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Emperor
Lurker
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Sep 2002
time: 01:49
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First edition of Singleplayer Map Creation Contest
Requirements:
- Maps are standard format, 40x80 tiles. For SMAX
- Maps must be original, never submitted anywhere before.
- Remaining map settings are up to its author:
- ocean coverage
- erosive forces
- native life
- cloud cover
However, the author has to specifically write what settings he/she has chosen
- Map must be first generated by the game, then it can be changed in the editor. There is a bug, I believe, if you do otherwise.
- No terraforming or human installations:
- no boreholes, apart from borehole clusters
- no roads, mag tubes, farms, condensors, etc.
- alien installations allowed: borehole clusters, manifold nexus,...
- multiple landmarks allowed together with author created new ones
- Each contestant can submit one map
- Map submission:
To me on gmail address:
marcin777 TA gmail TOD com
Please, do not post it here.
- Ruling:
Each contestant will receive all maps set from me, so he/she cannot know the author.
Maps will be graded in 2 categories:
- how much you like the map, 0 - 10 (zero to ten) points
- is map adequate for play and sufficiently enhancing AI, 0 - 10 (zero to ten) points
For the second grade, each contestant will be asked by me to play 3 singleplayer games on 3 selected by me maps. The games must be started by the game option "Start New Game", no manipulating with scenario editor.
Settings:
- map not visible
- accelerated start is OFF
the rest of settings as you wish
*some explanation here, how to grade that second category. Play the game, make saves often. Later load them and with scenario editor observe, if AI was playing good, it had enough base-good locations etc. The point is, that in Singleplayer game can place you anywhere, so any location on the map should be made realising that both human and AI can play there.
I plan each map tested in second category by 3 different players. Then there will be final grade 0-20 based on all grades.
- All maps will be included in Singleplayer Map collection. By joining the contest you agree for this.
- You are encouraged to comment maps, when giving them a grade, however, I would like anonymously post these comments in final rulling, so other people and authors can have more feedback on them.
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Final notes.
1) This is in order to make more good singleplayer maps. I know there are people, who play only singleplayer, and they could use such maps.
2) Please be objective in your grading. Winning this contest will be for sure nice, but being a fair judge is more important here, I think.
3) Have fun when making a map.
4) I reserve here the right to grade the maps, but I will not be participating as contestant. I will only coordinate the contest.
5) Deadline for map submission.
None so far. However, I feel some time before "Unity" departs to Alpha Centauri. When I decide, there is need for deadline, I will post it at least 2 weeks before it.
Last edited by Mart on 11-10-2005 at 07:42
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Emperor
Lurker
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Sep 2002
time: 01:49
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Reserved for reports
I will post here contestants, etc.
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Emperor
Lurker
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Sep 2002
time: 01:49
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You may find useful tips how to make a map more interesting in the article by Googlie in SMAC Academy
Link to article
I will also write some more remarks about my experiences with creating maps. In future posts.
The more I make maps the more I find it difficult. Making the map interesting is maybe only a matter of time, when you make it more rich in features. What is more difficult is to make good sites for AI to establish bases, for example, and balance it so various factions can grow at the level you desire.
Additional difficulty is to make a map, where in singleplayer the game places sufficiently scattered starting locations. I do not think they are hardcoded in original maps, and although they have their improved versions, I consider the original maps very well made. Sometimes a game starts with bad faction placements, but mostly they are ok.
Another very nice map is Rob's World, by Slimehorse. My favourite. AI plays very good on it.
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Thread stickied.
I am glad to announce that from now on, I am going to cover all future community projects, completed challenges and modifications with news reports.
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King
Borg Cube in orbit around Alpha Centauri
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Oct 2004
time: 01:49
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You need to look at the map programs I have collected.
You do not need to have CIV even installed to make a C4 map.
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Emperor
Lurker
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Sep 2002
time: 01:49
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map: Juno
size: 40x80 (standard)
ocean coverage: 50-70%, close to 65-70.
erosion: moderate
cloud cover: dense, added rivers
native life: abundant
Remarks
Added some natural landmarks, more monoliths.
Testing showed interesting developments during Transcend level games. I tested it several game starts playing like 50-60 turns and they gave decent challenge. However I did not optimize the map completely. I noticed AI still is often undecided where to place a base and misses some good spots spending a lot of time driving colony pods around.
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This map is here outside the contest, since I made it. I hope, which is HOPE ("hope") that it will convice some people that making maps may be very fun, challenging and gratifying. Because it is not only to play good for a player. The challenge is to make a map that AI plays good, it pleases player's eye and makes a feeling of an interesting place.
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Finding more and more about map creating I think I may write an article about it. I have already started one about land transports, that I should complete first.
 Attachment: juno.zip
This has been downloaded 23 time(s).
Last edited by Mart on 28-06-2006 at 23:11
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