A brand new levelmaking contest

[Ragnarok!]

You guessed it right if you guessed Domination!

This is a brand new levelmaking contest in which you have to make a Domination level. The rules are very simple.

1) The level must be domination.
2) The level must be bigger than 5000 if you multiply the height by the width. This one is slightly leniant, I just don't want miniature levels. That does not mean you are limited to a certain amount of control points, there can be as many as you want.
3) The level must NOT be a conversion or an edit off a previous level. It can't even be a remake.
4) The entry must be in by 30th September 23:59 my time [GMT +1].

Any questions? If not, what are you waiting for? Start JCSing. I assure you, the prize willn't be worth your while. o.0

Edit : Sadly I didn't think of this earlier. Only one entry, collabs are allowed, and to submit, send them off to my email address being sabatazayoni@hotmail.com. Alternatively, you could upload it to some file-sharing website and provide me with the link in my JCF message inbox thingy.

If you upload it somewhere, even J2O without telling me that it was for it somehow, I might not count it as an entry, I wouldn't know.

[Stijn]

Is it a monetary prize?

Also, much as I'd like to write down the deadline in my agenda, I can't make much of 23:59 in the timezone of "in an afro".

[Eigus]

UK timezone maybe?

[Stijn]

Maybe, yes, but I'd like to be certain (and not everyone knows Rag lives in the UK).

[Ragnarok!]

My bad. GMT +1, 11:59. No Im too cheap for a monetary prize. )=

[Stijn]

Alright, newposted.

[plunK]

I have 3 DOM levels done. Can i submit all 3 in a levelpack(one is 2000 tiles, one is 8192 and one is 19300) and do i just post them in downloads?

[Ragnarok!]

Check top post, updated. ;s

[Cpp]

I might want to ask what the difference is between those control points (text-easy, text-hard and event 255). I've noticed that event 255 automatically names the control points.

[cooba]

Any event that's on Easy or Hard. By using Text events you can set custom names for CPs.<!>

[Raven aka StL]

I'll try to make sure to submit an entry in time.

[Eigus]

fyi, in.

[plunK]

I have a really great idea for this, but i have a problem theres no way it can be 5000tiles plus.

[Cpp]

Are there any limits on how many domination points are allowed or player limits?

[Ragnarok!]

None at all. I don't understand what you mean by player limits but Im guessing you're saying the level is aimed at a certain number of people. I'd rather it works all ways but its up to you. Maybe you can surprise me. :]

[Birdie]

Well, I'm in.

[Jimbob]

Dude, I just got an idea for a Domination level.
Expect me to (probably) submit it if I don't drop it.
80 x 76 = 6080
Just so you know, it's gonna be symmetrical, kinda like a CTF layout.

[Eigus]

mine is 15000 when multiplied ;)

[Unhit]

This one time, i didn't finish a level so i didn't quite complete it. This time it'll work, maybe.

[Jimbob]

Update: I'm definitely in.
Have about 43% of the layout done already (don't worry, I'm planning it ;D)
EDIT: modified the level's size because of a one-tile offset in the left.
New area (tiles):
82 x 76 = 6232

[plunK]

jeez. mine is only 2450 (35x70) i need some major expansion unless its okay...

[Pako]

I'm in, too. (BTW, my level is 118x54)

[SPAZ18]

I'm in. Level size: 125 x 90 = 11,250
Planned number of CPs: 3-4

[Jimbob]

jeez. mine is only 2450 (35x70) i need some major expansion unless its okay...

Well my suggestion is, maybe you can release that level as a normal domination level and start on a new, bigger one for this contest?
Anyways, as of now, my level has 6 CPs, as opposed to 12, which an earlier version had.

[Hitch]

Jimbob, What the ?

[cooba]

Anyways, as of now, my level has 6 CPs, as opposed to 12, which an earlier version had.You've never played Domination in UT99 have you?

[Jimbob]

Um, I don't have Unreal Tournament.
And please stop being so negative D=
Anyways, it's probably going to have 5 or 6 CPs. Better for larger teams.

