Adventure Game Studio

Got a neat idea for a new activity or competition? Post a description of it here, and await approval from the moderators.
Check here http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=5477.0 to check whether your concept does not already exist, or is currently resting.

Include in your post:
* Title of activity
* A thorough description of its concept and purpose (educational or entertaining?)
* Periodicity (how long each round will be and how often it will occur)
* Type of competition: Will there be a winner, who will elect the winner (if there is a vote, how long will voting go on)
* Thread administrator: Will the activity/competition be maintained by the winner of the previous round, or by the same person every time?

You can also post here if you have comments or suggestions regarding the rules of already existing competitions or activities.

well, this is something i saw on the cgtalk forums, and quite enjoyed watching.

sprite battles.
purpose: entertainment.
administrator: not sure.


there are 2 versions that i saw:

1. background version:

- one guy starts off by doing something on the background (eg320x200), eg he draws a castle.
- then the second guy draws something to counter the first guy's sprite, eg, he draws an invading army with catapults thats attacking the castle.
- then the 1st guy again counters with, eg a force field.
- this continues until the background is filled and no more space left.
- you are allowed to alter the other guy's drawing a bit to make your own work.
- in the end it will come down to voting who added the best ideas.
-  2 can take part, or many more. everyone can take part in this one.
- period: till the background is filled.

2. character/object version

- two members compete against each other.
- both of them design their own unique sprite
- then, these two sprites are in war against each other.
- the first guy draws the sprite of how his character attacks the other character
- then the other member must counter the attack with his character,
- anything goes. creativity is key.
- again, voting will decide.
-period:depends, if you run out of ideas, the comp is over.

these things are really fun to watch and follow how the picture/battle evolve.
although, im not sure if this will work here.
anyway, its just a thought.  ;D
would probably also not work as a weekly thing, more as once every few months or something..

I had an idea reletad to RON movies....
Movies created with AGS!!
I think title may be Movie competition.
Anyway here is the idea...

The host will supply a theme for a movie, maybe a max or min lenght for it and sets the lenght for the competition (should not exeed 2 months or be less than a week). Winner will be voted voting is for 3 days. The winner will start the next one. If someone want they can create throphy for this competition so everytime someone wins he/she can add throphy in his/her signature. ( Thropy will always be the same i would have maken it but I'm not that good artist but i visioned the oscar holding a blue cup).

Thats it.
TY for reading.

Thanks Mordalles for refreshening my memory. I had this spinning in my head for quite a while, but then I gave it a little rest and almost forgot it...

I thought of an activity where someone supplies a simple picture, and then people add something to that picture. Just one thing per person at a time, the things not having to relate to each other, just that it fits into the picture. A bit like the MSPaint game works, but drawing into the same picture with no set theme. Much like Mordalles' first idea, I know.

This kind of thing could also get out of hand very easily, so it should be quite strictly moderated, in my opinion. Not that the idea would make it through anyway.

Mordalles,

Quote from: Mordalles on Thu 29/06/2006 12:16:58although, I'm not sure if this will work here.

So... where does it work fine? If there`s such place, please link it, I`d like to see it in practice.

I like the idea, but in overall it`s a little too messy. I don`t also know if there will be enough people to follow the restrictions. Generally, we have too many competitions which are in "almost dead" stance.

i couldnt find the amazing background one, but i did find these:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=256950&highlight=nebezial
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=259672&highlight=nebezial
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=242860&highlight=mini-challenge

there are lots more of the threads, but not sure what to search for, so i can't find them all. it is a bit messy, but its just an idea.

Ok... I had an idea, I don't know if it is good, but as this post has specifically created for posting ideas, I don't think this could bother anybody...

"THE TRAVELLING BACKGROUND"

The idea is to make a competition involving all the processes involving the act of making a background, divided into:

-Sketch. A topic is provided an all the competitors make a sketch, a pencil sketch or a two-bit file. The best one wins, and OVER the BASE of WINNER sketch we advance to step 2. The host of the competition decides the restrictions, and who has made the best sketch. The winner hosts the next step.In the same thread all the non-winners entries are deleted and we go into step 2. The winner does not have the opportunity to enter in this activity till the next round. One week of time to complete it all.

