Mini Contest - Coppers Donations

…just for the heck of it!

Playing around with coppers is always great fun. It’s not like anyone got anything better to do with them Thus, let’s play a little game with one very simple rule: donate as many or as few coppers to the blog as you wish (send to “Jozii” in-game, mark the message “Mini Contest”). Based on this, there will be two winners:

• The Largest Single Donation - The person who makes the largest donation wins 70% of all donations made through this contest. If the largest donation size is the same amoung two or more people, the second largest wins instead.
• The Smallest Single Donation - The person who makes the smallest donation wins 10% of all donations made through this contest. If the smallest donation size is the same among two or more people, the second smallest wins instead.
• The final 20% go to the blog.

All donations must be in whole 5’s. That is: 5, 10, 15, … 1450, 1455, etc.

Track Review - TrickOrTreat

Written by Pjotr.

• Track: TrickOrTreat
• Author: Lordmzn 
• Type: Race
• Environment: Coast
• Length: 1 min
• Mood: Night
• Coppers: 4011
• Difficulty:  Beginner
• TMX Awards: 9
• Award Level:  Slightly underrated
• TMX LB Rating: 4.231
• Custom Content: 1500 copper contest (find secret areas)

Quote:

“Life is full of possibilities and chances”

SCREEN

First Impression

What on earth does a TMU Coast track have to do with Halloween, was my first impression. Well the GPS say it all: the copper contest is related to a Halloween search. Find the hidden elements. This makes this track a “Ghost” track instead of a Coast track J. Concentrating on the track itself it seems a well designed smooth track with some really nice original ideas. Lets Trick or Treat!

Shooting your video: the quick and easy way!

Written by Djoszee.

Did you ever have the feeling your track needed a video? Don’t worry, here is the easiest way to do it!

• 1.Drive a replay (if you want cool camera’s, use the mediatracker on your outro. Or, see 4b)
• 2. save the replay
• 3. go to editor>replay
• 4a.select the replay you want, click ok
• 4b. In case you want to add camera’s to your replay, which doesn’t have an outro.

A screen pops up, select ‘edit replay’. Now delete the entire camera block, create a new one and place your own camera’s.
Save your replay, use a different name so you’ll keep the original in case you need it.

• 5. a screen pops up, select ’shoot video’
• 6. it will ask you to make the game window smaller, press alt+enter
• 7. now you can shoot the video.
• 8.select resolution 640*480 and 25 fps and press ok
• 9. a new window pops up, select ‘full frames’
• 10.the game will record the video and save it to your trackmania drive (like c\program files\tmn\video001.avi)

Now you will need windows movie maker, I hope you have windows XP. Maybe one of your friend can help you, but the avi is probably big (so you need to burn it on a dvd). If you have XP but didn’t install moviemaker, just use google and download it. You can also use a different video editor program, but you’ll have to figure that out yourself…

Screenshot of the Week - Week 3, 2008

Screenshot Collection

By Siem:

By Homie:

By Hastings:

Screenshot of the Week

Rusties wins 100 coppers for this screenshot.

If you have a screenshot or two, send them to Jozii@pp.inet.fi. All screenshots will get published in the blog, and every week one screenshot is selected as Screenshot of the Week.

TMX, Blog & Stuff

I’m pleased to see that there’s been quite a support from readers, at least mentally - many have e-mailed me about the blog, most feeling sad about the way things are looking.

However, not that many have actually offered their help, except for those who have written articles (to be posted later - you know who you are) and sent screenshots. But, neither of those two things is enough.

BCS Santino, though, have come up with a suggestion about reviews and screenshots - a sort of mix between JAG Media and The TMU Blog. His suggestion involves getting about 8-10 steady reviewers who will review tracks, in a slightly more simple manner than the current system, based on certain environments and styles.

This would allow things to keep going, but the problems are: 1) Still requires a lot of work, 2) getting the 8-10 reviewers (who should be skilled in organizing and writing in English, plus have the time and devotion to keep reviewing) would be challenging, and 3) would turn the blog more into a review-portal than anything else (even though articles could still be submitted).

I’ve basically turned Santino down already, as I’ve also been offered a staff position at TMX (and the original problem of lack of time still remains, so doing both would be even more challenging).

I’m telling you this to get a final idea about where the blog readers stand. There’s no way the blog is going back to normal, but what do you think of the idea of having more reviews and a cooperative connection to JAG Media instead? Are you able to help (”I like the idea, but I don’t want to/can’t help you with, for example, reviews” doesn’t really make things easier for me)? Would you rather see me organizing “official” contests/events at TMX (I know many of you guys are active TMX members) on a semi-regular basis, than continue my work here at the blog?

In my point of view, the blog could still keep going as long as Alcator, Djoszee and “guest writers” submit something once in a while, and as long as screenshots keep coming in. The idea about reviews, an aspect that will otherwise most likely be very slow or disappear completely, might be a bit too much, but could also be exactly what you guys want - what do I know? And the postition at TMX - it would basically mean more MTC’s and other contests from me at TMX, with the difference that it’s official TMX events!

I’m interested in your opinion, so start commenting or send me an e-mail: Jozii@pp.inet.fi!

Alcator’s Purity Rant - Mixmaps are evil

Written by Alcator.

This article will be very different from anything I’ve written for the blog before. After a long row of guides and tutorials, I’m going to rant. I’m going to rant, because something that shouldn’t be happening is happening and it’s supported by those whom we’ve learnt to consider “authorities”.

The thing in question are the so called “mixmaps”. Mixmaps, with the name probably originating with TM/TMX user “Mixo”, are TrackMania tracks which contain blocks that you won’t find in the in-game editor’s building blocks lists, and/or transitions/connections of these blocks that are not possible within the editor. Examples of such “new blocks” are:

Screenshots…?

As you may have noticed, there’s basically no posting activity anymore. That’s what I was talking about weeks ago would happen, and here we are now.

I cant really say I will be doing more for this blog in the future, although there is one thing: I still have a lot of screenshots, and people keep sending more. So, perhaps there will be more frequent screenshot posts, and a Screenshot of the Week every week.

Other than that, don’t hope for much

Screenshot of the Week - Week 1 2008

The new year is here, and the very first Screenshot of the Week presents itself! Judging by the number of screenshots in my “Screenshot of the Week”-folder, we’re off to a good start. And, TimeBreaker might not see such a frequent win-rate, at least not the coming weeks. Kendal especially has quite a few good cards up his sleeves.

For now, enjoy the great shots, and let’s see plenty more this year

Screenshot Collection

By Kendal:

By TimeBreaker:

By Frizbee: 

Screenshot of the Week

Kendal wins 100 coppers for this screenshot.

If you have a screenshot or two, send them to Jozii@pp.inet.fi. All screenshots will get published in the blog, and every week one screenshot is selected as Screenshot of the Week.

Back!

I’m back from my holidays (so now I need some rest). This means that I’ll be answering your e-mails and in-game PM’s again Sorry for those who’ve had to wait.

I’m still interested in material to post, if any of you can provide some!