Latest News Article

[rsmalec]

Nov. 1, 2011 - Contest Ended!!
Congratulations to UTENAN (First Place) and FELLONIUS THE WIZARD (Second Place). Both map makers put an incredible amount of effort and craftsmanship into their entries, and the results are nothing short of amazing!
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=pVbfuLjO_T8

You can still submit maps (finished or unfinished) for an unofficial 'round 2' - I'd LOVE to see them!

VANILLA
custom adventure map challenge

Spoiler

Objective
Create an Adventure Map without the use of mods!

Rules

• NO spawning items
  
• NO mods during creation
  
• You MUST start on the same seed as everyone else: VANILLA
  
• Create your map on Easy, Normal, or Hard (not Peaceful)
  
• Use in-game signs (if you want). But NO external notes or audio files
  
• No texture packs, mods, or other files published with your map
  
• Map can be any length/style
  
• Define any rules you wish (breaking blocks, placing blocks, etc...)
  
• ONE ENTRY PER person or team
  
• DO NOT send me an unfinished map. Only your first submission will be considered
  
• DO NOT use external tools (MCEdit, Cartograph_G, etc...) during the creation of your map
  
• You CAN submit a map as a group (created on multiplayer) but all other rules still apply. If you submit a group map, you can ALSO submit a solo map
  
• IMPORTANT!! If you are starting this map on Minecraft 1.8, you need to use this file instead of starting with the VANILLA seed, due to biome generation changes http://www.mediafire...cycxll4d1j3zcqq
  
• IMPORTANT!! Even though it's not a mod, no using 1.8 creative mode. Sorry folks!

More information on RULE 13

Spoiler

SPECIAL THANKS to Fellonius the Wizard for providing this map, generated on the VANILLA seed with Minecrat version 7.1.3.

The map generated over 1,350 x 1,350 block area around spawn, plus a 480x580 block area in the south.

If you start using this map after Minecraft version 1.8, you will be on the same starting point as everyone else - but once you go beyond the edge of this area we don't know what will be generated (due to biome changes expected in the core game).

- Albarel
August 31, 2001

==========================
Raw data from Cartograph_G
==========================

Map surface: 1936128 square meters

Block amounts:
Air: 113668093
Stone: 103214839
Grass: 995225
Dirt: 11055982
Cobblestone: 17943
Moss Cobblestone: 7441
Monster Spawner: 155
Bedrock: 5804828
Snow: 0

Water: 2874037
Ice: 0
Lava: 776106
Obsidian: 8969

Wood: 77953
Leaves: 1058070
Cactus: 559

Sand: 1775756
Sandstone: 738350
Gravel: 3381433
Clay: 1357

Gold Ore: 70182
Iron Ore: 672327
Coal Ore: 1246549
Diamond Ore: 30171
Lapis Lazuli Ore: 27236
Redstone Ore: 241977

Sugar Cane: 137
Chest: 246
Pumpkin: 33

An appeal
If you find yourself interested and starting this challenge, please consider posting here or PM me. Likewise, if you start and give up, please let me know?

Challenge Deadline
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Rating
Each map was played and reviewed by myself. Maps were rated on a scale of 5 to 20 total points (1 to 4 points in each of 5 categories).

Creativity: Unique theme. Utilizes Minecraft functions. Use of rules. Clever creations
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!

Detail: Visual decor/detail. Consistency. Realism and/or appropriate to theme.
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!

Story: Overall effort and duration. Engaging. Consistent. Character motivation. Dialogue/Narration.
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!

Difficulty: Puzzles. Mob/risk density and variety. Lighting. Hidden items/challenges.
1 = Impossibly hard, may not be able to see the whole adventure
2 = Too easy
3 = Challenging, even on on peaceful
4 = Challenging, on easy/normal but not impossible

Progression: Pacing of scenes. Pacing of score, gear, loot. Experience builds or arcs.
1 = below average; uneven or no progression
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
( all ratings are subjective, based on my personal experience and preferences )

Miss the deadline? You can still send me your map. I want to see what you were able to do with the rule set!

• Create your map
  
• Upload your map online (for example; mediafire or planetminecraft)
  
• Send me a PM here, or email to smalecr@gmail.com with the TITLE, AUTHOR NAME, and LINK to your download. DO NOT include any other information.

[Zackme]

this will be hard 0_o how can i get sticky pistons?! if slimes are hard to fine

[rsmalec]

Zackme, on 14 August 2011 - 04:22 AM, said:

this will be hard 0_o how can i get sticky pistons?! if slimes are hard to fine

Dig down, then dig big enough rooms.
Who knows... 1.8 might introduce some interesting twists on what you can/can't do

[Fellonius the Wizard]

rsmalec, on 14 August 2011 - 04:29 AM, said:

Who knows... 1.8 might introduce some interesting twists on what you can/can't do

There's talk about getting more and better items, I banking on that.

Oh, am I allowed to participate? I'm going to do a Vanilla Challenge Map anyway, but I need to know if I'm disqualified.

I think I'm going to do a video series on my work. But first all focus on the story-line...

Wasn't there some threads about "How to make Custom Maps"? Didn't you have some tips, Albarel?

