Contest 1 Maps

for Half-Life

2nd April 2006

About

This is the collection of maps submitted as part of Valve’s VERC first ever competition:
Best use of a pop machine in an interactive sequence. Pop machine must die.
The thread describing things in detail can be found here: Chatbear Thread

Basic Details
  • Title: Contest 1 Maps
  • File Name: hl1-sp-contest-1-maps.7z
  • Original File Name: contest1.zip
  • Size : 8.18Mb
  • Author: Various
  • Date Released: 12 June 2001
PlanetPhillip Download Servers
PlanetPhillip Note:

Below the images you will find the text from the, now dead, Verc contest page. ALL the maps listed below are included in the pack except hldungeons because it was never released. Only an image is available (included in the pack!). The images below are taken from the winning entry.

Contest #1 Results: The martyred pop machine.

Contest Description:
Best use of a pop machine in an interactive sequence. Pop machine must die. This is a contest to test creativity. Maps must include:

  • Some small type of problem which must be overcome.
  • A pop machine which must figure prominently in the solution.

Sounds simple. 🙂 In addition, I would prefer the maps be in single-player Half-Life or Opposing Force format. Maps don’t need to be large – just large enough to include the problem area. The prize will be everlasting recognition as the first contest winner at VERC. 🙂

  • posted: May 21
  • maps due: June 4, 11:59pm pacific time
  • winner announced: June 11

Below you will find the contest winner and a collection of some of the better entries from this contest. If you would like to download the complete bundle of maps listed below, click here.

Winner:

  • POPulation by Grey Dog
    POPulation, by Grey Dog, is a great example of setting up obstacles that the player must think to overcome. In this map, you need to use several different pop machines to overcome simple problems. In addition, the map is put together quite well, and the you are never left wondering what you’re supposed to be doing.

Runners Up:

  • hldungeons by katgrrrl
    This was my favorite but it didn’t arrive in the correct format, unfortunately.
  • Rumble by Unquenque
    (includes source)This map, which takes place with the player being in a train car the entire time, has some of my favorite scripted sequences and events. The events involving the pop machine are put together very well and everything flows together quite smoothly.
  • Pop by Mr. Yuk
    (includes source)This map, featuring an alien-possessed pop machine, is darkly funny. Like the Rumble map, this also features a number of scripted sequences and events that flow together very well.
  • VERC Soda 1 by Delete_Me
    The resident VERC slacker comes through with a funny map featuring a power tripping posessed pop machine and plenty of VERC influence. This map features alternate endings, even accomodating cheaters (that’s my favorite ending).
  • Suicide Truck Driver by Jabyaeye
    In Jabyaeye’s map, the pop machine ends up a victim of what I will call Pop Rage. This rare phenomenon is illustrated quite handily in this map.
  • The Hood by Noodlehammer
    Noodlehammer’s map has you wanting to get into the peep show. Barney won’t let you in though. Perhaps he’s got something on his mind. Something… very… heavy.
  • Overfeed by MR
    Ever wonder what happens when you overfeed a gargantua? Well, it’s not really pretty. All that pop… oh… I just can’t talk about it.
  • Jash Pop by Jashiin
    It’s got pop machines and a giant mech. Neat!
  • Pop Contest by Worldcrafter
    (includes source)Worldcrafter’s map was interesting… reminded me of the oldschool adventure games. And there are jokes too!
  • Lada Pop by Nigel Keuther
    Nigel’s map features a clever puzzle and witty scientist banter.
Reader Recommendations
Avoid It!
Think Twice
Maybe
Play It Later
Play It Now!

5 recommendations, average score: 4.6 (out of 5), standard deviation: 0.24 (what's that?)
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Meta Review Data
Statistics based on 2 comment(s) with meta review data.

Installed:
Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 2 Users

Time Taken:
Average: 0 Hours, 45 Mins
Shortest: 0 Hours, 30 Mins by Dmitry
Longest: 1 Hours by Avantgarde95
Total Time Played: 1 Hours, 30 Mins
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6 Comments

  1. Unq

    The original page at the VERC has this url: http://www.valve-erc.com/resources/?page=contest1

    The page is dead now, but you can search on http://web.archive.org to find the contest description and list of the winners.

  2. TheRipper
    Play It Later

    Nice. In as far as they are puzzles, I solved them all… except overfeed. Anybody got a hint?

  3. Play It Now!

    A collection of very original and creative maps centered around pop machines. Although some maps are very short (some are just a series of scripted sequences), others will definitely surprise you and make you think about how you’re going to use a particular pop machine. I guarantee that you’ve never experienced Half-Life pop machines like this before.

  4. Play It Later
    VERC Soda 1 by Delete_Me

    – I couldn’t find out how to run .pak file. I followed the author’s instructions but it does not work.

    POPulation by Grey Dog

    – I like that we have to use the pop machine to create the fuse. And the scientist scene is very funny.

    Suicide Truck Driver by Jabyaeye

    – After placing the .bsp file in Half-Life/valve/maps, you have to put .wad file into Half-Life/valve/ directory.
    – Yeah I killed the pop machine!

    Jash Pop by Jashiin

    – Creative map! I like the idea of using the pop machine to open the door, fill the hole, and kill the robot.

    Lada Pop by Nigel Keuther

    – I like the idea of explosive pop machine.
    – But I don’t know what I have to do after killing the fishes.

    Overfeed by MR

    – You can break the wall using the mounted gun (you can control it using the console behind the window).
    – If you destoy the pop machine, it emits many cans and ‘overfeeded’ gargantua explodes.
    – But I can’t figure out how to get the weapon to destroy the pop machine, so I just used impulse 101 to spawn the weapons.

    Pop by Mr. Yuk

    – Ah scary vending machines!

    The Hood by Noodlehammer

    – Nice idea to kill the guard.

    Rumble by Unquenque

    – Short nice movie!

    Pop Contest by Worldcrafter

    – I like the idea of burning the rope to drop the pop machine.
    Easter egg sentences after the ending are fun!

  5. Play It Now!

    Some very awesome and very creative maps. Really enjoyed every single one of them.

    You should try them out for yourself.

  6. Play It Now!

    A good place to spend some time observing good ideas of creation which are more based on cinematographic skills and puzzles one after another. Verc map is not working past the intro and it never worked. In my opinion a train has to move very rapidly so the plane approaches and stay at the same heigh and the speed would be so high that you wouldn’t hold on up there over the train. I mean jets has a minimum speed to be able to float, if not it drops down.

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