-Step 2. Coloring. Now this activity is based in coloring, having special care in choosing the appropiate pallete to roughly colour the sketch. There's no need at all to put effort in detailing effects, shading, dithering or something... We want a "colour test" in a Yathzee's style... See "The Shivah" in GiP as a good example of what I mean. The author of the sketch where people is working decides the winner and the restrictions but it is a pallete making activity, it should be sensible to use a limited colours for this... maybe 50? Dunno. The winner hosts the next step. One week to work, submit the entries, and decide the winner.

Example:
(http://www.davelgil.com/shivah5.gif)

Coutesy of dr. Scary.  :)

-Step 3. Final step: Now it's the time to shoot all the artillery! With the coloured sketch and the winner pallete, do everything you want to make the better BG, even expanding the tones of the colour to reach 256, and adding tons of objects. The winner is decided by votation, one week for making and submitting the entries and one of voting. The winner of this last step hosts the next activity.

So, we have a good example of how to make a BG... I think it could be instructive, and not too messy, because the non winner entries should be deleted, and at the end we could only see 3 entries, showing 3 stepts to make a good BG.

I think that all these ideas will have some people interested and get people ot do them from time to time.

Heres an idea...

A hosting person will supply a basic room sprite or even just a character sprite...

What will then happen is that people will add more enviroment objects and characters to the scene...

A general theme can be selected. This winner will simply be the best atmospheric and creative entry.

i like farlander's idea, because that is a good way to improve your own background techniques. i myself suck at backgrounds, and think something like that would help me immensely.

News:
We have decided not to treat any new suggestions until the voting and the cleaning up is over with. Feel free to discuss current competitions and activities in the mean time.

Thanks Mordalles...

Just a couple of thoughts on the existing contests.

Photoshop Biweekly-
Interest has waned somewhat since DGMacphee handed it over to some loser who turned it into a regular winner-hosts-the-next contest. Ahem...

Like some of the less popular contests it often has good challenges, but few entries. Extending its length to a fortnight has helped, but I'd like to see it revitalised a little more.

Perhaps the host should provide at least one image which must be integrated into the entries. Or perhaps we could consider a photoshop-off to choose another regular host.


Coloring Contest-
This has been a bit of a mess, and is at the moment treading on the toes of the sprite jam. If it was renamed the Paintover Contest and didn't require a theme it might be fun. AGSers are always keen to paint-over work in the critics lounge. This would be an opportunity to do the same, but to subversive or comic effect.

I don't think it should be restricted to sprites either, any 2D line art ought to be submissible. I'll admit that this is close to the 'Sketch to Functional Background' contest but that doesn't seem to be running at the moment.

The other advantage of the name Paintover Contest, is that it wouldn't include the US spelling of 'colour'.

AGS ANNUAL COVER COMPETITION

(Copy and Pasted from the topic running in Adventure-Related Chat (See my Sig)).

The back of the case will included a list of the content of the disc, while the spine will match last year's annual, so entries should be limited to the front, which has a dimension of:

1536x2175 pixels (wxh)

Entries should be supplied as either TIFFs, PNGs or JPEGs (the less compression the better), and emailed to me:

mattgoble is my username, gmail is my account.  Hope that makes sense  ;)

Below is a link to last year's artwork (Not the greatest, I know, but a last minute, late night attempt by yours truly)

(http://img109.imagevenue.com/loc137/th_37263_AGS_ANNUAL_01_137lo.jpg) (http://img109.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=37263_AGS_ANNUAL_01_137lo.jpg)

What does the winner get?

Whether the 'winner' is coming to either Brittens or Mittens or not, I will send them a final copy of the annual, along with any other 'goodies' I can think of.

Ok I copied and pasted this from the monthly writng thread:

Just to raise a question, how many people feel that the writing competition is too long? Maybe we should reduce it to something like a bi-weekly competition? One week for entries and the next for voting and admin?

I mean, I feel that the competition takes place over WAAAAY too much time, and everybody had their entry in within 3 days anyway.

Just a thought, tell me you may think!

(I mean, just adding here, I may enter a lot more often if there were more topics to choose from. Waiting a month for a topic change because the current one doesn't really appeal to you is not very nice :( )

Anyway, tell me your thoughts!

