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48hr Competition #2 - Discussion

Submitted by MattD on

well, its about that time isnt it? who's up for another one in the upcoming uni break? ideas on format/libraries/topics?

MattD

Submitted by Blitz on Mon, 05/07/04 - 11:14 PM Permalink

I had a fairly busy day saturday and decided i'd like to spend some time sleeping this weekend :)
I wasn't particularly excited by the topic...2D scroller is ok, but having to base it off a 3D game, i couldn't be bothered. Patricularly because the topic was released so late, it meant there was really no time to decide what game, and then *research* that game for the things that make it stand out etc.
I think the topic needs to be released earlier in future, and discussed further (remember the topic for the first comp was the result of several weeks of discussion and people agreeing which ideas were good etc.! :))
CYer, blitz

Submitted by Barry Dahlberg on Mon, 05/07/04 - 11:41 PM Permalink

I ended up building a new computer for myself over the weekend then spending the rest of the time 'testing' it's gaming abilities... I didn't have any problems with the topic.

Good on you Kane for giving it a go.

Submitted by TheBigJ on Mon, 05/07/04 - 11:53 PM Permalink

I liked the topic but some things came up and I didn't have time to work on it.

Hooray for Kane! It's a shame that so many of us couldn't enter. Maybe we should arrange another competition soon while people are available (uni holidays, etc).

Submitted by Stephen on Tue, 06/07/04 - 2:04 AM Permalink

What is the prize for Kane going to be anywayz?

I'd hate to think Kane has wasted 48 hours of his life for nothing.

Submitted by Kane on Tue, 06/07/04 - 2:07 AM Permalink

come on...my game isnt that bad...

oh, wait...yeh it is... [:D]

Submitted by souri on Tue, 06/07/04 - 5:10 AM Permalink

Yeh, the turnout was pretty bad... I haven't gotten the rsponse I needed from the prize sponsor yet - I think we should put that off until/if we have another programmer challenge. Kane of course won't go empty handed. I can send you a Sumea shirt, and Blitz has some stuff to give out I think?

Submitted by hobonation on Tue, 06/07/04 - 5:55 AM Permalink

wow, does close family get free tee-shirt?!?!?[;)]

Submitted by Kane on Tue, 06/07/04 - 5:57 AM Permalink

hooray for me!

thanks for that Souri, ill email you my address.

and don't listen to my brother, he doesn't deserve a shirt...[;)]

Submitted by Kane on Tue, 06/07/04 - 6:08 AM Permalink

hey Blitz, what would you be willing to give away?

Submitted by souri on Tue, 06/07/04 - 7:51 AM Permalink

quote:Originally posted by hobonation

wow, does close family get free tee-shirt?!?!?[;)]

You can wear his shirt on weekends... [:D]

I have some surplus Discreet merchandise so I'll put in a aluminium water bottle and a discreet shirt as well..

So anyway, you need to tell me which Discreet shirt you'd like:

Discreet Spawnstar shirt (size L, XL, XXL) OR Discreet 3dsmax6 6 Pacman shirt (size S, XL,XXL)

and let me know what size Sumea Shirt (Size S or M)

Submitted by Maitrek on Tue, 06/07/04 - 8:31 AM Permalink

I don't think the topic was bad per se...I think the fact that programmers aren't always keen on doing a bunch of game design like adapting a 3D concept into a 2D shooter.

Plus there's lots of art assets in a 2D shooter, may be a slight drawback.

I still think that if we continue with the 2D theme maybe we could tie in one of the sumea draw club activities in? Who knows...I guess we need to establish this competition first :)

p.s. rofl - I got evicted from the pixel town, I think from now on I'll do the job first, then book the plot :)

Submitted by Kane on Tue, 06/07/04 - 6:11 PM Permalink

I'll have the PacMan shirt in XL and a M size Sumea shirt please!

thanks heaps!

Submitted by TheBigJ on Tue, 06/07/04 - 8:14 PM Permalink

quote:Plus there's lots of art assets in a 2D shooter, may be a slight drawback.

That's true. I thought for future contests it might be cool to provide a basic media library (sprites, sound effects) that everyone can use if they don't have the talent/time to make their own, or so they don't have to make all the stuff themselves.

