I don't think I can provide an exact interpretation of what Fantasy is that will address every single game case and make developers feel 100% confident in their project. It was left open-ended for the reason of allowing both creators and us the freedom to consider many different games. I don't want to say something like, 'NO LASERS ALLOWED' when your game involves a rogue, a warrior, and a mage scouring ancient ruins and avoiding traps that fire 'beams of magic.'
Fantasy tends to be set in a world ruled by magic and devoid of 'high-end' technology. But to further push you in the right direction, when you think of Fantasy, think Lord of the Rings or the Warcraft universe. WoW obviously really pushes the boundaries of what is Fantasy since it has spaceships, teleporters, and other technology. But it's all set on the stage of old gods. ancient elementals, and magic that anchors it in the correct genre. You could even just go to a book store and look at every book in the Fantasy section. If your game looks anything like these things, you're on the right track.
I'm sure there are still more questions so feel free to respond here or email me directly for your specific concerns. [email protected].
Personally I think it'd be awesome to see a story mission where Raynor's Raiders wind up on a planet where there's a single sorcerer who has mind controlled all 3 factions and your mission is to destroy the bases and sorceror. That's only be one magical character, but would be cool particularly with a well written story.
I would argue you shouldn't include unlimited time though. Do we even know that the universe has unlimited time?
Anyways from contextual clues, such as the warcraft assets being released, I feel like it's obvious they want things like dragons, elves, lightning bolt pouches/etc rather than things like sci fi. While sci fi probably wouldn't be disqualified outright, it'd be less likely to make it to the top 10.
Couldn't one argue that fantasy and sci-fi is more or less the same thing? (Futurama is magic/fantasy in the future).
Exactly why I was asking so much about what fantasy meant to Blizzard. At the moment, it seems I can justify my map being fantasy, but not Warcraft fantasy. So I might do all right, but those who stuffed as many Warcraft assets in as possible will do more all right, aka whoever can spit out the best map using Warcraft assets the fastest. I refuse to pervert my current map purely for a contest's sake, so I know I will do poorly from the beginning. Frankly it is so frustrating I am almost ready to wash my hands of the whole contest already. I might enter only to get a few more plays on the map, nothing more.
sci-fi is always a what-if scenario. what if travel faster than light is possible then _ now everything that comes here is based on that assumption and known sciencific facts (most important law of conservation of energy and law of conservation of impulse). in fantasy there is no what-if, no rule set other than the one described in itself.
I'd imagine as long as least one recurring theme in the game is strictly fantasy, it'd be acceptable.
The conventional option is to use the War3 assets and so that the art is already going that fantasy direction, and the recurring themes in the game will likely follow naturally.
As long as the maker gets creative and makes a large part of the game 'fantastical' it'll be okay, regardless of whatever strict (they're not being strict) parameters they give us. For example, I'd imagine calling tribal Protoss group some random name like Woogles and giving them magical powers (something like fire/frost power) would be entirely acceptable. On the other hand, I'd imagine using War3 assets alone wouldn't be acceptable (i.e. a massing game that uses War3 models). It probably has to have that fantasy context as well.
It seems like people just want the definition to be as vague as possible so that they can submit whatever current/past projects they're working on.
Just in case I haven't made myself clear enough, and for Traysent's benefit and future contests, the idea of themed contests seems terrible because of that problem which restricts or filters creativity from the beginning.
But.. but I think that the idea of themed contests is great, the restraints allow you to flex your creative (what an overused word :<) muscles and exercise things you wouldn't usually try. Limits are like pieces of puzzle that one needs to take into consideration when making stuffs.
(Also.. I googled "restraints and creativity" and majority of links and articles were all about how restraints and rules usually benefit and and help develop creativity. Go figure, huh?)
Btw, I finally opened wc3 assets yesterday. Those square-heads and pyramid breasts. Feels like it's best to not zoom game too close >_>
Edit: Trieva, it's not a jab against you, I just feel that when someone makes a broad statement saying that something is bad because X, it would be also fair to notice that that there might be people with exact opposite perception of things.
I don't think I can provide an exact interpretation of what Fantasy is that will address every single game case and make developers feel 100% confident in their project. It was left open-ended for the reason of allowing both creators and us the freedom to consider many different games. I don't want to say something like, 'NO LASERS ALLOWED' when your game involves a rogue, a warrior, and a mage scouring ancient ruins and avoiding traps that fire 'beams of magic.'
Fantasy tends to be set in a world ruled by magic and devoid of 'high-end' technology. But to further push you in the right direction, when you think of Fantasy, think Lord of the Rings or the Warcraft universe. WoW obviously really pushes the boundaries of what is Fantasy since it has spaceships, teleporters, and other technology. But it's all set on the stage of old gods. ancient elementals, and magic that anchors it in the correct genre. You could even just go to a book store and look at every book in the Fantasy section. If your game looks anything like these things, you're on the right track.
I'm sure there are still more questions so feel free to respond here or email me directly for your specific concerns. [email protected]. /* */
I'll be emailing, but I think of the examples so far the project we've been working on is a pretty decent example of an edge case;
We have ancient gods, ancient relics, sword-using units, rampant use of magic, floating airships, sentient cartoon mascot, demons, ghosts, necromancy and illusions....however we also have Panzers, paratroops, shrink rays and Nukes. By virtually any definition of the genre 'fantasy' Geistkrieg easily falls into it...however the wording for this has us seriously confused as if it's 'fantasy enough.' It honestly feels as if we're on the verge of being punished for going for something relatively original.
