Basic Summary

Finalists Jam accepted Maps from participants.
Requires maps are downloadable.

Read the about for more information.

Judging

Ranked by Judges - Only members of the jam assigned with judging permission can vote.
Entries can't be updated during the judge phase.
21 day entry period.

Rating Criteria

1. Concept & Originality
   Rated 1 to 10
2. Technique & Execution
   Rated 1 to 10
3. Presentation
   Rated 1 to 10

The Contest Theme!

Planet Minecraft and the MCSG Community has teamed up to bring you the first ever Survival Games arena map contest. The Survival Games (Hunger Games style) gameplay has been one of the most notable mini game type for Minecraft multiplayer around the world. The popularity skyrocketed after book series was released into a major motion picture back in 2012.

Are you a map maker or have a team of buddies who like map level design? Well this is your chance to help support the Survival Games community by making your arena! Win awesome prizes and even VIP perks within MCSG.

Projects will be judged on the following criteria:



1) Concept & Originality - Think about what you're building before you build. Having a theme helps a lot in this category!
2) Map Technique & Gameplay- The map is only as good as it's gameplay. This will be crucial to balance all parts of the map so nothing is over powered. Traps and hidden chests are a plus!
3) Presentation - Spend time presenting your project on PMC with quality screen shots and description.

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Special Planet Minecraft Survival Game Servers!

MCSG will be providing 25 survival games servers for this project that will only host maps that are submitted within the contest. Please note, popular maps voted by you (via diamonds) will have a higher chance on getting added. The server IPs are located on this following page: http://contest.mcsg.in


Note: MCSG has permission to use any maps you submit to this project contest in its community. When / if your map is used on their servers, credit will be displayed in game every time it loads! They do NOT have exclusive rights, nor will they resell or claim to be the creators.

Read the following rules carefully!

1. Survival Game Map REQUIREMENTS & Guidelines!

1. Maps must have 24 spawns (marked with podiums). (podium example)
   
   
2. Maps must be a minimum 200 block radius (otherwise it's too small for a fun game).
   
3. Must have a minimum of 200 chests (more the better but hide them and make them look natural)
   
4. All maps must have a glass dome closing the map or a natural landscape that prevents people from leaving the arena.
   

Guidelines:

• Generally smaller maps are more liked based on our players experience history within our community (around a 500 block radius)
  
• Have plenty of terraforming and buildings, and ensure that you have it perfected before submitting. Default Minecraft landscapes may not be the best!
  
• Redstone traps are always a plus based on our community's history!
  
• Make plenty of chests and spread them out so that they don't favor teaming or an overpowered route. Make some effort to hide and make them look natural.
  
• Map themes with epic trailers always usually get popular!
  
• You can pre-fill the chests but our game system will overwrite it. Really this is just a benefit for the public if they want to load up your map to play on a private vanilla server (which we encourage).
  
  

Optional Starter Templates:

Need some templates to help you get started? Our members created some prebuilt maps with domes that can help you get started with your arena: Map Template Downloads (you dont have to start with these but it will help)

how to install a custom map

Step 1: Download the custom map.

All we need to do is put the downloaded map into your own Minecraft saves folder.
This technique will work on PC & Mac:
Step 2: Locate the Minecraft "Saves" Folder
a) Start Minecraft.
b) Click"Texture Packs".
c) Click "Open Texture Pack Folder".
d) Go to the parent folder. One back from where you are.
e) Click "Saves".

Step 3: "Install" the map:
a) Open the downloaded zip file containing the custom map.
b) Click and drag the folder to your "Saves" folder.

You're done! In Minecraft, click "Single Player" and you'll see the custom map available.

Additional Help: Need some ideas to help you get started? A member created some other optional guidelines and ideas you can follow for arena here: More ideas and guidelines (you don't have to follow them but itos a suggestion)

2. Constructions are original work created for this contest.

Projects entered into this contest must be conceptualized and created for this contest by you.

What's Allowed:

• Creative Mode
  
  
• Teamwork : You can recruit help from others but you are the mastermind / team leader. They must understand that only you can enter the final project & potentially win. If there is significant drama about who created the project, we will disqualify it.
  
  
• Map Editing Tools: i.e. MCEdit, WorldEdit, VoxelSniper
  
  
• Third party texture packs BUT it's important to keep in mind that others, including judges, will not have your texture pack. You're safest bet is to stick with the default pack or faithful texture packs. Using an extreme texture pack may hurt your chances of winning.
  
  

What's Not Allowed: The following will result in disqualification.

• Do not use constructions created before the contest's announcement date, even if you are the original author.
  
• Do not use 3D or 2D auto conversion / import scripts.
  
  
• Do not import schematics from the past.
  
  
• Do not use third party mods that introduce new blocks that are unobtainable in vanilla Minecraft.
  
• We can disqualify at any time, including after the submission period. Do not cheat.
  

All of the normal rules of the site apply in this contest. Essentially summed up as; make your own work.

Submit project WITH download to PMC during entry period.

