Hello and welcome to the fifth and final mapping challenge of The Hammer Cup 2016.
The judges and I have tried to ensure that each challenge was interesting for both the modders AND players. We feel that we have had thought-provoking challenges so far.
For the final challenge, we wanted something as open as possible but still quite defined. We have considered many previous challenges as potential options for this one but no particular one seemed right.
Therefore, we have decided that entrants can select ANY previous mapping competition/challenge from the past EXCEPT the previous 4 used in The Hammer Cup 2016.
Entrants may only select ONE theme for their map.
For those that are new to the site and think the challenges are a new thing, you might be surprised to learn that I have been running them since 2010.
That gives modders the following options:
- CrossoverVille
- HalloweenVilleTwo
- VerticalVilleTwo
- WaterVille
- Station60Ville
- CombineBaseVille
- RaiseTheBarVille
- CityStreetsVille
- RunThinkShootLiveVille
- HorrorVille
- AutoVille
- SniperVille 2
- CombinationVille
- DiamondDogsVille
- RavenholmVille
- AssassinateVille
- MovieVille
- DefendVille
- AmbushVille
- EndVille
- MiddleVille
- BeginningVille
- AlphabetVille
- VerticalVille
- ForestVille
- ChaseVille
- ElevatorVille
- DoorVille
- NewBlackMesaVille
- CrossbowVille
- HalloweenVille
- GravityGunVille
- StriderVille
- RooftopVille
- HunterVille
- SniperVille
We highly recommend selecting a short list of no more than 2 or 3 and then carefully reading the exact theme details, as well as playing the entries to see how other modders approached the theme.
Each theme should be clearly explained in the mod post, but if you require clarification and/or have questions, please either post a comment here or if you want a private reply, send an email to Phillip.
Due to the wide range of options, we have decided to extend the deadline by 1 week. It is now Monday 18th July 2016.
In addition, to the 1 extra week, there are also three other obligatory requirements for this challenge.
1. ALL entrants MUST include a readme text file. The file MUST be called the entry’s name. For example, Outbreak-readme.txt. The file MUST include the author’s name and the theme chosen. It can also include any other information and credits etc.
2. Entrants MUST send a image that will be used as the background image, chapter image and Steam gridview image. No HUD or weapons should be visible. Separate images for each use can be sent if the author wishes.
3. Any files sent MUST be named after the entry’s name plus the suffix: “thc16-c5”. For example, “Outbreak-thc16-c5.7z”. Do NOT use something like AnyVilleVille.7z”.
Ideally, a map would end with a fade to black and screen text displaying the map name, author and theme name, but this is not compulsory.
The judges will be looking for a clever and surprising interpretation of the chosen theme. That doesn’t mean we hope for or expect strange entries, just that we have already played maps with that theme so you will have to do something special.
As always, quality over quantity is valued, so plan very carefully and make sure you allocate enough time for external testing.
That’s it. Good luck to all entrants!
As always, if you have any questions either ask in the comments or if you require a private answer send Phillip an email: [email protected]
The deadline for submitting maps is:
Monday 18th July 2016 11pm GMT
That’s 26 days, with 4 full weekends.
DO NOT GET TOO AMBITIOUS. If you can’t build it in 3 weekends then think smaller.
Something is bound to delay your progress. Leave time for testing, bug fixing and polishing!
Feel free to ask RTSL for help.
- Maximum two maps per entry.
- The map must be original and not have been released publicly before.
- The map must run in system with only Ep2 installed
- By entering the competition you grant PlanetPhillip.Com and RunThinkShootLive.Com the right to release the map as part of the AnyVilleVille mod.
- Maps must not appear on ANY other website before the release and for one month after the release of the mod.
- No assets from retail games other than HL2, HL2: Ep1 or HL2: Ep2 are allowed.
- Other assets are allowed with written permission from their original authors, which MUST be included in the entry.
- Phillip’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into about it.
- The map MUST have a proper name.
- The map MUST have a proper filename: MapName_thc16c5.bsp
- All entries must be sent to: [email protected] no later than the deadline.
Steam or Origin games will be awarded to the Winner, Runner Up and third place.
Points will be awarded for each mapping challenge in The Hammer Cup.
All entries will receive 12 points.
First place receives an additional 36 points, second place receives an additional 24 points and third place receives an additional 12 points.
Bonus points can be awarded to all entries.
Bonus: 0,3,6 or 9 in the following categories:
Design (layout, foreshadowing, secret areas, concept etc)
Visuals (lighting, textures, etc)
Sound (ambient sounds, voice acting, special effects etc)
Gameplay (flow, exploration, 3 dimensions etc)
Misc (g-man sightings, humour, seriousness, scares etc)
Check The Hammer cup 2016 for full details of the event, including the prizes etc.