Being able to use something like SpriteLib ([url]http://www.arifeldman.com/games/spritelib.html[/url]) would allow us to make more interesting (and fun) games. Opinions?

Submitted by shiva on Tue, 06/07/04 - 10:31 PM Permalink

it would also allow us to devote more time to coding, and thats never a bad thing

Submitted by Daemin on Tue, 06/07/04 - 11:17 PM Permalink

Yeah, usually what's barring a programmer from making a decent game is all the art assets required to make the game. And since we're usually not skilled in using the tools it takes us like twice as long at least.

Submitted by TheBigJ on Wed, 07/07/04 - 12:42 AM Permalink

yeah. My time on the first programming challenge was split almost 50/50 between art and code, and the art was shit. [;)]

By sharing a standard media library we would all produce games that have equal visual quality; the challenge is in the mechanics/gameplay, which is what a programming challenge should be about.

Submitted by TheBigJ on Wed, 07/07/04 - 12:49 AM Permalink

Another possibility could be a supplied artwork theme. One artist makes a set of graphics of a certain theme, and all the programmers have to use that artwork (and probably only that artwork) to make a game of their choice, trying to create gameplay that is appropriate for the theme of the artwork.

Sorta like a game programming Mr. Squiggle? Upside down.. Upside down...

Submitted by Stephen on Wed, 07/07/04 - 2:31 AM Permalink

This art library idea is wicked!
I fully agree that coders shouldn't have to deal with art.
Plus it could bring us coders and them there artists a little closer.
Which can only be a goog thing.
"Mr. Squiggle", lol TheBigJ your funny.

Submitted by Kane on Wed, 07/07/04 - 2:38 AM Permalink

hell yeh media library is a good idea!

the best piece of art in my game was the platform which was useless because the avatar cant even jump properly!

looking forward to the next challenge and more entrants!

Submitted by GooberMan on Wed, 07/07/04 - 5:46 AM Permalink

quote:Originally posted by Stephen

I fully agree that coders shouldn't have to deal with art.

Programmer art rocks. Fear my deformed stick man!

Having a media library though is a good idea. Perhaps a sound library as well for those without microphones. It is a programming challenge after all, so if people would prefer to spend half an hour looking through an art library instead of spending half an hour making shitty stick figures they'll be able to.

Submitted by tachyon on Wed, 07/07/04 - 7:48 AM Permalink

how about have a sumea art challenge to come up with the art assets, then the winning entry is used in the next programmer challenge?

Submitted by TheBigJ on Wed, 07/07/04 - 9:27 PM Permalink

Good idea, tachyon. To avoid collusion we could also just allow programmers to choose from any of the entries in the art challenge - For example, the art challenge is to make a side scroller character and some appropriate enemies/pickups. Programmers can choose from the resulting entries and make a game featuring that character.

Submitted by Daemin on Wed, 07/07/04 - 11:18 PM Permalink

So what would be do with this competition, redo it or just forget about it and do a 48 Hour Programmers Challenge 2b...?

Submitted by Blitz on Wed, 07/07/04 - 11:24 PM Permalink

Kane is the winner, time for challenge 3 :)
I think the idea of artists developing a set of sprites for a 2D scroller (don't limit it to side scroller though!) is a good one.
Sounds like a plan for the next challenge, people should start thinking about when, eg. next uni holidays, or earlier???
CYer, Blitz

Submitted by Daemin on Wed, 07/07/04 - 11:27 PM Permalink

Well it is still uni Holidays, for another 3 weeks or so officially for SA, so anytime within the next two weeks would be good...

Erm, either that or in another 2 months time...

Submitted by TheBigJ on Thu, 08/07/04 - 1:45 AM Permalink

We could do one with a media library (no sumea artists involved) these holidays and then organise the artists for one later in the year.

Submitted by Maitrek on Thu, 08/07/04 - 6:18 AM Permalink

Yeah, sumea challenge #2 was run and won...
Next mid-semester break is the 18th September to the 1st October (as Daemin said approximately 2 months time)

So I imagine a challenge around then would be good for Uni students, dunno about high school students tho?!

