Cutstuff Mapping Jam 7: Jamomma
(https://i.imgur.com/vo7hmKb.png)
Hello everyone, it's Dr. Freeman and welcome to the seventh (what the heck) Cutstuff Mapping Jam! Once you hit this much it feels like insanity (even though the second was quickly removed from the franchise...)
It's been a year since the last one was started and I've had multiple people request another one, so what the heck. Another year, another jam. No v6 development to the get in the way.
If you are unaware as to what a mapping jam is, allow me to explain! Basically, the community comes together and makes a bunch of maps. It's not just something for veteran mappers to enjoy either, if you've ever thought about making a map for this game, now's the chance to go for it! Newbies are more than welcome! It's important to note that this is not a contest, and it's more just something to make for fun for everyone to enjoy. And because it's not a contest, if you're ever unsure how to do something or want feedback on a map or map piece, always feel free to ask anyone. Personally I'm always willing to help if someone needs it.
As always, jam is broken down into two separate phases. Phase 1 will last a couple weeks and has everyone make a small map piece (more details below). This map piece will also act as one's sign up. Once all the map pieces are in and Phase 1 is over, we enter Phase 2 where every entrant is randomly given two people's map pieces and get to make a map with it! Life is busy, so there's going to be plenty of time (a few months) for Phase 2 to happen. Like before, there's not going to be any crazy gimmick outside of having to use the map pieces. While doing the same vanilla thing every time isn't the most exciting thing in the world when I type out the topic, it just feels better when the actual mapping comes around.
Here are the guidelines for Phase 1, absolutely copy/pasted because there's not really any point on changing what works!
-Map Pieces can be no bigger than 1024x1024 units. This doesn't mean it has to be a perfect square. As long as it fits within those units.
-Keep textures simple. You aren't keeping these pieces anyway so don't go to town on aesthetics. Whoever gets your piece can do some of that!
-Pieces will be quality controlled and possibly rejected for the following reasons.
The map piece is just a big empty square.
Incredibly convoluted with a ton of 3D floors. (We're trying to make something that people can implement, not an entire map on its own)
It's straight up unplayable
If you have ANY concerns about your map piece as you're making it, please contact me and I'll do my best to help you out!
-Please refrain from adding scripts, weapons, and items to your piece. Adding a full fledged gimmick to a map piece is a little crazy, and weapons and items can easily be subject to change in the final map. People are also able to add their own gimmicks and whatnot to the map pieces when creating the final map.
We'll talk about the rules for phase 2 once we get there (though they really are mostly the same!)
There is one more thing I'd like to discuss really quickly, which is the idea of splitting the jam packs starting from this one. There are 5 whole map packs in the current jam file and it's pretty huge. Bloating that file size anymore seems highly questionable so unless there are some major objections (which if you have them, I would like to hear it because if you have a good point I'm all ears) this Jam is going to mark the beginning of a new wad file.
THAT SAID, if anyone wants to edit their existing Jam Maps, please feel free and there is no restriction on doing that (and I'll be doing any bugfixes / adding extra maps I've received as well when release takes place). While the wads will likely be separated, the first pack will still be updated as needed.
As I said above, submitting a map piece is how you sign up and you won't be able to participate if you don't submit one! So the next two weeks are more or less just the sign up period.
All map pieces are to be submitted to me either by PM on Cutstuff or over Discord (you can find me at Freems#2222). Map piece submissions will close on Wednesday, November 10th at 11:59 PM EST. (a little awkward of a date but i blame my work schedule). Once we have hit the deadline and the map pieces are in, we will discuss phase 2!
That should be everything for the time being! If you have any questions whatsoever, do not be afraid to ask me! And here's to another jam!
The submission period is over so let's get this show on the road!
As we learned last time, having an unreasonably long deadline period is for the better given all the insanity that is the holiday season and even just life itself. And I've always extended the deadline at the last second, so I'm going to do that prematurely this year and pull a repeat of last year's deadline. So maps will be due on 11:59 EST on Sunday, February 20th. That's a very long period of time but I do not want people feeling crunched for time or anything, and I'd rather sacrifice some time on getting the maps out if it means less stress for the mappers overall.
