TrapVille AKA AdmiralAckbarVille
Welcome to the fourth challenge from The Hammer Cup 2016, which has a Grand Prize of a NECA Gravity Gun, plus other prizes for second and third places.
This mod contains 9 entries, each with their own style and setting.
The theme for this challenge was a trap. The player could be the one setting it or caught in it.
We are getting closer to the end!
Welcome to the fourth of five mapping challenges as part of The Hammer cup 2016.
TrapVille AKA AdmiralAckbarVille
For this challenge we would like you to create a map that contains at least one trap. It could be one huge or complicated trap or multiple smaller simpler ones.
The player could be the one setting the traps or the one avoiding them. Or the one caught in them.
The winning map will be the one that creates the most interesting situation involving traps, that is fun to play and looks polished.
We are big fans of Rube Goldberg machines, and would love to see clever, overelaborate traps – but we realize the short timeframe, so please don’t get so carried away with the trap design that you don’t have time for testing and polishing the rest of your map.
Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
“After fairly light resistance, the town square feels a little too empty. This was too easy. Not committing too far forward, you investigate further. It’s clearly a trap. You retrace your steps but quickly find the trap was not the town square after all…”
“The Combine attack is just too strong. Time for a retreat into the mines. You are sure there is a way out and the only way to stop them following you is to blow the entrance. Oh dear, maybe that wasn’t such a good idea – it looks like someone may have been waiting for you down here…”
“Between you and the survivors is the abandoned village, but it’s almost as bad as Ravenholm. There’s talk of the ‘residents’ becoming creative to capture more escapees. Could it be true? Only one way to find out…”
As always, if you have any questions either ask in the comments or if you require a private answer send Phillip an email: [email protected]
12th May 2016 55 Comments
Welcome to the third challenge from The Hammer Cup 2016, which has a Grand Prize of a NECA Gravity Gun, plus other prizes for second and third places.
This challenge contains 12 entries all with the idea of a “backtracking” as the main theme.
One of the staple events in video games is the backtrack sequence. A part of the game where you retrace your steps in the exact location but this time something has changed.
The change can be due to new enemies, a violent explosion, time travel, new vehicles etc.
We would like you to create a map where the player interacts with an area and then has to backtrack through the same area, but the area must have changed.
The reason for the change and the exact change is entirely up to you.
Total Downloads: 6,13630th April 2016
84 Comments
and 14 recommendations, most say "Play It Later"
And so it continues…
Welcome to the third of five mapping challenges as part of The Hammer cup 2016.
One of the staple events in video games is the backtrack sequence. A part of the game where you retrace your steps in the exact location but this time something has changed.
The change can be due to new enemies, a violent explosion, time travel, new vehicles etc.
We would like you to create a map where the player interacts with an area and then has to backtrack through the same area, but the area must have changed.
The reason for the change and the exact change is entirely up to you.
The theme is apropos considering the discussion on the PsychologyVille – Just A Discussion post, where people have started talking about seeing sections of Half-Life games before or after certain events.
We had already chosen this theme, so that is perfect timing.
We will allow remakes of any Half-Life game map but they shouldn’t just be copies – put a little personal touch into them.
Of course, we would be more than happy if you created your own design and have a reason for its change. Any reason is acceptable.
Even though time travel does not feature in any of the Half-Life games (unless you consider Gordon’s stasis – in which case every game features time travel – forwards!) we will allow it for this theme – either forwards or backwards.
You could create a map where you are attacking a Combine Outpost and get knocked unconscious and when you wake up you find that the resistance has been pushed back and you are now behind Combine lines. You must return to join your resistance comrades.
Or you could have been sent on a suicide mission to destroy a facility and find yourself still alive after destroying it. The Combine have sent reinforcements and your objective now is to either die in a blaze of glory or make it back to the rendezvous point.
The main idea is to play the same area twice but the second time must be significantly different from the first.
As always, if you have any questions either ask in the comments or if you require a private answer send Phillip an email: [email protected]
31st March 2016 154 Comments
A few years ago, I read an interesting article on the BBC website about psychology and testing. I emailed the author, a university professor and suggested creating a few maps for testing purposes. I can’t remember the exact details, but video games seemed an ideal medium for the tests. Unfortunately, I never heard back from him which was a little disappointing, but there you go.
And then yesterday I read this BBC article called Why are people so gullible? and it got me thinking again.
I’m not actually proposing this Ville but I would like us to talk about potential ideas. There must be plenty of ways of introducing specific psychological concepts into maps.
27th March 2016 30 Comments
Welcome to the second challenge from The Hammer Cup 2016, which has a Grand Prize of a NECA Gravity Gun, plus other prizes for second and third places.
This challenge contains 15 entries all with the idea of a “liberation” as the main theme.
Total Downloads: 10,74419th March 2016
102 Comments
and 20 recommendations, most say "Play It Now!"
Welcome to the second mapping challenge as part of The Hammer Cup 2016.
Dictionary.com defines Liberate as
That’s exactly what we want you to do! Build a map that allows the player to liberate something of your choosing. The “something” can be a person or people, an item, or anything else you can think of!
Pick any of the definitions above. We particularly like the fourth regarding the “COMBINation”.
Maybe the City 17 rebels are trapped and need your help. Maybe Alyx has been captured. Again.
Maybe you’re a car thief. Maybe you impulsively hoard garden gnomes. Maybe Barney has borrowed your crowbar one too many times.
The options are wide open, as long as you can liberate it!
As always, ask as many questions as you want, either via the comments here or privately if you prefer.
The map will be judged on how well it fits the theme AND the elements listed below.
18th February 2016 84 Comments
Chasmville is the first in a series of 5 Mapping Challenges called The Hammer Cup 2016, which has a Grand Prize of a NECA Gravity Gun, plus other prizes for second and third places.
This challenge contains 13 entries all with the idea of a Chasm as the main theme.
Total Downloads: 5,4386th February 2016
104 Comments
and 16 recommendations, most say "Play It Now!"
An abstract experience, a city street event, a re-imagining of the original Blast Pit, a Combine base which will require all your skills, a rebel base that has been attacked, a giant water puzzle, a blocked train, a dark & scary nightmare and a bank heist with a difference.
These are what awaits you in this first of a kind release – all the winners from the 2015 mapping challenges.
Get you snacks ready, cancel your appointments and get comfy. These maps will have you transfixed for the next couple of hours.
Enjoy!
Total Downloads: 3,87724th January 2016
41 Comments
and 5 recommendations, most really enjoyed it!
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Total Downloads: 4,08210th June 2016
81 Comments and 13 recommendations, 5 say "Play It Later"