wings3d: unofficial modelling challenge - your thoughts?

#1

As a trial I’m thinking of running a couple of wings3d specific unofficial modelling challenges and wanted a little feedback on a few issues. For a start is this something people would even want at all?

  • here’s some initial thoughts…

• timeline
From a purely practical point of view I imagine that I’ll start with a Friday lunchtime speed modelling session, probebely bi-weekly, going weekly if there’s a demand for it.

• subject matter
I’d personally like to see things more along the lines of a theme, rather than simple ‘hat’, ‘chair’ etc. More like a small scene with a couple of objects even. Do people like the idea of specific reference images for example or broader theme driven challenges in this respect?

• how the challange could be run
skimming through the official modelling challenges I see that it’s a good idea for people to post WIPs, participate in commenting other challengers work etc. But what do people think of the seperate threads thing? In some ways I like reading through one thread. Keeps it all neat and tidy ifyouknowwhatimean…? Anyone object to this idea?

• deliverables
The final images should I think be presentated both as a wings3d viewport wireframe and smoothed versions. But what about the option of adding a rendered version from any other package. This might detract from the ‘pure’ modelling aspect, but I can see people maybe wanting this option as well. For now I think textures should be optional.

• votes
does anyone have an idea how the votes could be run? I think CGtalk has a way to poll for example, anyone tried using it this way?

• prizes
I’m thinking the easiest thing here would be for the winner to have the chance to set the title for the next challenge.

• numbers
reply and let me know if your interested in this, with enough people keen I may even start it up this week.

• misc
thoughts / hints / tips welcome…

:slight_smile:

#2

I think this is a fantastic idea :thumbsup:

My only suggestion would be that rendered models be optional but limited to the program itself (i.e. OpenGL or Yafray). I think this would further the goal of showing what Wings itself can do. If that makes sense.

I’m all up for doing a nice weekly challenge. And I like the idea for the award being limited to being able to pick the next subject or theme. I myself am not sure how to do the voting but maybe just have a separate thread called “weekly challenge winners” or some such. But, in the long run everyone wins.

#3

If you want to keep the voting simple, maybe take another leaf out of how the challenges are decided at the wings renderosity forum … each person that votes can vote for 3 entries. 3 points for first choice, 2 for next, 1 for last etc. This is done in a dedicated ‘voting’ thread after shut off time. Add up all the points and the person with the most is the winner.

Can either have only entrants eligible to vote, or leave it open to any forum user … latter option offering a possibility of ‘skewed results’ via voting by mates, spouses, next doors cat etc.

For the number of entries you’re likely to get, you’ll not need a Cray to do the maths :slight_smile:

pp

#4

Hi…

My initial thoughts on this terrific idea…

  1. When creating the list of challenge models, keep in mind how these models could all end up completing bigger pictures… in other words, less random models, and more organization from the git go… categories… ie… housewares, techware, transportation, etc…

  2. Good idea to keep the threads as model threads, with everyone posting under the appropriate spot… easier to analize the different approaches, ideas etc, and to view for voting etc…

  3. Modeled in Wings … Rendered in ? … I think the rendering app should be artist choice… First off, this be a modeling challenge series, not rendering… so yea, optional… and open choice :slight_smile:

  4. Wire wip’s mandatory… the optional renders only with completed models

looking forward :slight_smile:

#5

Great - I’ll get this started later this week. I have a couple of ideas for the starting theme and will take onboard your comments. For the moment I’ll probebly keep it simple and keep it all going on one thread, with contributors adding their work as they go along. I’ll also add some leaway with the deadline taking international timezones into account.

I’ll post a reminder in a day or so, and the official starting thread sometime this Friday morning.

Looking forward to this one…

:slight_smile:

#6

nice going, I’ll set aside time fo this!

now, as for themes. in my humble opinion, people generally prefer to model either mechanic or organic subjects. so my wish would be that the theme should supply opportunities for both, such as to make it appeal to as broad a public as possible. if you lock it to either mechanical or organic you will likely limit the interested parties.

doing it this way does impose a greater challenge when it comes to picking themes though. but I can think of alot of broad themes that encompass both organic and non-organic subject matters.

for example, “remake your favourite video game character”, which would allow both
types of modeling and even combine them.

just a small suggestion.

#7

If doing things like game characters, you might want to have a poly count limit, as it wouldnt be fair for someone to have a 2000 poly game character vs a 10,000 poly cinematic character.

#8

I get your point, but this was just an example of a theme encompassing both organic and non-organic modeling, it wasn’t an actual theme proposition.

#9

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