No. I disagree. The Aesop's fable is an example in your favour, but most of the ones before it had people entering a day before the deadline. If you make the writing competitions only a week, you'll see less people entering who need to spend time on their writing. I write fairly quickly, but for one of my first compo's I spent 2 weeks chafing away at my entry before submitting it.

Writing often can't be forced, and forcing people to write within a week would be a silly thing. Limiting it to 3 weeks would probably be a wise decision, or maybe 2 weeks, but that's still a bit iffy.

I disagree also, I don't think writting activity should be made that frequently. If it's just short paragraphs like hiakus or poems (well poem competition was proven a failure here, one strong problem was that it's obviously a no no for those who're not fluent in the English language; while not everyone has artistic skill, the graphics and music etc. activities are different stories, as they can still attract attrendances from all over the world) it may be okay, but not when it's some short story (even if it's short story).

Moreover, if writting competitions are held too often it's more like school homeworks, which can reduce the interest of people and may even be a cause of th activities' deaths.

I like the writing contests because I have time enough to see if inspiration strikes. I also have time to start a story, scrap it, and start over.

In a week, I'd have to go with the first story, even though I'd hate it :P

The Junkard Game

A few teams are formed by regulars on the AGS forums.
Basically, I post a basic plot of the game, which is pretty basic, along with a bunch of random screenshots from classic games.
I also name the style of sprites, which could be anything.
Then, the teams have 15 days to make a game using background textures only from the screenshots, no where else.
After that, we vote, and the game gets featured as a Junkyard Game.

Well, what do you think?

EDIT:

Quote from: Andail on Fri 30/06/2006 12:04:55
News:
We have decided not to treat any new suggestions until the voting and the cleaning up is over with. Feel free to discuss current competitions and activities in the mean time.

Shoot...

That's a great idea alliance!

Well it sounds a bit just like the AGS Team Challenge activities, which never work properly.

Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Thu 27/07/2006 08:05:42
Well it sounds a bit just like the AGS Team Challenge activities, which never work properly.

Ah, give it a shot. You might like it.

It won't work out. If you like the idea, just sugjest it for MAGS. It'd be pretty much a one time thing anyway.

Quote from: Evil on Thu 27/07/2006 08:41:11
It won't work out. If you like the idea, just sugjest it for MAGS. It'd be pretty much a one time thing anyway.

Well okay then, I hereby suggest it as a MAGS.

If we are to make MAGS suggestions... I think it'd be cool to have a MAGS game with multiple playable characters and cooperative puzzle solving, like in Gobliins2 or Maniac Mansion. Just my $.2

Ok, it might not seem right to suggest something when I'm just a "cub" here, but I have an ideea. I didn't see it arround so I guess it hasn't been done.

Here we go...

Title: Monthly Character's Background
General description: This competition isn't educational so I guess it's entertaining. It's a writing contest. It is fairly simple, a character's name and a hypothetical game setting where he is now is given. An entry must contain the background of a character, how he got where he is and a description of his personality which is relevant to the current setting and somewhat representative of the name. Also, limit as to "how far back" can an entrant go may be provided.
Periodicity: Every month, on the 2nd, the rules will be announced. The deadline is the 25th. Or it can vary, the point is that it is supposed to be a monthly thing.
Type of competition: The winner will be decided one person every time. (hopefully me, or someone with good writing skills, not saying that I don't have good writing skills) The winner gets to set the setting, name, and period for the next month.
Thread administrator: The winner of the previous month will host the second month. If he can't, then the runner-up. The judge should remain the same.

So, that's my ideea. It's a writing contest, so it should permit creativity to flourish. I know my age, so please don't let that stop you from at least considering my ideea.

How about YAGS? Same as MAGS but goes on for a year, to encourage bigger and more games to apply. The Winner gets to do the following years etc.

Stee I think that's called the AGS awards ...

Quote from: Zor on Mon 11/09/2006 15:33:12
Stee I think that's called the AGS awards ...

Fair enough, but the ags awards isnt specific, such as design a game with two or more playable characters in which one is a giatn mushroom, etc which Mags does have.. Or Does it?...  :o

I think people are more happy making their own games than making a game with restrictive rules which process spans a whole year.

