Nifflas' Support Forum

Released Games => Knytt Stories => Topic started by: minmay on May 25, 2009, 03:15:05

Title: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on May 25, 2009, 03:15:05
A lot of people keep discussing competitions, and how they should be done, and all that.

What I'm doing is actually starting one instead of talking about why it would/wouldn't work and what it should be about.

Now, you have probably inferred that this competition is about tilesets!  I'll explain how exactly it works, with the archetypical slightly redundant rule set.

1. Every round of the competition lasts for one week.  If fewer than three tilesets are posted, it is extended to last two weeks, but cannot be extended beyond that (even if it requires someone winning by default, or having no winner at all).  To enter, post one working Knytt Stories tileset (PNG image, 384x202, no fully transparent tiles except top left) during that time.  Each round begins as soon as the previous round ends.  (Okay, so what actually happens is, each round begins after I announce the winner of the previous round and the theme of the next round, but really...)
2. Each round will have one winning tileset, chosen by me (I might get some judges later, but honestly, I doubt we need them).  It will be displayed in the first post with a note on why it was chosen, and, of course, the author's username.  There is absolutely no tangible prize whatsoever.  You don't even get one of those cruddy signature banners.  Sorry.
3. Detailed rules for tileset eligibility:
-The tileset must work unmodified in the Knytt Stories level editor.  This means that it must load without errors, and not much else.  A tileset where all the tiles are solid blocks of bright green is still considered "working," though it will probably fail one of the other categories, and submitting a tileset like that is totally stupid and annoying and don't do it or people will hate you.
-Obviously, you can't enter someone else's tileset in this contest, unless you enter it on their behalf, and have their permission to do so.
-The tileset must fit the theme of the current round.  If the theme is "rainforests," an underwater tileset isn't going to cut it.  Themes can be interpreted loosely, and feel free to screw with them a little; if the theme is "technology," then feel free to make a tileset about Stone Age technology, such as crude rock hammers and chisels.
-If the tileset has multiple authors, they must all be credited.
-If the tileset takes any material from outside sources, permission must be obtained from said outside source, and said outside source must be credited, unless said material is public domain.  (Note that essentially nothing that could be used in a common KS tileset is public domain.)
-The tileset must not violate the Nifflas' Support Forum forum rules.  This one should really pretty much be a no-brainer.
-The tileset must not have been previously released on the Nifflas' Support Forum (the old version, too), or included in a Knytt Stories level posted to KnyttLevels.com or the temporary levels board.  The entire purpose of this competition is to get people making new tilesets.  It's okay to enter a tileset that's a few weeks/months/years old, but it has to be one that we haven't seen before!
-Tilesets do not need an info bar.  They can have as few or as many tiles as you desire.
4. What tilesets are graded on:
Graphical quality.  Pretty much obvious.  A good tileset is a tileset that looks good.
Originality and interpretation of theme.  Make your tileset unique.
Usability and flexibility.  Tilesets should be logically laid out and easy to use.  Ideally, they should also not be very restricted in their use (look at Nifflas' tilesets; there are plenty of creative things you can do with them).
5. Start drawing tilesets already!

Round two has been extended, and it ends at midnight GMT on June 21st (as soon as June 22nd begins.)  Its theme is deep; interpret as you wish.

Round one's winner was shawnachu (the theme was ruins), with this tileset:
Spoiler: (click to show/hide)
While the graphical quality isn't exactly exemplary, the tileset is solidly constructed and conveys a good feeling of gentle ruined-ness.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dandelion on May 25, 2009, 03:32:07
This could produce some great tilesets! I'd love to participate, but I have no chance of winning. Just one question, do all tiles need to be filled in?
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Purple Pineapple on May 25, 2009, 04:09:21
This could produce some great tilesets!
More like rushed to fit a week tilesets. <_<
Also, is there a topic for this round?
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dandelion on May 25, 2009, 04:52:50
More like rushed to fit a week tilesets. <_<
A week seems like enough to me. If the tilesets from this round are rushed, we can extend the time next round. I hope people participate in this, it sounds fun! I'll probably wait until we get a round with a topic to participate though.
EDIT: When I said "great tilesets", I meant I was glad we would finally be getting some new tilesets since the tileset forum no longer exists and there's really nowhere else to put them.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on May 25, 2009, 15:55:31
I'm really sorry about the topic; I accidentally submitted that post before it was quite finished, and, er, wasn't able to correct it until now.

Also, a week is plenty of time to make a tileset.  Most of my tilesets (the good ones, too, that I haven't released since they're for a level) were produced within a few days.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dandelion on May 25, 2009, 18:21:35
So we don't have to fill all the tiles? Great. I always have trouble filling them up, and now that we have a theme, I think it's time I contributed! :D
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: googoogjoob on May 25, 2009, 18:41:44
There was a tileset contest on the old forum, organized by UncleSporky. He prepared a tileset template (see attachment) and a level that would use any tileset adhering to the template.

