How well known is this group and its competitions?

[treulosetomate]

I'm really not that familiar with the Portal 2 scene, but I was thinking: "Our" monthly competitions must have produced some great puzzles over the last couple of years. Wouldn't it be nice to put all the winners (and runner-ups?) into a collection and publish it? Put it out there on the forums, the reddits and the internets (I don't know) at the end of each year. Maybe this will draw in more people and motivate them to participate, since the winners will get more exposure.

[quat]

I think one of the main barriers to this group getting "popular" is because it's private-entry only. You have to feel like you've "got connections" in the community before you can join.

Of course, if it was public-entry, there would be subpar maps in every competition. I'm not really sure how to go about this.

[treulosetomate]

Oh, right. I completely forgot that this group is invite-only. Wouldn't make much sense then. :/

[Stagger Lee]

Part of why this group was created was because the huge amount of sub par maps one had to wade through to find one or two that made you smile. Another huge reason the group was created is that even accomplished puzzle makers often can't think of a theme to choose. Having restrictions of whatever random element can often spur a mapmaker into areas he might not have come up with if he had a full pallette to work with.

A collection of winning maps therefore might be a good idea anyway. I'm sure there are people who even now who are frustrated with being subjected to beginner level design and puzzles littering the workshop and would like some chambers with some actual meat to them. Even though the group itself is invite-only (for good reason) doesn't mean the puzzles can't be shared with the broader public.