Submitted by souri on Tue, 13/07/04 - 8:39 AM Permalink

Yeh, I wasn't expecting programmers to spend that much time on the graphics at all for the previous challenge. I think Gooberman's Impossible Mission is a great example of a game working on it's ideas than looks.

So, ok, I guess mid September would be the time for the next one..

A media library for the programmer art challenge sounds great - although I'm not sure how successful a 2d pixel art challenge will be, or if I can even support such a challenge with any prizes. A Sumea Draw Club activity would be a great way to get some content happening for that, but it depends on the amount of participation of people if there is to be a huge variety of art for different types of games.

Perhaps it might be a better idea to restrict the pixel art to one type of genre. For example, if we were to choose a puzzle genre for the challenge, artists can contribute a variety of colourful 64x64 graphic blocks (items, diamonds, fruit etc) for use in any kind of puzzle game you come up with..

Anyway, thoughts please!

Submitted by MattD on Mon, 19/07/04 - 11:32 AM Permalink

quote:Originally posted by Souri


So, ok, I guess mid September would be the time for the next one..

hopefully ill be back from my stint in south africa so i can compete this time...

quote:
A media library for the programmer art challenge sounds great - although I'm not sure how successful a 2d pixel art challenge will be, or if I can even support such a challenge with any prizes. A Sumea Draw Club activity would be a great way to get some content happening for that, but it depends on the amount of participation of people if there is to be a huge variety of art for different types of games.

Perhaps it might be a better idea to restrict the pixel art to one of genre. For example, if we were to choose a puzzle genre for the challenge, artists can contribute a variety of colourful 64x64 graphic blocks (items, diamonds, fruit etc) for use in any kind of puzzle game you come up with..

Anyway, thoughts please!

hmm, i like the idea of using supplied artwork, maybe this is a neat way to start a sumea repository of 64 x 64 artwork for subsequent competitions as well? the only thing id request is that the programmers can do anything with the artwork, aside from completly redrawing it :P

how about using both the comp art, and supplying some random high res photos and/or art for people to cut up and use if they want?

as with all these things, as long as someone makes a decision itll be all good :) i just hope i can compete this time :)

matt D

Posted by MattD on

well, its about that time isnt it? who's up for another one in the upcoming uni break? ideas on format/libraries/topics?

MattD


Submitted by Blitz on Mon, 05/07/04 - 11:14 PM Permalink

I had a fairly busy day saturday and decided i'd like to spend some time sleeping this weekend :)
I wasn't particularly excited by the topic...2D scroller is ok, but having to base it off a 3D game, i couldn't be bothered. Patricularly because the topic was released so late, it meant there was really no time to decide what game, and then *research* that game for the things that make it stand out etc.
I think the topic needs to be released earlier in future, and discussed further (remember the topic for the first comp was the result of several weeks of discussion and people agreeing which ideas were good etc.! :))
CYer, blitz

Submitted by Barry Dahlberg on Mon, 05/07/04 - 11:41 PM Permalink

I ended up building a new computer for myself over the weekend then spending the rest of the time 'testing' it's gaming abilities... I didn't have any problems with the topic.

Good on you Kane for giving it a go.

Submitted by TheBigJ on Mon, 05/07/04 - 11:53 PM Permalink

I liked the topic but some things came up and I didn't have time to work on it.

Hooray for Kane! It's a shame that so many of us couldn't enter. Maybe we should arrange another competition soon while people are available (uni holidays, etc).

Submitted by Stephen on Tue, 06/07/04 - 2:04 AM Permalink

What is the prize for Kane going to be anywayz?

I'd hate to think Kane has wasted 48 hours of his life for nothing.

Submitted by Kane on Tue, 06/07/04 - 2:07 AM Permalink

come on...my game isnt that bad...

oh, wait...yeh it is... [:D]

Submitted by souri on Tue, 06/07/04 - 5:10 AM Permalink

Yeh, the turnout was pretty bad... I haven't gotten the rsponse I needed from the prize sponsor yet - I think we should put that off until/if we have another programmer challenge. Kane of course won't go empty handed. I can send you a Sumea shirt, and Blitz has some stuff to give out I think?

