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A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.03.27 (14:42)
by im_bad_at_n
A new contest! Players are given a demo around 1000 frames long and are asked to build a map around the demo. The ninja is like a robot, its path is already set. Can you make a map so that the robot ninja can navigate safely?

If your still confused, think of this as a type of dda contest, but instead of not doing anything the ninja follows a path already chosen. However this is not an absolute DDA, see scoring for details.

For example here is an example map that I just made:

Nmaps.net


The judgment is done by myself, so naturally I am out of the contest. Contestants that sign up see through to the end of the contest, where their final scores are totaled and the winner declared. Everyone posts a map based on a certain posted demo at the beginning of each round and have a week to submit a map to the competition. Submit the map either here, or post it on NUMA and post a link here. Not following the rules and/or submitting a map late will result in a 50% decrease of the map's score. No late maps on the final week period.

How the maps will be scored:
1) Enemy usage (30%): The effectiveness of enemies (rockets, drones, mines, floorguards, gausses) in the map.
2) Non-enemy usage (30%): The effectiveness of non-enemies (oneways, launchpads, thwumps, bouncies, doors, tiles, gold) and how it enhances performance.
3) Aesthetics (30%): How nice it looks.
4) Repeatability (10%): Do I want to watch is again for fun?

I'll give everyone a while to enter the contest, while posting the map above on NUMA so the larger community can enter as well. This is my first contest and I hope its a good one!

Good Luck!

Contestants:
1) Aldaric
2) XY
3) aerodynamic
4) golfkid
5) numa_ninja

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.03.27 (14:56)
by Aldaric
I want to do this. Looks cool.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.03.27 (15:48)
by XY
Sign me in... Probably I won't be able to make a map every week, but this contest sounds like fun, so it doesn't matter :]

Three questions:
1. How many weeks will this contest last?
2. When do we get our first demo?
3. The scoring kinda irritates me... In my opinion it should also bring you a better score if the performance of the ninja is cool. With cornerjumps and all that stuff, you know? Because that shows how well you used the demo...
In your example map, for example, the ninja's performance is kinda sloppy. It looks like a mediocre player who doesn't want to have a fast time... I think now that this map shouldn't get as much points as a map in which the ninja looks like some uberhighscorer with superhuman powers.
Of course, this factor is kinda implented in "Repeatability", because a cool demo is probably nicer to look at... But that brings only 10% which is a little too little compared to how difficult it could be to use the demo that way...

Also, I don't get how you want to rate the efectiveness of non-enemies. Or what you mean by that.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.03.27 (16:35)
by im_bad_at_n
XY wrote:Sign me in... Probably I won't be able to make a map every week, but this contest sounds like fun, so it doesn't matter :]
That's why there's only a 50% consequence for late maps. You can turn in late maps, since your not knocked out at any round but it'll cost you a bit.
XY wrote: Three questions:
1. How many weeks will this contest last?
Probably 5, depends on how tired I am of the contest as well as the determination of the contestants too.
XY wrote: 2. When do we get our first demo?
Three/four days, depending on how many people join and when
XY wrote: 3. The scoring kinda irritates me... In my opinion it should also bring you a better score if the performance of the ninja is cool. With cornerjumps and all that stuff, you know? Because that shows how well you used the demo...
In your example map, for example, the ninja's performance is kinda sloppy. It looks like a mediocre player who doesn't want to have a fast time... I think now that this map shouldn't get as much points as a map in which the ninja looks like some uberhighscorer with superhuman powers.

...

Also, I don't get how you want to rate the effectiveness of non-enemies. Or what you mean by that.
Yes, the example is mediocre, because I did it in like 1/2 hour or less. You'll all will/should do better than that. the effectiveness of non-enemies is stuff like cornerjumps and all that stuff. How you use the objects to increase the mobility and awesomeness of the demo really comes out in this section. Your question about the special glitches etc in the game used in the map really shines out in that section. Sorry for not making that clearer.
XY wrote:Of course, this factor is kinda implemented in "Repeatability", because a cool demo is probably nicer to look at... But that brings only 10% which is a little too little compared to how difficult it could be to use the demo that way...
there's sort of an application to this. A good score in #4 would be if I wanted to watch is again after all the other sections have been graded. The uberhighscore with superhuman powers would definitely make it more exciting to watch again.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.03.27 (18:27)
by blackson
I think you should add a sub-scoring category for the maps actual playability. This would prevent people from making maps solely around the demo; I think it would be a real challenge to make a fun and playable map that also agrees with the provided demo. Then again, I'm just some guy running his mouth :p

