View Full Version : Living Mechanics
GOAL: Create the mechanical representation of a living entity.
RULES:
1 You can render in an external renderer, but Blender must be involved in the modelling process.
1.1 You can use third party generator processus if you want to, but they should not be the center of your entry.
1.2 Post Processing is allowed, but whatever is done must be specified with the entry.
2 Your creation must be animatable ( already rigged with armatures). This is something you should do anyway, since it makes posing your creation so much easier.
3 You can submit an animation, but entries will be judged on a single still image.
4 Entries must be in a JPEG format, in a resolution not more than 800 x 600 ( like animations, you can submit larger pictures, but judgement will not be based upon them). The size of the JPEG file should not be more than 300 K (that's to make sure people don't turn in uncompressed JPEG).
5 Since the mechanical creature is the goal of this contest, it should be the focus of your entry. You shouldn't waste too much time with the environement.
6 You can reuse objects, but the main part of your entry should be new, as in not finished at the time of the launch of this contest.
7 You can submit more than one entry.
DEADLINE:
The contest will start accepting entries August 1st and the last entry must be sumited before midnight September 30th. (we won't be too picky on the deadline, but try not to submit at the last minute)
TEAMWORK:
Team work is allowed, as long as there is not more than 3 people participating on a single entry.
VOTING:
Entries will be judged by the public in three categories with a voting system where people award points to entries. The score of each entries in these categories is the average of all the points score they were given by all the voters.
The three voting categories are:
- Overall: Judged on creature, scene, special effects, ...
- Creature Conception: Judged on creature only, obviosuly
- Originality: Judged on the overall scene
Also, three special technical awards will be given by a jury (to be determined latter (not me ;) )):
- Technical Modelling/Texturing Award: For outstanding modelling or texturing job
- Technical Accuracy Award: most likely to actually be able to walk/work/function
- Technical Armature Award: for unique/astounding/unbelievable model/rig
PRIZES:
err... eternal fame perhaps?
That's about it for now. We'll try to setup a web page or something like this. If anyone has webmaster talents or could lend some webspace, just contact theeth (mailto:
[email protected]).
Ok, at a 300k Max I can host 20 entries :)
If I may object:
31 August too early, make it 30 sept.
640x4800 Waaayyy too small! Minimum 800x600, but 1024x768 would be great :)
Stefano
I agree with S68 - 800x600. I don't wanna spend the time putting in the details if they aren't going to show! Also, what about multiple entries?
Ok, I changed it to 800 x 600. Remember, that is just for the "official" picture. if you have tiny details that would benefit from a higher resolution, you can do it as a "on the side" material, like an animation.
As for the deadline, I thought everyone was ok with the 1 month limit, but if more people say that 1 month is not enough, I've got nothing against stretching it.
Martin
slikdigit
01-Aug-02, 14:12
I'll vote for stretching it too- just because more time=better images. So I'm okay with 1 month + as a timelimit
Great idea :)
I think I'll try to squeeze some time out of my life to put on this. I'll have to relearn armatures though. Hmm... maybe Ingie has a tute or two :)
Thanks theeth
8) pofo
(Now where did I put that mech leg I was working on awhile ago?)
Hey theeth etc., check this out... someone built a real mech "scorpion".
http://www.plustech.fi/Walking1.html
I want one.
woo! great contest. I need a lot of practice in mechanical modelling, so this will be the perfect oppertunity =D
can't wait to see how this turns out 8)
ON THE TOPIC OF VOTES
Poll (a la Week End Challenge) or Points (a la F1 Challenge, Halloween Challenge, ...)?
Multiple categories (Originality, Believability, ...) or Overall only?
you get to choose.
Martin
slikdigit
02-Aug-02, 19:27
I like extra differentiation. Since its a longish challenge, i think it deserves point ratings. sometimes pre made categories can be restrictive- on the other hand, they can provide valuable feedback (i.e. if one gets a uniformly lower score in texturing it gives an indication of what to work on next). Perhaps allowing for one 'subjective' or 'other' point category in addition to the fixed ones, where the voters get to pick a rating but also provide an explanation of why outside of the other categories.
just an idea.
Bassam
One thought.
How closely does it have to resemble a creature that actually exists?
Is it ok with something that looks as if there could possibly be a live counterpart (example: 14 hump camel with six legs)?
