United3dArtists Archive

I would like to suggest and hear your opinion about this. For me I would like to purge the MMC and SMC challenge then replace by 1 challenge only.... this challenge will be call by anyone for example, I post a challenge to create a vehicle ( this include modeling,texturing and rendering) everybody can join and the maximum time limit is 1 month it can be shorten if enough entry are posted but the maximum is 1 month no extension. ( I am not sure about voting polls for this challenge..or when the challenge deadline is reach anyone can create a new challenge, but when there's already a challenge posted then everybody must wait to finish that challenge before they post a new challenge).

The reason that I post this is the quality of work that being post in SMC and MMC sometimes are quickie one, I want to generate interest inside and outside of this forum base on our quality of work we posted in the challenge. ( like somebody or a visitor visit the U3DA see those amazing work in challenge section they can spread it by word of mouth and maybe attract new user and member.) I am not bashing anyone's work here just being realistic and straight the SMC and MMC doesn't have much attractiveness to it.

let's forget the caligari web format specially the challenge... it's long dead. ( although truespace still amazing)

this is only an opinion let's hear what's other say.

The problem is lack of participation.

There are other Speed Modeling Challenges across the Web on different and participation is often minimal.

The primary objective of the modeling challenges is participation.

If people want to show how good they are, then they should enter in the CG big time contests and see how they do.

Modeling Challenges are for the constant fertilization of ideas, sharing concepts and see what approaches others may have using different software or how they use older software to perform their own tricks to achieve the improbable.

I read of lot of excuses, seldom do I see a good one for not participating. Sickness, vacation,too much work - yeah, those work.

But, most of the non-participation is just apathy or bad attitude (especially "What's in it for me."

I imagine non-participation is the same reason really good artists never write tutorials or never share their techniques with other users. Afraid that someone might find them out or the attitude "users don't deserve the sweat from my brow" and not wasting my valuable time with people that are not paying me.

Perhaps I'm cynical, but I think the reason don't participate is the same reason people don't go to Parent-Teacher meetings or volunteer to clean up their community park or whatever that involves other people. It's apathy and the claim that someone else will do it.

Okay - steps away from Soap Box.

Your idea might increase participation since there would only be one choice to participate in. Probably no more participants than the SMC + MMC but they would all be in one contest. Or, participation decreases but quality increases since people not able or not interested in producing showcase CG would not enter.

I'm not opposed to new challenges or changing the challenges but I don't see that there is any problem to solve here.

Many factors influence participation but the economy situation now is big one. People have too much real world stuff to do now.

Welcome new members, yes, but I don't see the reason to seek or entice new members. "What's in it for us?" More people isn't necessarily a better forum and might be bad.

The challenges aren't everything. If anyone here wants to do superb work he is welcome to. Start a WIP and work on it as long as you want to.

I wouldn't want to see a challenge(s) where most don't participate because they aren't able to produce showcase work.

Forums focused on excellent work or for the highly talented often are or become exclusive. Some are private. There CG masters can help each other without "clutter" from those still growing. I don't object to that. Some are open but treat those of less talent and those just having fun poorly. U3DA is a friendly place where pro's, amateurs, and hobbyists can get together and help each other become awesome or just have fun. Maybe that is its strength.

SMC's and MMC's and similar aren't a Caligari thing. Caligari only did what many other CG places already did. Something different could be good though. Why be like all the others?

Otherwise, if your idea is implemented then each challenge needs a long duration so people have time to do great work. It also needs a definite means of succession. That is, determining what the next challenge is and who runs it. So far it looks like "first come first serve". Whoever is the first to post the new challenge is in charge. I'd rather see something based on merit whether by voter's choice or an "expert" panel or something.

thanks for the answer guys I hope others participate to get some ideas...

the posting for quality work is not for show off or anything but to inspire other to try what they have seen and recreate or create whats in their imagination. whenever I see quality work it inspire and see if I can recreate or create something like that.

oh yeah the index of U3DA it needs fix also...any suggestion.

Well, I did think that one purpose of the SMC and MMC is to encourage people to 'challenge' themselves, regardless of skill / talent level.
I'm only speaking for myself; I certainly do wish I had more time to make an idea really *Shine* but, usually, I skip the challenges unless I am really 'in the moment' and actually have a spare hour to make something i.e. for the SMC. That rarely happens so I don't participate most of the time. I know that I can't make anything that looks truly 'cool' in an hour so I don't bother, usually.
Perhaps we could have a challenge specifically for the folks that have had plenty of practice,
that are very confident in their artwork, alongside the current SMC and MMC. That way, the competitions may be more evened out.

