Not a bad idea - if anyones seen the ‘cannon fodder’ short on the memories DVD, youll like the idea!
I think that a shorter deadline would be required though, cos theres only a certain amount of people who would be willing to model a fancy tube for 2 months…
that’s too complicated for the contests we have here. Normally only 25% of the entries are even finished to begin with, so imagine working on a team of 3 and one or two of the other people don’t do their part. I would be pretty pissed.
Also take note of the differences in time zones and work schedules. It would be a headache.
I like this idea - Personally, id love to do another character because i can really get stuck into it and i just enjoy making characters more. I could do with more variety in my portfolio, but whenever i try and model an environment or a prop, i just get ‘modelers block’
What about making a war machine / tank / gun platform with a huge cannon as a prominent feature?
Maybe make it retro, such as victorian, WWII, cold war etc rather than futuristic?
It can be wheeled, legged, tracked or just static.
Maybe you could make the pilot alongside it to show scale, but keep it part of the polycount?
It could be realistic (think metal gear) or cartoony (think metal slug)
I could really get stuck into this one…
Cmon sysop - crank out some ideas - it doesnt seem right having us decide for you… 
Neil, I forgot to say something about that O_o, that’s one great point you have, noted very true and I agree. I’ve worked with a lot of people on many projects half way around the planet and the time zones alone are a great hassle, and that takes us back to the effort vs people joining point…
Andy H, hehe lol, PAIN IN THE ARRSS! I WANT TO MAKE BIG GUN!! then I feel tingly, about character, we’re like a bunch of kids, we just can’t help our selves, 
can’t get enough of what we just love to do, as a forecast character will probably be the choice… 
or do I speak to soon?
stylized vehicles with pilots is my fav idea, I’d have to make some extra time and enter that comp if that idea gets picked.
I think a vehicle with a non mistakeable main gun would be an interesting topic(the main gun would have to be at least 1/3 of the vehicle’s size. The vehicle could be built around the gun, or the gun turned into a vehicle). This also allows people to not be limited to just a cannon.
As for having a pilot(character) in the challenge, we could have this be a 2 part challenge.
The first part would be modeling a vehicle, and the second part would be choosing someone else’s vehicle, and creating a concept of a pilot off of it. It wouldn’t be manditory to model both a vehicle and a pilot, and they would be judged as two individual catagories. This way those who spend the extra time and effort to do both has a better chance of winning. And those who dont have the time or interest to do both can only do one.
Anyways, just some thoughts I had when reading everyone’s response. Even if it seems like it would be too complicated to actually work, manure can be a really good firestarter.
Were there ever is a better question, and yes there were. Will they ever return? I hope so. But it doesn’t look that way. The unofficial challenges started when they canned the official ones, in favor of the sponsored challenges like the alienware and machineflesh challenges. Unfortunately for us, those challenges didn’t have a game art catagory, so we were left to our own devices, thus, the unofficial challenges were born. Eventually we got a sub forum, and that’s how you see it today.
Here’s a peek at the archives:
http://www.cgtalk.com/archive/index.php/f-107.html
but it doesn’t seem to keep the image links in the archive…
I believe you are half right Dargon. The Unofficial Challenge started because there was no Official Game Challenge. CGtalk had challenges for high poly, and 2D art. The Unofficial Challenges made it to #4 I think, before CGtalk added it to the Official challenge. There were two Official Game Art Challenges. I found it difficult to finish those entries, since the guidelines were not intended for game assets, and honestly, not great ideas. They did bring some great art work from some members.
Then the Alienware and MachineFlesh challenges, with no room for Game Artist. Since then, the Unofficial Challenge has once again been the place to compete and learn. Game Art is and interesting genre. You can have those who are just getting started and know little about the key points of game design. Then you have those who are professionals with skills in high poly and texturing who serve as masters to the novice, not to mention tough competition.
So how about we get this thing started soon, eh? Unique Armed Vehicles with Pilots is it?
My suggestion: Keep the guidelines loose so many people can participate.
when someone said about idea stylized veichle and main gun.
I first thinked on veichle painted by grafites.
It’s gonna be ql
cmooon - lets get this shidd on the road!
any idea what the decided comp is gonna be and when its gonna start?
After my break from it, im gettin that modeling twitch again…
Yeah dont add a pilot in with the vehicle, if so make it not count in polys or be needed, just extra for scale, cause i couldt do both let alone one 
I may try this though if it sounds cool, maybee ill learn to texture one day 
trys to find friend to train as texture bitch
I’d suggest some sort of “if you can see him”, or “what you can see of him” for the pilot, rather than model the whole thing if you can’t see him. Otherwise it would be cool to make a demand of the design that the pilot be exposed, which would force some pretty cool designs.
Of course, I have a weakness for chunky technology that doesn’t make too much sense, but looks cool.
*by him, I of course mean him or her, or other.
okay - can we get an official notice so we can start? I need to get all these ideas in my head down before i learn something new and they get forgotten
When im inspired and brimming with entheausiasm - it only lasts a short while…
As ElysiumGX said we should keep loose guides, I think the pilot should be an option… we don’t want to over whelm anyone, for a bigger turnout…
me for sure I’m going to really get into this one, hell just to do the pilot and the vehicle as a really big altra cool accessory. :twisted:
So ah, lets get this on the road? plz
yeah for the cannon thing yeah I am all into that Just get it going and ill have some concept drawings up!
No pressure at all lol