TDG's Map-making Contest

[SteelTDG]

TDG's Map-making Contest ($400 in Prizes)

Hello everyone, this is Steel / Mahida of Clan TDG and I am organizing our first Map-making Contest. Since the beta is going to be going offline for a while and what with the issues Battle.net is having, we thought this would be a good time to announce the contest. You may have heard of TDG through some WarCraft III maps such as Legion TD, Burbenog TD, Final Fantasy Forever and Uther Party 2. TDG has made the move into StarCraft II and our members are really excited about the editor. We have made numerous StarCraft II tutorials and our mappers are constantly working on their mapping projects. Even if you don't want to participate in this contest you can always check our forums out and see what everyone is up to.

Basic Information
First Place: $200
Second Place: $125
Third Place: $75
Open theme: You can make any kind of custom map you want, no melee maps
Initial Deadline: September 10th 2010, 11:59 PM (PST)

Entry
If you would like to enter into the contest you must fill out the following form. Then post it on Map-making Contest Forum or email them to [email protected] with the title "StarCraft II - Contest Participation Form".

Judging
The contest will be in a single judging period instead of the initial two stage period. Judging should take about a week depending on the number of entrants. The judges will provide very useful information to map makers. We hope people will take this information to improve upon their existing maps. The submission date is 10 September 2010.

The Judges
SeasonsOfLove - SeasonsOfLove has been a playtester for Clan TDG since December 2005 and is currently the rank of officer. He is an integral part of testing maps by providing feedback and catching bugs to improve the overall quality of gameplay of some TDG maps. He also was a map reviewer in the Map Database on the WC3Campaigns website, a hub for Warcraft III map-making information and projects.

TheZizz - TheZizz is a veteran Warcraft III mapper who has been with Clan TDG for several years. He brings to the judging panel a marked appreciation for the kind of personal dedication necessary to make a solid piece of work, but at the same time he has sky-high standards - especially where user-friendliness is concerned - so watch out!

Steel - Steel got into the map-making community many years ago while making a few maps. Some snippets of code he wrote were submitted into the popular game DoTA and are still being used today. He knows more than a dozen programming languages and has worked in the field with those skills. He is highly experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to the User Experience and Design aspects of any project.

Shvegait - Leader of Clan TDG.

Kaye - Kaye joined Clan TDG in 2004. Since then, Kaye has assisted primarily in the balance and design in several of Clan TDG's projects and worked on many projects. These projects include, Defense of the Ancients, Zodiac Tower Defense, Forbidden Elements Tower Wars.

Any additional information and grading criteria on the specific post for the contest on our forums.

For updates to the contest please visit the Map-making Contest Sub-Forum

Also be sure to read some Frequently Asked Questions

 

[Canadian.avo]

kekekekekekeke

 

[tagg1080]

Do you want to know who is planning on entering? Or just wait and see what you get?

 

[SteelTDG]

Do you want to know who is planning on entering? Or just wait and see what you get?

Anyone can enter of course. I don't know of any established map makers from WarCraft III that came over to StarCraft II such as Rising_Dusk, emjlr3 or MaD. We're just trying to stir up people's creativity and see what people can really do.

 

[tagg1080]

Anyone can enter of course. I don't know of any established map makers from WarCraft III that came over to StarCraft II such as Rising_Dusk, emjlr3 or MaD. We're just trying to stir up people's creativity and see what people can really do.

But do you want people to tell you they want to do it?

Do you want me to say: "I will have an entry for you."

Or do you not really care, and just want the maps when you get them?

 

[mrzwach]

Sounds interesting, I'll probably join because I happen to be planning to have my project ready for release (at least the first version) by the time SC2 is released.

Though, imo you should spread out the cash a little amongst the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places or something. Also, if we are submitting our entries the day before release, that could pose some problems for people (like myself) who have maps that would need a moderate amount of multiplayer testing and balancing before it would be acceptable for release.

 

[SteelTDG]

But do you want people to tell you they want to do it?

Do you want me to say: "I will have an entry for you."

Or do you not really care, and just want the maps when you get them?

We don't need to know who is submitting map. As long as they are in by the deadline.

Sounds interesting, I'll probably join because I happen to be planning to have my project ready for release (at least the first version) by the time SC2 is released.

Though, imo you should spread out the cash a little amongst the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places or something. Also, if we are submitting our entries the day before release, that could pose some problems for people (like myself) who have maps that would need a moderate amount of multiplayer testing and balancing before it would be acceptable for release.

I have yet to come to a conclusion on how the prize will be split up. I'm talking to some individuals to see if I can't get some money in the pot. It will largely depend on how many people "roughly" show interest. I'm doing this out of my own pocket. I want to see what people can do, I want people to really think about their maps and put a lot of effort into something unique and great.

As for the multiplayer testing, Blizzard will be re-opening the servers after the 31st. They are going to have another stage of the beta, it may be an open beta for stress testing. But you will have a chance to test it with others.

 

[SteelTDG]

Bump.

 

[SteelTDG]

I decided to bump the prize pool up to $190.

I also posted a section about the judges, so you people know who it is that will be looking at your maps.