[Hitch]

Three...

[Cpp]

Um, I don't have Unreal Tournament.
And please stop being so negative D=
Anyways, it's probably going to have 5 or 6 CPs. Better for larger teams.

I believe what cooba is trying to say is that in UT99 it was never a good idea to have too many control points in a level. It simply degraded the gameplay quality.

[CrimiClown]

I'm making a 100x50 level, exactly 5000. It'll be done soon.

[Ragnarok!]

=].

[CrimiClown]

I've listened to all your feedback in the test server and I've finally fixed everything and decided to upload my level (http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/downloads/info.php?levelID=5180).

[Jimbob]

I've listened to all your feedback in the test server and I've finally fixed everything and decided to upload my level (http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/downloads/info.php?levelID=5180).

Based on your screenshots it actually looks good and worth a download. I'm gonna go check it out right now.
-
EDIT: Good news! I have finished my DOM level and have uploaded it and sent the link to your e-mail address, Rag.

[JangoCF]

I might want to ask what the difference is between those control points (text-easy, text-hard and event 255). I've noticed that event 255 automatically names the control points.
I discovered that Control point event 255 is always 3. Then, If you put and easy text, it would try and go as much in front as possible. Say, 1. An Hard text would try to get as behind as possible. Say, 4.
But, if there`s no 2 yet, the hard would HAVE to be 2, as event 255 is ALWAYS control point 3.

So:
Easy text tries to slip in as in front as possible.
Hard tries to go as far as possible to the back.

Lets see if you understand this situation:

Easy#1, Easy#2, event 255, Easy#3, Hard#1, Easy#4, Hard#3 and Hard#2.
What will happen here?

Easy#1 will slip in the first slot. Then Easy#2, followed by event 255.
Then Easy#3 is in slot four. Easy#4 will bypass Hard#1 and slip in infront of him.
Then the rest of the Hards will que up behind in this order:
Hard#1, Hard#3 and Hard#2.

Get the picture now?

[Ragnarok!]

The deadline is nearring... I know lots of you won't be able to finish in time but does anyone want a deadline extension? While I know this is corny and as sucky as ever... It might be the only way for me to fulfill my plan, as a result, the people which have already submitted will get to make edits and re-release as a slight advantage to them. :\

I know this sucks if anyone has already entered their entry, so yeah... I just want opinions right now.

[CrimiClown]

I'd say, if people are too lazy/unmotivated/uninterested to keep a strict deadline...

... nah, never mind, it'd be a bit stupid to say such a thing when you've already made your entry. :P

[Ragnarok!]

xD. But the thing is... I totally agree with you. :\

[FawFul]

some people jcs fast (snooze,DS)
some people jcs slowly (St.louis,Quickz,me)
and with other things meaning i already have a few time left to make a entire level.
it means that i can not finish it for 30th septembre.. for my jcsing velocity: it's way a to fast deadline.

[Ragnarok!]

Deadline extended to 12th October >\. Be done by then or else D<

[CrimiClown]

These bots are so lame. In the old days, bot advertisement was a laugh riot.

Anyway, it kind of sucks that nobody has submitted anything yet even with an extended deadline.

[Ragnarok!]

Hm several people said they would have it done by 15th... So that's the new deadline... AGAIN. But 3 days doesnt really mean much... I guess =s. I guess I can do everything I planned for the newer entries in the due time, so I guess its all good.

[Nonomu198]

dom sucks, deal with it.

[Quickz]

Well, I actually worked quite some time on my DOM today, so I'm really pleased with this new extended deadline. Anyway, I have a question. It's really hard to built a good level with the tileset I'm using while taking in consideration that some people might have "Low Detail" on. So I'm wondering if you will take that (good looking lvl with Low Detail on) into consideration too while judging the levels. How many entries did you receive till now, anyway? :)

[Sonyk]

People still use low detail?

[Ragnarok!]

