I get the idea behind it, but all I see it as is a repository for improvised weapons. Knuckle dusters, knives and slingshots.
While some of these models are really nice, good engineering, this is a large 3d model repository encouraging the designing of weapons when in the news there is talk of restrictions due to 3d printed weapons being found in various places (I’m UK based)
Just want to putting my opinion out there on what I think is an ill conceived contest.
It is about volume, not quality, been so for a very long time.
One contest after the other and there is only so many new ideas to abuse for this.
No weapons or such should be offered as models in a place that literally every kid can reach and use.
Becoming a hunter has so really nothing to do with 3D printing, it is about skills and those you won’t from a printer 
And with the usual lack of limitations paired with even the most unqualified or matching models flooding every contest…
I got out of all this nonsense and sharing models a long time ago.
Every single counts and brings money, one way or another.
But once this turns into providing things only really good to harm other people or animals…
Who becomes hunter by using a slingshot ? LOL
who turns into a hunter because he or she printer a crappy looking model of a deer that looks very similar to those from around xmas competitions ?
Just saying…
Excellent point and many locations have very strict gun/weapons laws that 3D printed versions could violate.
Could get innocent hobbyists in trouble not just for violating the law, but we also have underage folks and others who might not understand the risk weapons models can be to them. If they show off their creations in public or around anyone who might not understand they aren’t real, others may misinterpret and react badly. And some may actually be dangerous in their own right (knives or other piercing weapons).
You’d hope people would consider the realities and risks of weapons models, but not all will.
I mean… I sort of get the complaint. But these are props and toys and I think the danger may be a little over blown. Cosplay and decorative recreations of game/movie assets is a perfectly legitimate use case for 3d printing. I don’t know how you avoid weapons entirely without neglecting that segment of the market.
I don’t think they’ve really put a lot of thought in to the legalities of offering weapons… there are a lot of people who have full Glocks, minus the springs.
https://makerworld.com/en/@HappyDog/upload
https://makerworld.com/en/@quakka1/upload
I’m really curious where they got these, obviously the pictures aren’t the model, those are pictures of the actual gun.
Look at this:
in reality anything can be a weapon…
That’s a bit incorrect view. Let me explain based on those 3 examples you gave:
This is funny on many levels. One of those is politicans being dumb and not knowing capabilities of normal 3d printers, other is the same politicans fear mongering normal people and finally those people voting for the same politicans. Circle of DUM.
As for UK - I’ve seen UK police boasting about cache of “dangerous weapons” being found and among those were: several butter (and bread) knives, spoons, letter openers and knife sharpeners… That convinced me those aren’t serious people.
Anyway - people crying about 3D printed “weapons” need to go to the nearest hardware store. You wouldn’t believe what dangerous stuff could be made or even just outright bought from hardware store that’s far more dangerous and reliable than anything printed on FDM 3d printer 
Could be good for actual hunters though, there are a lot of prints that could help organise, aid in target practise, help carry gear, etc.
I think there will be a few gems coming from this competition.
I made these gridfinity bins for my broadheads 
maybe I’ll enter the competition with this
Edit: just read the theme, it’s about video games and not actual hunting… never mind
I don’t think weapons shouldn’t be allowed, but just that common sense needs to be injected into the contest. These contests cross a lot of jurisdictions with lots of different laws. And hunting video games frequently involve guns. And we all know people push the boundaries - there will probably be calibration cubes submitted too.
I’d just like a warning to help remind contestants that no orange tip on plastic guns makes them illegal in some US states. Just weapons, orange tip or no, can be illegal in other jurisdictions. A police officer has fractions of a second to tell the difference between real and toy and bad for both if they get it wrong.
You’d like to think no child will print guns without parental supervision but that’s not always the case either. Washington Post reports that 245 people (including children) with toy guns have been shot in the US between 2015 and 2021. 6 years - almost 50 people per year.
“Every week my cops are coming across interactions that could be far worse outcomes than what they should be because the presence of these devices,” Chief Will Johnson of the Arlington Police Department in Texas told us in 2019. “Even being close [in likeness] is a problem, let alone if it’s an absolute shared schematic.”
There are lots of dangers in the world for sure. 3d weapons have a place. But children are here, participate, and may not appreciate the risks of showing off what they printed to schoolmates.
Not the best contest idea IMO.
Places like Defcad started with full assemblies and fully printed gung but later bend down a bit to focus a bit more on custom things rather that guns ready for use after printing.
There is also at least two ‘companies’ on the dark web selling industrial grade powder printers (laser metal sintering process) pre-loaded with most of the usable guns Defcad and a few other sites ever provided.
Hopelessly overpriced compared to just the printer and from the manufacturer.
But that was already enough for countries to push for tougher regulations in regards to the so far totally uncontrolled export of industrial metal 3D printers.
These days all the legal US gun printing lover needs a barrel liner and maybe a proper trigger to make it long lasting and reliable gun…
If you know how to use an uncensored and non-tracking search engine and what what search terms to use you have no problem finding almost any gun ever produced in a proper 3D version that considers the downfalls of FDM …
Like or not but in this area were are doomed for quite a few years now…
The contest is about creating fantasy models inspired by games, as described in the theme. But apparently like any other MW competitions, at least half of the entries have nothing to do with the theme
[
This competition invites you to step into a world of untamed beasts, breathtaking landscapes, and epic battles. Inspired by video games that present the thrill of hunting colossal creatures and crafting legendary gear, this challenge is your chance to bring your version of in-game elements to life in stunning 3D details.
]
The following can be an issue though. It can be interpreted as MW openly encouraging designers to infringe on trademarked or copyrighted characters.
[
We’ve compiled a list of ideas to inspire your submissions.
1. Iconic Monsters
…
]
Well, there are many well known monsters from fairy tales & folklore that aren’t copyrighted! Warevolves, vampires, strzyga, komuch, draugr, nix, maras, jiangshi, yao guai, kappa, chupakabra, mapinguari… Just choose your folklore, choose the monster and sculpt
Yes, there are many that are not copy-righted. But the context of all this is the video games.
Then… Make something that could fit in a monster-hunter type game?
One could. I was just saying that “iconic monsters” in the context of video games are likely copyrighted. Or at least can easily lead some desingers to think that’s what MW wants in this contest.
Copyright? IP rights?
Non existing in China, so they might just get their great contest and other ideas and go for it, knowing there isn’t much able to stop them.
MW is full of offending models that should not be there but where it is not worth to pursue rights no one starts screaming
Bambu provides the rules, the means and owns where it all happens.
We can complain as much as we like and for as long as we like - in the end it will be their decision not ours.
Let’s face it > If MW wanted to they could just start a full on Lego competition.
Lego would probably complain but not start any legal actions.
Ever checked on how the law affects online places?
First you have the server and DNS issue.
Unless these are in a place in a country where YOUR laws are binding you already have a hard time with take down notices.
When it comes to your rights you have to face the offender where their corresponding head office is located.
You might have noticed how this got very confusing and complicated when some tried to go against FB, which is a US company, not even Chinese and untouchable…
Take our Kiwi friends 
No local Bambu head office, not even a fake one with just a postal address.
No official (local) support (partner).
And on top of all that officially cut off by Bambu.
No legal leg to stand on…
We will see more contests that we will fail to understand…
.postdeletedinprotestofdangerousgoods.
So this isn’t a contest about who can come up with the best prison shank? Bummer, I was soooo looking to expand my shiv collection. 
.postdeletedinprotestofdangerousgoods.
I see a learning experience for functional tools or as functional as they can be. The amount of butt plugs people print is disturbing to me but that’s not a me thing so I just stay away and let them be.
