I'd enter as well.

Did I win yet? I'm pretty sure I get a bonus for the quickest submission.

So, we gonna get this started, then? I'm in...but don't expect things to move around my map too much...geez...I gotta learn pathfinding! Ugh.

Yeah, if I can't figure it out (which I really should anyway)...I'll have to come up with some crazy new way to use a raycasting engine. Who knows...
We'll see what happens!

Well, a second attempt at this post because apparently allegro.cc didn't warrant my first suitable for posting or myself suitable for remaining logged on over the time it took me to write it. Draw your own conclusions!

Competition will run. It will mostly be organised through these forums. It will begin as soon as an art pack is complete along with example scaling routines. I will take emails by private message if anybody wants direct notification when the thing starts.

Teams are allowed, but code must be overwhelmingly produced by a team member. Definition of ray casting settled upon is:

"the overwhelming portion of the display is calculated conclusively and in predictable and sequential fashion by uniform rays cast into the displayed world"

There is a further requirement in the competition that entries include the specified plot elements or devices. Advance warning is given that an indoor setting will be necessary to fulfil this requirement (although outdoor segments may optionally be included at the discretion of the entrant).

If I feel that an entry doesn't meet the criteria then I will indicate as much when it goes for juding by the other entrants. They are invited to award zero points to the entry if they agree.

I will now proceed to edit this post and highlight the intended meaning of all parts of my ray casting definition.

EDIT1: "the overwhelming portion of the display"
This means the section of the screen in which the user is particularly interested, taken as an overview of the entry as a whole.

So, for something like Wolfenstein the walls are the overwhelming portion of the display as they are the things around which players navigate. That a display can be found which is overwhelmingly filled by the floor and ceiling doesn't matter, and neither is it significant that a view could occur where no walls were visible due to an abundance of enemies and potted plants.

EDIT2: "is calculated conclusively"
i.e. the portion of the ray casted section of the display for which ray casting occurred is determined entirely by that casting. So that's that cleared up then!

What this really means is that the casting has to determine not just how a particular wall would look in a particular portion but whether it is actually visible there or not. A conclusive answer as to the occupancy of a portion of the display must be reached by casting alone.

EDIT3: "in predictable and sequential fashion"
Rays cast must be a function of the portion of the display that needs to be filled and must not be done with a preknowledge of the geometry that will be struck where any options arise.

This is not to be taken as outlawing Mode 7 style floors in Wolfenstein style engines, or anything analogous to them.

EDIT4: "by uniform rays"
The shape of the rays must be uniform, length excluded. Their quantity, direction, etc, need not be.

This clause prevents pedantic argument about true polygon portal renderers and the meaning of a "ray".

EDIT5: "cast into the displayed world"
Again, one to catch any pedants who might turn up. Probably doesn't mean anything that isn't in the other clauses.

Okay. In that case some other limitation may be necessary or we'll potentially be arguing about voxel heightfields and having people enter Commanche style games. I guess that'd be the smarter move though - for example, constraining plot would act to restrain art in what is meant to be a competition deliminated by technology in use.

Would a restriction that entries have to be at least partly set indoors be acceptable?

Fine by me I guess.

Does indoors mean that there has to be walls, floor and celing? Does isomoetric-like things work too?

I'll join, I have no idea how to write it though... It will be fun. Is it ok to have help on the forum?

Oh, yeah, definitely. That makes, by my approximate count, 9 entrants (including myself).

Oh, I know. I'm just trying to think of something that is sufficiently closed for Wolfenstein/Duke 3d style to be the main thrust of entrants. Perhaps I should just leave it with what I already have?

And me.

Though I don't know exactly what am I going to do. I have some ideas but they need some thoroug investigations. All I hope is that there is enough time, at least until August or September because I have exams until half of June.

I think we need a website. Does anybody have some space kicking around? My HTML is terrible, but I could do the honours if someone chucks me a username and password. Otherwise I suppose I could create it as a Yahoo! Group or something...

EDIT: I could PM Matt and beg for Allegro.cc hosting, but until we have enough art for the competition to formally begin it feels a little premature.

EDIT2: Pixelate wiki maybe?

I have to admit that I know nothing about switches whatsoever. But I'll jump at the offer if you figure it out!