Polycount University Challenge #1 - Opposing Genres

About Polycount University:
A few months back, a Polycount University was set up on Skype between contributing members of Polycount. We started to use Skype as a Global Chat for members who wanted to be apart of this.
Essentially, the idea behind it is that members from both Character Art and Environment Art can get together, share their work, and critique; a few challenges are also set up every so often as well.

Within this University, we created the idea of small challenges that would help users work on genre specific environments/characters within a specific deadline.

Restrictions:
Character Models are limited to 12,000 Polys,
1024x1024 textures.

Environment Artists are limited to a total scene of 125k tris,
highest texture resolution: 1024x1024.

Content created for the challenege must be created for this challenge, no prior content allowed.


The Challenge:
The challenge itself came out of a competition between users of the University, discussing the topic of genres in game design, and perhaps what a new 'style' or 'genre' in the traditional games
spectrum would look like. So, with that said, onto the Challenge!


The idea for the challenge, is to take two completely opposing Genre's of the game world and come up with an Environment or Character based on the topic of your choice.

The Mixed-genres Are:
1. Horror & Fantasy
2. Western & Cyberpunk
3. Apocalyptic & New Age City
4. History & Horror
5. Medieval & Steampunk
6. Magic & New Age Weaponry
7. Science & Nature

Judging:
The challenge was set up with the idea in mind that every person within both the Challenge and The University could have some fun, work on something within a deadline and then get critique on the work they post. As a result, I'll add a poll system when they enteries are in to allow the community to vote and when everyone creates their own thread for their own work within the challenge, each member can critique along the way.

In simple; This Challenge is to aid critique for each member of the Challenge as a community. That's all.

Other Notes:
This challenge is exactly that - A Challenge, there is no competition value in this and is simply the first of many experiments for users of the University to challenge their skills
and to learn from others.

Send the message 'I'm In!' to be accountable for judging!
-Sythen.

2. Western & Cyberpunk

In.

I'm in! Let's rock'n'roll! : )

Good to hear it guys, challenge begins today btw!

Once again Im in like Flynt.

Western and Cyberpunk
Horse with a tricked out cyborg chassis for legs

Originally Posted by Sythen

Environment Artists are limited to 1,000 polys per model,
highest texture resolution: 1024x1024.

so.. you mean the env guys do props? or an environment with models that can't excede 1k polys each? I might be dumb, but a bit of clarification might be nice for any env guys giving it a shot.

Originally Posted by oobersli

so.. you mean the env guys do props? or an environment with models that can't excede 1k polys each? I might be dumb, but a bit of clarification might be nice for any env guys giving it a shot.

that

mm i want to go in but i dont think i have much time, plus i have some difuculty understanding new age weaponry do you mean like magic and futuristic or something?

Looks like some real fun, will be watching you all.

If anyone would like to be added to the Skype group you can add me:
andrew.mackie..yeah...
[yes the periods are apart of the name]
then I can add you to the Skype group!

I think I might have to be in

An Environment is made up of several prop models. A specific prop model may not exceed 1k polys, and must not exceed 1024x1024 texture resolution.

Originally Posted by Sythen

An Environment is made up of several prop models. A specific prop model may not exceed 1k polys, and must not exceed 1024x1024 texture resolution.

This still doesn't mean a thing to env artists. An environment is more than just a few props. It would help if we had an overall geometry and texture budget for the entire scene, then allow us to break it up as we see fit.

Originally Posted by Joshua Stubbles

This still doesn't mean a thing to env artists. An environment is more than just a few props. It would help if we had an overall geometry and texture budget for the entire scene, then allow us to break it up as we see fit.

agree. the whole "can't be more than 1k" per prop is odd. why not just set the overall scene at like 10k tries and no more than a 2048 or something for textures?

As for new age weaponry, I mean any weapon (tank, to pistol) that has a new age science style.

Edit: My apologies I've added one more suggestion to the list that I believe would be a significant one.

7. Science & Nature

If we join in on this challenge should we start our own threads in the contest section? If so would it be [Opposing genres]Project Name?

Sorry, this'll be my first challenge so I don't really know what I'm doing. ^^

I'll just post WIPs in here or in a P+p thread

dudddeeeeee im in like flynn

EDIT:

Originally Posted by MrHobo

Once again Im in like Flynt.

Western and Cyberpunk
Horse with a tricked out cyborg chassis for legs

that'l teach me to post before reading the whole thread.
Cant wait to see WIPs btw hobo

I'm in!

I agree with what Joshua and oobersli said about the budget for enviro artists. If there is no limit on the overall scene then someone could have a huge amount of 1000 poly objects if they wanted.

I'd love to do western and cyberpunk but i think ill be using that time in january to move

Originally Posted by Tadao215

I'd love to do western and cyberpunk but i think ill be using that time in january to move

less moving, more modeling

Alright, if everyone thinks that is better. Limit of Polys on the overall scene for Environment Artists is 25k tris.


As for @Matthew O, just create a 'pimping and previews' thread with [Opposing Genres]Project Name and post maybe a link to it here.

Uh. 25k? For a full environment? Is this a lowpoly competition? I'd expect around 150k with an overall texture budget (seeing as the texture budget is more important) of 4096x

I'm In!