View source for Map Labs

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{{Game Infobox
| title = Map Labs
| image = Map-labs-logo.jpg
| developer = '''Map Labs''' (the template and organizing)<br>'''Various community members''' (challenge entrants)
| releasedates = November 1, 2018 (first ModDB release; ongoing anthology series)
| genre = Defined by each entry
| mode =  {{w|icon=0|Single-player video game|Single-player}}
| platform =  {{w|icon=0|Windows|Windows}}
| engine = {{src13|4}}
| codelang =  {{w|icon=0|C++|C++}}
| sdk = [https://github.com/map-labs-source/Map-Labs Map Labs Template]
| sysreq = <span></span>
* {{w|icon=0|Windows 7|Win 7}} or later
* 1.7  {{w|icon=0|Hertz|GHz}}  {{w|icon=0|Central processing unit|CPU}}
* 1 {{w|icon=0|Gigabyte|GB}} {{w|icon=0|Random-access memory|RAM}}
* {{w|icon=0|DirectX}} 9.0c compatible graphics
* [[Source SDK Base 2013 Singleplayer|Source SDK Base 2013 SP]] beta ("upcoming")

|links = {{moddb|mods/map-labs|ModDB page}}<br>[https://discord.gg/p2c6Mfa Discord Server]
}}
[[File:Maplabs ml001 hh social.jpg|thumb|right|The social card of '''Map Labs #1 - Halloween Horror'''.]]
[[File:Maplabs botv social card.jpg|thumb|right|The social card of '''Back on 2track - Vertigo''' from 2024.]]
<span style="font-weight:bold; color:white">Map Labs</span> is an ongoing anthology of {{hl2|1.bold}}/{{src|1.bold}} Engine levels designed for various themed challenges. As of Summer 2024, it includes over '''40''' releases, composed of over <b><u>650</u></b> entries. Those can range from experimental, abstract, or joke maps to entire adventures, aiming to reach or even surpass the quality of Valve's work.

'''Map Labs''' currently uses its own modified version of {{mapbase|4.1}}, the '''[https://github.com/map-labs-source/Map-Labs Map Labs Template]'''. On top of Mapbase's improvements, it adds [[Physically Based Rendering|PBR]] support, {{css|1.bold}} weapons, and various challenge-related features.

== Overview ==
=== History ===
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'''Map Labs''' started in 2018. Its first challenge was '''''Halloween Horror'''''. In keeping with the theme, the Map Labs Template - which wasn't yet a fork of Mapbase - included two horror-themed entities, the "Shadow Walker" (a dark figure that's hostile to the player and can be given a weapon) and the "Lost Soul" (a flying flaming skull reminiscent of {{w|icon=0|Doom (1993 video game)|Doom's}} enemy [https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Lost_soul by the same name]; internally, it behaves like a [[Npc_manhack|manhack]]).

The first challenge to use the new Map Labs Template, based on Mapbase, was '''''Atom #4 - TUNE''''' from July of 2020. Since then, the inclusion of Mapbase allows entrants to use its advanced features like [[VScript]] to create levels which can essentially transform the game into their own genres, or feature mechanics and puzzles that'd otherwise require {{w|icon=0|C++}} editing or overwhelming amount of map scripting to create.

=== Types ===
----
Up until Map Labs #20 there were three types of challenges which differed in scope and deadlines. Newer challenges mostly dropped the type separation.
* '''''"Atom"''''' - smaller-sized contest with usually a simpler, more "singular" theme and a deadline of 48 hours. The last "Atom" was '''''Atom Week''''' in March of 2021.{{cite|1}}
* '''''"Test Tube"''''' - medium-sized contest with a deadline of 10 days, plus 3 days bonus.
* '''''"Map Labs"''''' - larger-sized contest usually revolving around a concept-based theme. The deadline is 25 days, plus 3 days bonus.
The deadlines are sometimes expanded and can vary based on the complexity of the theme. Entries submitted during the bonus period will be featured and scored, but won't be placed against the rest.

