Contest??

[jannesiera]

We're waiting sooo long now . Is there coming another one or not? I know it takes a lot of energy and time to put one up, so no pressure and don't feel obliged, but what can we expect?

[zykal]

contest hmm what kind of contest? or what ideas do we have for contests?

[raines80]

I would like to see genre based contests.  I would like them to be very specific. For example; Create a PBBG 2D MMORPG... or create a PBBG Text w/ graphics MMORTS.... etc....

[jannesiera]

I would like to see genre based contests.  I would like them to be very specific. For example; Create a PBBG 2D MMORPG... or create a PBBG Text w/ graphics MMORTS.... etc....

Then you won't have enough participants. In the previous contest we had quiet a few, but they were spread over totality different genres.

I think there's not going to be a contest anywhere soon so... :S.

[codestryke]

I can't keep my fingers quite anymore when it comes to the "next contest" so here goes the brain dump.

First my partner nor I have ever done a contest like this before so there is a lot of uncertainty of getting one up and going. Zeggy set the bar and if we can't match it or do it better then we don't feel were adding anything to the contest itself. Both of us love PBBG's and we want to do right not just by the contestants but also by PBBG's as a whole.

The next issue, for us, is currently time as we are set to roll out some big updates on our own games as well as bring one game from alpha to beta. We simply cannot dedicate the time we think is necessary to get the contest going at this point. Along this line too is the time of the year here in the states. Everyone is just now getting to school or college and with that a lot of people who might see this contest and want to try just can't as things are ramping up for them now as well. We are seeing this currently just with the traffic to this forum.

The first contest was very fun and exciting for both of us to watch, however, the winner of the contest closed his game. So the first place prizes were never claimed and to be honest I don't think the prizes fit the contest. The contest is to create the "best" game, because of the time restraints graphics and large chunks of the game are thrown aside so something functional can be submitted. As the game owner are you going to want to claim the free advertising from the sponsorship sites to a game that you know isn't complete? Like any game just because it's functional doesn't mean it's ready for release.

As it stands today BoozeQuest, the winner, is gone, Tygres or whatever it was called was not even close to being in the rules and in our opinion should of been disqualified. In the end the game that made it and is still going is Chris' game which took third. Of those people only Chris himself is still an active member of the forums, so the forums themselves didn't even benefit long term from the contest.

Now say we are in a position to start the contest, what do we offer? Please don't say a Google Page Rank because that is a by product of the contest and with our key words (as posted in another thread) are just abysmal and it would probably hurt the new game by us linking to it more then it would help. As above we really can't give away free advertising since the games themselves aren't in a position after the contest to use it. So this leaves us with the big question of what to offer as prizes and how do we go about securing those prizes from a sponsor when our numbers as a community isn't all that impressive.

When we talk about the next contest these are just some of the big issues we ask ourselves and at this time we have zero answers.

[JGadrow]

Thanks for the detailed write-up. Personally, I just don't have time to enter a contest. Heck, I haven't even found time in the last year to work on my game at all. Life has a habit of getting in the way. lol However, I'm sure this sheds more light upon why there has been no announcement of a contest. And I agree that the last contest added very little, if any, real value to the community here. It was fun to watch and play through the games but we received few, if any because none come to mind, new community members.

[jannesiera]

I can't keep my fingers quite anymore when it comes to the "next contest" so here goes the brain dump.

Did you notice this was my original question? Really, there was no reason to keep your fingers quite, you could've said this much earlier. (I'm not trying to provoke you or anything, it's just weird you said that )

Anyway, thanks for the detailed information. At least we know what we can (not) expect.

[Doidel]

...Contest? 

[codestryke]

Did you notice this was my original question? Really, there was no reason to keep your fingers quite, you could've said this much earlier. (I'm not trying to provoke you or anything, it's just weird you said that )

You haven't been the only one asking about the contest via the forum, pm or emails to me. In each instance I would say "not at this time" and give a quip or two about why not. So I sat down finally and wrote everything that came to my mind that MystressNyx and I have discussed about the contest. The contest has been a weight over our heads for some time and it just doesn't seem we are any closer now then when we took over the forums, if anything we are actually further.

A little tid bit about us. Every Sunday we go do our laundry, the laundry mat has a pub next to it that we go hang out at to drink and have dinner while we wait for the laundry to wash or dry. It's during this time that we talk about eXtremeCast Games as a whole. What games do we work on, what's the next project, where are we on x, y and z. I can say from the day we put BBG back online and since we've talked about the contest each and every Sunday and we simply have no answers just questions. I thought my unloading of everything that came to mind and our discussions would be a good thing to get out there and maybe someone would have some suggestions or answers to help. Sorry if you read anything wrong with my opening statement, it wasn't meant to be taken negatively

[famulus]

I entered the last contest and, like a number of other people, never finished my entry for a number of the reasons you listed.  With a two or three month time limit there are quite a few things that need to be cut out of the game, and at best you end up with a demo that will get shut down right away so the game can be 'finished'.

