25 replies to this topic

[Marc]

I agree with SYmek and Mark. The challenges should be presented in such a way that it seems like a fun thing to do for almost everyone passing through here. Obviously some people's solutions will be more technical than others, but everyone should be able to at least participate.

[Bilal]

Hi all,

I'm very new to this forum and houdini as well. The only 3D package I've ever worked with is Maya and my experience with effects and procedural stuff has been rather mediocre. Having been desperate to find challenging stuff to do, I decided to delve into houdini as well and I realized that I should have been on these forums ages ago. However, I'm quite excited to read this thread and I'm certainly looking to find new and interesting challenges in order to have something going on in my otherwise mediocre and monotonous career. Please stay alive and come up with something. I've read about the house of cards and I'm definitely gonna give it a try as soon as I manage to learn houdini just about enough to get going.

Cheers

[Marc]

Alright everyone. You've seen how the first challenge went and how it worked, now we're looking for ideas for the next one. All ideas are welcome .

[Netvudu]

Just to add some input for ideas, what about a shot like 00:18 at this video Magneto´s powers ...a car that suddenly levitates, dents itself and then is thrown away with the appropiate mayhem. With the plaethora of free car models around it could be easy to start doing stuff...or even better everybody use the same model for the challenge.
It´s not as generic as the card challenge, but it´s a well-known movie franchise which might make it more appealing to everybody.

And then maybe separate the apprentice award on the effect itself and the expert award on the effect+render goodness...

Dunno...just brainstorming a bit  

Edited by Netvudu, 05 April 2008 - 08:10 AM.

[MIguel Pérez]

Netvudu, on Apr 5 2008, 06:10 PM, said:

Just to add some input for ideas, what about a shot like 00:18 at this video Magneto´s powers ...a car that suddenly levitates, dents itself and then is thrown away with the appropiate mayhem. With the plaethora of free car models around it could be easy to start doing stuff...or even better everybody use the same model for the challenge.
It´s not as generic as the card challenge, but it´s a well-known movie franchise which might make it more appealing to everybody.

And then maybe separate the apprentice award on the effect itself and the expert award on the effect+render goodness...

Dunno...just brainstorming a bit  

Good idea!

[meshsmooth]

If the car was a bit cute it could be less real and more fun.

Another idea would be a death ray or super power blast on an object, then there will be some artistic choice. Then there will be some personal taste in who the prize will be prise it 100 units of peer respect (non transferable).

So the target could be a safe and the blast comes from off camera to hit it and you decide what the blast will look like.

Someone could model a safe then share it for the rest of us to blow up. That someone may be me if i get the time.

Attached Files

•  clip_image002temp_001_000.jpg   8.64K   47 downloads
•  safe_724345.JPG   88.78K   31 downloads
•  Beano_Dandy_Desperate_Dan_Safe_Cracker_200w.JPG   10.71K   21 downloads

Edited by meshsmooth, 14 April 2008 - 06:10 AM.

[peterr]

How about a blending of cartoon and photoreal.
So, perhaps a photo-realistic fish tank (larger or small) with a cartoon/npr fish swimming in it.
To state the obvious perhaps, the big trick is to make sure the fish looks like it actually belongs in the tank.

[TheAdmira1]

I know this thread has been dead for a month or so... but since its getting to summer and some of us wont have someone yelling at us telling we have stuff do for a couple months, I think its the perfect time for something like this!

I love meshsmooth's Tesla deathray idea... immediately got a vision of this episode of a Superman cartoon where Tesla was some mad scientist... As always, youtube had a clip of it... Reference?

[zasid]

Please please do some Fluid effects challenge something with gas and smoke or sand solvers as there is not much about it and it will be great learning experience for every one !!

[alpotnis]

So is this thread dead now or has the challenge moved onto some place else... am here learning houdini ...and any challenge is welcome as long as i get to learn something new!!!

[Marc]

Hey Alptonis

It's definitely not dead, but perhaps... er... in hibernation for now. If anyone would like to volunteer to manage the challenges then please let me know.

Thanks
Marc

[itriix]

let me know if it wakes up soon