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.03.27 (19:16)
by im_bad_at_n
blackson that's a good method for tiebreakers if their are any, or maybe bonus points, I don't know yet though.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.03.28 (01:52)
by aerodynamic
I'll join. I also like blackson's idea a bit. Maybe make aesthetics 20% and have playability 10%? But perhaps I'm just saying that because I don't like fussing over looks :P

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.03.28 (11:34)
by im_bad_at_n
Well (HINT) I never found dda's that appealing on an aesthetical basis anyways, only Clifty has some cool looking dda's before it started. So if you jam pack it with a bunch of stuff etc then it won't score too high there. Also the playability could factor in here too, if you don't jam pack it then it might be possible to do without the demo (?). Maybe I'm going on a limb here =/

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.01 (08:55)
by im_bad_at_n
Despite the limited contestant turnout so far, I still present to you:

ROUND ONE!


Here is the demo:



This competition will probably last 3 rounds. You all have a week to post your map or there will be a late penalty as described above. If all contestants turn in a map quickly the next round would begin faster, though the deadline remains the same. Anyone can still join up until the start of the final round, but the late penalties will apply.

Good luck to all contestants!

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.02 (01:13)
by golf
I think I'll join in. Hopefully I'll have enough time to make a map around this in a week.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.02 (07:03)
by numa_ninja
Reminds me of turtle's old demo competition. Sign'd up!

EDIT:
Here's my submission.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.07 (14:34)
by golf
My submission for this round.
Nmaps.net

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.07 (19:31)
by XY
I don't want this to be my 50th, so I'll just post it here...



... I didn't use the whole demo data, but I had no idea how I could go on without screwing up everything. :/

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.08 (00:01)
by im_bad_at_n
Note that there is only one day left to submit the first map, the exact time is based to the minute of the post with the demo in it, which is tomorrow about mid-day for me. People can still enter anytime they wish too. Good luck everyone!

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.11 (13:03)
by golf
Can we expect the results soon?

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.12 (02:31)
by im_bad_at_n
I'll complete the results as soon as possible. I could not do it during the weekend because I was gone from 6:30 am Sat to 7:00 pm Sun. I'm dead tired and really need some rest. I'll definitely get to it within the next two days as well as the next demo by tomorrow morning.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.12 (13:24)
by im_bad_at_n
ROUND TWO

Here is your demo for round two. The round will official end next Monday. Good luck to all!


Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.12 (21:21)
by Slick
Is it possible that i can be in round 3?

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.12 (23:55)
by im_bad_at_n
Slick265 wrote:Is it possible that i can be in round 3?
Of course! You can also be in rounds one and two too. There's a 50% deduction for late submission for round one, but as round two just started you can easily turn it in on time.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.13 (01:04)
by im_bad_at_n
ROUND ONE RESULTS:

Recorded Contestants:
1) XY: 95
2) Inspired: 82
3) numa_ninja: 63
4) golfkid: 59
5) aerodynamic: N/A

My comments and scoring (in spoilers):
numa_ninja

Score:
1) EU 28/30 2) NEU 11/30 3) A 18/30 4) R 6/10
Total: 63/100

1) Enemy Usage: The Gausses were awesome. The amount of close calls you had with the number of gausses is mind blowing. I also like how you implemented the drones into the map as well.
2) Non-Enemy Usage: There wasn't much good use of these objects. Some parts stand out though, particularly the well placed gold and tiles on the right section and the jumps around there. The use of oneways is decent, but this could have scored higher here.
3) Aesthetics: A theme is obviously built here. Tile wise it might use a little work but the gold is inconsistent. There is an unequal amount in each clump but it fits the tileset well. The mines are just good.
4) Repeatability: I'd only really wanted to watch this again for the enemy usage. It could have used some work in areas, particularly around the end where the ninja goes back down into the square area.

