Custom Content Creation Contest

[cascaderailroad]

<----Previous Post on Page 1: Looks like sombody grumpy woke up on the wrong side of the rock, you fall outa' bed or somthing this morning ? Sheesh...Grump !

[mawilson]

Originally Posted by cascaderailroad

Custom Content Creation Contest. Vote, How many think we should start a "Sticky" thread and a contest on seeing who can create the best custom content for Trainz, on request.

Instead of a contest, how about a content "Hall of Fame"? It gets past all the various caveats. It could have various categories (rolling stock, motive power, scenery - aka non-train - elements) and take into account various versions. Shucks, it could include modelers recognized for the overall quality and value of their body of work.

The mechanics may be too much for the forum in it's current configuration. There are plenty of web tools that could support such a thing, though. Then again... Maybe a separate forum. Nomination takes the form of starting a new thread with category and supporting information and images for the content item or creator. Others vote by posting a reply (positive only, one post per member). Once the vote count reach some agreed upon threshold, the content/creator is added to the Hall of Fame. At that point a moderator could alter the topic title to include a constant to support searching for HoF members.

[cascaderailroad]

Good Idea ! Perhaps this idea could be persued in "freeware" or "payware" where perspective downloaders could preview the creations screenshots as new downloads that are made reciently available.

[mawilson]

Fleshing out my previous proposal. Consider the following cast in warm jello. Feel free to take shots at any part of it. Just skip any ad hominim attacks.

Strawman for the Trainz Content Hall of Fame

Setup - A forum moderator will need to set up a new forum (Hall of Fame). The best fit is under "Workshops - Your Creations". This forum should be seeded with a sticky topic outlining how the process works and the (hopefully minimal) rules.

Category heirarchy -

• Payware - content items available for a fee (obviously).
• Freeware - content items available without cost (also obviously).

These categories are further broken down into:

• Motive power - Engines, be they steam, diesel, electric or compressed air without regard for gauge.
• Rolling stock - All the other parts of the train that don't help it to move on the tracks.
• Track elements - Tracks, switches and items typically found immediately trackside such as signals, crossings and stations
• Scenery elements - Items that probably shouldn't be found on tracks such as buildings, motor vehicles, trees, etc.

The final category, "Modeler", is to recognize a particular modeler for the quality and breadth of their body of work. These nominations should include images representative of the artist's work.

Nomination - Any forum member may nominate a content item or modeler by starting a new thread in the Hall of Fame forum. The topic should identify the work, artist and category. e.g. "Freeware Motive Power - Fireless Loco, Snerdley". The content of the first post should provide sufficient detail to support adding the work or artist to the Hall of Fame. Images must conform to posted screenshot rules. [I considered putting a life on the nomination. Feel free to weigh in on the idea]

Voting - Members who agree that the work or artist should be included in the Hall of Fame vote by adding a post to the topic. One vote per member. The nomination counts as one vote so the person making the nomination need not add a post for a vote.

Criteria - Voters should consider all approriate aspects of the content item(s) including geometry, texturing, and animation. Keep in mind that the Hall of Fame should include only the very best examples of what can be done in Trainz.

Qualification - Once a nomination recieves 300 votes [ too many? not enough?], they are added to the Hall of Fame. A forum moderator will change the topic title prepending "Hall of Fame - " to support searches.

[mawilson]

Wow! I really didn't mean to kill the topic!

[SR6900]

Contest for this is the worst of any recent ideas for Trainz. I believe you should be appreciative of what you get, rathar than expect creators to meet a specific deadline to get you a new model to download. We all have our own different paces.

But the hall of fame is a great idea. I think those creations that have that extra bit of realism and detail should be advertised in such a format. It's rewarding to the creator to know that you've created a model that is a favorite to many users of Trainz. It would also help those new to the sim find those great assets easier so that their interest in creation may be fueled.

I'd say push forward with the Hall of Fame idea.

