Custom Content Creation Contest

[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. It seems Fishlipsatwork is much too busy with a family and jobs to create more of his fabulous DEMs. And G Fisher, and S Driver are just a FEW of ALL the great creators that are out there doing ALOT of custom content creations. We all need alot MORE custom content creators who are skilled in G Max to step up to the plate and also claim their fame as fine custom content creators, of requested items. Yea ! A contest of custom content creation !Mods: Please "Sticky" this thread as a permanent item, if you think it is a good idea ? Possibly locate this thread idea in screenshots, or creation support ?

 

[Euphod]

How many contests do you want to have? Should there be one for 2004 and previous versions and then one for 2006 and then one for 2009? USLW creators not withstanding, many creators have been "put off" from making content by all the changes and lack of documentation. New creators are always stepping up to the plate; it seems to me that we are on about the "Third Wave" of creators right now.

Are you suggesting this be an Auran sanctioned contest? They don't seem to pay off very well!

If not, then who provides the prize? USLW?

Over all I find this to be a shame; Trainz may be the only game that has to resort to community contests to get new content!

 

[cascaderailroad]

Custom Content Creation

I made no mention about Auran sanctioning or sponsoring a contest...I just thought it just might be a great idea to see how many OTHER talented people there are out there working with G Max and making DEMs, on request. I am working on a PRR Horseshoe Curve route as a freeware item that I hope to donate (create and give it away for free) to DLS...I don't expect to make any money off of it. And as far as ONE prize being awarded, or a three runner up prize award, and awarded to the best...the prize would be FAME, that you alone created a unique asset in Trainz, for the enjoyment of all, and helped others to develope their skills as well. I could name about 10 of the great custom content freeware creation people (you know who you are) that are the present masters of freeware-custom content creation, and DEM creation. I wish I were as skilled as they are !

 

[Euphod]

I made no mention about Auran sanctioning or sponsoring a contest...

Yeah; I know. I was exploring the possibilities. What's the incentive, I wonder, or is this a "goodness of the heart" suggestion? Somebody may bite..Lord knows 2009 needs loads of content!

 

[johnwhelan]

We all need alot MORE custom content creators who are skilled in G Max to step up to the plate and also claim their fame as fine custom content creators, of requested items. Yea ! A contest of custom content creation !Mods: Please "Sticky" this thread as a permanent item ?

I suggest you download a copy of Blender and start work.

Cheerio John

 

[S301]

I would think a 'contest' for this would be good. Along similar lines to the screenshot comps, but maybe do these ones quarterly? Or bi-monthly. So as not to make them too close together.
You would have to have a few different levels to it though, so as to cater for different abilities. And the different types of content creation (route building, reskinning, 3D art (including textures), and so on).

But I could see this working, but more as a 'by winning, you get publicity' type of contest
Zec

 

[cascaderailroad]

Two questions: If an asset is created in 06, or 04...is it usable in 09 ?

And..If you create in 09 are assets usable in 04, 0r 06 ?

 

[StorkNest]

Standards are quite vague.
In addition with some creators trying to learn the new TS09 standards with incomplete documentation (not to mention their non-Trainz lives), I don't think you'll get much participation.
Fame has been achieved by creators without a contest.
You've got nothing in your working proposal to get anyone involved unless you work out the details better. Even then you don't know, but the vague suggestion doesn't work.
It is like how the Screenshots section works. Similar to how you shouldn't start a thread without a shot, you have to refine and detail your contest.

 

[StorkNest]

Two questions: If an asset is created in 06, or 04...is it usable in 09 ?

Yes but in Native mode you might have issues.

And..If you create in 09 are assets usable in 04, 0r 06 ?

Doubt it, expecially if using Normal Mapping, heard it is not the same as Bump Mapping.

