Unleashing Creativity: The Epic Satisfactory Build Contest Everyone’s Talking About!

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In the world of games like Satisfactory, overcoming building challenges isn’t unusual. However, what makes Pass It On special is that it encourages content creators to work together on intriguing designs, spending just a few hours at a time on each project. Once one creator completes their part, they pass the design file onto another creator to add their own touch. The result of this collaborative effort often leads to some incredibly creative and inspiring galleries. This community event happens several times a year, but the most recent (December) was the first since the game officially launched into its full release.

In a recent conversation, Game Rant chatted with popular streamer DC Wan Kenobi, along with community managers Snutt Treptow and Mikael Niazi, discussing the upcoming “Pass It On” event slated for December 2024, as well as any potential plans for 2025.

Satisfactory’s Build Challenge

Q: Where did the idea for Pass It On come from?

In the year 2021, I engaged in a discussion with another community member. With my experience in participating in building contests across various games like Minecraft, Satisfactory, and CS:Source, along with the concept of a raid train, we developed an idea. The initial thought was to share save files among streamers, aiming to finish the game collectively. Each streamer would contribute by creating something new or further developing from their predecessor’s work during their streaming session.

The situation shifted due to two factors. Following a conversation with Jace (who was enthusiastic about the Pass It On concept), there was an announcement about dedicated servers, though I couldn’t disclose this information yet. As a result, I opted to postpone the idea. The reason for circulating the save file rather than utilizing a dedicated server was performance-related, since the optimal performance comes from local servers considering global participation in our project. Additionally, Update 5 rolled out, introducing Beams and Pillars, which significantly altered Satisfactory’s building process by offering more creative freedom and flexibility.

I deeply cherish cultivating and expressing my inner creativity, and I’m eager to inspire that same creativity in others who may be unaware of it. My goal is to foster a sense of unity by organizing gatherings and creating a space where individuals with shared interests can connect. Throughout my life, I’ve been actively engaged in various events, from designing maps for games like Counter-Strike: Source, Rust, and Portal 1/2, to constructing levels using the Unreal Engine.

Q: What’s the history of the event?

Originally known as “Pass It On Near” and later shortened to P.I.O.near, our first gathering took place in October 2022 and presented numerous hurdles. I coordinated various content creators at the time using Doodle and Google Sheets for scheduling purposes. Since then, Pass It On has grown significantly, with me, as a web developer, constructing the event’s website. This platform is continually being refined and enhanced based on community feedback whenever I have available time.

From the beginning, CSS has been part of the picture. Snutt was the pioneer who joined the initial competition. Jace participated in the inaugural event as well as numerous subsequent ones, while Mikael joined the latest one. The Blueprinter made its debut in Update 7, but it had to be eliminated later due to misuse and excessive object counts. We aim to reintroduce it in the upcoming event with certain limitations. It was entertaining when a game update dropped during the ongoing event. Our event began on Update 7, but Update 8 came out a few days into the event. Instead of switching to Update 8, we opted to stay with Update 7 and the community collaborated to find a way to run the game independently.

Q: What are some of the coolest builds you’ve seen come out of it?

Response: It’s a challenging question indeed. Participants seem to give their best shot regardless of whether they’ve spent 15 hours or 15,000 hours playing the game. Builds like Ochi’s sign construction, T4c0’s Commodore’s build, and the unique beam-only build from SpongeBob SquarePants quickly come to mind. It’s fascinating to observe returning participants at the event, as I’ve noticed a significant enhancement in their skills over time, not just during the event itself but throughout its duration.

As a fan, I must admit: There’s an abundance of incredible creations out there that never cease to amaze me. The ones resembling dioramas, where you can stroll around and discover the intricate details carefully tucked away, are my favorites. These builders manage to cram such a wealth of detail into a limited space in such a short time, it’s truly remarkable.

Semi-functional builds also catch my eye, adding an interactive element that enhances the overall experience. But what really takes my breath away are the builds where creators use the game’s materials in imaginative and innovative ways. It never fails to impress me just how clever and resourceful members of this community truly are.

User: There are simply too numerous to enumerate. Apart from my preference for designs inspired by my favorite media and general interests, I have a fondness for constructions that incorporate moving components. Whether these movements serve practical purposes or are purely aesthetic, they captivate me, either functionally or hypnotically.

Q: Did anything this time catch your eye?

