Two Part Challenge

Round 1: Submit a template (8/24 – 9/7)
Create a template creature based on the bio below. Your template entry should be in the form of a published creature tagged mcrakthatemplate. Paint your template white!

Templates will be judged on creativity, adherence to the bio, simplicity, and how well they animate.

Round 2: Submit a finished creature (Dates TBA)
We’ll give you more details on this later when round 2 begins. Players will submit creations based on the winning template from round 1.

Raktha

Bio: Rakthae are the children of two epochs of mutation on Cryos: the Crogenitor era, and the Darkspore era. Originally, they survived Cryos’s descent into an ice age, the Rakthae evolved into double-extremophiles. They flourished when the Crogenitors ripped Cryos with rivers and oceans of plasma, gaining the ability to metabolize plasma itself (especially advantageous with the planet’s dwindling food supply).

But when the Darkspore invaded Cryos, they bent the beautiful creatures to their own will. Protected by halos of flame, the Rakthae inflict flaming devastation on any who attack them bodily, and aim fiery vengeance at any target. Whether defensive or offensive, Raktha flames are difficult to extinguish and can quickly turn terrible wounds into terrifying death.

What will the challenge winner(s) get?
The winner of round 1 will be featured. Winners of round 2 will be featured and may be included as NPC designs in Darkspore! Credit will go to both the template and final creature artists for any creations that go into Darkspore.

Challenge Rules:
• To submit a template, tag it with: mcrakthatemplate
• You can submit as many templates as you’d like
• All submissions must be in by 11:00am PDT September 07, 2010
• Optional: Post screenshots or YouTube movies of your creation on the forum

Winning Criteria
• No parent author in the lineage other than yourself
• No offensive/copyright protected references in entry or parent creation
• No links/references to other sites in submission tags/name/description
• No cheats allowed
• No using the invisible limbs bug
• Asymmetry is allowed, but don’t pose your creature. Entries should be in a default idle stance.

Challenge FAQ

Your questions answered here.

Q: How complex should I make the template?
A: We’ll be looking for simpler creations. Having a simpler template design will boost your entry’s chances of winning.

Q: Will all challenges follow this format in the future?
A: Probably not. We’re experimenting here, and we want to test out some of your brilliant ideas. We’ll see how we like it, we’ll see how you like it, and gauge how best to run challenges after we’ve done this trial run.

Q: Is C&C allowed?
A: Yes, however, if you use C&C and are a winner of round 1, we will publish a duplicate version of your template with alternative parts for non C&C players for round 2.

Is it possible to win with our own template?
A: Yes. If you create the winning template, then make one of the best entry creations based on it, it is possible!

Winning Entries & Darkspore

Earlier we announced that the secret purpose of the Maxis Template Challenges was to allow players to help us design some of the NPCs in Darkspore.

This is THE FIRST challenge since announcement, and I hope we get a huge tidal wave of entries now that you guys know the real reward at stake here.

No Template?

We’re still getting a feel for how best to run these challenges. The feedback you guys have been provided is helping shape the process here. We know you’ve been making unbelievably cool creations based on our templates, but this time we want to give you a chance to spread your wings and really come up with some cool designs on your own.

This is based on your feedback, so I’ve got to give credit to you for helping us redesign our challenge format. This is a trial run, so we’ll see how it goes. Let us know if you like the original template format better, or if you prefer this new style of challenge!

In the past, the templates are based on NPCs in Darkspore that have already been designed, with art and engineering behind them to make sure they work well in the game. We simply skin the current Darkspore NPCs with the models you provide us.

With the new format, we’ll be doing the art, effects, animations, etc. after we determine the winners. This means a team of Maxis folks will be at work making YOUR winning creations shine in the game.

I’m super confident that you guys are going to come up with some work that will blow them away and inspire them as they’re puppeteering your creations to life in the game. Make me proud!

-MC