Fair point, just thought it was worth a shot. There must be at least a few people who would be interested. Its just that I noticed how some people never seem to hit the deadline for mags and its a shame because some late mags games are quite good. If not a year, then maybe a competition thats slightly longer than mags. Just my two cents.

The acid art

A destructive acid-force has come to town.People have to make an animation on a way to destroy it.

Quote from: neelhound on Wed 25/10/2006 14:54:02
The acid art

A destructive acid-force has come to town.People have to make an animation on a way to destroy it.

Sounds like "Animation competition" to me, but with a random and silly topic.

not really, there is a trick to it. There is something that needs to be figured out. I won't tell you yet...
But oh well, you probably think its stupid. You all think everything I say is stupid, and you all think i am stupid, because i am 13. Then you will say 'you never listen to what we say' but i do. But i am not complaining, i dont want an argument...

How can there be a "trick" to an animation competition?  The point is to be creative and make a good production, not to stumble onto something out of luck.

Gosh... what's the point of starting an argument if you've just had one with yourself?Ã,  I think you're safe.

But how the hell did you want us to know that the goal of the competition is to guess the way the host has thought of solluting the problem, if you don't tell us? Do you think we have a crystal ball or something?

You post links to your hard drive... I guess you expect that somehow we penetrate into it and look the screenies.
You want us to read a book you haven't typed. I guess you expect somehow we teleport into your home and read the manuscrit.
And now you want us to read your mind... I think you are not in the correct forum. You should go to http://www.superheroesRus.com/yabb

What about an hourgame competition? More like crapgame competition, though. It would run like MSPaint one: person makes a crapgame, posts it and makes a rule for the next game.

I would suggest a new competition in the lights of sprite jam and background blitz. A solution in between actually.

A competition where you compose and paint a character/scene in high-res/low-res (whatever). Sprite jam is too restrictive with the color and size limit and background blitz is all about a functional background, and as such there is no room for character creation and scene-playout. I realise it will take time to create such an image, but this works fine in the bg blitz. I've seen some beautiful character images from Mashy and some other people, so I know there is the possibility for multiple entries.

True, it's not quite relevant to the game-production theme going on in the forums but it's a great practice method and it can work as concept for a general scene from a game. Think as an example, the painting of a girl who could be the protagonist in a game, or a scene from a game, featuring a knight holding his sword ready to strike. Maybe a mythical beast or a homeless man asking for money.

some examples (though a bit advanced but well in the spirit of the competition) :
http://madeliene.republika.pl/black-unicorn.jpg
http://uk.games-workshop.com/darkelves/reference/images/cold-one-knight.jpg

The colour/size limits in Sprite Jam are set by whoever sets the rules, so if you don't like 'em, win it and don't set any...

The rest of the suggestion sounds like the occasionally held (but not for quite some time) 'Artitude' activity (old example (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=16367.0)). If there was enough interest, no doubt another round of that could be organised.
(Note: I don't think this is the place to drum up that interest, though.)

Maybe Its a moot point but, I'd like to see the return of the colouring contest. It is my understanding that it was killed for lack of intrest though.

Andail @ General discussion:

Quote- - Colouring ball is basically sprite jam "light"; a shortcut around the initial step of creating a sprite, and beside its, imho, fundamental flaws, it never caught much attention anyway. - -

"Not enough attention" is what I've been most surprised to see being said as a reason to end CB. It was almost constantly two pages with more than 10 entries, so I think it was fairly popular when compared to other competitions.

What comes to being "Sprite Jam Light", I can't see why that is such a big deal either? SJ might be more demanding, but I think CB wasn't stepping on it's toes in any way.

"Shortcut"? Having a ready-made lineart doesn't mean you should use the fill tool and make an entry in 10 seconds.

Ok, not enough attention is bad wording. The case is that we performed a public vote to determine the top 7 activities/competition, and the colouring ball didn't really get that many votes, simple as that.
If people liked it that much, why did they not vote for it?

At the time of voting, the Colouring ball had only been held once before and it hadn't gone so well (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27078.0), so no one knew what the competition was actually about.  I think if the voting had been held a few weeks later, there would have appeared to be much greater interest.