LOL , the craziest ville I have ever seen , nice “theme” tho 😀
I strongly encourage all who love mapping to enter. This theme is the best case scenario for many mappers to gain a tonne of points and pick a theme that plays to their strengths. Lets make this the greatest Ville to date!
Awesome ‘theme’ . I was sure that the last one is going to be anything we want.
As a joke, I guessed to myself that the theme would be a combination of all the previous Hammer Cup Villes. Something like AllVille or HammerVille. This means I guessed the right Ville theme (close enough) by chance. Go figure.
Regardless, this seems like a fair challenge: just make a theme that’s familiar to you. I can’t wait to see what entries get created, especially with the extended time.
Great guess.
Hah, I was expecting something like this, but I was also prepared to criticize it for being too wide. But you outsmarted me! It’s really a good theme and extra one week is a nice idea too.
yeah, we were a little worried it would be considered too wide, but as I said we wanted plenty of choose for modders.
Oh no.
I’m much too indecisive for this.
I always wanted to try “Crossoverville” or “movieville” but that might be too much for me.
I think I have an interesting take on Hunterville too. Decisions, decisions…
*Rubs hands together* Horror it is then!
TrumpVille – The possibilities are endless
TrumpVille is basically having no theme :p
Not true. It’s a HUGE wall around the map, but the player has to pay for it.
And two signs that point to either Mexico or the USA.
So the map will be full of Mexicans and you need to build great walls to keep them out?
It’s Rampart!
Sadly, assets from Wolfenstein 3D aren’t allowed.
Wow, what a theme. I may consider trying my hand at this once I’ve gotten other mapping stuff out of the way.
Glad to hear it.
SniperVilleTwo link is broken
Fixed. It’s actually named SniperVille 2 instead of Two so that was the problem. 🙂
Thanks.
Uhh, I dunno, Phillip, I want to give it a try, but none of the themes are to my liking. I was looking forward to the trapville challenge, but due to time constraints, the only thing I could create was a single house. I had so many ideas for it, unfortunately they were all gone to waste. If i will decide on working on any of the allowed themes, I probably won’t stick to one theme completely, rather have a mix of my own ideas.
Well, if you can’t find something from all the previous list then that’s a shame. Obviously, you need to use your imagination to create something with one theme, but if you don’t you won’t have a chance to win.
I think that some of the villes are more flexible than others. For example:
RooftopVille (just an area)
ForestVille (same)
DiamondDogsVille (escape an area)
GravityGunVille (gravity gun can be used with anything)
or RunThinkShootLiveVille
They are pretty open for ideas. You can easily use traps in them for example.
What a twist
TwistVille?
Like the level has to twist around itself?
There was such a map 😀 I don’t rememeber the name.
So is creating a map with multiple themes selected allowed?
Negative. Only one theme must be used.
What if your map inadvertently fits the theme of multiple entries, as there is some overlap between the themes? Also, what if you pick Sniperville as your theme since there are already two of them? Do you instantly break the rules? :p
Trolling aside, I have my idea already worked out for what I would like to accomplish for this one.
It is a serious question though, and one I’ve been wondering about. It seems nearly impossible to make a map that doesn’t have anything to do with any of the themes other than the one selected. Otherwise most entries couldn’t use Hunters or the gravity gun…
I have to assume only the primary focus of the map is limited by only having one theme, not every element in the map.
I think, it would be good idea to declare what ville you are picking up, and include it in the readme file. And in the map itself, when you display credits (or in this case just name of the map and creator).
Then you are judged if you meet that ville’s requirements or not.
[reply to 1upD]
Correct, your last sentence is the intent. It’d be absurd for us to ask you to choose only a single theme and specifically avoid all of the others. Though that might be a good idea for another challenge, maybe we’d just end up with crowbars and antlions then. 🙂
Ha! That is a hell of a theme. I love it.
Good luck to everyone who enters. I look forward to seeing the result.
what about Station60Ville?
What about it?
its not listed
edit: it is. Why didnt I see it before :/
NewBlackMesaVille, anyone? Anyone? XD
Don’t tease us now
I think I’ve narrowed my selection down to crossoverville, Huntersville, or Station60ville. I’m still deciding though.
do Station60Ville, that one only had two entries the first time, and only one of them was actually complete
Just out of curiosity, are TV shows allowed for Crossoverville? I know the theme was originally about using gameplay mechanics from other games, but a friend had an idea that I thought was interesting. I probably won’t use it, but that won’t stop me from thinking about it.