I don't know whether anyone would want to do this sort of standardized competition, but it worked pretty well before, and the contest produced the Candy Garden (the direct ancestor of the Candy Grass tilesets) and Middling Morass tilesets, both of which have been used extensively since release.

(I don't mean to try to butt in here and say how the contest should be run, but I think these ideas have merit and could be used to good effect in a future competition. As is, the contest is very free-form, and it'll take time to tell how it'll work out.)
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dandelion on May 25, 2009, 19:07:52
Personally, I like how free-form the contest is now. It lets people be very creative and include whatever they want. I would hate to have to follow that template while making my tileset. It would take the fun out of it for me. The template doesn't even have some of my favorite ground shapes. If it doesn't work out we can try it a different way, but I think it will be fine as long as we get enough participants.
EDIT: I forgot to say that the template is also already organized, which removes a judging category.
Usability and flexibility.  Tilesets should be logically laid out and easy to use.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Purple Pineapple on May 25, 2009, 20:46:37
There was a tileset contest on the old forum, organized by UncleSporky. He prepared a tileset template (see attachment) and a level that would use any tileset adhering to the template.

I don't know whether anyone would want to do this sort of standardized competition, but it worked pretty well before, and the contest produced the Candy Garden (the direct ancestor of the Candy Grass tilesets) and Middling Morass tilesets, both of which have been used extensively since release.

(I don't mean to try to butt in here and say how the contest should be run, but I think these ideas have merit and could be used to good effect in a future competition. As is, the contest is very free-form, and it'll take time to tell how it'll work out.)
*sigh* I remember those tilesets. I agree with Dandelion, however. We need some creativity, not just a template.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on May 25, 2009, 23:09:44
Yeah, the whole idea with this was to give designers a lot of freedom, while still giving them interesting challenges and having some sort of structure (hence the theme).
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: farik on May 26, 2009, 00:01:44
ruins? hmm...
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dandelion on May 26, 2009, 00:10:41
ruins? hmm...
If you're entering farik, then I'm definitely going to lose! XD But it's great that we have another (possible) participant!
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Purple Pineapple on May 26, 2009, 06:50:00
Ooh! Question.
Can we take a tileset that we made but never released and 'ruin' it?
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: googoogjoob on May 26, 2009, 09:39:04
It's okay to enter a tileset that's a few weeks/months/years old, but it has to be one that we haven't seen before!
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dandelion on May 29, 2009, 21:17:51
Here it is! Mostly. I'm traveling this weekend and won't be back in time to finish it. :( Anyway, this is an abandoned underwater city. If the contest gets extended or something, may I resubmit this? I'd really like to finish it.
Anyone may use, edit or remix this tileset as long as credit is given to me. And if you remix it, please credit yourself too. :)
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on May 30, 2009, 03:25:14
You can revise a tileset that you've already submitted, provided you don't make any drastic changes (such as, say, turning an underwater tileset into a volcano tileset, but adding new tiles is perfectly fine) and the round hasn't ended.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Shawnachu on May 30, 2009, 17:49:46
Can we enter a tileset that was previewed in a level but never released?
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on May 30, 2009, 19:28:27
Depends.  If, say, you posted a screenshot of a level that uses a tileset, you can enter that tileset; if you actually posted the level, then no, you can't use that tileset, since it's already "out there" even if nobody uses it (or is allowed to use it).
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Purple Pineapple on May 30, 2009, 19:53:02
Depends.  If, say, you posted a screenshot of a level that uses a tileset, you can enter that tileset; if you actually posted the level, then no, you can't use that tileset, since it's already "out there" even if nobody uses it (or is allowed to use it).
And if only beta testers got the level...?
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Shawnachu on May 30, 2009, 20:58:44
If so, I'll put this one up:

(The level was never released to the public and many tiles were not in the screenshot.)
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Purple Pineapple on May 30, 2009, 21:43:51
Woah. Nice giant angel.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on May 31, 2009, 17:17:24
And if only beta testers got the level...?

That's...a gray area.  I guess you can post that tileset, yes.

Better post it fast, though, there only being a few hours left before the round ends.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on June 01, 2009, 16:07:26
I've changed the rules slightly to accommodate the slight lack of attention to this.  Notably, this round is extended and so will end when May 7th ends.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Kasran on June 01, 2009, 18:20:13
I've changed the rules slightly to accommodate the slight lack of attention to this.  Notably, this round is extended and so will end when May 7th ends.
June 7th, you mean? If not, then we're already a bit late.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on June 01, 2009, 20:09:59
Aherm...yerr...June...seventh.  Seventh.  June 7th.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Shawnachu on June 02, 2009, 00:49:10
Dang, seriously. Only two people have posted a tileset, and it's been over a week.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Purple Pineapple on June 02, 2009, 00:53:28
Inspiration takes time..
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Bored2death on June 04, 2009, 07:36:38
Shouldn't this be moved to forum games or something? It kind of is a mix of both forum games and Knytt Stories, though... :sigh:
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: googoogjoob on June 04, 2009, 07:48:27
No, this isn't a forum game. There's no immediate "game" element to this competition. And the tileset competition on the old forum was in the tilesets board.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Bored2death on June 04, 2009, 07:51:06
Is there a tileset board... no, I don't think there is... one should be made, I think... this just seems like a slightly weird place to put it, don't know why XD!
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dandelion on June 04, 2009, 08:14:37
I agree, I tileset board would be good. The old competition was really nothing like this one, but it would still fit in a tilesets board. As for this round not being so successful, maybe no one wants to do ruins. A new theme could help spark some life into this contest. I guess most of the tileset creators are gone, since there's nowhere to post tilesets anymore. :sad:
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on June 04, 2009, 20:06:46
I guess most of the tileset creators are gone, since there's nowhere to post tilesets anymore. :sad:

