Challenge ideas.
 

Since there is still not a thread up anywhere that I have noticed ( Jay, thought you were going to post one? ) I decided to get one going.


Anyway, lets get some ideas going...

Continuing from the ( Now closed winter challenge thread ),
Some Guy, your last idea is pretty interesting, but how about we do a free for all, make up anything challenge. This would cater to all skill levels. I still would like to see a stereo 3D challenge ( movie or still ), but it might be too difficult for some people.

I just gutted I forgot the deadline for the Avater one as I put alot of work in to it, but with everything going on right now it could not be helped.

What ever the idea I think it needs to have alot less restrictions on it.

The first challenge I did here was mike two random word one "Fence armchair". The best thing about it was the fact it was so open you could do almost anything you wanted so the skill set was all ways at the right level (well apart from forum members pushing you on to do more - which is always good).

Like my idea a few months back of a design a Saw type trap (after playing the saw game for hours) - with that you could model, simulate particles, animate, dynamics, texture, light - it would be completely up to you. There would still be a theam/rules as such but the end idea would be yours and therefore the hardness of the challenge would be down to you.

I think the last real open challenge was the steampunk one - which was super popular.

The other factor I think kills a challenge is just plain bad luck of the timing.

I'm in agreement with the "more open" thing, I prefer having less constraints on what I do.
The two word type challenge that Tweety mentioned sounds great to me as I wasn't a member when that was going on, and it does leave a lot of room for ideas, whilst still having an aim to it.
Not too sure about a free for all, while that seems like a great idea in theory, I think the less experienced members may get put off joining by the more experienced ones really going for it, I'm imagining that happening as people will love being able to concentrate on their own area of interest in 3D, the car people creating amazing cars, character people creating superb zb sculpts etc.
And really, how much of a headache would it be to judge when all the final entries are so different?!

I think having something with a very loose theme gives the most creative freedom, while still having a point to the whole challenge.

Just my opinion, I've got free time at the moment so whatever the challenge I'll probably give it a go anyway....lol

THX

I was going to start the thread but its not at the front of my mind right now, I have work commitments and other stuff plus making a couple of new tutes for SM and stuff so ya know...all I need now is a life.. LOL

BUT...once you have a load of ideas here on this thread, let me know and I'll speak with Dave, Nilla and Mike and we'll decide the next challenge from there.

I think a Maya only challenge on the next one, no zbrush or Mud etc.

Jay

Appist! This isn't "Simplymaya" anymore.


;) lol just messin'

I think the two word idea is pretty good. Give lots of room and freedom, so people don't feel cornered into a particular area.

You could do something like they do at with the HMC over at cgtalk. Pick a studio, and have people go wild recreating pieces from said studio. ILM, Weta, etc. At least this way you would get a complete jumble of hard surface modeling, organic, simple, complex.

good point... how about a challenge to create a new logo for the site.

Thats understandable Jay. I also think a maya only challenge is a great idea.



I remember that one pretty good tweetytunes. Mike linked us to a site that had a word generator on it. What ever the generator came up with was what you did. Mine was"Double Barrel". That challenge was a really good one. However, having a word generator does restrict you to a certain theme you may or may not like. Some people clicked away on the generator to come up with a theme they liked. I actually went with the first words the generator came up with.

But anyway, a more open challenge would have alot more participation, whether it's a free for all or random word selection. This could really benefit from stereo 3D.......

thx: yeah sounds great, lets do that again. Plenty of use of the imagination for sure..


@everyone:

Yup no sculpting software...

Im throwing down the gauntlet and seeing if any of you can do without it

Jay

How about do some thing that could have been in a stated film, could be a set, model or animation...........dave

Nice idea dave. Could still work with a random word/ free for all challenge.

Animation's would be a nice bonus with the entries also.

Will you use the same 2 words for everyone, or will everyone get their own words to work with?

Everybody's words would be different.

Elephant, pachyderm.

It would most likely be from a word generator
elephantinc.

Ok, cool. What measures would be taken to make sure people didn't just choose the words they most wanted... or is that the point?

I have a crap load of ideas running through my head with the old two words "Fence/Armchair". lol

Well admin could generate them and stick a load on a thread at least then we'd know they are from the generator

J

@ mayaniac, There wouldn't me any measures to prevent people from choosing words they want; however, it might be obvious if someone did. The best thing to do would be to use a word generator and let it choose for you.


Jay, your idea is good!

I know, I was joking...