Submit Project to PMC:
Take quality screenshots and submit the project like usual but check the box indicating it's for the contest. It's important to capture the highlights of your project with quality screenshots. Think of it like an actual photo shoot. Take your time and consider lighting, composition and the overall story your gallery will present to your viewers. To make it to the finalists, you will need to make an impression.

You don't have to upload your map until you're finished. Feel free to post your project during development to show off what you're building and to receive feedback. Just don't forget to upload the final map before the entry period ends!

How to prepare your project for download

Step 1: Locate your Minecraft "Saves" folder.
a) Start Minecraft.
b) Click "Texture Packs".
c) Click "Open Texture Pack Folder".
d) Go to the parent folder. One back from where you are.
e) Click "Saves". See your world folder? Good.

Step 2: Prepare your world for upload by compressing it into a single file.
a) Right click the folder containing the world you want to upload.
b) Windows : Click "Send To > Compressed (zip) folder. If you do not have this option. 7-zip is an free open source compression application.
c) Upload the zipped world to a free shared host. Example: mediafire.com

Step 3: Create your project on PlanetMinecraft and include the link to the zip file in the "World Save" input field. Good luck!

One entry only:
Each user will only be permitted to submit one project for this contest. You may edit your one entry as long as the contest is still running. If you decide to change your submission at any point, you are free to do so. However, you should not delete your original entry. Instead, use the "update submission" button to save the new file over your old one, and change the submission title if necessary.



Entry period:
May 7th, 2013 @ 12:00 PM EST to May 28th, 2013 @ 12:00 PM EST. Entries submitted after this date will not be accepted.

Have fun!

Above all else, contests are here for the community to have fun interpreting a common theme. Take the contest theme and run with it, maybe even come up with a story to guide your work and enhance your presentation page. Remember, you have three weeks to do this. You don't need to put something up right away - and even if you chose to, you're allowed to update your submission as many times as you want before the end of the submission period on May 28th, 2013 @ 12:00 PM EST

This contest is not a random drawing - the submissions are judged by a panel of longstanding members with a great deal of experience with Minecraft projects. It will not help you to submit anything less than fantastic, so take your time.

1st Place

• Prizes : $120 worth of Steam Game(s). Games will be gifted to your Steam account. Winner may choose more than one game but the total must be $120 or less. Must have a Steam account to claim prize, no substitutes.
  
• MCSG VIP rank for you and your build team (up to 8 usernames). Must have MCSG account to claim this prize, no substitutes.
  
  
• A Contest Themed, Gold, Pixel Art Trophy for Member's Profile Trophy Case.
  
• Profile Featured on PMC - 1 Week.
  
• Featured on MCSG homepage!
  
  

2nd Place

• $60 worth of Steam Game(s). Games will be gifted to your Steam account. Winner may choose more than one game but the total must be $60 or less. Must have a Steam account to claim prize, no substitutes.
  
• MCSG 3 month Diamond premium account for you and your build team (up to 8 usernames). Must have MCSG account to claim this prize, no substitutes.
  
• A Contest Themed, Silver, Pixel Art Trophy for Member's Profile Trophy Case.
  
• Profile Featured on PMC - 1 Week.
  
• Featured on MCSG homepage!
  

3rd Place

• $20 worth of Steam Game(s). Games will be gifted to your Steam account. Winner may choose more than one game but the total must be $20 or less. Must have a Steam account to claim prize, no substitutes.
  
• MCSG 3 month Gold premium account for you and your build team (up to 8 usernames). Must have MCSG account to claim this prize, no substitutes.
  
• Contest Themed, Bronze, Pixel Art Trophy for Member's Profile Trophy Case.
  
• Profile Featured on PMC - 1 Week.
  
• Featured on MCSG homepage!
  

All Participants

• A Contest Themed, Pixel Art Badge/Medal for Member's Profile Trophy Case.
  

Here is a list of the current submissions.

Phase #1: Entry Period : 3 weeks

Typically, 2-3 weeks, read rules carefully. This is the time that everyone has to create and submit a contest entry. During this time, judges are reviewing entries, anonymously voting and disqualifying those that don't meet the contest requirements. The PMC community is doing the same.

Phase #2: Review Period : 5 days

After submissions are closed, judges get 5 additional days to review late entries and cast their final votes. Their votes are heavily weighted in an algorithm that includes the community's votes and activity to determine the finalists.

Phase #3: Finalists Calculated : Judges cast criteria ratings

After the finalists are calculated, judges begin anonymously rating each entry based on the following criteria on a scale of 1-10:
1) Concept & Originality - Put thought behind your work.
2) Map Technique & Gameplay- The map is only as good as it's gameplay. This will be crucial to balance all parts of the map so nothing is OP (overpowered). Traps and hidden chests are a plus!
3) Presentation - Spent days building something, spend an hour and give it the image gallery and description it deserves.

Once the site detects that all judges have cast their ratings on all finalists, the winners are announced.



Judges will be encouraged to participate, but will be disqualified from winning prizes.