8) pofo
yeah, why not. As long as it's not a plain blocky robot, but it looks rather like an artisitc representation of a living creature. The creature that the robot is based on doesn't have to actually exist (ex: a robot sphynx).
Martin
A category proposition:
- Overall (Judged on creature only)
- Best Concept (Judged on creature only)
- Technical Accuracy (most likely to actually be able to walk/work/function)
How many entries do you think there will be? If there's 12-18, these categories should suffice. If it were more like 30-40, we might want to add a few more like:
- Technical Award (for unique/astounding/unbelievable model/rig)
- Artistic (not necessarily best creature, but coolest overall scene)
Looking back, maybe these are too complex. I don't know.
But I do think we should require an OpenGL render of the rig (waivable if an anim is submitted) to prove animatability.
- Overall (Judged on creature only) that will surely be one of them
- Best Concept (Judged on creature only) sounds like "Best Originality" formulated in a different way. Will surely be there too.
- Technical Accuracy (most likely to actually be able to walk/work/function) I think this one could be like a bonus. Entries that looks technically possible could be awarded an extra point.
How many entries do you think there will be? Honestly, I don't know. Probably 15-20-ish
- Technical Award (for unique/astounding/unbelievable model/rig)
- Artistic (not necessarily best creature, but coolest overall scene)
I like the Technical Award idea, but the Artistic category is IMHO integrated in Originality (Best Concept).
But I do think we should require an OpenGL render of the rig (waivable if an anim is submitted) to prove animatability.
That could be used for the Technical Award and Technical Accuracy categories, so, most definitly. Of course, that could still be optionnal, but then, that entry would loose the chance to stand out in these category.
Of course, these are just my oppinions. It is our contest, afterall, so feel free to discuss it.
Martin
I update the rules to allow teamwork.
Martin
rivenwanderer
06-Aug-02, 14:08
So if we don't use armatures, are we completely disqualified? Or just not likely to win anything besides best concept?
A side goal of the contest is to perfect your armature skills, so if you don't use them, you kinda miss the mark. I think it could be a good oportunity to learn them if you don't already. Plus, armatures for mech (robots) are a lot easier to do than for organics.
It would be a bit unfair for the others that took the time to rig it and make it animatable if some were allowed to scip that part.
Like I said, a contest is firt of all an occasion to learn new techniques and to perfect your skills, so don't be affraid to experiment and share ideas.
Martin
Hey theeth etc., check this out... someone built a real mech "scorpion".
<cough>SPIDER SLAYER!</cough> :D
yeah, why not. As long as it's not a plain blocky robot, but it looks rather like an artisitc representation of a living creature. The creature that the robot is based on doesn't have to actually exist (ex: a robot sphynx).
ok, so mythical creature are allowed, that's cool. but are you saying no mechwarriors allowed? :-?
dang. i just started playing mechwarrior 3 and got obsessed with trying to make a battlemech in blender again. oh well. but anyway, i'll have to vote to streeeeetch the contest (hehe) because 1 month isn't much time for someone with my 'skills'. and also i need to get a new mouse, my current one is constantly messing up on me. it's a serial mouse from over 10 years ago and it freaks me out when i look at it... :o
BTW: this may make me seem lazy (which would actually be a pretty accurate depiction), but i was wondering if anyone out there knows a good (and basic) tutorial for armatures? i mean really basic, i haven't even really learned ika's when they were used
oh well. but anyway, i'll have to vote to streeeeetch the contest (hehe) because 1 month isn't much time
I extended it already.
DEADLINE:
The contest will start accepting entries August 1st and the last entry must be sumited before midnight September 30th. (we won't be too picky on the deadline, but try not to submit at the last minute)
but are you saying no mechwarriors allowed?
only if you can find a living counterpart for a mechwarrior (it's kinda like a big chicken with rockets... well, no)
That's a good comprehensive tut on Armatures, but there are a lot more than one around. http://mmaigrot.free.fr/didac-blender/ikas/ikas-eng/ik-intro.html
Martin
Should creatures from standard mythology be allowed, i.e. Mechanical Manticore, Mech Dragon a la The Hunt? I think so, but I just wanted to be clear before I invested the time...
After reading about that real life mech logging thing, i have been inspired! chances are that i am not going to submit though, but i will experiment w/ armatures :D
Thanks
Should creatures from standard mythology be allowed, i.e. Mechanical Manticore, Mech Dragon a la The Hunt? I think so, but I just wanted to be clear before I invested the time...