Firstly, CrossoverVille was NOT about using gameplay mechanics from other games. It was purely about inspiration from other games.
Secondly, yes you can use a TV show but think of it being covered under MovieVille.
Nice! If I was more artistically inclined, I would have to try out making a map based on a particular show with a very different aesthetic.
I think it would be cool to see more crossoverville and movieville maps.
Ah, excellent … ! Got a third map under construction as I speak and this forms a great oppertunity to participate in a Ville challenge. I have yet to pick a theme though.
Awwww, and I was hoping for a WhiteForestVille…
Where the entry’s must expand on the interior of White Forest Base, give the player a task (or two) to accomplish inside the base,
For example, while Gordon was fighting off the Combine in Silo 2, what about the defense in other places, surely that wasn’t the only location the Combine tried to breach!
Or you could do something like what the Precursor mod did, where you’re one of the people initially clearing White Forest Base out for the Resistance’s use,
Im sure you could just use one of the themed villes and still make White Forest bases.
Couldn’t Station60Ville work for that?
Or ForestVille, but that would be more about the exterior than the interior…
DoorVille
if i had a single creative bone in my body, i would be all over mapping, xD but alas, my imaginative skills lie more in editing things that have already been made, i have no ability to create things ex nihlo….
Is it possible to use some custom made music in my map? (If im going to use it at all that is)
It’s made by a friend.
if you have permission to use it then sure
I would have loved to join this Mapping contest as one final Source map but i just don’t have the time for it. I know myself and before i know i am fully lost in weeks of work. Still, will be following this one and i love the huge amount of choise the dev has as a theme.
Personally i am no theme fan, so, this is almost as if there is no theme.
good luck mappers!!
Leon
Im really putting heart and soul in to this final challenge, im aiming to make my best map yet.
It’s super spooky and I really pushed the limits of my creativity for this. I think you all will find it interesting and fun once finished. Hope you all like horror!
Even though im pretty sure I wont be able to win im still happy to provide the best map yet with all my previous inspiration and abilities put to use.
Glad to hear it. I’ve not a big horror fan but I know lots of players love it.
Question about the combinationville theme: Does a mounted combine turret count as an extra weapon?
A mounted Combine turret used by the play counts as one of their weapons. If the turret is used by the Combine then I will allow it to be “free”, just like secondary enemies.
What would you look at for a Doorville entry Phillip?
How relevant the area behind was in relation to the area in front of the door. Plus how inventive you are as well as the general quality and fun of the map.
How far along would most entrants say they are? I have a hard time judging if I’m running behind or what stage of development I should be in, given the time constraints.
I just scrapped my first idea and started from scratch. But I consider myself a fast mapper so don’t take me as a comparison. Also I have a lot of free time the next few weeks.
I very nearly scrapped my current idea, but I think I’ve decided I’m going to stick with it and see where it goes.
Is it normal to start over partway through?
dont know, this is the first time I restarted. The map I worked on before was too boring to work on after a while, so I decided to do something different, because I knew that if working on the map is boring already, I wont make it to the deadline.
So, I’m having some trouble getting started on my map. I kinda have a little idea for my map, but I can’t really bring myself to focusing on working on the map. I might make a map or not. Who knows?
Just one week (give or take some hours) remains!
I won’t be entering this, but look forward to the craziness others will come up with!
Can I enter a bonus map for this one? Not something to actually compete with because i’ve been at work on it for quite a while now and i’d like to hear some feedback before when I might eventually release it as part of a mod. It’s also a complete remake of my first released map (Breen’s Private Reservoir) so it will fit into Waterville.
Well damn, I’m not sure if I can finish this thing on time at the pace I’m going. I thought I’d share a few shots of what I have so far:
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/269471549691131999/0A4F1A4F996E987BD9EC369299BD42A3BFA553D2/
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/269471549691132194/CD86EC6FFF9DA8B9D0CC23A2F8B03334EBE0713A/
Both shots are the same.
Fixed. Sorry about that.
I personally really like the lighting and geometry. Looks solid.
Could use some detail props and such, but I’m sure you’re aware of that.
Well, it already looks better than Prospekt, go so you! 😉
just writing this to let Confused Travolta know that I looked at his map “Abyss” about how he did the fog. I tried to imitate it myself but didn’t get good results, so I just looked at how he/she did it.
So credits to you 🙂
Hooray, I’m Useful! 🙂
The final hours is upon us! Good luck any participants, I can’t wait to see what we will get out of this final challenge.
Deadline. Good luck to everyone that participated!
Submitted my entry last night. Looking forward to playing everybody else’s maps!
https://youtu.be/G3Pc9rjBGBs i broke it