 

[fuzzies]

It is a shame that an asset cant be conditional to the version that it is being used in. As an example of what I mean:

mesh-table {
default {
if TrainzVersion = 2.4{
mesh "road2004.im"
auto-create 1 }
if TrainzVersion = 2.9{
mesh "road2009.im"
auto-create 1 }
}
}

I do like the idea of a contest to get us all trying to make some new stuff for '09'.
From reading the forums it sounds as if a lot of the creators are staying with what works best for them, be it 04, 06 etc.

It seems to be a catch-22 situation. None wants to abandon what works.

Regards,
Lenny

 

[paulhobbs]

It is a shame that an asset cant be conditional to the version that it is being used in.

This is possible using a script. Create the *.im for TRS2004 and if the script detects that it is running under TS2009 swap the mesh for another one.

Paul

 

[fuzzies]

Sorry to sort of steal this thread a bit, but at least it is related to the topic which started it

Quote:Originally Posted by fuzzies
It is a shame that an asset cant be conditional to the version that it is being used in.

This is possible using a script. Create the *.im for TRS2004 and if the script detects that it is running under TS2009 swap the mesh for another one.

Paul, that seems like great news. Do you know of any assets which have been created this way, or of any scripts that may have the branching techniques used that would be needed to accomplish this?

To be honest, I am probably way too new here to be posting in some of the topics I do at times, but as my sig states, curiosity is not necessarily a bad thing

Thanks for your time,
Lenny

 

[paulhobbs]

Paul, that seems like great news. Do you know of any assets which have been created this way, or of any scripts that may have the branching techniques used that would be needed to accomplish this?

Off hand I can only think of the TC3 Britannia which is complicated as the loco sends a message to the attached smoke deflectors to switch the deflector meshes to one of three different ones based on the loco number (so you want to look at the script and config of the deflector asset), or the TRS2006 BR 12T fitted van which changes the brake gear mesh to 4 or 8 shoe based on a random number.

Paul

 

[fuzzies]

Thanks Paul, your help is very much appreciated.

And a huge thanks for all you do for the hobby.

Regards,
Lenny

 

[ex-railwayman]

I just thought it just might be a great idea to see how many OTHER talented people there are out there working with G Max and making DEMs. I could name about 10 of the great custom content freeware creation people (you know who you are) that are the present masters of freeware-custom content creation, and DEM creation. I wish I were as skilled as they are !

You think it would be a great idea do you, well, I don't.....You haven't thought this idea through at all have you....
In your own words, you can only think of about 10 great custom content freeware creators.......well, if you took your rose-tinted glasses off and came out of North America, you would definately find about 300-400 more GREAT asset creators scattered around the four corners of the globe who are also present masters of freeware-custom content creation.....Were you not aware that Trainz is available for the whole world.....
You ask creators to step up to the plate, I'm sorry, but as many of them have only just received their personal copy of TS2009, I'd guess that it takes months to learn how to use blender et al, and with the problems with the alpha textures for trees and mapping, it's a huge learning curve for them, you can't expect stuff to be made overnight, it doesn't work like that......
I've just read another thread from someone bemoaning the fact that there's hardly any new content for TS2009, blimey, give all creators a chance to sort themselves out, the game's only just been released, why can't people just have a bit of patience.....
Although I am a non-creator, I doubt if this contest would ever get off the ground. Which creators are going to want their hard work ignored in favour of someone else, how many categories are there going to be, as different people create different assets.....What is the criteria of this contest, the prettiest assets, the most colourful assets, the most practical assets, the biggest assets, the smallest assets??
And who is going to judge this contest, I hardly think you have the worldwide Trainz knowledge to be able to do the job and who is going to tell someone that their creations are worse than somebody else's without causing offence.
Sorry, but this thread is a non-starter.....I think your wording could also have been written better as to not offend all content creators outside America.
In fact, I think the mods should lock this rather than make it a sticky, but that's just my opinion.

Cheerio.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Disruptive Negative Input

<----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]

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]

Hall of Fame

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]

Hall of Fame Strawman

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!