This is the last comp.

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=28453.0

Quite a few entries, all lovely.

A lot of people would like the colouring ball back I think. If I recall correctly the voting page, had a limit of 7 contest, so the colouring ball was left out.

I would also vote to start it again, although I never took part, and probably never (or very seldom) will... But I've never taken part in the Background blitz, and only once or twice in the sprite jam, but voted for them also. ;)

Allright, allright, you have convinced me.
I'm re-installing Colouring Ball as an official activity of this board.

PS:
I guess it's Progzmax's turn to start a new round. If he doesn't want to, the next one to reply here and express interest may have the honor.

If progZ aint interrested i could do it... :P

I sent PM to him days ago and didn't get reply, so maybe you, victOr, could start a new one. :)

Oh, I just noticed this.  No, I don't really want to host it so whoever wants to can!

Go ahead victor

You know, I really miss the writing contest. I think the biggest problems with it were that it was a monthly contest, so most people lost interest in it after writing a story in one day. Because the stories weren't that long. Except for the one I wrote that was 8 pages and never finished. And then the fact that only the ones who wrote usually had interest in reading and voting.

I would love to see the reincarnation of this contest, but perhaps with a two week system, and possibly the poetry contest integrated. I mean, writing a poem every now and then is still writing, and it'd be a good change. So I was hoping there were more of us who liked to read or write.

A writing contest sounds like a good idea.  Have you got any links to previous writing contests so I could see what sort of thing you used to do?

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=29096.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=28732.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=28328.0

The latest three. You can see the competition suffering as I mentioned. THey're all here, just be patient and go through the pages.

Ahhh.. I see... Nobody's interested... I wonder why that is? its a great creative exercise..
You should start one anyway Tuomas, and, like you say, decrease the deadline to 2 weeks (or maybe even one week).
Also, maybe it would work better if there was a tighter word limit. say between 500 - 1000 words. and maybe extra rules such as having to include 3 particular items in the story.
What do you reckon?

-

Hey, it only stopped because someone seems to have failed to start a new comp. When old competitions were pruned, it was, surprisingly, one of the ones to remain.

Stupot and VintageDemon, you didn't really get the spirit of the competition. Words limits are a BIG NO-NO in these things, so as to spark creativity - and if the comp-starter wanted to, he could always set limits himself. But the fun was, it could be a short poem or the prelude to a novel - anything, really. Also, "including 3 items" and such pre-supposed a story, a narrative. I've seen great writing exercises, extremely creative, that would never have happened with such, pardon me for saying, narrow-minded limits. And VintageDemon, with SO many things to choose from in a good piece of text, why should plot be the one thing that declares the winner? The fun of the whole thing was, since everybody has very different styles, it's the whole that appeals or not to the voters. It wasn't a quantifiable thing, and it certainly wasn't canonical. It was just about people choosing the ones they liked best.

Tuomas, the writing competition, in a way, always did include a poerty competition. If Stupot's example ever happened, it might not be possible, but it's not the case. Also, you've linked to some examples with very few restrictions, and for completeness' sakes I have to say I remember a couple of comps that DID have more restrictions - intelligent restrictions.

As for extending the deadline... well, give it a try, but there's a difference between "writing" and "banging a couple of ideas together". It's like the difference between a OROW and a MAGS. Now, there have been great OROW games, but mostly they could use with a lot more polish, while MAGS games usually have that extra level of detail.

Well, I guess it depends on what you're looking for. When I revived the comp, I wanted people to have the chance to actually develop their writing skills, or creativity, or whatever, so I gave them a whole month to do it. It worked - so much so that, surprisingly, it kept on going when many other competitions in this board were pruned. Right now it's on a bit of a standstill, so if you want to try something with other objectives, go ahead.

BTW, the rules in the previous comps were made by me and with the intent I just explained. If you do want to try another route, you'd better write some other set of rules.

I have an idea for a competition if everyone could humour me for a moment.

I've just bought a domain name, www.toxicsock.co.uk and I could do with a logo.
I could design it myself, but I thought what if I could set up a competition where I get YOU lot to design it for me.. and then I'll pick my favourite and use it on my site and I'll be sure to give credit where credits due...