[jfweaver]

The Trainz community has and continues to choose "Hall of Fame" creators and "Prize Winning" content. We all cast our votes when we download. Just spend some time looking through your favorite category on the DLS and I'm sure you will soon become familiar with the "elite" within that area.

I am fairly certain that most (possibly all) creators produce because they are driven to do so by their own needs and talents. If they don't possess such an internal drive no "contest" will instill them with it or increase their creative abilities; if they do possess it, nothing further is needed except our encouragement.

Lets just say "thanks" to all the creators within our great community and let them "do their thing" as they see fit!

Jim

[cascaderailroad]

No idea is a dumb idea...as long as that original idea helps people think of newer better ideas...ways to better an idea...I like the new ideas people are comming up with here...run with the ball !

[Iced8383]

These two posts take the words right outbof my mouth.

Originally Posted by SR6900

Contest for this is the worst of any recent ideas for Trainz. I believe you should be appreciative of what you get, rathar than expect creators to meet a specific deadline to get you a new model to download. We all have our own different paces.

But the hall of fame is a great idea. I think those creations that have that extra bit of realism and detail should be advertised in such a format. It's rewarding to the creator to know that you've created a model that is a favorite to many users of Trainz. It would also help those new to the sim find those great assets easier so that their interest in creation may be fueled.

I'd say push forward with the Hall of Fame idea.

Originally Posted by jfweaver

The Trainz community has and continues to choose "Hall of Fame" creators and "Prize Winning" content. We all cast our votes when we download. Just spend some time looking through your favorite category on the DLS and I'm sure you will soon become familiar with the "elite" within that area.

I am fairly certain that most (possibly all) creators produce because they are driven to do so by their own needs and talents. If they don't possess such an internal drive no "contest" will instill them with it or increase their creative abilities; if they do possess it, nothing further is needed except our encouragement.

Lets just say "thanks" to all the creators within our great community and let them "do their thing" as they see fit!

Jim

[mawilson]

Originally Posted by jfweaver

We all cast our votes when we download. Just spend some time looking through your favorite category on the DLS and I'm sure you will soon become familiar with the "elite" within that area.

I tend to download a lot of stuff that looks like it might have promise only to discard much of it after looking at it in surveyor. The thumbnails, if they are there, don't have enough detail to really judge the quality of the content. The metadata is inconsistent or missing so I wind up with stuff from areas I don't model in (nothing against content from other parts of the world, it just doesn't fit in real well in a US model). I expect that many others have a similar experience with DLS.

I mention this not to complain about DLS (though I would much appreciate improved cataloging there), but to point out that DLS downloads may not be as much a guage of content quality as it is longevity and curiosity.

Content creation isn't easy. It takes a great deal of time and considerable skill. People who build stuff and donate it for our use deserve our thanks. There are some models and modelers, though, that are several notches above. The Hall of Fame is an opportunity for us to acknowledge those superior works and workers.

[SR6900]

Originally Posted by mawilson

I tend to download a lot of stuff that looks like it might have promise only to discard much of it after looking at it in surveyor. The thumbnails, if they are there, don't have enough detail to really judge the quality of the content. The metadata is inconsistent or missing so I wind up with stuff from areas I don't model in (nothing against content from other parts of the world, it just doesn't fit in real well in a US model). I expect that many others have a similar experience with DLS.

I mention this not to complain about DLS (though I would much appreciate improved cataloging there), but to point out that DLS downloads may not be as much a guage of content quality as it is longevity and curiosity.

Content creation isn't easy. It takes a great deal of time and considerable skill. People who build stuff and donate it for our use deserve our thanks. There are some models and modelers, though, that are several notches above. The Hall of Fame is an opportunity for us to acknowledge those superior works and workers.

Exactly what I was trying to say!

[mjolnir]

When I did a search of the forums using the parameter "content creation contest", this was the only thread which came up, so I decided to bump it, because I think it's a great idea, and nothing seems yet to have come of it.

