will be interesting. Everyone likes detail. 1000 pollys are a lot, you can certainly fit a lot of extras in a RR.
If you use custom textures - compile them into the bsp please! and if you have custom sprites please use a directory structure in the zip.. make the world a user-friendly place...
<b>My Map Judging Brain</b>
In my little mind this is a little different to normal "judging" simply because this is a readyroom and it is supposed to entice me to play... I'll tell you what I like and dislike tho..
<b>Likes:</b>
1) Grandeur - i.e. an epic readyroom is what I am getting at.. Something that says to me "wow, I'm gonna get a kick out of this map".. This doesn't necessarily mean massive in size... Think of the ns_nothing readyroom, it isn't very big but it has a grandness about it that smells of class.. It prepares you for the map.. Now, as we aren't making a map here, it is a little bit more difficult - so perhaps this makes this all the more challenging <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
2) Atmosphere - I wanna see those particle effects happening...I wanna see overlayed texture lights... I wanna see creativity... I don't want to see a big room full of steam ...atmosphere shouldn't become the key attraction...if you look at a room and all you see is the particle system then you've done something wrong.. atmosphere is just that - creating mood WITHIN an environment and not creating an environment within a mood..
3) Attractiveness - This is especially important in a readyroom ...the whole point is that your readyroom should make me wanna run down the corridor and join a team... It really shouldn't be a stop point... That's why you use the old lure and spawn trick...lure them into committing to a team to see what is around that corner...
4) Detail - can't stress this enough. And I guess it's the general rule with all ns maps.. detail and in essence a sense of reality is important.. <i>(and before someone says "this is make believe" - well, we are in a fairly detailed universe (ns universe) and there are constructs within that which define the reality - so ner)</i>..keep things interesting by flooding the readyroom with detail (not beyond r_speeds of course)..If you have a window that looks outside, what's stopping you from showing a bit more of the spaceship/planet/moon/etc outside ...or if you have a computer screen, what's stopping you from creating some sort of interface and chair ....just something that makes the universe complete...
<b>Dislikes:</b>
1) 90 degree angles - this isn't hard and fast ruling but mix it up a bit... if you want a completely rectangular/square door - fine, but add some trim around it that makes it interesting to look at
2) Flat walls/floors/ceilings/doors - speaks for itself.
3) Laziness in geometry through texturing - Ties into 1 and 2..don't let the texture do all the work..build geometry that will use the textures..not just a flat wall with one texture on it..
4) over-scaling of textures - if it's more than 3x...it's just not good..
5) wasted r_speeds - this is more from a mappers point of view. bad mapping technique (like cylinders that slice up the wall) wont earn any browny points from me..
6) unoriginality - we've seen ns_nothing, we've seen ns_bast etc etc etc...give us something new and fresh...
and finally 7) No funparks, or giant toothbrushes or anything remotely unconnected to ns... it might look funny and be clever..but this is ns...keep within this universe and leave the stupid maps to CS..
*PHEW!*...that was longer than I thought it would be..
My preference in terms of the judging of the maps would be to either have the deadline for entries (to be judged) as Americas friday (thursday in Australia) which would give me Americas saturday (friday in Australia) to judge the maps..as i am away that whole weekend..which kind of sucks...but I really want to be a judge...up the other two guys..but I wont be able to help out if the judging happens over the weekend...
However, I'll keep on trying to make a stunning ready room... I won't quit!!