I'd say keep both the SM and TM open themes, but provide a short (2-3) list of optional themes to give ideas. 

Classic Quake should definitely be a theme. 

afaik, sm themes have always been optional. just that it's more fun if the majority follows them.
at any rate, i will mention that people are of course free not do follow them stricly. 

i will mention that people are of course free not do follow them stricly.

Yeah, that's good. I know they're optional, but you're probably going to get people participating who are not familiar with speed maps, and might get turned off about the idea of themes, not knowing that they're totally optional. 

After reading those last 15 posts I'm tempted very much to make an small speedmap. I'm on holidays between 17th and 30th of July. On the other hand my laptop crashed 3 days ago and I'm not used to map on my pc. Time will show. 

I say we set an id classic quake theme (basically just set it to an ep 1,2,3 or 4 theme using id textures or modifications to fit you map) and start it this weekend so that everyone has a couple of weekends to get their maps done. I'm fairly sure I won't be able to get my large map finished (AND tested) before QExpo is over, so I would like to work on something new for a couple of weeks so I have two maps for release instead of just one.

an sm session is just an hour or two, so there should still be plenty of participants if the time is open for those not in GMT/EST/whatever.

I am SO going to make an id metal (e1m6, ep3...) map. 

I'm fairly confident you can get your large map (if it's the one I know of ;) ) ready in a week?
For SP.

I didn't spot a single misaligned tex. 

there are no misalignments I know of, but there were a few visual errors in that version (3 at least).

I still have to fix the fucking gameplay though :/ 

already start my speed idbase map :p 

anyone else starting a turtle map? I hope to get mine started tonight if my existing map* doesn't take up all my time.

*and my job :( 

i never did a turtle map so i dont have any idear about how it works... 

It lives in the ocean. It's rigid in the middle and flappy in the ends and slow-moving and lives long, can hold breath and dive. Lays eggs in the sand.

It's a map done in one week's time. 

bambuz yes is real hot here :p today is 40� :)

P.S-> thks :p i will make a turtle map then... 

But, as than, I have another big map that I would like to get out at QExpo. 

:p :) thks god i finish mine 10 days after... :) 

I'm making an Elderworld turtlemap. Are we linking them together anyhow, or just releasing a pack of turtlemaps? 

It's like a speedmap, but you get a week or so. I think the timelimit for QExpo is likely to be 10 days. This means that turtlemaps can be much more elaborate than speedmaps. More like a regular map I guess. 

o.k already start one :) 

Will the turtlemap deadline be the same as the second speedmap?

I will try to enter all 3 events but I really haven't had time for anything fun as of late :(

I am thinking that the second speedmap could be a "redux" of the first (sort of like the re-released "Apocalypse Now" movie). 

episode 1 in one speedmap. Maybe have three or four rooms or whatever you think you choose is something worth reminiscing / remembering / tributing / improvising from your memories of quake from 10 years beyond. :)
And still of course some gameplay & progression, and u don't need cthon.
Everybody could play those. :) 

:p my turtle map that is in progress in full metal id base, speedmap will try make a ztndm3 texture stile with idbase textures... 

tentative deadline for the turtlemap is the 27th, 12pm gmt. that would still give us some time to decide if it will be released just then or maybe turned into a mini-episode, hub or anything. not sure if that date/time is useful - we can change it if needed of course.

redux theme doesn't sound that good to me. doing the same again, only longer? i was forced to watch apocalypse redux several times and while it's a good movie, it was soo exhausting each time... ;)
bambuz' idea might work, but i'd suggest expanding it to all episodes (e1 offers the greatest textural variety though)?

i set up the speedmapping/turtlemapping booth today, you will be able to comment on it on monday btw. 

Xen.
Where is he? 

A loooooong time ago, way back when I was but a weeee speedmapper. Thanks to Scampie. I witnessed them argue first hand. Aye, it was Scampie who drove Xen away.

But yeah, he was good. 

E2 themed turtlemap, started today, perhaps i'll find enough time to submit it.