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Control Freaks

Submitted by Acer on

I was recently watching the gaming tv show, control freaks today and there was a competition to design a car in maya learning edition. If you win the competition you get your car published in the upcoming EA game, Need For Speed Underground. There was a link to a website which does not work, I just wanted to confirm the website from someone who saw it and make shure i have the correct website. the urrl was www.brainvision.com/controlfreaks The www.brainvision link checks out but it is a site on brain imaging things, not remotely related to a tv show.

I would appreciate any help or info on this competition as i would love to enter it

Acer[?]

Submitted by Smoke Jaguar on Mon, 28/07/03 - 8:41 AMPermalink

Thanks
I caught the program as well but missed the link [:(]

Submitted by souri on Tue, 29/07/03 - 12:42 AMPermalink

This competition is going to be a judge's nightmare. There are hundreds of freely available car models out there, not to mention tools to rip and convert models from existing car games.. who's going to tell which model originally came from elsewhere?

Submitted by Red 5 on Tue, 29/07/03 - 12:44 AMPermalink

The info at the site doesn't say whether the model is to be based on a real life car or something designed from scratch. The only reason I'm bringing this up is because some people might design their own concept car while others will base their's on actual cars and then run the chance of not having it included in the game if EA can't licence that particular model... that is if they're planning on using the winner's model in the game.

Submitted by souri on Tue, 29/07/03 - 1:02 AMPermalink

I guess any competition is open to cheating considering what is freely available if you look around. They should probably have made it less open, I reckon. Perhaps require a N4S texture work.. Just leaving "Tuner car" as the requirement seems pretty open. Anyway, enough of my rambling then! [:)]

Submitted by Acer on Tue, 29/07/03 - 9:32 AMPermalink

Thanks for the link. I hope that it is open for all cars, real or not. The description of tuner is way too broad and it should be more defined. I hope there are no cheaters out there, as i would be working hard to get an original entry in, good luck 2 ne else that enters. [:)]

Submitted by Major Clod on Tue, 29/07/03 - 9:47 AMPermalink

I've emailed control freaks about the competition, asking them whether the car should be original or an existing one, and what they are looking for in regards to polycount. It says in the conditions that the entry does not have to be textured, so I'm guessing that EA won't actually be using your model, but perhaps building one similar that will work with the game.

I'll let you know what they've said when I get a reply.

From the screenshots on the NFS website, it seems all the cars are rice burners. Skylines, Celicas, Supras etc... I think the best bet would be to show them some Aussie V8 muscle.

Submitted by rezn0r on Tue, 29/07/03 - 9:57 AMPermalink

Make them mention sumea too. [:D]

Scott.

Submitted by Acer on Tue, 29/07/03 - 10:02 AMPermalink

Definately have to put a good aussie V8 muscle car in it. Im thinking a 1937 HQ monaro or a 351 gto phase 3! [:)][:)]I hope they use the original meshes we create, y would they have us make it with maya, not lightwave or max?????

Submitted by Malus on Tue, 29/07/03 - 8:13 PMPermalink

Acer: Probably because you win a version of Maya, or maybe its a psuedo recruiting drive for maya artists?

Submitted by Red 5 on Tue, 29/07/03 - 8:57 PMPermalink

I think they want people to learn Maya, therefore expanding their future userbase.

Submitted by Daemin on Tue, 29/07/03 - 9:59 PMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by Red 5

I think they want people to learn Maya, therefore expanding their future userbase.

All free or personal edition products are for that specific purpose only! Those are just other keywords for a "demo", and they hope that when you use a product enough you will buy the full version when you get a job.

Submitted by Major Clod on Wed, 30/07/03 - 8:39 AMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by Acer

Definately have to put a good aussie V8 muscle car in it. Im thinking a 1937 HQ monaro or a 351 gto phase 3! [:)][:)]I hope they use the original meshes we create, y would they have us make it with maya, not lightwave or max?????

Hehe, I think u mean 1973 Monaro not 1937. The Phase 3 would be nice, ooh yeah. Just wondering exactly what type of cars they'd want, it seems most of them are current model stuff :/

Submitted by Acer on Thu, 31/07/03 - 10:46 AMPermalink

Yeh sorry, 73 Monaro not 37, lol. It would be good to know what kind of cars and roughly what number of polys they expect. Did u get a reply from ur email u sent them? Oh if its a new car they want im thinking a Mustang Svt Cobra R or a new Ford FPV GT.