While my search has been reasonably diligent, I cannot yet say it has been exhaustive, but I have yet to find a high-capacity covered hopper for use in TRS. I'm specifically looking for the a car like the Trinity 6351 cubic foot, (cf. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/sho...aspx?id=885483), the ARI T6350 (cf. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/sho...spx?id=1645199), the Gunderson 6352 (cf. http://www.gbrx.com/PDFtecbulletins/Hopper6352.pdf), or the similar sized car made by National Steel Car. These are cars about 65 feet long, with four bays, specifically designed to handle lighter density agricultural products, sometimes called "distillers dried grains". While all of these are from the contemporary era, back in the 1960's or 1970's, the UP had a quantity (200, I think) of 125 ton cars of similar size, a variant of the Pullman Standard PS-2 design, at least one of which is still in service http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/sho...aspx?id=149218

So I propose a contest, as follows:

1) Official start date is December 1st; contest will close on 1 February; winner announced 15 February. Eligibility: open to users with a valid User ID in Planet Auran; judges may enter, but will not judge their own submission.

2) An entry will be one car with gravity unloading for the version of Trainz of the contestant's choice. Multiple entries are permitted, as long as they are not merely re-skins; if two or more entries are submitted by the same contestant for the same version of Trainz, each must be a different car types from the others. If the same car is produced for the "native mode" of multiple versions of Trainz, each is a separate entry.

3) The participant's will submit an asset of the car types listed above, or may create a "free-lance" asset of similar volume (greater than 6200 cubic feet) and characteristics (gravity unloading) to those in the list. Assets submitted may include either hatches or continuous troughs for loading.

3) Bogeys, and couplers will be excluded from judging.

4) Submission will include a basic skin, similar to that in the picture of the ARI T6250, in the participants choice of color.

5) Entries will be by screenshot posted to a thread opened specifically designated for that purpose in the Auran forum, and a ~.cdp files will be sent to a designated address.

6) Prizes? Maybe, to be determined. However, only one prize will be awarded to any contestant, regardless of the number of submissions made.

So, two questions: if this concept is opened, who is interested in entering, and who is interested in judging? I would say that judges are eligible to enter, but will be excluded from judging their own submission.

ns

[johnwhelan]

Originally Posted by mjolnir

When I did a search of the forums using the parameter "content creation contest", this was the only thread which came up, so I decided to bump it, because I think it's a great idea, and nothing seems yet to have come of it.

While my search has been reasonably diligent, I cannot yet say it has been exhaustive, but I have yet to find a high-capacity covered hopper for use in TRS. I'm specifically looking for the a car like the Trinity 6351 cubic foot, (cf. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/sho...aspx?id=885483), the ARI T6350 (cf. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/sho...spx?id=1645199), the Gunderson 6352 (cf. http://www.gbrx.com/PDFtecbulletins/Hopper6352.pdf), or the similar sized car made by National Steel Car. These are cars about 65 feet long, with four bays, specifically designed to handle lighter density agricultural products, sometimes called "distillers dried grains". While all of these are from the contemporary era, back in the 1960's or 1970's, the UP had a quantity (200, I think) of 125 ton cars of similar size, a variant of the Pullman Standard PS-2 design, at least one of which is still in service http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/sho...aspx?id=149218

So I propose a contest, as follows:

1) Official start date is December 1st; contest will close on 1 February; winner announced 15 February. Eligibility: open to users with a valid User ID in Planet Auran; judges may enter, but will not judge their own submission.

2) An entry will be one car with gravity unloading for the version of Trainz of the contestant's choice. Multiple entries are permitted, as long as they are not merely re-skins; if two or more entries are submitted by the same contestant for the same version of Trainz, each must be a different car types from the others. If the same car is produced for the "native mode" of multiple versions of Trainz, each is a separate entry.