At the latest gathering, a cunningly slithering serpent and the construction of adjacent portals were among the many impressive sights to behold.

Treptow: I can’t pick a favorite. There are too many!

This time, it’s quite challenging for me to single out one favorite. There are several contenders, but what immediately stands out is a collaboration between Lawofthejungle7 and ShinnieKeyboards about Portal 2 that left me in awe and prompted me to applaud!

Q: What makes Satisfactory such a good game for this kind of creativity?

In my opinion, I wasn’t expecting Satisfactory to be such an excellent platform for creativity due to its primary focus on factory-building gameplay. Despite having a wide range of possibilities for creative construction within the sandbox genre, the building pieces available are somewhat constrained compared to many other similar games. However, it’s fascinating to observe the incredible feats players are accomplishing with this seemingly limited set of tools!

Niazi: I believe that one of the reasons players may find it easier to experiment with building large structures in Satisfactory is because the game offers certain features like god mode, passive creatures, and zero build cost. These options, which could be considered cheats in other games, are included to allow players to play however they prefer without worrying about following strict rules. It’s unusual for games to offer this level of freedom to break their built-in balancing, but it certainly encourages creativity! However, I still can’t fathom what motivates those who construct massive, efficient, and productive factories without these settings.

Passing It On After 1.0

Q: This Pass It On was during FICSMAS. Does that add anything to the experience?

Certain constructors incorporated FICSMAS trees into their creations, but enjoyed the decorative items like presents and snow blowers until it became necessary to eliminate them from the game during the event for better performance. It’s probably because of modifications in the game.

Q: Has anything introduced in 1.0 made a difference in the designs this time?

The portals in this Portal build were utilized to create a genuine playable Test Chamber and provide new materials for color variations, with the belts being chosen for their vibrant colors. Everything about it is amazing!

Q: What’s been the community reaction to the 1.0 release?

Treptow: It’s been fantastic! We put in a lot of effort to ensure that the 1.0 release truly captured the essence of what makes Satisfactory such an exceptional game, and it appears our efforts have struck a chord with our community! Of course, there are additional features we could’ve included and some minor bugs that would’ve been great to address, but overall, our players have appreciated the 1.0 version of the game.

User: It’s been great! To be completely honest, I find it hard to accept that the game performed so exceptionally well on Steam and Epic at launch. The numbers were astounding and incredibly humbling. I’m thrilled that the updates in version 1.0 seem to enhance the natural feel of Satisfactory, although some parts of the game did become a bit more eccentric with the release. I can’t wait to see where we can push it even further!

Q: Any idea when the next Pass It On will be?

The event dates are tentatively scheduled for either March 6th, March 27th, or April 2025 – be sure to visit our website for updates. We strive to hold three successful events annually. Furthermore, we intend to organize Player Information Officers (PIO) for additional games as well.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

I’d like to express my gratitude to the team who organized this event, Coffee Stain Studios, for their tireless efforts not only on the game but also on cultivating a vibrant community. They have achieved more than just creating a game; they have brought together a vast number of people worldwide. Friendships have been formed and gatherings have taken place globally. A big thank you to Game Rant for providing us with this chance. We’ve had our first taste of Valheim, and we look forward to sharing more ‘Pass It On’ in the future. I also have plans for Minecraft, and there are other games on my list that I’ll be keeping an eye on. Stay tuned to this space and our website…

The recent occurrence surpassed all previous benchmarks. Here’s hoping we maintain this fun-filled atmosphere, offering lasting enjoyment for an extended period. Organizing larger gatherings, collaborating with other imaginative individuals who share our enthusiasm and aspirations! Witnessing the evolution of such an extraordinary event, as Pass It On expands, has been a thrilling, heartwarming adventure watching participants develop their skills and creativity.

John: It’s really awesome to witness our group hosting events such as these! They seem to bring our project to life in unexpected ways, and I eagerly anticipate seeing even more of them in the time to come!

Niazi: The reason my preferred games are special to me is a blend of the gaming experience they offer and the friendships I’ve formed there. This is why I feel immense pride and gratitude towards the Satisfactory community for being so open-hearted, inviting, and enjoyable. Gatherings like Pass It On and similar ones symbolize the community’s desire to unite and share their deep affection for the game. I make it a point to never underestimate this passion, and I want to express my sincere thanks to every player who brings Satisfactory to life.

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2025-02-07 15:24