Right now, I have received 6 entries. I will just name names, and if you entered and I somehow missed it or something [like I didn't recieve it because of some wierd reason like you not knowing how to get it to me or I'm a retard], kindly post here to tell me. (Also, there were some DOMs submitted to J2O, but I'm unsure whether they are entries, so I won't include them unless you inform me so.)

They are:
CrimiClown
DarkSonic
FawFul
Jimbob
PT32
Spaz18

[Hitch]

Rag's so basied. He didn't enter b/c he knew if he did he'd win which would mean he would be basied because he'd be picking himslef in his own competition. BUT since he didn't enter the competition it just makes you think that he knows that he would win, so thats why he didn't enter the competition in the first place. BUT if he did enter he would want to win even though he wouldn't pick him self to win but would still make him basied. So he would pick someone else to pick the winner, but he'd pay them something just so he would win. HA CAUGHT RED HANDED!

...lol

[Quickz]

Well, I mailed it to you. I won't upload it however, so I hope you got it.

[CrimiClown]

Well, I mailed it to you. I won't upload it however, so I hope you got it.

For some reason, I think he's too busy mixin' martinis.

[Ragnarok!]

First of all, Lawl. ;D

Second of all, I recieved Qz' entry, so now there are 7 entries. Feel free to join a "public test server" on Friday at 19:30 GMT. You'll see all of the DOMs and er, I guess your own if you entered. It'll be fun =]. Oooooh Oooooh... No that was it. =P

[Ragnarok!]

The Results

Okay, first of all, the DOM contest gave me 7 entries, which means 7 [actually 8 because PT32 made two] new DOMs to our collection. Sadly, many more people said they would like to have entered but sadly they couldn’t because of their own reasons. Now, I would like to say, that everyone did a great job, and if you did not make it to the top 3, please remember that it took me a while to make this list; it was very difficult knocking some of them out because I really had difficulty in ranking them. I wish I could make it a top 7 without seeming rude, but it seems too derogatory to those who are below, so I guess I won’t. So here it is, in my sincere opinion, these are the best 3 levels which seemed the most impressive to me, and the other 4 are the ones that didn’t make it, and they will be recited in alphabetical order. Here you go! And again, thanks for entering/showing interest.

P.S. Just so you know, the “reviews” I’m writing here are not pointing out negative aspects.


1ST PLACE Pearl Shell Shores by Quickz (http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/downloads/info.php?levelID=5222)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4999/quickzpiczmn0.png (http://imageshack.us)

Whaha. This is the winner of the contest. For a range of reasons, it’s the one that appealed to me as the true winner of this little competition. It differed from the other DOMs the most, and differed from anything made out of that tile-set too as a matter of fact. I thought it was brilliant, and I’m sure you’ll agree.

EYECANDY was truly great, as it didn’t overuse the grass (like I often do) and had some very interesting themes you just couldn’t get your hands on. To me, it looks like the side of an island, where you can see the nearby lake in the background, traces of water in front of you, with a mountain range in the background, at what seems to be a very sunny day. The terrain is probably what makes this level appeal to me so much. You seem to be in a multitude of sandy platforms while somehow in some very tattered caves. There are a few rocks on this beach and due to the extreme h eat, there is condensation occurring with water dripping off the edges of the platforms.
GAMEPLAY was something different. While you appear to all start on the right hand side of the map, but you can luckily spawn on the left too. On the right, you have your only power up in the level, and two carrots, while on the left, are the two CPs and the other side, with another carrot in between. This moderates the need to be on either the left hand side to have more points, or to be on the right hand side and to need the powerup, for more power against the other players when attacking or defending the CPs. Well, it’s clear to me the creator really thought about how he would structure this level and how it would play.
PLACEMENT was probably the best aspect of this level. I loved how everything was so nicely spread, and yet, it’s so convenient to go from place to place in this level. Every single part of the level has brilliant or sufficient placement, including the control points, the ammo, the powerup, the carrots and even the water. This is probably what amazes me about the level most, as well as how well it will play. It’s truly a stroke of brilliance.