Inspired

Score:
1) EU 27/30 2) NEU 26/30 3) A 21/30 4) R 8/10
Total: 82

1) Enemy Usage: A keep rocket alive map without going short on close calls. I love it.
2) Non-enemy Usage: The thwumps here, since they are technically in this category, are very well placed. The beginning with the jump over the thwump reversed where the demo doesn't touch it was well done as well as the thwump at the end for the jump and the push. The super jump with the launchpad was well done too. The lost points here goes to the miniscule things like the brief wall slide and the central area with the locked door.
3) Aesthetics: Looks fairly well all around. The area to the left of the furthest left mine could have looked a bit better. I wished the mine line that goes to the very top was continuous. Also the middle section with the locked door wasn't too good looking either.
4) Repeatability: I liked to rewatch this to see everything that went into it. It's a very good example of a good map of the contest.

golfkid

Score:
1) EU 26/30 2) NEU 21/30 3) A 8/30 4) R 4/10
Total: 59/100


1) Enemy Usage: The enemies were by far the best part in the map. A few moments shine though: The rocket dodge that confuses the rocket to turn the wrong way and go straight up and the drones close calls. It pains me that you needed a trap door for the rocket though.
2) Non Enemy Usage: Good for the most part. I like the bouncy here. The one ways to the right were done nicely too. The chimney section was also decent. The reverse back to the launchpad was perhaps the lowest point of this part but still not bad.
3) Aesthetics: Needs work. Could have looked a lot better. There's 6 clusters of tiles and they don't work well together for the most part, as well as looking nice as a whole as well. The gold is the best part of aesthetics, as well as the mines in the chimney.
4) Repeatability: The drones are interesting to watch again, as is the section in the right. The aesthetics was the real downer though.

XY

1) EU 29/30 2) NEU 29/30 3) 27/30 4) 10/10
Total: 95/100

1) Enemy Usage: Wow… just wow. Those drones… wow.
2) Non Enemy Usage: I don't know how you found out all of that. The stuff that this incorporates is just amazing. The best points was around the first drone with the tiles, getting the trigger I nthe right section, Jumping back up through the normal door in the right and the bouncy right after. The only slow time is at the end, but you did a great job.
3) Aesthetics: This was great to watch, but the aesthetics really wrapped this up with forest green wrapping paper and a golden bow. Looks very good dude.
4) Repeatability: With all the stuff above, do I need to describe why I want to see this again? I had no clue something this awesome can come out of that demo. It is crazy good.

I had a good time scoring these, they were all rather good. I wish all contestants good luck in round 2!

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.13 (01:12)
by Slick
Nah, i'll just be in round 3.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.13 (02:38)
by golf
Iban, a thought I had while watching the maps as they were appearing. Maybe give a little thought to how much of the demo is used? For example, although Inspired's map had a much more impressive run than my map, he only used a little under half the demo data. I think that a point or two should be taken off for that reason, while mine should stay the same. I hope this doesn't come off sounding like a sore loser or anything, because I know that this won't change the results.

Anyways, looking forward to seeing what I and everybody else can do with this next demo. Will there be prizes of any sort at the end?

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.13 (02:59)
by im_bad_at_n
Sorry golfkid but no. There was nothing in the rules before the round that said anything about point deductions if all the demo is not used so it would not be fair to spring that up on people now. You can use this in the future rounds for strategy if you want though, plus there are four (including your own) more to get a better idea of what this contest is about. The longer the demo though, the more exciting it might be, but it all depends on how it is used too.

Bear in mind that this is my first contest and I really do appreciate any advice. I would like to run more contests in the future and love advice that would make a contest better, especially when it comes to the scoring guide and the aspects that I missed.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.14 (14:57)
by golf
im_bad_at_n wrote:Sorry golfkid but no. There was nothing in the rules before the round that said anything about point deductions if all the demo is not used so it would not be fair to spring that up on people now. You can use this in the future rounds for strategy if you want though, plus there are four (including your own) more to get a better idea of what this contest is about. The longer the demo though, the more exciting it might be, but it all depends on how it is used too.

Bear in mind that this is my first contest and I really do appreciate any advice. I would like to run more contests in the future and love advice that would make a contest better, especially when it comes to the scoring guide and the aspects that I missed.
Fair enough. It is your competition after all, and I respect that, as well as not changing the rules midstream.

Re: A Pre-programmed Robot Competition

Posted: 2010.04.16 (01:59)
by Aldaric
I quit after seeing XY's first map... wow. I am just way too lazy. Sorry.