NewBlackMesaVille Mapping Competition

1st February 2012

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3

I am pleased to announce the next mapping competition: NewBlackMesaVille.

Well it’s time for a change. The next mapping competition will be on GoldSource, that’s the Half-Life 1 engine. Why? I hear you ask. Well, firstly, it’s something I have wanted to do for a while. Secondly, there’s a Source mod announcement coming soon that would interfere with a normal competition.

So, here we are. Yes, a few people won’t be happy about that and I understand their point of view, GoldSource is old and who still plays it? Well, more people than you think – at least I hope so.

I didn’t want to wait until some time in April to run another competition and this seemed the best compromise.

I WILL announce a Source competition in April,so don’t worry.

And the reason why April is important will become clear once the mod gets announced. Sorry to be so cryptic.

For this competition, you are required to create a map set in Black Mesa using as many new textures as you can. New models would be good too but they won’t be considered in the judging process.

The winning map will be the map that gives the feel of Black Mesa, with great action and exploring AND is well made, i.e. no ways to get out of the map, not missing textures etc.

Map size isn’t that important because I am not expecting really big maps but I would hope for at least 15 minutes of gameplay. If you submit a really big entry don’t think it will automatically be judged higher. Better to create something really well made but smaller.

Recreations of existing areas from Black Mesa are allowed but new areas are prefered.

Some Resources

I thought you might like a small list of resources to help speed things up. If you know of some others, please let me know and I will add them to the list.

You can also use CS1.6, TFC and OF textures.

DEADLINE

The deadline for receiving maps is

Monday 02 April 10:00AM GMT

To ENTER

Send an email ([email protected]) with your map attached and any installation instructions.
Make sure you include a readme.txt, identifying youself as the author, and any other details you feel important.
Files larger than 20MB should be uploaded to a free host first.

RULES

1. The map must be original and not have been released publicly before.
2. More than one entry is allowed by individual mappers or development teams, but iterations of the same map are not allowed. Maps than follow on from other maps count as part of that entry.
3. By entering the competition you grant PlanetPhillip.com the right to release the map as part of the NewBlackMesaVille mappack (which will consist of all the maps entered into the competition) All maps will be clearly credited. Your entry must not appear before the release of the mappack.
4. No illegal assets are allowed.
5. No assets from previously released maps or mods are allowed without written permission from their original authors, which MUST be included in the entry email.
6. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into about it.
7. The map MUST have a proper name.
8. The map MUST have a proper filename: YourMapName_pp_nbmville.bsp
9. You may use any new assets you wish, as long as it doesn’t break rules 4 and 5.
10. New rules may be added at any time. Please check this page for the latest information.

THE PRIZES

One winner will be selected by Phillip. This map will win 40 US Dollars paid ONLY via PayPal.
All entrants , except the winner, will be entered into a draw, with a 10 US Dollar prize. This means you could win, just by entering!

Good luck to all those who choose to enter and let’s hope this is competition sees some fantastic maps!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

21 Comments

  1. the upcoming release of Cry of Fear for HL1 will surely boost up the number of HL1 players, so this is an (unconscious) nice “timing” 🙂

    Can be very interesting… I think “action” isn’t really necessary, or at least, the important thing would be to give “life” to Black Mesa Center… Or maybe, like that intro in Azure Sheep, where a Barney chased terrorists forcing the entrance of the center… Well, just an idea 🙂

    Good luck to all the contestants!

    1. Hec

      Hey do u think COF is going to be launched by april???, I hope so, I want to play it so badly!!

      1. s.anchev

        COF is released the 22nd of february!!
        I’ve Been part of the project as French translator, and -“at least”- the story will be very good and interesting, I can say 🙂

        1. Hec

          22 of February!!! OMG!!, thats so good tre bien!! 🙂

  2. Guess I have to go scrounge up a copy of HL 1, I think my original got lost on a move somewhere.

  3. Whoo-Hoo! Back to Black Mesa, back to where it all started and I hope some good old fashioned HL gameplay. I hope a lot of people pick up the gauntlet (I mean crowbar) for this one.

    If I knew how to map, this is definitely the one I would like to enter but alas I can’t so I can’t.

    There’s no place like home some say, but to a long time HL player there’s no place Black Mesa which I hope means Black Mesa Source is the upcoming announcement.

    1. Jesse

      I concure, I hope it is Black Mesa Source as well.

      Wish I had goldsrc though to play the competition maps when done.

  4. Yay, looking forward to the maps as I love Mesa-themed ones 🙂

  5. “Goldsource”
    *Gets a hat and briefcase*
    HANG ON I’m COMING!

  6. Major Banter

    I’ve read the horror stories of GoldSRC, so I’ll leave this one be.

    Back to the Stroll grindstone.

    1. Arma

      Horror stories? GoldSource is by far better and easier than Source, if you know all the keyboard shortcuts…

  7. Hec

    Wow, I think we’re on road to a CLASSIC COMP. Hope I am not wrong anyway I really love to play this so bad°!!°

  8. William

    OMG Something I can compete in.

  9. Duke

    Jolly January ? We’re into Futile February now…and still nothing new worth playing…ahh well…

  10. WizardExt

    Nice contest. Good luck everyone. Looking forward to see the results! 🙂

  11. If you would need someone to help with the ideas for April.
    I can allways make up suggestions.

    You know where to go, my E-Mail is in the account info.

  12. Anton

    I will so be joining this, if you people are members on HLC you can follow my progress!

  13. Ansith

    I come by and browse for mods here on occasion, to my surprise I see a picture of my map on your article here. I have no problem with you using it but I would appreciate a credit to be given, even if the map is based off a BM:S screenshot.

    1. Hi, sorry about that. I just looked through my “images” folder and found what looked suitable. I have no idea where I got the image from.

      Anyway, I have replaced it now.

      1. Ansith

        As I said before, I would have had no problem with you using it just as long as I was given credit for it.

        Thanks for being quick on the response to the issue though, really appreciate it!

  14. Unq

    Just less than a month to go. Hope everyone is hard at work on their maps!

    I’m definitely aiming to enter. I think my original scope is too ambitious, so my entry will likely be the first episode in a small pack released, well, episodically.

Leave a Response

Comment Formatting Guide

Well formatted comments are much easier to read. Please copy and paste the HTML Tags to use in your comment

  • HEADER: <div class="fix"></div><div class="sbe3">TEXT HERE</div>
  • BOLD: <strong>TEXT HERE</strong>
  • ITALIC: <em>TEXT HERE</em>
  • SPOILER: <span class="spoiler">TEXT HERE</span>