Any questions or comments can be posted here or on our forums.

P.S. Can this get a sticky?

 

[Statharas]

Tripple post? Squiggy is gonna hunt you down. Look behind you! IT'S SQUIGGY!

 

[doombringer]

Hmm I might enter if I can get some time over the next 2 weeks

 

[SteelTDG]

Kenoli, an administrator of Star Depot, has graciously added $200 to the prize pool bringing the total to $390!

Star Depot is a new site designed and built specifically for the Starcraft 2 Map-making community. Visitors can browse though the forums, tutorials, and wiki articles. Registered users gain access to file/image hosting, custom project forums, and other useful features.

Please check them out and always remember to support your fellow mappers!

 

[tagg1080]

$390??

Oh, this just got MUCH better

 

[real138]

oo can a team make a map? or is it solo only?

 

[pandarian]

This sounds like a really ambitious contest, I hope I get my map done in time to join

 

[HINDYhat]

I've always loved TDG and especially its contests. I'll definitely try to pump something out, and hopefully I won't forget.

 

[SteelTDG]

Contest Participation Form - This must be filled out to show your participation in the contest. Complete the form and either post it on Map-making Contest Forum or email them to [email protected] with the title "StarCraft II - Contest Participation Form".

Map Details

• Map Name - List your map's name so it can be easily identifiable.
• Description - Give a very brief description of your map.
• Genre - What category does your map fall under? If you are unsure, list as Other.
• Player Size - How many players does your map support? How many do you recommend it to be played with?

Developers

• Name of Team - List the name of your development team, if applicable.
• Individuals' Names - List the names of the developers of your map. You may list their roles / jobs if you like.
• History - If you would like to list anything about your development team's prior map-making titles, please list them here.

Notes
If you would like to make any notes or clarifications please list them here.



Example

Map Details

• Map Name - Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Description - Clearly the best map ever
• Genre - RPG
• Player Size - 2-14

Developers

• Name of Team - Cuddle Huggle Squad
• Individuals' Names - All the care bears, forever.
• History - Professor Coldheart's Freezing Castle

Notes
Sunshine, rainbows and candy for everyone.

 

[tagg1080]

Bumppp

 

[Dark Hunter1357]

Now i'm more dedicated to finish my map.

 

[SteelTDG]

Another week passes and a few more people have filled out participation forms. Hopefully the beta will come up next week so online testing can continue. If you plan on entering the contest but haven't completely formulated your thoughts you can still send in a very generic form.

(Changed the title to include prize total, to be more encouraging)

 

[SteelTDG]

Increased the prize pool by $10, I was annoyed with having an odd, $390 prize pool. This brings the pool up to $400.The varied placement prizes has been decided.

First Place: $200
Second Place: $125
Third Place: $75


Another week passes and a few more people have filled out participation forms. Hopefully the beta will come up next week so online testing can continue. If you plan on entering the contest but haven't completely formulated your thoughts you can still send in a very generic form.

(Changed the title to include prize total, to be more encouraging)

 

[SteelTDG]

Various people have came to me through email to inform me that they would like to participate in the contest but there isn't enough time for them with these deadlines. Other people have told me that some of the changes with the most recent Beta Patch have also caused game breaking issues with their map. I feel there is no negative ramifications in extending the deadline, essentially bumping everything down to a more appropriate level. This will be beneficial overall for the follow reasons:

• More people can participate. More maps for players is more fun for players
• Anything broken by patches now has time to be fixed
• People won't feel rushed to try and get their maps done with all of this Beta stage shenanigans.

The judging process will also change. Instead of having 2 stages to the judging, there will be a single evaluation. There will be no touch-up period. Looking at the initial idea for that touch-up period, it sounded good but really it would just cause a lot more problems than it solved. Being that this is our first contest, this is a learning process for us. I don't think this will cause any major disruptions for any of the current participants or those that wish to enter but previously couldn't.

The Final Deadline for all maps is 10 September 2010, 11:59PM (PST).

I'd like to thank Kenoli from Star Depot for getting on my ass about this and making sure things happened.

 

[manstie]

So basically people have 43 days to make a map and submit it? (Those who don't have beta)

And calm down, SC2 hasn't even been released yet!

 

[TKF]

Does this contest apply on Retail version of SC2?


Also what happened to clan TDG on useast on WC3? Has clan expired?

 

[SteelTDG]

Does this contest apply on Retail version of SC2?


Also what happened to clan TDG on useast on WC3? Has clan expired?

Question 1: Anyone who has the game in any form can participate. If you buy the retail copy of the game and make a map, you can enter. If you are still running the editor from the Beta, you can still participate, but your maps must be submitted directly.

Question 2: http://www.jx3.net/tdg/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3428

 

[SteelTDG]

Bump.

 

[Pyritie]

Just out of curiosity, where do you get the money for the prizes?

 

[Statharas]

Shouldn't this be considered necroposting btw?

 

[Pyritie]

no he's just bumping his own thread

 

[SteelTDG]

Just out of curiosity, where do you get the money for the prizes?

Half of it is coming from my pocket. Half of it is coming from Kenoli.