[rsmalec]

Fellonius the Wizard, on 14 August 2011 - 11:44 AM, said:

Oh, am I allowed to participate? I'm going to do a Vanilla Challenge Map anyway, but I need to know if I'm disqualified.

Why would you be disqualified? You don't have any advantage over anyone else. I am hoping you do try it!

[rsmalec]

Fellonius the Wizard, on 14 August 2011 - 11:44 AM, said:

Oh, am I allowed to participate? I'm going to do a Vanilla Challenge Map anyway, but I need to know if I'm disqualified.

Why would you be disqualified? You don't have any advantage over anyone else. I am hoping you do try it!

[rsmalec]

For what it's worth...

I haven't started a new map with this seed yet, but I have a few ideas for individual 'encounters' I might try and build, and I 'hope' my spawn area looks a particular way, but we'll see.

I am going to try and not plan it out too much, but let the map's "shape" inspire the story.

This may be the first map I build with a 'vanilla' genre - which is to say "Fantasy, Minecraft style".

[rsmalec]

Oh, and don't forget to "vote up" my main post (Apparently? Though I don't know what it does.)

[Fellonius the Wizard]

rsmalec, on 14 August 2011 - 03:46 PM, said:

Why would you be disqualified? You don't have any advantage over anyone else. I am hoping you do try it!

Since I sort of started the discussion.... never mind!

Bigger fish to fry, why can't I get a notification...... *mumbling into the settings*

[rsmalec]

Fellonius the Wizard, on 14 August 2011 - 04:20 PM, said:

Since I sort of started the discussion.... never mind!

Bigger fish to fry, why can't I get a notification...... *mumbling into the settings*

Right as I released Mars Mission, I noticed that I stoppped getting email notifications from the forums. If you go to your profile and find your watched posts, you can see who replied last and manually check them. I'm sure it's a pain for you, based on how many maps you've rated. But... :/

[rsmalec]

Added 2 new rules to the original post

11. DO NOT use external tools (MCEdit, Cartograph_G, etc...) during the creation of your map

12. You CAN submit a map as a group (created on multiplayer) but all other rules still apply. If you submit a group map, you can ALSO submit a solo map

[utenan]

You kill me man, you have schematics of your maps before you make them lol ( that, is awesome ). I wish I could have that kind of foresight when making a map : p ( I guess having ideas for a map would be helpful lol )

Anyways, I think I am going to do this. I have already spent a few hours on the seed playing vanilla minecraft (something I haven't done for like, 6 months) and am having a blast. Just need an idea......

[rsmalec]

utenan, on 15 August 2011 - 06:20 AM, said:

Anyways, I think I am going to do this. I have already spent a few hours on the seed playing vanilla minecraft (something I haven't done for like, 6 months) and am having a blast.

Then I feel this contest is already a success, regardless of what happens by Nov 1.

[rsmalec]

I submitted this thread to Sacheverell for a possible 'news' item.
If you think it's worthy, maybe you can PM him and recommend it?

[Fellonius the Wizard]

utenan, on 15 August 2011 - 06:20 AM, said:

Anyways, I think I am going to do this. I have already spent a few hours on the seed playing vanilla minecraft (something I haven't done for like, 6 months) and am having a blast. Just need an idea......

It will come to you, somewhere down a cave while gathering materials...
And I second Rsmalec, just reading that you're having fun, it's successfully inspiring.

Me, I haven't started yet. I have a lousy week ahead of me at work, (being chief assistant suddenly), but I do have some time to think about the story. It can't be too big, since I can't use any copying programs. (I'm only using MCEdit and MC server commands, but have been spoiled rotten anyway). Tomorrow (tuesday 16th) I will start my Non-Cheating Vanilla Challenge Vlog (NCVCV) at the Tube. I'm counting on having the two last weeks for details and tests, five weeks before that it's building time and all time before that, is all about getting the materials. This is the best idea of the whole year, I feel like it's Christmas.

[rsmalec]

Fellonius the Wizard, on 15 August 2011 - 06:27 PM, said:

This is the best idea of the whole year, I feel like it's Christmas.

Very kind words. I hope more players catch wind of this challenge and try it out - anyone who is starting to doubt the shelf life of this great game.

[Fellonius the Wizard]

I've just been "harassing" some very good map makers with PM:s about this thread and the Big Challenge. I will probably be banned for it, but I think it'll be worth it. (And I have a back up plan as well).

(Albarel, you have to wait for the mission report, a creeper blew me and a robot to smithereens and I have to reload, since I didn't catch the text on the sign. ).

[rsmalec]

Fellonius the Wizard, on 16 August 2011 - 01:56 PM, said:

(Albarel, you have to wait for the mission report, a creeper blew me and a robot to smithereens and I have to reload, since I didn't catch the text on the sign. ).

No worriesssss.

[rsmalec]

Artix902, on 16 August 2011 - 02:56 PM, said:

Abducted...

This is clearly not meeting the rules of the challenge, and was created well back with a different seed.

[Yellow9]

Since nobody else seems to be up for the challenge, I'll give it a go. I play with the Yogbox, though, would I be disqualified then?

I guess all it does is make things harder, lol.

EDIT: Okay, no mods. I guess if I do it on my server (which doesn't have the Yogbox), then I'll be fine. My worry is the whole no-peaceful thing, I'm going to have creepers blowing up everything.