Certain Affinity is heading up Community Cartographers in a Halo 4 Forge contest that could land your Forged map into War Games playlists. Read on for details and submission criteria.
From Homeboyd903:
Get out the drawing boards, prepare your blueprints and man your Forging stations: The Community Cartographers are back for another Forge Contest! This time, Certain Affinity has chosen to take the helm, and with the assistance of the Community Cartographers, we’re preparing for a BIG response from the Halo community. This contest will be exclusive to Halo 4, and only content meeting the criteria listed below will be considered. We invite you to challenge yourself, your buddies and Halo 4 Multiplayer friends and foes alike to stretch your imaginations! Try your hand at building the latest and greatest, soon-to-be-famous, new Halo 4 battleground in Halo 4’s Forge. The whole world is at your fingertips… give it the pleasure of taking to the battlefield on your custom-built masterpiece.
Submission Criteria and Guidelines
Submission time period will extend from today (February 18, 2013) until 12:00 PM PST (noon), March 1, 2013.
This contest is focused around the Free For All category of maps and only maps that fit the following descriptions will be considered valid:
Forge FFA Contest (Map Tag: CONTESTFFA)
*must support FFA game types
Your map MUST be compatible with at least two of the following FFA game types, although compatibility with all is preferable:
• Infinity Rumble
• Rumble Pro
• Rumble King of the Hill
• Rumble Oddball
• Regicide
For more information on playlist details, visit the Halo 4 Playlist Page featured at https://www.halowaypoint.com.
Maps should only be constructed on one of the following Halo 4 Forge canvases:
IMPACT
RAVINE
EROSION
Things to consider:
• Map must have safe zone(s).
• Map must use soft/normal kill volumes to prevent map exploits and keep players in the intended play space.
• Potential geometry holes must be blocked and/or unreachable.
• Map must have no highly exploitable areas that disrupt game balance.
• Spawn points must be placed in logical locations and face logical directions.
• Map must have numerous respawn points. Players should not be able to be “spawn locked” due to a lack of spawns.
• No spawn points may exist outside of the play area.
• No objectionable content (symbols, icons, anatomical references, etc.) may be present on the map.
• Weapons, pickups and ordnance must not get stuck in map geometry.
• Map must have unique load-in cameras which show the play area.
• Players must not easily get caught or stuck on any Forge pieces, man cannons, etc.
• Attempt to limit “over-crowding” your map with Forge objects as it often results in poor gameplay performance.
• Ensure that your map has been properly playtested by your peers.
Prizes for Winners
Grand Prize
• Castle Map Pack code
• Autographed print of relevant Forge map (signed by CA)
• Autographed copy of Castle map print (signed by CA)
• Autographed pair of Halo 4 posters (signed by 343)
• Autographed copy of Halo 4 (signed by 343)
• CA t-shirt
2nd Prize:
• Castle Map Pack code
• Autographed print of relevant Forge map (signed by CA)
• Autographed copy of Castle map print (signed by CA)
• Autographed Xbox 360 controller (signed by 343)
• Autographed copy of Halo 4 (signed by 343)
• CA t-shirt
3rd Prize
• Castle Map Pack code
• Autographed copy of Castle map print (signed by CA)
• Autographed copy of Halo 4 (signed by 343)
• CA t-shirt
As with the first contest, the top 10 finalists will be submitted for internal testing by Certain Affinity, the Community Cartographers and 343 Industries’ Matchmaking Systems Team for Halo 4 Matchmaking consideration.
How to Participate
Maps must be submitted via the following forum thread: Halo 4 Forge Contest – Map Submissions Thread
Eligible entries must adhere to the following guidelines:
• Individual authors may only submit one (1) unique entry for the FFA category.
*If multiple entries are submitted by one user, only the first entry will be considered eligible.
• Entry must be submitted by the creator of the map file and must be an original creation (no remakes or rip-offs from other’s creations, no remakes of existing maps from Halo or any other game).
• Map file name must consist of only the map’s intended name without any identifying pre-/suffixes (i.e. no “v1.0” “version 3” “final” etc.). Map file name must also be original and not share the same name with any other map currently featured in a Halo game. Map file name must also not use any inappropriate or offensive language or attempt to bypass any in-game filters for inappropriate or offensive language.
• Map files must be tagged with the following tag: “CONTESTFFA”
• Map file must be featured in the creator’s in-game File Share upon the deadline of the contest (March 1, 2013).
• Although media featuring your map is not required, showcasing your map with a screenshot or video always helps highlight the areas you feel are unique or standout.
• Entries must not contain any explicit or inappropriate messages or content in any way (clearly visible or hidden).
• Entrant’s forum account must be in good standing (i.e. not permanently banned or under an alternate account).
Any violation of the aforementioned rules for participation will result in immediate disqualification from the contest.
Deadline
Participants have from February 18, 2013 (time of announcement) until March 1, 2013; 12:00 PM PDT (noon) to submit their maps using the appropriate forum thread.
Eligibility
• No region-specific qualifications.
• Map properly submitted in the appropriate forum thread within contest start and end dates.
• Map properly tagged.
• Entrant is a registered member of Halo Waypoint and account is in good standing.
Judging
Maps will be judged in phases by a panel of Certain Affinity members, Community Cartographers and individuals from 343 Industries Halo 4 Matchmaking Systems Team based on the following criteria:
• Entry follows all previously mentioned entry rules.
• Entry features a unique and creative playspace.
• Entry showcases fair, balanced and fun gameplay.
• Entry does not suffer from noticeable negative screen performance issues with 2 players on the same screen.
• Entry demonstrates quality Forge techniques that are both appealing and useful in showcasing the map.
The top 10 maps will be featured in a special Halo 4 Matchmaking playlist. Winners will be announced upon the completion of judging by our panel on Halo Waypoint. Winners are final and non-negotiable. The judging panel reserves the right to accept or reject any entry without disclosing the reasons for doing so. The judging panel also reserves the right to promote, feature or include the entrant’s content in Matchmaking without the entrant’s extended permission beyond original consent by entering the contest.
Source: Halo Waypoint