Haha, sounds a bit lazy and selfish of me, but hear me out.
It could then be the winner's turn to set up a competition for something (be it a logo, or a sprite or a tune) that he/she needs for their website or game and each winner sets the next competition as we do with the other comps.

It could be called the "Make Me Something Useful" competition.

If any mods think it's a good idea please give me the go ahead to start it... or if its a bad idea, please tell me and I won't sulk.
What does everyone think?

No, I don't think its a good idea. It looks like a request for material thing more than a member activity, and it's too broad as there's no fixed target format of creation (so as a competition in some rounds it would clash with well operated Sprite Jam, Tune contest, etc., for non-competing general creation activity we have occasional Artitude already) which should be kept away here. You can start that in your own site though.

Thats ok.Ã,  Just an idea.Ã,  Thought it would be a nice angle, that the winning entries actually get used in some way. No worries, though, I can design my own logo.. it'll be gash though... hehe ;)

Ok, I guess I just wanted to write/enter more than opening the compo myself. But mostly because I don't see myself in the position of plainly changing completely good rules sir Pires made. I was just thinking if we could find a way to bring it back to life, but I'm pretty bad at making actions like that unless I'm drunk and that we don't want. So this is just a request for a new opened compo. Bah, I have to go catch my train, chat with you later!

How about this?

"The Greatest Backstory Game"

Basically, someone posts a link to a commercial from YouTube, and someone has to come up with a backstory to that commercial.

For example, a commercial showing a man feeding a dog and acting totally obsessed about it would be posted, and someone would post what the hell is going on.

Commercial-Man feeding dog.
Backstory- That's not his house...or his dog...

My dad and I do this kind of thing all the time whenever we're bombarded by five minutes of commercials.

-

Umm, what? Are you actually suggesting a topic for the blitz here? You know, there is a particular way in which you'll be able to contribute in the deciding of themes of competitions - It's called winning :D. Sorry to squash your noodle, but really dude...

ok so i started an activity but it got locked,ok so it said dont start this unless you have permission.  where do i get the permission to start an activity?

wait wait wait i just found it two seconds after i posted this. sorry.

Ok so I have an idea.  My idea for an activity is that i take just any ordinary picture from the internet, then i import it into paint.net (a paint program which allows you to save the picture to a jpeg format.)  Paint.net also lets you choose the quality of the picture.  I will choose the lowest quality for the picture and the other people that look at it will guess what it is.

So what do you think?

If you want to see what it would kind of look like,  I accidently posted one already but got it locked.  The picture was a golf ball.

The competition might take a few minutes or a few months... and there's really no sense of competition.

I just want to make my own activity!

[1]
I like this idea, Brad,  but it's more of a game than a competition.Ã,  Rather than being set a time limit to come up with something it's just a mere guessing game... but a fun one at that... maybe if you posted such a picture in the general fourm and then the first person to get it right can then make their own such picture, but make sure to keep them in the same thread, otherwise they might end up littering the forum.

[2]
I have an idea for a competition.  Everybody loves cut-scenes, but what about whole movies?.. or at least 10 minutes shorts.  How about using AGS to tell a story based on a loose theme given my the competition starter and winners thereafter, no gameplay allowed but gripping narrative and slick direction required.  I really like this, plase somebody else say it's a good plan!! :)

I actually like that idea, but there is one problem.

How do you make cutscenes in ags?

Ive benn searching everywhere and i cant figure it out.

Please help me in this category and ill submit in this contest!!!

There's a small section on how to make cutscenes in the tutorial:

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/acintro7.htm

I'ts basically using the AGS engine to tell the characters to move about and say things, while the player can sit back and just watch.  But you can also have animations and all sorts.

thanks man.  Yeah but if you start this competition then give them that link so that everyone knows.

Most will probably already know how to though.

But yeah thats a great idea.

OK, Here's my Official Competition Request.

* Title of activity
Cutscene Competition

* A thorough description of its concept and purpose
This competition is based on the fact that AGS can be used just aswell for non-playable scenes to tell a story as it can to make the games themselves. Cutscenes would be expected to last longer than 5 minutes.Ã,  The person who sets each contest will decide on a theme.Ã,  The winner will be the person who delivers the most original, sleek, and watchable cutscene of them all and does that best job at sticking to the theme.