I already answered that:
yeah, why not. As long as it's not a plain blocky robot, but it looks rather like an artisitc representation of a living creature. The creature that the robot is based on doesn't have to actually exist (ex: a robot sphynx).
Martin
CubeFan973
07-Aug-02, 15:59
Can we make something that's on wheels, even if the real creature doesn't have them?
Also, are we allowed to use the monkey head? :) I'm not using it, just want to make sure.
Can we make something that's on wheels, even if the real creature doesn't have them?
yes, of course, you don't have to stick 100% to what the creature looks like. But wheels are easy to do, so you'll probably won't win the technical award with that (unless you do some really funky stuff with them, like automatic wheel rotation, that kind of stuff)
Also, are we allowed to use the monkey head? :) I'm not using it, just want to make sure.
No, you are not allowed to use the monkey head in your creature (you could use it in the surroundings though).
Martin
hey theeth, i was just wondering... what if two people submit the same thing? would that mean some major (or even minor would kinda suck) loss in originality points? oh, and i'm not sure if this was already asked but will the submissions by teams be judged seperately from the individual efforts? or will they all be looked at together keeping in mind who was alone and who was in a group?
by the way, there is a mechwarrior that looks like a giant chicken with rocke-- well actually, it doesn't but i call it the chicken mech (then i blow up it's legs!). seriously, anyone know what i'm talking about? i think the mech's name is Strider. it's practically just a cockpit mounted on two big ol' chicken legs. well, i guess i'm just rambling on taking up your time so i'll stop this madnes by saying.. sorry about that, please continue with your lives without wanting to kill me. ;)
hey theeth, i was just wondering... what if two people submit the same thing? would that mean some major (or even minor would kinda suck) loss in originality points?
points are allocated by the community (like the F1 Challenge), so it would really depend on the person that is voting.
oh, and i'm not sure if this was already asked but will the submissions by teams be judged seperately from the individual efforts? or will they all be looked at together keeping in mind who was alone and who was in a group?
I guess that would depend on how much group entry there is, and if their overall quality would really make them stand all on top of the "alone" entries. Then it would be a good idea to separate them, otherwise, I think one group is enough.
by the way, there is a mechwarrior that looks like a giant chicken with rocke-- well actually, it doesn't but i call it the chicken mech (then i blow up it's legs!). seriously, anyone know what i'm talking about? i think the mech's name is Strider. it's practically just a cockpit mounted on two big ol' chicken legs. well, i guess i'm just rambling on taking up your time so i'll stop this madnes by saying.. sorry about that, please continue with your lives without wanting to kill me. ;)
heheheh
Martin
haunt_house
08-Aug-02, 14:39
I do not know how the f1 challenge was voted, but please letīs not do it the way the weekend challenge is voted. The weekend challenge forces the voter to behave in a 'second place counts nothing' way.
Rather do something like 3 points for the first choice 2 for the second and 1 for the third. It would be easy to make a form that does not allow multiple votes for one picture. That would provide more freedom.
But the idea is very nice
I like mechas
5 ... You should waste too much time with the environement.
why?
HH
I do not know how the f1 challenge was voted, but please letīs not do it the way the weekend challenge is voted. The weekend challenge forces the voter to behave in a 'second place counts nothing' way.
Rather do something like 3 points for the first choice 2 for the second and 1 for the third. It would be easy to make a form that does not allow multiple votes for one picture. That would provide more freedom.
I agree, the Week End challenge voting system is not really appropriate for a contest of that scale. The F1 challenge works like that: You have 10 points to assign, and you assign them in anyway you want to any entry you want (you can assign more than 1 point to one entry). I was more thinking of a rating system though. You judge any number of entries you want, and you judge them each on several criteria, on a 1 to 10 scale. The results are drawn from the average.
5 ... You should waste too much time with the environement.
why?
doh! I mean't "shouldn't", of course!
Martin
haunt_house
08-Aug-02, 16:04
And I thought there was some sort of hidden message in it :(
sniff
kaktuswasse
08-Aug-02, 17:51
well, i think we should split it in "pure blender+textures" and
"not pure blender"
slikdigit
09-Aug-02, 15:57
what's up with the deadline? is it still one month? or streeaached.