The challenges are often sequalized. For example, '''''Halloween Horror''''' happens yearly; as fo 2024, there had been two '''''Eye Candy''''' contests, two '''''TUNE'''''(s), three '''''Companion Piece'''''(s).

=== Themes and rules ===
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The theme of a particular challenge is kept secret until its announcement. Apart from the core theme, which needs to be followed in general, there may be extra challenges, which don't impact the score, but instead are used to stimulate fun, creative thinking. For example, '''''Eye Candy 2''''' had an extra challenge of using {{cow|icon=hide|Houndeye|Houndeyes}} in some manner, which were added to the template since that challenge. 

The rules permit using approved Valve games content from outside the [[Half-Life series]], as well as custom-made content. It is forbidden to use leaked/stolen content, and an entry that breaks that rule may be immediately removed from the contest.

Entrants must provide the source [[VMF]] of their entry.

The visual style, gameplay, story and interpretation of the themes are left entirely up to the entrants.

=== Scoring ===
----
The entries are typically judged based on their use of the theme (''Presentation''), ''Gameplay'', and ''Uniqueness''. The scores are given by selected judges, often featuring a guest judge from the community. 

* On two occasions, Valve members, {{cow|icon=hide|Dario Casali}} and Matt Wood, agreed to participate as guest judges; in case of Dario, the contest was '''''Crossfire''''' - based on the deathmatch map for {{hl|1.bold}} which Dario had created.{{cite|2}}{{cite|3}} 
:'''The scores from these two judges are still pending'''. 

* On another occasion, {{cow|icon=hide|Jeep Barnett}} both agreed to guest judge and, in fact, judged '''''[https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2478362247 CHROMA]''''' - a challenge for {{p2|1.bold}} done in collaboration with [https://www.thinking.withportals.com/ Thinking With Portals].{{cite|4}}

== Map Labs on Steam Workshop ==
Several challenges not based on the Map Labs Template are not hosted on ModDB; instead, they exist as [[Workshop]] Collections.
* [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2179047616 '''''Map Labs Workshop #1 - Half-Life Alyx: One Room'''''] for {{hla|1.bold}}
* [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2356039472 '''''Map Labs Workshop #2 - Half-Life Alyx: Déjà Vu'''''] for '''Half-Life: Alyx'''
* [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2322052478 '''''Map Labs #11 - Left 4 Dead 2: Abridged'''''] for {{l4d2|1.bold}}
* [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2442145533 '''''Map Labs #13 - The Fix'''''] for '''Half-Life: Alyx'''
* [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2478362247 '''''Map Labs #14 - CHROMA'''''] for '''Portal 2'''
* [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2583152120 '''''Map Labs Presents - Scene Better Days: An Eye Candy Experiment'''''] for '''Portal 2'''

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=nolines widths=400 heights=300>
File:Maplabs background ml09 backontrack.jpg|Menu background of '''Map Labs #9 - Back On Track'''
File:Maplabs background tt08 eyecandy.jpg|Menu background of '''Test Tube #8 - Eye Candy'''
File:Maplabs background ml18 crossoverville2.jpg|Menu background of '''Map Labs #18 - CrossoverVille 2'''
</gallery>

== External links ==
* [https://discord.gg/p2c6Mfa Discord Server]
* {{moddb|mods/map-labs}}
* {{github|map-labs-source|Github repository}}

{{references|
{{ref2|cite id=1|[https://x.com/PlayMapLabs/status/1373837305052549125 It's official. No more Atoms] on Twitter (March 22, 2021)}}
{{ref2|cite id=2|[https://x.com/PlayMapLabs/status/1381582911330205697 Dario Casali is taking a bit to get back to us] on Twitter (April 12, 2021)}}
{{ref2|cite id=3|[https://x.com/PlayMapLabs/status/1477388482981081095 Map Labs #17 - Layout announcement] on Twitter (Jan 2, 2022)}}
{{ref2|cite id=4|[https://pastebin.com/dH4cXEZm Jeep Barnett's scores] for CHROMA}}
}}

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