* Periodicity (is that a word?... if so, Bravo!)
The contest will last about 4 weeks, but the person setting the contest has the right to shorten or lengthen it depending on how long he/she feels articipants would need.

* Type of competition
There will be a winner.Ã,  after the deadline for entries, the person who set the contest will then announce that voting is to take place.
Anyone can vote, regardless of wether or not they entered, and will be asked to choose their favourite entrant in each of the following categories:

*originality - straying away from the norm
*sleek direction - best use of colours, camera angles, lighting etc
*dialogue - not just best dialogue, but how the dialogue creates atmosphere
*sticking to the theme - does it do what the person who set the contest asked?


* Thread administrator:
I would start the contest and would be the person who announced the voting process and counted up the votes and announced the winner.Ã,  But my crown would be passed on to the first winner, and it would be up to him/her to set the next theme and announce the next voting process, and count up the votes and announce the winner, who would then take his crown.....

Thanks for taking the time to consider my request.

So what you are suggesting is basically MAGS with no gameplay?
Some things should be considered:
1. 5 minutes is quite a long time, a lot of good stories can be told in less time.
2. Originality. To get more participants usage of ready-made backgrounds and characters should be allowed. But who would provide these?

I also like the cutscene idea. Maybe you should call it movie competition or something since there is no game and the film you produce would technically not be at cutscene.
I agree that 5 minuttes is a long time. There's a big change that the movies will get boring a that length. I would say that 3 minuttes is more than enough. But then again that could also be up to the guy started the competition.
Well, enough of my ranting. I just wanted to say that I like the idea...

I second He-Man. I really like the idea.

Will my vote count? If so, I like the cutscene idea, it's like MAGS Jr. (or Chamber MAGS, if you prefer).

Also: music ( ~atmosphere ), shouldn't that be on the list?

I agree. I think it's a good idea, and I second the music category.

yeah i like that idea. for the rules on the time you could make it a minimun of of 2 min. but a maximum of about 5-6 min

I really think there isn't enough focus on actually making AGS games.  Sure the activities help, especially things like the BG Blitz and Sprite Jam, but the MAGS is the only regular games activity.

I'm quite aware that the MAGS doesn't get many entries, and I think that's simply due to it being very long and demanding.  Most people work alone, and the motivation to plough in several hours of work a day for a month, with no encouragement (in most cases) and a looming deadline is hard to find.

I'm suggesting a new game making activity similar to the ATC that runs once every 2 months.  A team of 3 people is given 2 weeks to produce a game.  Here is the timeline:

• Day 1: First day of month.  Participants have until the 10th to post in the activity thread to sign up.  All entrants names are collected and teams of 3 are randomly selected.  People may not form their own teams.
• Day 11: Teams are announced.  Team members are encouraged to contact each other during this time and check that they are still active.  Any members AWOL must be reported by the end of the 12th or the team must make do without.
• Day 13: Each team is given 2 quite strict sets of guidelines governing game theme, characters, puzzles etc.  Think MAGS but not so broad.  Each team in the competition has been given different guidelines (not sure about this).  Work, and planning, may now begin.  Some teams may prefer to spend more time planning.
• Day 29: Deadline.  Entries are posted in the activity thread by one team member.
• Day 30: Voting opens.
• Day ~ 40 (second month): Voting closes.  Winner announced.

I think this timescale might work quite nicely because people who begin a MAGS entry and give up can still apply to this activity if they are early enough.  With any luck they will have just been using AGS and their graphics/music programs for their MAGS entry so they are well prepared.  This competition differs from the ATC by being shorter and having randomly chosen teams, so hopefully more and less experienced members will be mixed together more evenly.  Newbies will learn from more experienced members and hopefully try their best to keep a high standard, but I'd like to add that this shouldn't be a fiercely competitive activity.

I remember being in an ATC and really enjoying it.  We had a randomised team (since those remamining without a team were grouped up) but had 2 AWOLS, which hopefully should not be able to happen so often here.

I wasn't sure where to put this so here I am.

I have a question about coloring ball. There has been none for over a month while before the chain was unbroken for some time. It seems that winner of the last one wasn't here since he won.