I've only got a leg modelled so far.
The deadline is September the 30th.
Martin
The deadline is September the 30th.
Martin
woohoo! :D
that's great since i haven't even started... i think i've almost made my decision as to what i'm gonna do. then i'll start sketches
Oh coolness... I am very tempted to enter too now!
SGT Squeaks
21-Aug-02, 18:21
Everything has to be modeled in blender? DOH!!! I guess I am out then. :(
Everything has to be modeled in blender? DOH!!! I guess I am out then. :(
no, not everything, but Blender has to be involved in a major part of the modelling process.
Martin
SGT Squeaks
22-Aug-02, 11:34
SWEET!!!! :D
does the scene have to be rendered in blender or can an external renderer be used?
1 You can render in an external renderer, but Blender must be involved in the modelling process.
Martin
thatbrikwal
01-Sep-02, 15:12
does it have to all be one creature? for example, if I wanted to make a mech man on a mech horse, could i do that?
and for the armature rigging, does it have to be ik, or can it just be "dumb" fk?
yeah, you could do that.
Martin
I updated the rules by adding the voting categories and technical awards.
Martin
CubeFan973
12-Sep-02, 22:59
August 1st and the last entry must be sumited before midnight September 30th. (we won't be too picky on the deadline, but try not to submit at the last minute)
?!?!?!?!?!
What time zone? I know, picky, but this is really confusing. If someone in Australia submits at 9:00, but you guys have a time zone 7 hours ahead of it, the person won't have their deserved recognition because you guys were too confusing. (Rolls eyes due to confusing himself!)
To expand on the problem of armatures, suppose we had it nailed down to a surface, but it could move at the mesh point things (forgot the name). Would this be considered "technically stupid?" Suppose we had one thing that also was nailed down, but could shoot lasers somehow? I'm just asking about things that are technically "chickening out," aren't I?
Hmm... let me guess... "You're not very willing to do armatures? Just LEARN HOW TO USE THEM!" I'm trying!
What time zone? I know, picky, but this is really confusing. If someone in Australia submits at 9:00, but you guys have a time zone 7 hours ahead of it, the person won't have their deserved recognition because you guys were too confusing. (Rolls eyes due to confusing himself!)
just send your entry on the 28th, you won't miss the deadline that way
To expand on the problem of armatures, suppose we had it nailed down to a surface, but it could move at the mesh point things (forgot the name). Would this be considered "technically stupid?" Suppose we had one thing that also was nailed down, but could shoot lasers somehow? I'm just asking about things that are technically "chickening out," aren't I?
I'm not even sure I can understand your question, so... :-?
Martin
theeth, you suck at bbcode, just look at your quotes...tsk tsk
errrr... oh well, now it's fixed.
Martin
let's all give theeth a hand....(clap clap clap) :D
hey, is this thread dead or something, i want to see some results! :D
Look at the 'WIP' thread :)
Stefano
i noticed.....hrm....i know im dumb
4 Entries must be in a JPEG format, in a resolution not more than 800 x 600 ( like animations, you can submit larger pictures, but judgement will not be based upon them).
thats a lil confusing... OF COURSE im gonna submit a larger picture, lol... so why say it must be no bigger than 800x600 then turn around and say u can submit larger images?
anyhoo, could u remove the dimension limit for the picture? i mean, its living MECHS, and mechs have alot of detail, a small limited picture size wont do justice to small details at all... and theres a kb size limit anyways, so pleease remove size limits, thats an order =D
-chris
no, I'll keep the size limit that way, but I'll explain the meaning of the rules a little better:
The official picture you submit must not be bigger than 800 * 600 with a 300 K limit on the file size. The official picture is the one voters will see first.
However, you can, if you want, make other kind of material available(picture of the mesh, picture of the armature, animation, ...), not hosted by the contest. This additional material will be used by the judges (I'm putting a list together as we speak) for the technical awards and can (meaning "facultativly") be used by the voters.
I hope that was more clear.
Martin
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSSE!!!!!!!!! :( :( :(
800X600 is so small..... :( :( :(
how come u decided on 800x600?
hmm, wait, i guess with the extra material i can add, i could link to a bigger version right? that sounds good if im right =) cya
hmm, wait, i guess with the extra material i can add, i could link to a bigger version right?
sure, you could even have closed up shots of the details if you want.