I remember a while back doing a rube goldberg machine, another one of those would be fun, using just dynamics no animating.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mayaniac
I have a crap load of ideas running through my head with the old two words "Fence/Armchair". lol

Don`t knock it till you try it.


But that`s no good - what we need is a challenge where you can use any part of Maya you want.

Apart from the two word thing some other idea`s

All could be done realistic or cartoon

Mt Olympus (Greek Mythology)

With all the "Clash of the titans", "God of War 3" and Harry Potter rip off "Pee Wee and Lighting Thief" (Lets face it - that's what it should have been called) - Greek Gods are so "IN" right now.

You could have Low poly/High poly, Characters, Busts, beasts/titans, ,buildings (cities even) weapons, animation, dynamics and particles.

Wild West (Classic or Sci - Fi)

Again everything could be done with this one , Guns, Native Americans, Cowboys/girls, Wagon Carts (Even on fire) Horses, Saloons, 8ft Talking horse with shot gun (Oh wait thats been done) - Like to see a good shot out animation or a bar fight ect...

I wasn't. I actually had a few ideas.

Love it!

Those themes are great tweetytunes, and they do cater to all skill levels. The only thing about it would be the "Theme". I don't want to be stuck with a specific theme I really don't care for. If the theme went greek or western/sci-fi, I would probably pass as I don't really care for those at this time.

I would rather stick with a theme thats a bit closer to my liking. Catering to all skill levels is great, sticking a "theme" with that kinda sucks, but thats just my opinion.

Lest stick with themes we can choose our selves.

Yeah, but you can't expect any 'theme' comp to cater to everyones likes, so some compromises would need to be made.

But I think the two word idea might solves this problem, as there is no really 'theme' just the limits of your imagination.

Well, with the 2 word idea, you still come up with your own theme. Nobody is restricted to the same type of theme, no matter what skill levels it's open to. Thats kinda what happened to the avatar challenge, except it catered to the advanced user.

It would also be cool go back to the "Advanced" and "Noob" catagories. Those were judged separately, and where really great for the ones new to CG and Maya.

Problem with that is that it throws up the problem of which category does someone fit in to.

The noob category was for the ones just breaking into maya. Having very little experience with the tools.

The advanced category was for the ones that already had experience with the tools ( modeling and texturing and rendering ).

EDIT: From the fantastic work I have seen from you, I would categorize you as advanced. :beer:

I guess it would be up to the person entering if they entered as a 'noob', or 'advanced' depending on what they're comfortable with.

As for the list of word pairs that would be posted, would that be on a "first come first served" basis, so you wont have 5 contestants using the same two words?

Yeah, you could have a list that people take whichever item they want, leaving it unavailable, first come first serve as you say. I like that idea.

I think you'd be best of having excess words so someone isn't put off entering because they've been left with a pair they don't want.

Oh yeah, you would probably have about 20 pairs... I doubt they'll be that many contestants. So everyone will have some choice.

Using a word generator would be alot better than posting a list of words that people would have to choose from.


EDIT: Here is the word generator site mike linked to for that old challenge. It was actually a random paring machine that combined nouns' and adjectives'. LINK


Jay, check this out and let us know what you think.

Yeah, that works too. People will be able to click through until they get a pair they like, but that'll just help lend more appeal to the comp I guess.

"clinical flower" I got... yep I think I could work with that... :)

Edit: I actually clicked twice... just cause the first two words I didn't understand. Actually I think one was sake, but I wasn't sure if it was the Japanese drink or "for goodness sake!" ? :confused: It's a secret though.

lol... yeah, it comes up with some odd combos, but some awesome ones too... 'rotten machinery' ... I could work that... if we we're allowed ZB in this comp.... :hug:

But to be honest I'd love to give the original two words a run. "fence/Armchair"

the random word thing is a great idea, I might actually partake in a challenge set up like that. Even if you can click through to two words you like it'll help make people join in and finish the contest.

I knew you folks would like this kind of theme. It worked back then and it still works today. Your imagination is the limit.

Now the credit goes to tweetytunes for the random word theme. I'm only pushing it to make it happen.

Hope Jay is game for this.:beer:

haha i got illegal experiment...should be able to do something interesting with that if this goes down.

Okay so I take it every one is up for the two word challenge??

Do you want me to contact Nilla and David to sort this out so you peeps can get down and dirty with it???


Jay

make the call... :nod:

hey mayaniac whats that quote from? i tried googling it but kept getting Unknown for who said it or what movie it was from.