Most of them either stopped making tilesets/left the forum before the forum change, and the remaining ones are likely still making tilesets (just not releasing them).
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dynamite on June 06, 2009, 05:57:23
Can you pleeaase extend the next round to start at June 8th?
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on June 06, 2009, 17:38:21
But it already does!  It starts at the beginning of June 8th.

If you're asking me to extend it one more day...I guess I can do that but I'm not sure why an extra day would really help.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dynamite on June 07, 2009, 06:10:25
Oh, I never thought of that xD

Ok so what's the new topic? I'm dying to create a tileset!  C)p
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on June 08, 2009, 16:48:24
Hey, sorry I'm so late with this post!  Check the original post for information on round two, blah blah.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on June 15, 2009, 16:20:38
(In case anyone's wondering, yes, this round has been extended.  Not sure what the complete and utter lack of attention is about, though.)
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: NESgamer190 on June 15, 2009, 17:26:00
I personally think it's something I call "Tileset block".  X(
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Shawnachu on June 15, 2009, 18:35:09
I purposefully stayed out of this one because I won the last one, but since no one is posting anything, I might as well.

People need some motivation to make these. How about all winning tilesets are used in a level? People aren't going to make tilesets just because they want to win something. If they don't get anything in return, it's pointless.

(and yes, I did send it over to JC Grim for BSoaKFF, but he eventually decided not to use it so i'll release it here)

EDIT: Removed the "reserved for BSoaKFF" thing at the bottom
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Dandelion on June 15, 2009, 18:59:32
Beautiful! I could use that sometime. I'm working on something, but I keep forgetting. :oops:
EDIT: Crud, my tileset got all jpeg-ey for some reason. I don't want to have to recreate it from scratch so I guess I'm not going to enter this round. Sorry.
EDIT 2: Fixed it with Paint.net. Turns out I saved it as a jpeg. :ohnoes: So I'm back on track.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on June 15, 2009, 22:18:26
People need some motivation to make these. How about all winning tilesets are used in a level? People aren't going to make tilesets just because they want to win something. If they don't get anything in return, it's pointless.

I've made tilesets just for the sake of making tilesets, and I think a few other people have too, but yeah, some sort of prize would be a good idea.

The problem is...what sort of prize?  Getting your tileset used in a level isn't exactly validating; I don't think it would encourage people much.  I suppose I could make some of those annoying signature banner things, you know, the ones that slap you in the face with all the "I WON THE TILESET COMPETITION AND YOU DIDN'T, NYAH NYAH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY ALL I GOT WAS THIS ANNOYING SIGNATURE BANNER," but...I dunno, it doesn't seem quite the right thing for this.

You can see my dilemma, I think.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: AClockworkLemon on June 17, 2009, 09:52:22
Heres my Tileset: I used it for FEAR... Its a remake of mr. monkey's Spooky Forest, but i added some bits and pieces so it can be used to create Pseudo-isometric ground, and the half pieces you can put on layer 3 so juni looks like she is in the middle of the Path. If you want ideas on how to use it, check out "FEAR..."

As for the theme... well its kinda deep and dark ... and ALMOST spooky
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on June 17, 2009, 16:14:10
Oh, I'll be quite late in announcing the end of this round because I'm actually not going to be at home (or anywhere else with a usable computer) on the 21st or 22nd.  Just thought I should tell everyone.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Shawnachu on July 04, 2009, 15:33:20
Major bump. :/

Seriously, I think this is dead.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Purple Pineapple on July 04, 2009, 16:57:59
I think the round's long over.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Firecat on July 04, 2009, 22:48:50
Ok i make a tileset, i dont think im going to win, because its very empty a tree-less, im not good at curly trees  :sigh:.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o240/francisco123123/RupTile.png)
My interpretation of Deep its kinda like clockwork lemon one, and i think it can be used to uderground areas
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: minmay on July 05, 2009, 17:44:15
Major bump. :/

Seriously, I think this is dead.

Yeah, that's why I left it alone.

One should leave dead things alone.
If someone would like me to go on with this, then say so, but for now...it's not going to last any longer.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Purple Pineapple on July 05, 2009, 23:33:29
I would, but I loose inspiration.
Title: Re: KS Tileset Competition: Hopefully This Won't Get Locked
Post by: Salmoneous on July 06, 2009, 17:37:02
I didnt notice this thread until now and it seems very interesting! I want this cometition to go on.