Submitted by hobonation on Tue, 06/07/04 - 5:55 AM Permalink

wow, does close family get free tee-shirt?!?!?[;)]

Submitted by Kane on Tue, 06/07/04 - 5:57 AM Permalink

hooray for me!

thanks for that Souri, ill email you my address.

and don't listen to my brother, he doesn't deserve a shirt...[;)]

Submitted by Kane on Tue, 06/07/04 - 6:08 AM Permalink

hey Blitz, what would you be willing to give away?

Submitted by souri on Tue, 06/07/04 - 7:51 AM Permalink

quote:Originally posted by hobonation

wow, does close family get free tee-shirt?!?!?[;)]

You can wear his shirt on weekends... [:D]

I have some surplus Discreet merchandise so I'll put in a aluminium water bottle and a discreet shirt as well..

So anyway, you need to tell me which Discreet shirt you'd like:

Discreet Spawnstar shirt (size L, XL, XXL) OR Discreet 3dsmax6 6 Pacman shirt (size S, XL,XXL)

and let me know what size Sumea Shirt (Size S or M)

Submitted by Maitrek on Tue, 06/07/04 - 8:31 AM Permalink

I don't think the topic was bad per se...I think the fact that programmers aren't always keen on doing a bunch of game design like adapting a 3D concept into a 2D shooter.

Plus there's lots of art assets in a 2D shooter, may be a slight drawback.

I still think that if we continue with the 2D theme maybe we could tie in one of the sumea draw club activities in? Who knows...I guess we need to establish this competition first :)

p.s. rofl - I got evicted from the pixel town, I think from now on I'll do the job first, then book the plot :)

Submitted by Kane on Tue, 06/07/04 - 6:11 PM Permalink

I'll have the PacMan shirt in XL and a M size Sumea shirt please!

thanks heaps!

Submitted by TheBigJ on Tue, 06/07/04 - 8:14 PM Permalink

quote:Plus there's lots of art assets in a 2D shooter, may be a slight drawback.

That's true. I thought for future contests it might be cool to provide a basic media library (sprites, sound effects) that everyone can use if they don't have the talent/time to make their own, or so they don't have to make all the stuff themselves.

Being able to use something like SpriteLib ([url]http://www.arifeldman.com/games/spritelib.html[/url]) would allow us to make more interesting (and fun) games. Opinions?

Submitted by shiva on Tue, 06/07/04 - 10:31 PM Permalink

it would also allow us to devote more time to coding, and thats never a bad thing

Submitted by Daemin on Tue, 06/07/04 - 11:17 PM Permalink

Yeah, usually what's barring a programmer from making a decent game is all the art assets required to make the game. And since we're usually not skilled in using the tools it takes us like twice as long at least.

Submitted by TheBigJ on Wed, 07/07/04 - 12:42 AM Permalink

yeah. My time on the first programming challenge was split almost 50/50 between art and code, and the art was shit. [;)]

By sharing a standard media library we would all produce games that have equal visual quality; the challenge is in the mechanics/gameplay, which is what a programming challenge should be about.

Submitted by TheBigJ on Wed, 07/07/04 - 12:49 AM Permalink

Another possibility could be a supplied artwork theme. One artist makes a set of graphics of a certain theme, and all the programmers have to use that artwork (and probably only that artwork) to make a game of their choice, trying to create gameplay that is appropriate for the theme of the artwork.

Sorta like a game programming Mr. Squiggle? Upside down.. Upside down...

Submitted by Stephen on Wed, 07/07/04 - 2:31 AM Permalink

This art library idea is wicked!
I fully agree that coders shouldn't have to deal with art.
Plus it could bring us coders and them there artists a little closer.
Which can only be a goog thing.
"Mr. Squiggle", lol TheBigJ your funny.

Submitted by Kane on Wed, 07/07/04 - 2:38 AM Permalink

hell yeh media library is a good idea!

the best piece of art in my game was the platform which was useless because the avatar cant even jump properly!

looking forward to the next challenge and more entrants!

Submitted by GooberMan on Wed, 07/07/04 - 5:46 AM Permalink

quote:Originally posted by Stephen

I fully agree that coders shouldn't have to deal with art.

Programmer art rocks. Fear my deformed stick man!

