See this is why I think it is useless having the rule that you must start a fresh map - it is difficult to police.
You could try and get everyone on some sort of livestream... but someone would then have to review all the streams too.
Surprise theme! Yeh well that doesn't work too well you can easily change an existing map to suit most themes. Also themes are restrictive don't have them.

I mean really all you can do is have an honour system. Or just don't bother with the rule at all who cares if they started early power to them - hopefully their map will be more fun to play as a result.

This is, at the most basic level, a competition. There's no point in competing if the contest is unfair; if someone's invested years into an amazing map that just needs another week to complete, how do you think your made-in-all-your-free-time-for-one-week map is going to compare? It's demoralizing and demotivating to allow competitors to start at different times and have the same deadline.

Though I'd say most of the members here would follow the honor system, and we shouldn't stress over it.

All I'm saying is there is very little difference between a rule that cannot be enforced and no rule at all.

But the point is to see what you can create in a week, not what you can complete in a week. Every contest we've held has had that rule. There's no point in getting rid of it.

I think you're being a bit dramatic. I pretty much trust everyone capable of competing to compete fairly. Besides, the time crunch is half the fun.

Surprise theme also sounds fun. I wouldn't mind it at all.

As long as the surprise theme is porn, I'm okay.

Part of the reason for a theme is to prevent people from using already made maps. It provides a bit of a deterrent.

And adding a theme to a contest on an already near-death game would lower the amount of people willing to participate, because not everyone likes to make certain maps.
One person might want to have the theme set as RPGs, or mini-games, how is that any different than having no set theme? The only thing I can see is judging criteria, which isn't that big of a deal. The only argument to HAVE set themes was to deter cheating, but with or without a theme, there will always be a way to cheat.

Not trying to break your balls here, but can we get the ball rolling? i.e. discussing dates and anything else.

Themes and genres are different things.

Screw me. I was referring to "genres". As far as themes go.. I'm going to agree with oh_man. Even if you decide on having a theme, I'd probably just change the unit names to match it. Which doesn't really add to the map.

What kind of theme did you have in mind?

KAIAS IS OUT OF SPACE AND CAN NOT RECEIVE NEW PMS

Perhaps do something about this, sir.

There's a difference between giving your units porn actor names and, well, you know...

It's not a matter of strictly trying to prevent intentional cheaters; anyone serious about the contest is going to think about their map before it starts. If the 1-Week restriction means anything it should ideally make people create a new map, even conceptually, which the specific theme would intend to enforce, similar to what was done in this contest; besides, it gives people direction.

Example themes could be making everything related to air combat, microscopic phenomena (cells, viruses, etc), intergalactic travel, etc.
Or it could be something technical like restricting it to a 20x10 area, using only X locations, etc., but that would be questionable in terms of restricting mapping skill.

Whatever it is, the person deciding it should make it something reasonable, and memorable.

Fuck themes, seriously.

Is it safe to assume the contest will start sometime this year? Or will you try to get everyone's opinion on what they want to see and try to make them all happy? Would be nice to pick up the pace.

- No mods, no EUD Actions enabler GOOD
- (Normal) EUDs allowed GOOD
- Maps must start from scratch AWESOME
- No teams -don't care-

- (And maybe) Everyone has to livestream themselves when they map (no audio required)
GOOD but, ouch! i'll need to make up some space to record everything.

I'll enter something this time (2011 rpg was too big to finish so I failed).

This has always seemed like a silly rule to me; what would make more sense in my opinion is to allow them only for single-player maps.

What do you mean normal EUDs?