Acer

Submitted by Major Clod on Thu, 31/07/03 - 12:18 PMPermalink

No reply as yet... its a bit hard to plan for the thing without those details. Seems you'll be leaning for the Fords, so I might check out a new GTS Monaro or VX GTS Commodore. :)

Submitted by Acer on Fri, 01/08/03 - 8:04 AMPermalink

Yeh i am leaning towards the Fords. But it's hard to find some good blueprints or good referance pics. Can Anyone Help me with that. If you come across any good pics of australian cars, useful for a blueprint please post.

Thanks

Submitted by Major Clod on Fri, 01/08/03 - 9:15 AMPermalink

The Ford Australia site has some of those quicktime things where you can look at the car from different angles, that might help. Otherwise you might have to scoot on down to your ford dealership and take some photos :/ The Holden website have the proper 3D models, except I can't find any way of converting them to a usable mesh to base references off. The best I can get are prespective shots of the side, which are handy but its still not as good as proper orthographic views.

My mate owns a VT SS, so that could come in handy! :)

Submitted by Major Clod on Fri, 01/08/03 - 9:35 AMPermalink

Got a reply from Control Freaks:

Hi Ryan,

There is no poloygon limit to the car you design as it won't actually be used for a game.
A "tuner car" is just basically a modified hoted up street car.
The model has to be entirely your own work.

Good luck,

Team @ Control Freaks

When they say entirely your own work, I'm 90% sure they mean a car not based on an existing one, as my question was: "Can the car be modelled on an existing car just 'hotted up', or does the car have to be an entirely new creation?"

Actually I'm liking that even better, its always fun making new cars.

It is a pity that your design won't be used in the game in any way.

Submitted by Acer on Fri, 01/08/03 - 11:52 AMPermalink

I thought our model will be included in the game [V]. The ford site was a big help, it took me a while to find the 360 view. I got good Front Back Side shots.

""A "tuner car" is just basically a modified hoted up street car.
The model has to be entirely your own work.""

The way i interperet this is that the tuner car is an allready manafactured street car, just hotted up. And that the maya model and texturing must be our own.

Im not shure if this is correct but it is just how i guess it is. I will also send an email to confirm this, and to see what aspects of the model they are judging, eg Creativity, Model design, Visual Stunningness ect...
It would be good to know before we start!

Acer

Submitted by Red 5 on Fri, 01/08/03 - 6:46 PMPermalink

Looks to me like there's a bit of misunderstanding from your query Major Clod, anyway I personally think the safest bet would be model a real life car...something they can relate to.
I also think (apart from supplying a nicely modeled car) a cool paint job would score some major points in this comp :)

Submitted by Happy Camper on Wed, 06/08/03 - 4:25 AMPermalink

I think they wanted 2 fast 2 furious style cars, they gave an example of a supra that look like the supra from the second movie, plus they also gave a link to the car designer/Adviser of 2 fast 2 furious. so it looks to be bodykits, intercoolers and 19s for everybody. They didn't say any thing about using real life cars or concepts though so i'll probably try both.

As for the Blueprints i use http://smcars.nd4spdworld.com/forum/index.php. They don't have many aussie cars (haven't really looked) and i think you have to be a member to get access but its still good.
I have seen an Ford Falcon Au V8 and a HK Holden Manaro, there is no category for holden so you have to go to Miscellaneous.

Submitted by Blitz on Sun, 31/08/03 - 11:54 PMPermalink

Just a FYI,
Seems they're finally showing control freaks in canberra now.
Sundays at 3pm on Prime.
CYer, Blitz

Submitted by souri on Mon, 01/09/03 - 12:19 AMPermalink

Someone mentioned that they had Sumea on Control Freaks on today... didn't get to watch it myself though, but you Canberrans might still be able to catch it...

Submitted by Daemin on Mon, 01/09/03 - 12:26 AMPermalink

Yeah, they plugged Sumea as the site to go to if you want to get into game development in Australia and New Zealand.

it was pretty cool, the site was up on the TV screen for about a minute or thereabouts.

Submitted by inglis on Mon, 01/09/03 - 12:53 AMPermalink

hmm maybe next week they can plug some of the people on sumea.... :)

Submitted by Jacana on Mon, 01/09/03 - 1:23 AMPermalink

They showed one of JI_Styles models. Grey Edwards from FF.
Also at the start there was a concept sketch and I think it was one either Malus or Inglis did... Sorry I didnt pay that close attention!

Submitted by inglis on Mon, 01/09/03 - 1:38 AMPermalink

must have been deans.
i dont have any art up on the site. [:)]

Submitted by Jacana on Mon, 01/09/03 - 1:55 AMPermalink

Fair enough :)

Guess it would be Malus then.