Also, I should point out to people mentioning bookstore type fantasy as an example...Warcraft 3 and WoW also include; tanks, guns, airships and mechs as well. :b
I don't think I can provide an exact interpretation of what Fantasy is that will address every single game case and make developers feel 100% confident in their project. It was left open-ended for the reason of allowing both creators and us the freedom to consider many different games. I don't want to say something like, 'NO LASERS ALLOWED' when your game involves a rogue, a warrior, and a mage scouring ancient ruins and avoiding traps that fire 'beams of magic.'
Fantasy tends to be set in a world ruled by magic and devoid of 'high-end' technology. But to further push you in the right direction, when you think of Fantasy, think Lord of the Rings or the Warcraft universe. WoW obviously really pushes the boundaries of what is Fantasy since it has spaceships, teleporters, and other technology. But it's all set on the stage of old gods. ancient elementals, and magic that anchors it in the correct genre. You could even just go to a book store and look at every book in the Fantasy section. If your game looks anything like these things, you're on the right track.
I'm sure there are still more questions so feel free to respond here or email me directly for your specific concerns. [email protected].
So basically High Fantasy. How boring. Yet I doubt Blizzard would disqualify a map just because it isnt in their exact definition of fantasy.
Watch them :)
I personally hope they enforce the rules of this contest very strictly.
@Trieva: Go
From Google.
So yea.
Personally I think it'd be awesome to see a story mission where Raynor's Raiders wind up on a planet where there's a single sorcerer who has mind controlled all 3 factions and your mission is to destroy the bases and sorceror. That's only be one magical character, but would be cool particularly with a well written story.
@Trieva: Go
I would argue you shouldn't include unlimited time though. Do we even know that the universe has unlimited time?
Anyways from contextual clues, such as the warcraft assets being released, I feel like it's obvious they want things like dragons, elves, lightning bolt pouches/etc rather than things like sci fi. While sci fi probably wouldn't be disqualified outright, it'd be less likely to make it to the top 10.
Exactly why I was asking so much about what fantasy meant to Blizzard. At the moment, it seems I can justify my map being fantasy, but not Warcraft fantasy. So I might do all right, but those who stuffed as many Warcraft assets in as possible will do more all right, aka whoever can spit out the best map using Warcraft assets the fastest. I refuse to pervert my current map purely for a contest's sake, so I know I will do poorly from the beginning. Frankly it is so frustrating I am almost ready to wash my hands of the whole contest already. I might enter only to get a few more plays on the map, nothing more.
here comes another try, the one and only truth:
sci-fi is always a what-if scenario. what if travel faster than light is possible then _ now everything that comes here is based on that assumption and known sciencific facts (most important law of conservation of energy and law of conservation of impulse). in fantasy there is no what-if, no rule set other than the one described in itself.
@Trieva: Go
I'd imagine as long as least one recurring theme in the game is strictly fantasy, it'd be acceptable.
The conventional option is to use the War3 assets and so that the art is already going that fantasy direction, and the recurring themes in the game will likely follow naturally.
As long as the maker gets creative and makes a large part of the game 'fantastical' it'll be okay, regardless of whatever strict (they're not being strict) parameters they give us. For example, I'd imagine calling tribal Protoss group some random name like Woogles and giving them magical powers (something like fire/frost power) would be entirely acceptable. On the other hand, I'd imagine using War3 assets alone wouldn't be acceptable (i.e. a massing game that uses War3 models). It probably has to have that fantasy context as well.
It seems like people just want the definition to be as vague as possible so that they can submit whatever current/past projects they're working on.
But.. but I think that the idea of themed contests is great, the restraints allow you to flex your creative (what an overused word :<) muscles and exercise things you wouldn't usually try. Limits are like pieces of puzzle that one needs to take into consideration when making stuffs.
(Also.. I googled "restraints and creativity" and majority of links and articles were all about how restraints and rules usually benefit and and help develop creativity. Go figure, huh?)
Btw, I finally opened wc3 assets yesterday. Those square-heads and pyramid breasts. Feels like it's best to not zoom game too close >_>
Edit: Trieva, it's not a jab against you, I just feel that when someone makes a broad statement saying that something is bad because X, it would be also fair to notice that that there might be people with exact opposite perception of things.
I'll be emailing, but I think of the examples so far the project we've been working on is a pretty decent example of an edge case;
We have ancient gods, ancient relics, sword-using units, rampant use of magic, floating airships, sentient cartoon mascot, demons, ghosts, necromancy and illusions....however we also have Panzers, paratroops, shrink rays and Nukes. By virtually any definition of the genre 'fantasy' Geistkrieg easily falls into it...however the wording for this has us seriously confused as if it's 'fantasy enough.' It honestly feels as if we're on the verge of being punished for going for something relatively original.
Also, I should point out to people mentioning bookstore type fantasy as an example...Warcraft 3 and WoW also include; tanks, guns, airships and mechs as well. :b
Our site (granted, it doesn't show much of our fantastical elements yet in those screens); http://tankrush.com/geistkrieg/
We're close to a public release, and using a contest like this as an excuse to push a lot harder would be amazing.
Anyway, what do you guys think? Do we fit within their definition of fantasy?
@smurfbizkit: Go
From what you described in your post, you're fantasy. I could see it possibly leaning towards dark fantasy as in a dark story, but that's good too.
I sent out email responses to those who reached out in this thread.