That being said, a number of us already have games we are currently running.  Maybe future contests can focus on live games rather than new games.  Two or three months is more than enough time to add a new 'themed' feature or set of features to our games.  Instead of the influx of traffic leading to a list of non-existent games, people visiting the forums due to the contest would find a number of playable games which are being actively developed and maintained.  The games, being live already, would gain more benefit from the prizes and the traffic the contest generates.  Sounds like a win/win for everyone.

[Scion]

famulus's idea is a good one.

Rather than looking at green fields development how about looking at existing games...

personally i would prefer to see a larger number of categories, best game, best new game, best use of browser tech, best gameplay, and so on...
for those that dont have games in production we could have a best demo/best alpha etc. And for those that cant get a game on the web in that period a best concept/idea category.

Rather than a contest more sort of an awards....

(some banners for the winners would be a nice touch)

[JGadrow]

I tend to agree. For exactly the reasons codestryke stated earlier. A contest to create a game within a specified timeframe is bound to create a sub-par game as a result. And, I would agree that existing games would find the kinds of sponsored prizes that you'd be able to offer with this sort of 'competition' to be of much greater value.

Plus, the forum would, likely, see an influx of traffic from players of these established games. And we'll be getting submissions from dedicated developers who have weathered the internet for at least a little while. They could definitely add some value to this community...

[jannesiera]

I agree, but it would only work with a lot of participants. I doubt Codestryker and MystressNyx have the time / resources to set this up.

I think that in the end they don't have the responsibility to hold a contest, it's ours. We should keep thinking how we organize the contest and how we promote it.

Even when it's just "2 cents", everybody should try to contribute something, especially when promoting the contest .

[raines80]

I noticed someone mentioned an awards section.... Why not add an awards section underneith the names of the people in the forum. You can hold little contests and give out medals that go onto thier names under thier avatars.

Or you could just and them out whenever you feel as though they have earned it.. maybe someone posts some amazing art they have done, or they post script you like, or they..whatever... that could be a way to have contests without having contests. 

[Chris]

I don't agree with any point above except one, if you don't feel like organising it then you don't, can't be helped. How about it then, you give the permission to jannesiera to organise an official contest. You will only post an announcement and then post the final verdict send by her. How about it?

Jannesiera and Makari were very active judges last time, I even got a detailed description from Makari about my game strong points and summary of all games and everything, as for jannesiera she is excited about the whole contest enough to make it happen even without others people support. If you agree then we have 1 main organisator and 2 judges at the very start (and please, do not make it democratic way, one person who holds all the power and all the responsibility will work best).

[raines80]

I don't agree with any point above except one, if you don't feel like organising it then you don't, can't be helped. How about it then, you give the permission to jannesiera to organise an official contest. You will only post an announcement and then post the final verdict send by her. How about it?

Jannesiera and Makari were very active judges last time, I even got a detailed description from Makari about my game strong points and summary of all games and everything, as for jannesiera she is excited about the whole contest enough to make it happen even without others people support. If you agree then we have 1 main organisator and 2 judges at the very start (and please, do not make it democratic way, one person who holds all the power and all the responsibility will work best).

I like this setup.. the only issue I have is that there isn't a way to be fair. If I were a judge I would lean towards certain styles of games that I enjoy playing. I think everyone leans towards certain styles of games.... even on these new cooking shows the judges hardly ever agree about which dishes they enjoyed the most.

I hate to put up problems without some answers..... so here is my attempt at an answer to my problem. Why not have the exact same setup that Chris suggested, but add an extra layer? Why not post all of the games that have been completed and have the forum members send their votes for 1, 2 and 3 to the judges. The judges picks and the overall picks of the forum users could then be averaged to come out with bit more of an objective opinion on the games....

Just a thought.. 

[jannesiera]

I don't agree with any point above except one, if you don't feel like organising it then you don't, can't be helped. How about it then, you give the permission to jannesiera to organise an official contest. You will only post an announcement and then post the final verdict send by her. How about it?

Jannesiera and Makari were very active judges last time, I even got a detailed description from Makari about my game strong points and summary of all games and everything, as for jannesiera she is excited about the whole contest enough to make it happen even without others people support. If you agree then we have 1 main organisator and 2 judges at the very start (and please, do not make it democratic way, one person who holds all the power and all the responsibility will work best).

One Note: Janne Siera is NOT a "she", I am a male.

About your idea: I wouldn't mind organising a contest. In cooperation with the members of this forum off course.

I decided already that I would organise my own contest on my blog when this one didn't take off, anyway. Though I wanted to wait so the blog would be online for a while already (currently I'm kinda remaking it with own wordpress hosting).

[Chris]

LOL, I assumed a name ending with -a would be a feminine one, as all latin names are Days before internet were so much simplier and easier, you could depend on all people you ever met to be from latin derived culture. How embarassing...

So, about the contest, what is the admins decision?

[MystressNyx]

There's not really anything for us to decide. If you guys wish to plan your own contest, that's your right. Since it is game related, you can discuss it in the General Game Discussion forum.