Posted by Acer on

I was recently watching the gaming tv show, control freaks today and there was a competition to design a car in maya learning edition. If you win the competition you get your car published in the upcoming EA game, Need For Speed Underground. There was a link to a website which does not work, I just wanted to confirm the website from someone who saw it and make shure i have the correct website. the urrl was www.brainvision.com/controlfreaks The www.brainvision link checks out but it is a site on brain imaging things, not remotely related to a tv show.

I would appreciate any help or info on this competition as i would love to enter it

Acer[?]


Submitted by Smoke Jaguar on Mon, 28/07/03 - 8:41 AMPermalink

Thanks
I caught the program as well but missed the link [:(]

Submitted by souri on Tue, 29/07/03 - 12:42 AMPermalink

This competition is going to be a judge's nightmare. There are hundreds of freely available car models out there, not to mention tools to rip and convert models from existing car games.. who's going to tell which model originally came from elsewhere?

Submitted by Red 5 on Tue, 29/07/03 - 12:44 AMPermalink

The info at the site doesn't say whether the model is to be based on a real life car or something designed from scratch. The only reason I'm bringing this up is because some people might design their own concept car while others will base their's on actual cars and then run the chance of not having it included in the game if EA can't licence that particular model... that is if they're planning on using the winner's model in the game.

Submitted by souri on Tue, 29/07/03 - 1:02 AMPermalink

I guess any competition is open to cheating considering what is freely available if you look around. They should probably have made it less open, I reckon. Perhaps require a N4S texture work.. Just leaving "Tuner car" as the requirement seems pretty open. Anyway, enough of my rambling then! [:)]

Submitted by Acer on Tue, 29/07/03 - 9:32 AMPermalink

Thanks for the link. I hope that it is open for all cars, real or not. The description of tuner is way too broad and it should be more defined. I hope there are no cheaters out there, as i would be working hard to get an original entry in, good luck 2 ne else that enters. [:)]

Submitted by Major Clod on Tue, 29/07/03 - 9:47 AMPermalink

I've emailed control freaks about the competition, asking them whether the car should be original or an existing one, and what they are looking for in regards to polycount. It says in the conditions that the entry does not have to be textured, so I'm guessing that EA won't actually be using your model, but perhaps building one similar that will work with the game.

I'll let you know what they've said when I get a reply.

From the screenshots on the NFS website, it seems all the cars are rice burners. Skylines, Celicas, Supras etc... I think the best bet would be to show them some Aussie V8 muscle.

Submitted by rezn0r on Tue, 29/07/03 - 9:57 AMPermalink

Make them mention sumea too. [:D]

Scott.

Submitted by Acer on Tue, 29/07/03 - 10:02 AMPermalink

Definately have to put a good aussie V8 muscle car in it. Im thinking a 1937 HQ monaro or a 351 gto phase 3! [:)][:)]I hope they use the original meshes we create, y would they have us make it with maya, not lightwave or max?????

Submitted by Malus on Tue, 29/07/03 - 8:13 PMPermalink

Acer: Probably because you win a version of Maya, or maybe its a psuedo recruiting drive for maya artists?

Submitted by Red 5 on Tue, 29/07/03 - 8:57 PMPermalink

I think they want people to learn Maya, therefore expanding their future userbase.

Submitted by Daemin on Tue, 29/07/03 - 9:59 PMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by Red 5

I think they want people to learn Maya, therefore expanding their future userbase.

All free or personal edition products are for that specific purpose only! Those are just other keywords for a "demo", and they hope that when you use a product enough you will buy the full version when you get a job.

Submitted by Major Clod on Wed, 30/07/03 - 8:39 AMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by Acer

Definately have to put a good aussie V8 muscle car in it. Im thinking a 1937 HQ monaro or a 351 gto phase 3! [:)][:)]I hope they use the original meshes we create, y would they have us make it with maya, not lightwave or max?????

Hehe, I think u mean 1973 Monaro not 1937. The Phase 3 would be nice, ooh yeah. Just wondering exactly what type of cars they'd want, it seems most of them are current model stuff :/

Submitted by Acer on Thu, 31/07/03 - 10:46 AMPermalink

Yeh sorry, 73 Monaro not 37, lol. It would be good to know what kind of cars and roughly what number of polys they expect. Did u get a reply from ur email u sent them? Oh if its a new car they want im thinking a Mustang Svt Cobra R or a new Ford FPV GT.