Martin
awesome =) thanks alot for clearing this up
Imgranpaboy: Ack - so you're going to swoop in at the end and clobber us all with your mad skillz, eh? Curse you. Your weekend challenge stuff rules. I'll hate to see what you can with two months...
BTW, saw your entry on irtc. Good luck.
BTW, saw your entry on irtc. Good luck.
oh crap, i thought i read through the rules but i musta missed the part about the creation time must be within the two months given... someone suggested i should enter that pic in the contest so i did... meh, its over with now =)
i love the ignorance of some people that assumed i tried to sneak in an old pic and that i knew it wasnt allowed... then again, my ignorance played the part of me not knowing its allowd =D lol
while the creation time rule remains, i could have made an entire picture out of pre-made downloaded models and it would have been lagit... weird how that works ;)
anyway, harkyman, your spider rules! im not sure if im gonna finish mine in time or if i even want to but u can see a wip here http://spevack.net/blengine/art/beefedup3.jpg
good luck to u!
when the deadline is over, I strongly suggest that the entrants post there .blend file (I could host them on a server here, momentarily) so to make the juries job easier for the Armature Technical award. Also, I think it would be a great learning experience to learn from other peoples work.
Martin
You don't want to know how big they are :P
Mine would bring my web account to its quota limit even if I delete all the rest of my stuff... but if you insist in hosting it...
... what I am afraid of is that oll the glitches due to stupid Blender handling of tracking will become apparent....
Stefano
since it's only for the armature, you could scrap everything from the blend except the mesh and the bones (delete the materials, textures, environement, ...). I know it can be a big job in some case, that's why it's only a suggestion, not a rule.
I'll set up a dummy e-mail address here on our school server, than you could send them there.
Martin
The contest finishes in 3 days?
But i only just got an idea! :(
I wanted to make a tree frog catching a fly
Will the contest happen again?
kaktuswasse
29-Sep-02, 12:38
ok...
Here is my entry:
http://www.liquid-pixel.de.vu/vogel5.jpg
cya
henrik
P.S.: it's a 2-in-1 ;) The fishs and the bird are animatable (boned)
Okay - so what's the deal with this contest? There seem to be a lot of very cool entries. Any idea what consitutes an "official" entry? Theeth, have you had any luck with a host for the contest, or should we all start looking around?
Theeth, have you had any luck with a host for the contest, or should we all start looking around?
I will host them here at school on our server (enough bandwitdh for all of you at once). I will host all the official images there, so people on tight bandwitdh or using free hosting will not have any problems.
Also, I was talking about blend files and all that. If you want me to host you .blend, to make it available to the public and usable by the jury for the tech awards, you can send it to me at this e-mail address (mailto:
[email protected]).
Please, do not send me the whole blend file. Just the meshes, armatures and animation data are enough both for an educationnal file and for the jury.
Any idea what consitutes an "official" entry?
an entry that is eligible for voting must comply to this one and only criteria:
Entries must be in a JPEG format, in a resolution not more than 800 x 600 and size not more than 300K
This is the only thing needed to consider an entry legal, and this picture is the one that will be in the voting thread.
However, if you include more material with you entry (blend file, screenshots, close ups, ...), these will be considered for the technical awards (more info on how the judgement will take place later).
I hope that was more clear,
Martin
kaktuswasse
01-Oct-02, 08:05
ui, than I'll post a 800x200 version ..
cya henrik
kaktuswasse
01-Oct-02, 13:09
ok, here is my smaller version:
www.liquid-pixel.de.vu/vogel6.jpg
:( Was so better bigger...
I think that a size limit should be on pixels... say...
480000 pixels.
Then you can make a 800x600 but also a 1600x300 :D
(just kidding)
Stefano
kaktuswasse
02-Oct-02, 06:40
/me votes for it,too:D
But that would mean we'd have to do math!
hm, any chance there will be a voting for the contest? Someday?
Krabat
[qupte="Krabat"]hm, any chance there will be a voting for the contest? Someday?[/quote]
you must have missed it.
The winners have been announced already: http://www.elysiun.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6496
Martin
Zweistein
29-Dec-02, 12:01
I saw it one month ago.... But i really wondered a long time what is with my entry.... Next time please post it int the contest Forum and write a mail to all Users who made a picture for it ;-)
CU
oh god! /me stupid! :o
Krabat
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