Custom Content Creation Contest

[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]

Ideas

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.

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.

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]

Even the most internally driven appreciate approval

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]

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/showPicture.aspx?id=885483), the ARI T6350 (cf. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?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/showPicture.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]

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/showPicture.aspx?id=885483), the ARI T6350 (cf. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?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/showPicture.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]

Tunnel vision

...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

 

[mjolnir]

This thread started life about 8 or nine months ago as a "it would be nice" thread, without much specificity. Do you notice that after the repondents to the thread dicussed it in general terms, that the thread just somehow vanished into the later pages of the forum? I, too, think it's a great idea, and instead of just bumping the thread to the top with a "me, too" decided that maybe proposing some specifics might actually get something off the ground.
I actually have a list of items that I seem to me to be badly lacking in Trainz as freeware. I'm relatively new, and while I have spent time exploring DLS and the various third party sites, both freeware and payware, I haven't made an exhaustive search and catalog of everything on those sites. I have some impressions of things that don't seem to be present, but I have an inborn genetic tendency towards of "foot in mouth" disease, which I generally try to avoid as much as possible. I have quite a list of content items that seem to be dramatically missing in the greater TRZ community, not only on the DLS, but on the third party sites as well, but the only item on my list for which I'm satisfied that I've really done a a reasonably complete search, are the jumbo covered hopper cars I proposed for the contest. And if the result of the contest is that multiple versions of the four or five modern types get added to the DLS, how many 40 foot or 50 foot boxcars are on the DLS?

I did consider that those outside of North America might not wish to model a North American prototype car, and I expected when I made the proposal that by the time the final rules were established, there would be some accommodations made so that entries could be a car type that was non-existent, or dramatically underrepresented in other parts of the world, and whose complexity would be comparable to the proposed items.

I've created a little bit of content. I've a small locmotive that will be on the DLS someday, but I want to have an authentic interior, and sounds. There is an active example that I expect to make the effort to see next summer to get some interior detail photos, and recordings of the sound. Similarly, I've done enough work on my first freight car--a 36,000 gallaon capacity tank car, also not presently available (at least as far as I can tell) as freeware in the community. I was into the tank car project about a month, when I experienced the first in a series of hardware and software failures. I still have the meshes, and will, one of these days, get back to it. But since at the point the hardware failures so rudely interrupted my design efforts, I estimated that I was about 2/3 done with the car, and so might have had it completed in another two weeks. As much as anything, that's my basis for proposing the contest for two months. But the proposed duration is merely a proposal at this point, and I have no problem with changing the close to a later date.

Competition or contest? I'd like to see it a contest, and depending upon the number of entrants, I might try to see what I could find by way of "real" prizes, whose value is directly proportional to the number of entrants. But at this point, this seeming to have been the first contest for content other than routes, I don't have a sense how many people are likely to choose to participate.

Why on the forums and DLS? Well, these particular sites may not be ideal, but they are sites that nearly every TRS user knows about, and has access to. I know the forum does not allow payware, and that payware is oftentimes premium quality content, but my aim is to try to promote adding a class of content to DLS that is missing in tRS.

Who to judge? Ideally, I'd like to see two sets of judges, one the whole community, who would vote on the screenshot submissions, the other a group of people who would actually install the asset in the game, and see how it looks, feels, and works. Final score is derived from the two.

And I expect that when (or maybe even before) this contest closes, there will be another contest for another type of content severely lacking in TRS, if not by someone else, then by me.

Themes? Well at the moment, from my perspective the theme is "what type of asset is totally missing from available community freeware sources that would be a good candidate as a subject for a competition or contest?"

ns

 

[mjolnir]

So, after having done a somewhat more thorough investigation of available assets, the Jumbo (greater than 6000 cubic foot) covered hopper is the a major asset category in railroading, and there is not a single instance of this type of car available in Trainz. There are covered hoppers, but they are all about 5000 cubic foot models, and there are similar cars available used in at leasst two other markets: in Australia, Bradken manufactures covered hoppers (though perhaps not of the same size), and the Chinese firm, CSR Meishan Rolling Stock Company manufactures a similar car used in Russia and China, and VTG operates a lease fleet of covered hoppers in Europe. If the Covered hopper competition / contest. But as far as non US people being disinterested in a contest which produces content, how dows on explain the US prototype equipment on TrainzItalia?

I've done some further investigating, and found a few other assets which seem to be missing or underrepresented (they may not, in fact be missing, but merely on a site I haven't yet found

1) small town entertainment venues:

- ballrooms (found 3), movie theaters / cinemas (about a dozen, under "cinimea" or "movvie", but almost all "city sized" rathern than small towna sized). and athletic venues (small town high-school, and small county-fair type grandstands are to be under-represented.

-the "golf-ball on a tee" style of water tower (cf. http://blog.rpu.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/water_tower.jpg does not seem to be represented

2) fences and (especially) gates: I have not found a security fence, (like this one http://www.southwestfence.net/FenceImages/7_ft_Chain_Link_Security_Fence.JPG, and while some of the types of fence I have seen available for use in TRS seem to have gates, I have not found gates, either swinging, or rolling (like this one:

shown half open), available for some of the others.

But I'd be interested in knowing what assets others think are missing, or under-represented in TRS.



ns

 

[leeferr]

There are some wire mesh security fences on the DLS along with some swinging type gates. I don't remember what they're called right now, but when I get a chance, I'll see if I can track down their kuids.
Mike

 

[falcon500]

There are a lot of gaps in what's available. How many are willing to try to make some content for themselves? Not many. I've been working on a prototype route of my old hometown, Rockhampton in Queensland Australia.
Aussie trees available were not up to a very good standard IMHO, so I ended up making my own first reskins then Gmax originals. Quite a few of these trees are types that were not made before. It was either use the very fuzzy looking trees or "gums" with trunks and branches that looked like grey metal pipes or make new ones myself. As this route runs through a fair few miles of suburbs I'm also making some low poly houses in the local style. Not that there are'nt good houses just that with so many poly count needs to be low. I don't consider myyself a content creator just make what I need. There seems to be contests being pushed forward all over the forums fairly regularly for what purpose? Reckon most people would be too busy doing their own thing to bother.:wave:

 

[S301]

This is actually why I suggested 'themes' that can be applied to ANY layout.

Lets say, for example, the theme was "fences". This would allow any 'fence' object to be made, using any means available to that creator.

However, as I said before, two things that need to be required.

1) The asset MUST be placed on the DLS for all to use.

2) The asset MUST be able to be used in TS09 native mode.

I would also add to this. In my opinion, part of the 'judging' for the contest should take into consideration of the performance of the asset. Will I be able to use it on practically any route?

In my opinion, the contest is there to help others improve. Not just to show off our best, but to see other people's best, and to see where we can improve.

I would also love to see some feedback left after the competition. Mind you, it should not simply be a case of 'looks great!' but case of 'looks good, however I feel you would be better off changing blah'. Polite, but also helpful!

Anyways thats my thought on it
Zec

 

[mjolnir]

2) The asset MUST be able to be used in TS09 native mode.

TS2009 native mode might reasonably be a criterion for entry in a particular contest, but based upon what I read in the forums, there are still enough persons using earlier versions of the game, that I'm not sure it should be a requirement for every contest.

ns