Acer

Submitted by Major Clod on Thu, 31/07/03 - 12:18 PMPermalink

No reply as yet... its a bit hard to plan for the thing without those details. Seems you'll be leaning for the Fords, so I might check out a new GTS Monaro or VX GTS Commodore. :)

Submitted by Acer on Fri, 01/08/03 - 8:04 AMPermalink

Yeh i am leaning towards the Fords. But it's hard to find some good blueprints or good referance pics. Can Anyone Help me with that. If you come across any good pics of australian cars, useful for a blueprint please post.

Thanks

Submitted by Major Clod on Fri, 01/08/03 - 9:15 AMPermalink

The Ford Australia site has some of those quicktime things where you can look at the car from different angles, that might help. Otherwise you might have to scoot on down to your ford dealership and take some photos :/ The Holden website have the proper 3D models, except I can't find any way of converting them to a usable mesh to base references off. The best I can get are prespective shots of the side, which are handy but its still not as good as proper orthographic views.

My mate owns a VT SS, so that could come in handy! :)

Submitted by Major Clod on Fri, 01/08/03 - 9:35 AMPermalink

Got a reply from Control Freaks:

Hi Ryan,

There is no poloygon limit to the car you design as it won't actually be used for a game.
A "tuner car" is just basically a modified hoted up street car.
The model has to be entirely your own work.

Good luck,

Team @ Control Freaks

When they say entirely your own work, I'm 90% sure they mean a car not based on an existing one, as my question was: "Can the car be modelled on an existing car just 'hotted up', or does the car have to be an entirely new creation?"

Actually I'm liking that even better, its always fun making new cars.

It is a pity that your design won't be used in the game in any way.

Submitted by Acer on Fri, 01/08/03 - 11:52 AMPermalink

I thought our model will be included in the game [V]. The ford site was a big help, it took me a while to find the 360 view. I got good Front Back Side shots.

""A "tuner car" is just basically a modified hoted up street car.
The model has to be entirely your own work.""

The way i interperet this is that the tuner car is an allready manafactured street car, just hotted up. And that the maya model and texturing must be our own.

Im not shure if this is correct but it is just how i guess it is. I will also send an email to confirm this, and to see what aspects of the model they are judging, eg Creativity, Model design, Visual Stunningness ect...
It would be good to know before we start!

Acer

Submitted by Red 5 on Fri, 01/08/03 - 6:46 PMPermalink

Looks to me like there's a bit of misunderstanding from your query Major Clod, anyway I personally think the safest bet would be model a real life car...something they can relate to.
I also think (apart from supplying a nicely modeled car) a cool paint job would score some major points in this comp :)

Submitted by Happy Camper on Wed, 06/08/03 - 4:25 AMPermalink

I think they wanted 2 fast 2 furious style cars, they gave an example of a supra that look like the supra from the second movie, plus they also gave a link to the car designer/Adviser of 2 fast 2 furious. so it looks to be bodykits, intercoolers and 19s for everybody. They didn't say any thing about using real life cars or concepts though so i'll probably try both.

As for the Blueprints i use http://smcars.nd4spdworld.com/forum/index.php. They don't have many aussie cars (haven't really looked) and i think you have to be a member to get access but its still good.
I have seen an Ford Falcon Au V8 and a HK Holden Manaro, there is no category for holden so you have to go to Miscellaneous.

Submitted by Blitz on Sun, 31/08/03 - 11:54 PMPermalink

Just a FYI,
Seems they're finally showing control freaks in canberra now.
Sundays at 3pm on Prime.
CYer, Blitz

Submitted by souri on Mon, 01/09/03 - 12:19 AMPermalink

Someone mentioned that they had Sumea on Control Freaks on today... didn't get to watch it myself though, but you Canberrans might still be able to catch it...

Submitted by Daemin on Mon, 01/09/03 - 12:26 AMPermalink

Yeah, they plugged Sumea as the site to go to if you want to get into game development in Australia and New Zealand.

it was pretty cool, the site was up on the TV screen for about a minute or thereabouts.

Submitted by inglis on Mon, 01/09/03 - 12:53 AMPermalink

hmm maybe next week they can plug some of the people on sumea.... :)

Submitted by Jacana on Mon, 01/09/03 - 1:23 AMPermalink

They showed one of JI_Styles models. Grey Edwards from FF.
Also at the start there was a concept sketch and I think it was one either Malus or Inglis did... Sorry I didnt pay that close attention!

Submitted by inglis on Mon, 01/09/03 - 1:38 AMPermalink

must have been deans.
i dont have any art up on the site. [:)]

Submitted by Jacana on Mon, 01/09/03 - 1:55 AMPermalink

Fair enough :)

Guess it would be Malus then.