So, have a little explanation for each level:
Which challenge should I choose?

Choose the current, basic MMC / SMC if you are still learning and want to challenge yourself, and get more practice in.

Choose the higher level MMC / SMC if you feel you can produce higher quality artwork.

I have enjoyed participating in many an SMC/MMC over the years and must admit they have been both a huge learning experience and a creative inspiration for me. But my interest in taking part has severely waned over the last 6 months or so although I find it difficult to pin-point exactly why. Sometimes, the subject matter chosen just doesn't appeal to/inspire me or has been done several times before and on other occasions the general lack of interest/participation by other other members is so poor that it is difficult to find the motivation to participate. Which is a kinda catch-22 situation I suppose.

There have been some interesting views posted already. I must admit I frequent about 6-7 other forums on a regular basis. And IMO, the participation in the challenges they hold tends to serve as a pretty good indication of the forum's health status. A pulse if you will. And not only are those comps very well supported, some of the stuff I see on there totally blows me away, just like the old Caligari comps used to.

That all said, changing the format of the challenges is a discussion about as old as the challenge itself. Should the subject of the SMC be more specific, should it be more generic etc. etc. etc. And all these previous discussions have concluded with more-or-less the same answer: that As the rules stand, the nature of the competition can be changed by whomever is running it at the time. Now I hear what your saying, about amalgamating the 2 comps (4 if you include the animation and texture challenges), and anything that leads to an increased level of participation would be really great and most welcome. But somehow, I just don't see the level of participation changing that much in the foreseeable future.

Would love to be proved wrong though.

I think there has been enough discussion from members that are unable to participate for a variety of reasons. None of the explanations are that they have stopped caring about the forum or are dropping the community.

Times are busy or tough for many so contributions are fewer but based on the frequency of comments from some there are still a good number who remain interested but simply cannot be regulars.

The two challenges are clearly set to encourage development of 2 skills... working fast and working to complete a concept.

I am fine if the format of challenges changes. If there is a way to focus the challenges on specific skills it may create some interesting material that we can learn from. The risk of skill challenges is that they can intimidate new participants who will simply wait to see what the experts do.

Well Fiiiine v3rd3! I'll just go back to my void()!
Juuuuust kidding.

froo wrote:Well Fiiiine v3rd3! I'll just go back to my void()!
Juuuuust kidding.

I'm sorry, but I'm occupying your void now.

You'll have to find a new place.

Dammit james you're always pullin this sh*t!

I'd vote on this but I'm not sure I'm in the right thread.

maybe later...

Yeah this is the right thread spacekdet.
Got sidetracked.

I think a winner-by-poll SMC/MMC/New-MC is needed for everyone to be able to enter and have fun and be motivated to improve our skills and be creative. The concern of this thread was the quality of work so in addition to whatever MMC-like challenge:

Ideas to encourage superior quality work:
- A gallery section where only the best work done here is shown. Feature this on the front page. Who/how to pick the content? It encourages quality in all the work whether in a contest or not.
- An excellence based contest with high standards judged by a panel of experts. Long duration to have time to do good work, prize(s), 1st and 2nd place winners (panel) plus people's choice (poll). Nomination by members to be eligible to compete? Who are the panel experts?
- ?

agreed with finis. Quality is needed. For this forum, for tS. If you want quality, you need time (unless its for money). So maybe concept of one month gallery is not so good (although i apreciate the contests existance). So maybe some longer therm contest would be good. I think keeping some speed modeling is good, coz its good for ppl not having time and wanting to compete. And longer therm contest will be good for ppl that really want to show quality and give it the time (they may not have :D)

agree with you Biktar on the Longer Comp idea, but leave the SMC and MMC, just add the QMC for quarterly modeling competition...

then we have a nice variety of competitions to suit all artist requirements: short, medium and long competitions!

we should take time to discuss it and then maybe make a poll about the future contests. Which ones to run. On one hand more contests = more options to enter, but on the other hand, there are not many active users for so many contests. So maybe if you have too many contests for too few ppl, it can be the way that you will get only 2 competitors in every challange. Quarter of year sounds reasonable tho.

there are 25 members on the forum, not sure how many of them do 3D though, but I'm sure if those who are here just make more of an effort, then 3 comps could be run successfully, i believe it is even possible to enter ALL THREE at the same time...

it is more a matter of how much do you like doing 3D and about getting creative ideas... it really doesn't take that long to do decent design (just look at the SMC, there has been some AWESOME images coming out of there with just 3-4 hours of work!!!)...

i really feel that just adding a QMC would make it better and the rest are up to the members to make it work... (me included and I have been neglecting my 3D hobby of late )