As for the maps itself, let's go over a few ground rules, though it's pretty much the same as always so I'll happily copy/paste most of it.
-Each mapper must use both map pieces given to them in their map. The piece must be in the playable space of the map and not off in the background or something. However, the mapper is able to make plenty of changes to the pieces if they so desire. Common ways map pieces are changed include...
-Changing the height of parts.
-Changing jump stairs to walk stairs, the other way around, changing it to a ladder or a fan, changing a slope to not a slope or the other way around, etc. etc.
-Adding little things to fill up blank space.
-Changing curved walls to normal angles (or the other way around).
-Flattening out uneven terrain.
-Any textures, aesthetics, or anything like that in the piece.
There are certainly more options than just these, but these are the common ones I've seen in the past. The general rule of thumb is I should still be able to recognize the map piece when everything is said and done. If you have any question about editing a piece because you're unsure, just ask me and I'll let you know if it's legal or not.
-You're allowed to use custom assets to your heart's content. As long as it's still 8-bit in nature, though I'm sure that goes without saying. But you're not obliged to stick with what's in the core game, though you can if you want!
-Likewise, the song in your map must be 8-bit in nature. If it's not, I have full authority to change the song. Likewise, try not to use a song that's already in the core game, I will also change it in that case. Do not worry about adding boss themes because they will be replaced when the pack is released. And while you don't need to worry about adding a map card, I will need the song information so I can do it myself at the very least.
-Some general mapping courtesies. Include at least 32 spawns, 16 Light Team Spawns, 16 Wily Team Spawns, 8 Cossack Team Spawns, and 8 King Spawns (if there's a big problem I can add the team spawns myself). Make sure to keep the lighting at an even 255 unless there's a really good reason for it to be something else (AKA don't make the whole map the default 192). Also make sure you lighting isn't 256, that's a common error that leads to lighting problems. If you have any sorta instant death such as pits, lava, etc. make sure to block the edges of the platforms with block monster lines.
-Remember that this is NOT a competition, nor is it a race to the finish line. Feel free to get input from other people if you're unsure about something, and don't be afraid to ask questions if you have any! If you're new to mapping or unsure on something, I would definitely recommend not waiting until the last second to make your map so there's time to get feedback/make potential changes if that needs to happen.
-While it's incredibly unlikely to happen, I hold full authority to reject a map for a failure to abide by the main rules or for any other very unlikely reason that might pop up. As such I hold authority to make slight edits to a map myself if for some reason the situation calls for it. Don't worry about this one too much, it's more of the "just in case" rule.
And without further ado, the part everyone has been waiting for (or stressing if they already have ideas!) The map piece assignments! Names are in alphabetical order below.
If anyone wishes to be credited as something else by the way, just let me know.