3) The participant's will submit an asset of the car types listed above, or may create a "free-lance" asset of similar volume (greater than 6200 cubic feet) and characteristics (gravity unloading) to those in the list. Assets submitted may include either hatches or continuous troughs for loading.

3) Bogeys, and couplers will be excluded from judging.

4) Submission will include a basic skin, similar to that in the picture of the ARI T6250, in the participants choice of color.

5) Entries will be by screenshot posted to a thread opened specifically designated for that purpose in the Auran forum, and a ~.cdp files will be sent to a designated address.

6) Prizes? Maybe, to be determined. However, only one prize will be awarded to any contestant, regardless of the number of submissions made.

So, two questions: if this concept is opened, who is interested in entering, and who is interested in judging? I would say that judges are eligible to enter, but will be excluded from judging their own submission.

ns

My personal view is anyone who proposes something like this must first have three rolling stock or loco items created from scratch on the DLS. At least one of which has been created within two months. This is just to give you an idea of how much work you are requesting and the pressure of working to a deadline.

Cheerio John

[American_Connections]

Originally Posted by johnwhelan

...on the DLS...

Cheerio John

Why limit to the dls! Many are made and found from other locations. Payware is not allowed there and this is where you will find the better products because, as you point out, it takes alot of time and effort.

[S301]

First, let me say this. I'm posting this as a creator, who has always been interested in seeing a contest get off the ground.

I like many of the things posted so far, but a few that I disagree with.

1) There should be a 'theme', but not a set object. My reason for saying this is that I really don't want to make an American based hopper, and most people outside of the US aren't likely to want to either. Plus, that is not an easy shape to produce! Especially if animated doors, etc, are wanted... Many model railway clubs run their modelling competitions to a theme, rather than a set object. This allows for creativity, and personal tastes. It also means that you don't end up with 20+ identical items. An example of a theme would be to produce a house, or a trackside object (as in an object thats attached to the track in Trainz), or similar. Or even a small four or six wheel shunting loco.

2) The judges should look at the overall model. How well has the model gone together? Does it look the part? Does it look 'correct'. Of course, a panel of judjes would be best here.

3) The time length. This is a difficult one. I would personally like to see this vary a little. For smaller objects, such as a trackside object, I would think a shorter time frame would be better. However, I would say that we try and focus the time periods around times when people are most likely to be able to work on them, e.g. weekends. I would suggest starting the contest off small, to see how it goes.

4) Competition or Contest? There is a difference here. Generally a contest has a 'material' prize at the finish (money, or similar). A competition on the other hand is more for the good feeling of having had a go, and maybe having had the best object. Same as a photo competition or similar. I would recommend it be a competition, rather than a contest. This will make things more friendly, IMO.

5) Who judges? IMO it should be the community. I actually think this should be run in the same style as the screenshot competitions. These do work. It will, of course, need some tweaking, but the idea should still work. In fact, I think the screenshots competitions are a good example of how this should be operated.

6) The DLS? In my opinion, all entries should be required to go to the download station. Give a, say, 1 week period after the close of the competition in which the items can go to the DLS. If something has happened that prevents this, then it would be permitted to host the content outside the DLS temporarily. This would help ensure that the item is error free, and will be available to all trainz users who have registered a legitimate serial number.
It will also help with preventing non DLS dependencies being used.

As part of this, all entries should have a suffix at the end of the name to specify them for that competition. e.g. VR T class CC041109. It's long, but being at the end will place it 'off screen' in Surveyor. Using the Content Filter in 09 (a more basic version also exists in 06/TC) you can then remove all items without this in the name.

7) What about dependencies. In this case, ALL dependencies would need to be on the DLS. If this isn't stipulated, then it will end up becoming near impossible to locate dependencies, making this a painful experience. By using the DLS, you will be able to use the tools provided in Trainz to download the item simply and quickly.

Anyways, those are just my thoughts of it.
Zec