Great job and congratulations for winning.

2ND PLACE Lost Onyx by CrimiClown (http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/downloads/info.php?levelID=5180)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8646/crimipiczsp6.png (http://imageshack.us)

The image shown above is a pathetic representation of the level and barely shows the true beauty of the level. The level is truly scintillating in all aspects, and the author clearly took a big risk when choosing to make a water level, often very unpopular. This level however, completely sets aside the fact that water is harder to play in and makes a brilliant Domination.

EYECANDY is something this level has a lot of. The theme reminds me of some sort of treasure hunt, like in the movie Atlantis (if anyone knows it). The level establishes itself as an underwater brawl over the control points, while the single area of interest above the water is the easiest control point to access. The level’s theme is probably one of the best I have seen with this set, and if not, the best, and it truly looks amazing – something I have never seen before.
GAMEPLAY , expected to be bad in this level by me. Mostly because of the water, I had the impression that this level wouldn’t be good, but the gameplay dazzled me and proved me wrong. While you can easily go for the most accessible CP, the one at the top, it won’t be very helpful to you if the other team has occupied the two underwater CPs and have taken control of the water, where they’ll have easy access to the carrots, CPs, and seeker PU, while there is only some slight access to the others at the top. I think this level plays brilliantly.
PLACEMENT was one of the other great aspects of this level. I really like how it all works, but I feel the level really needs more ammo. In DOM, you tend to shoot your ammo a lot, but mind you, it still plays well with little ammo as you have to make constant trips away from the CPs to gather ammo, making it just a bit more competitive. I love it. The guns are all great, I only wish there were TNTs.

=)

3RD PLACE Alien Heart by FawFuL - No DL link.

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/2577/ffpiczeb8.png (http://imageshack.us)

The level itself plays nicely in some ways and has some very interesting gameplay as well as eyecandy aspects inside it. I really like it, and with a few minor changes, it probably would have been even better. It looks very strange and has a very interesting theme. Here we go.

EYECANDY was fascinating in this level. Once again, the level makes the set look brilliant, like nothing I have ever seen before, and it looks great, did I mention it looks great? I think it looks very abstract and “alien”, and judging by the level name, the author clearly set the correct theme in the correct way. Well done.
GAMEPLAY was quite good, despite the confusion I would get from the pit. I really liked the way it played and also I think the tubes and flow of this level is really good. Atop of that, I feel that the control points as well as the RESPAWN system add a new feel to this level, which really sets this DOM apart from the others. It makes you want to stay alive without having to suffer consequences if you fail to do so. It’s nonetheless, GRRRREAAAAAT as our good friend TONY the TIGER would say. =]
PLACEMENT was great again, with powerups fairly dispersed across the level, and springs, tubes and oneways appropriately placed at other areas. I really like the way this level works along with its placement, such as the seeker powerup and stuff. I think the placement here is great, and the level works greatly, and very little can be changed to improve it (placement). =]

Good Job

So that was the top 3, and now, here are the other four, which all were still very good, I just couldn’t include them in the top 3. Thank you for taking part. [These are written in alphabetical order by author name if you’re wondering].

Lava Reef by DarkSonic – Good level, with interesting concepts, as well as the fresh eyecandy.
Highland Glaciers by Jimbob – Very chaotic and fun for big servers, loads of PUs and carrots to keep the gameplay flowing.
Midnight at Bloodlet Bane by PT32 – Had a few bad parts, but I really liked some of the design ideas put into the level.
KingDOM by Spaz18 – Great, king-sized level for more strategic and less chaotic DOMs. I like the concepts put into this level too.

I guess that’s everything. Thanks for taking part to everyone, and feel free to leave feedback etc. =) I hope you agree with the order. And, a special well done, to Quickz for winning this contest. Your level was the best.

[CrimiClown]

Congrats to Quickz, really nice level. Also, congratulations on you all for taking part. Loved the competition.

"I have a dream... one where water levels will be popular again!"

[FawFul]

yaaaaaaay. top 3 ^^!