Caprice
Map Pieces- Yoshiatom / Serperior
Christmas Cultist
Map Pieces- Pegg / Stardust
CutmanMike
Map Pieces- Russel / Lord Damager
Extus
Map Pieces- Thunderono / Yair
Freeman
Map Pieces- Caprice / Pegg
FTX
Map Pieces- Xhatahx / Thunderono
Galactan
Map Pieces- Rozark / Scott
Great Glass
Map Pieces- Zaku / OrangeMario
Gumballtoid
Map Pieces- Watzup / Whitebrs
Hallan
Map Pieces- OrangeMario / LlamaHombre
Korby
Map Pieces- Stardust / Watzup
LlamaHombre
Map Pieces- Christmas Cultist / Rozark
Lord Damager
Map Pieces- Gumballtoid / Korby
Mendez
Map Pieces- Reemu / Extus
OrangeMario
Map Pieces- Scott / Russel
Pegg
Map Pieces- CutmanMike / VID The Mapper
Reemu
Map Pieces- Korby / Great Glass
Rozark
Map Pieces- Galactan / Freeman
Russel
Map Pieces- Yair / Hallan
Scott
Map Pieces- VID The Mapper / Yoshiatom
Serperior
Map Pieces- VGStar / Reemu
Stardust
Map Pieces- Mendez / Christmas Cultist
Thunderono
Map Pieces- Freeman / Caprice
VGStar
Map Pieces- Hallan / Galactan
VID The Mapper
Map Pieces- Great Glass / Zaku
Watzup
Map Pieces- LlamaHombre / Mendez
Whitebrs
Map Pieces- Lord Damager / Xhatahx
Xhatahx
Map Pieces- Extus / Gumballtoid
Yair
Map Pieces- FTX / VGStar
Yoshiatom
Map Pieces- Serperior / CutmanMike
Zaku
Map Pieces- Whitebrs / FTX
Anyhow, here's the dropbox link with all the pieces!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jes984t3qidav8j/AABDolETV9HY25r8SN2FqiFta?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jes984t3qidav8j/AABDolETV9HY25r8SN2FqiFta?dl=0)
If you have any questions whatsoever, just give me an ask! And lastly, the most important rule of jam: have fun!
We have made it. It's time for jam baybeeeeeeee
As I said at the start of this topic, Jam has been split into two files in order not to have one insanely huge file. So first of all, let's have...
Jampack-v5b
https://allfearthesentinel.net/zandronum/download.php?file=8bdm_jampack-v5b.pk3 (https://allfearthesentinel.net/zandronum/download.php?file=8bdm_jampack-v5b.pk3)
This has all of the existing Jam maps up to this point, plus a brand new PBJ12 and EGG35 (the previous EGG35 has been pushed to EGG36 just cause it's a great finale map)
As for the new Jamomma content...
Jampacktwo-v1a
https://allfearthesentinel.net/zandronum/download.php?file=8bdm_jampacktwo-v1a.pk3 (https://allfearthesentinel.net/zandronum/download.php?file=8bdm_jampacktwo-v1a.pk3)
This contains all the brand new maps! So the map list is below!
MOM01- "Bloodsport" by Thunderono
MOM02- "La Bete a Test" by Stardust
MOM03- "Cloudtop Canyon" by Yair
MOM04- "Zephyr" by Xhatahx
MOM05- "Chromacode Crossroad" by Gumballtoid
MOM06- "Dark Society HQ" by SouperZaku
MOM07- "This Land is Mine" by LlamaHombre
MOM08- "Gutsman's illegal mining operation at night, in cooperation with Concreteman, Bombman, and Toadman, and Stoneman and Hardman come to spy on it or something while Jewelman goes diamond hunting and gets his head stuck in the ceiling, but no one really cares and everyone just fights each other anyway." by LordDamager
MOM09- "The Trash Dump" by Yoshiatom
MOM10- "Reflections of a Promised Land" by Watzup7856
MOM11- "Quite the Predicament" by Korby
MOM12- "Neon Fite Nite" by Scott
MOM13- "Greentopia" by Christmas Cultist
MOM14- "Missile Man" by Serperior
MOM15- "Snakes In H-E-Double Hockey Sticks" by Pegg
MOM16- "Finish! Joe's Tower" by FTX6004
MOM17- "Cyberwar 20XX" by Whitebrs
MOM18- "Instinct Code: Behemoth" by Russel
MOM19- "Set and Execute" by VGStar
MOM20- "HSH and Heartbreak" by Mendez
MOM21- "Wily Castle G" by Great Glass
MOM22- "Project: Simulacrum" by Reemu
MOM23- "Daydream" by Caprice
MOM24- "Jamming Through History" by Dr. Freeman
MOM25- "Curse the Moon" by CutmanMike
We will see when things update depending on if any gamebreaking bugs are found (which I wouldn't be surprised if a few slipped through) and I know some people are still working on maps for Jamomma, so we might see more in the future.
Regardless, I hope you all enjoy! And thank you so much for participating!