Having a media library though is a good idea. Perhaps a sound library as well for those without microphones. It is a programming challenge after all, so if people would prefer to spend half an hour looking through an art library instead of spending half an hour making shitty stick figures they'll be able to.

Submitted by tachyon on Wed, 07/07/04 - 7:48 AM Permalink

how about have a sumea art challenge to come up with the art assets, then the winning entry is used in the next programmer challenge?

Submitted by TheBigJ on Wed, 07/07/04 - 9:27 PM Permalink

Good idea, tachyon. To avoid collusion we could also just allow programmers to choose from any of the entries in the art challenge - For example, the art challenge is to make a side scroller character and some appropriate enemies/pickups. Programmers can choose from the resulting entries and make a game featuring that character.

Submitted by Daemin on Wed, 07/07/04 - 11:18 PM Permalink

So what would be do with this competition, redo it or just forget about it and do a 48 Hour Programmers Challenge 2b...?

Submitted by Blitz on Wed, 07/07/04 - 11:24 PM Permalink

Kane is the winner, time for challenge 3 :)
I think the idea of artists developing a set of sprites for a 2D scroller (don't limit it to side scroller though!) is a good one.
Sounds like a plan for the next challenge, people should start thinking about when, eg. next uni holidays, or earlier???
CYer, Blitz

Submitted by Daemin on Wed, 07/07/04 - 11:27 PM Permalink

Well it is still uni Holidays, for another 3 weeks or so officially for SA, so anytime within the next two weeks would be good...

Erm, either that or in another 2 months time...

Submitted by TheBigJ on Thu, 08/07/04 - 1:45 AM Permalink

We could do one with a media library (no sumea artists involved) these holidays and then organise the artists for one later in the year.

Submitted by Maitrek on Thu, 08/07/04 - 6:18 AM Permalink

Yeah, sumea challenge #2 was run and won...
Next mid-semester break is the 18th September to the 1st October (as Daemin said approximately 2 months time)

So I imagine a challenge around then would be good for Uni students, dunno about high school students tho?!

Submitted by souri on Tue, 13/07/04 - 8:39 AM Permalink

Yeh, I wasn't expecting programmers to spend that much time on the graphics at all for the previous challenge. I think Gooberman's Impossible Mission is a great example of a game working on it's ideas than looks.

So, ok, I guess mid September would be the time for the next one..

A media library for the programmer art challenge sounds great - although I'm not sure how successful a 2d pixel art challenge will be, or if I can even support such a challenge with any prizes. A Sumea Draw Club activity would be a great way to get some content happening for that, but it depends on the amount of participation of people if there is to be a huge variety of art for different types of games.

Perhaps it might be a better idea to restrict the pixel art to one type of genre. For example, if we were to choose a puzzle genre for the challenge, artists can contribute a variety of colourful 64x64 graphic blocks (items, diamonds, fruit etc) for use in any kind of puzzle game you come up with..

Anyway, thoughts please!

Submitted by MattD on Mon, 19/07/04 - 11:32 AM Permalink

quote:Originally posted by Souri


So, ok, I guess mid September would be the time for the next one..

hopefully ill be back from my stint in south africa so i can compete this time...

quote:
A media library for the programmer art challenge sounds great - although I'm not sure how successful a 2d pixel art challenge will be, or if I can even support such a challenge with any prizes. A Sumea Draw Club activity would be a great way to get some content happening for that, but it depends on the amount of participation of people if there is to be a huge variety of art for different types of games.

Perhaps it might be a better idea to restrict the pixel art to one of genre. For example, if we were to choose a puzzle genre for the challenge, artists can contribute a variety of colourful 64x64 graphic blocks (items, diamonds, fruit etc) for use in any kind of puzzle game you come up with..

Anyway, thoughts please!

hmm, i like the idea of using supplied artwork, maybe this is a neat way to start a sumea repository of 64 x 64 artwork for subsequent competitions as well? the only thing id request is that the programmers can do anything with the artwork, aside from completly redrawing it :P

how about using both the comp art, and supplying some random high res photos and/or art for people to cut up and use if they want?

as with all these things, as long as someone makes a decision itll be all good :) i just hope i can compete this time :)

matt D