So I just thought I would bring this to attention since it seemed like a fun activity I could use to improve my inferior drawing skills ;)

Make an ultimate games competition with ultimate teams!

SimB, thats a great idea! If any of these competition ideas were actually used, i hope it would be yours.

Here's an idea I haven't seen--that doesn't mean it hasn't been suggested, just that I haven't seen it.  One of the big questions people always ask about AGS is "Can I make a role-playing game with this?" and the answer is always an emphatic "yes".  So, how about a competition for people to try to make the best RPG with AGS?  It would involve a little creative scripting, so it might not be a good competition for people new to the program, but it would be great for people with a little experience trying to get a little more.  Here's an idea for how it could work:

The Arpygags Competition
("Arpygags" = RPGAGS)
Create a role-playing game using only AGS as the engine.  The game MUST include:
-AT LEAST 5 different "stats" for the playable character(s).  These stats could be the traditional "hit points" and character attributes, or they could be something more creative.  Other ideas are a "Quest for Glory" type skill system, something similar to the "Eder Scrolls" games, or the Dungeons & Dragons system of stats used in games like "Baldur's Gate"
-It must be possible to improve the character(s) stats over time through the actions of the player.  The most traditional way of doing this has always been killing monsters of some sort to get "experience points", but players are encouraged to go against traditional and be innovative.
-There must be some kind of combat system.  This could be an action system, a timed-command type system like Diablo or Icewind Dale, a pure menu-based system like Final Fantasy, or something completely new and different.  It should be possible to enter combat at least TWICE in the game.
-There must be AT LEAST 3 "side-quests".  A side-quest for these purposes is defined as a task the player is not required to perform to win the game, but which improves the character(s) in some way--i.e. by improving his/her stats or by giving them a useful inventory item.
-Competitors are not required to have more than "joinable" character in the playable party, but they are encouraged to have at least two characters that the player can control.

Competitors could have 3 months in which to submit their RPG, to give plenty of time to make a good one.  The winner would be chosen by a voting system similar to the way MAGS works.  As for how the thread would be maintained...right now I just see this as a one-time competition, but if people want more rounds, it could be done.  Perhaps whoever wins each round could add one new rule to the requirements.

This is just an idea.  From the requirements, you can see that even a bare-bones RPG would be acceptable.  Of course, if someone builds a seventy-skill system and has a complex battle system which is used many many times and includes twenty side-quests to boot, they will probably be more likely to win.

Any thoughts?

Quote from: SimB on Sat 31/03/2007 20:42:00
I really think there isn't enough focus on actually making AGS games.  Sure the activities help, especially things like the BG Blitz and Sprite Jam, but the MAGS is the only regular games activity.

I'm quite aware that the MAGS doesn't get many entries, and I think that's simply due to it being very long and demanding.  Most people work alone, and the motivation to plough in several hours of work a day for a month, with no encouragement (in most cases) and a looming deadline is hard to find.

I'm suggesting a new game making activity similar to the ATC that runs once every 2 months.  A team of 3 people is given 2 weeks to produce a game.  Here is the timeline:

• Day 1: First day of month.  Participants have until the 10th to post in the activity thread to sign up.  All entrants names are collected and teams of 3 are randomly selected.  People may not form their own teams.
• Day 11: Teams are announced.  Team members are encouraged to contact each other during this time and check that they are still active.  Any members AWOL must be reported by the end of the 12th or the team must make do without.
• Day 13: Each team is given 2 quite strict sets of guidelines governing game theme, characters, puzzles etc.  Think MAGS but not so broad.  Each team in the competition has been given different guidelines (not sure about this).  Work, and planning, may now begin.  Some teams may prefer to spend more time planning.
• Day 29: Deadline.  Entries are posted in the activity thread by one team member.
• Day 30: Voting opens.
• Day ~ 40 (second month): Voting closes.  Winner announced.

I think this timescale might work quite nicely because people who begin a MAGS entry and give up can still apply to this activity if they are early enough.  With any luck they will have just been using AGS and their graphics/music programs for their MAGS entry so they are well prepared.  This competition differs from the ATC by being shorter and having randomly chosen teams, so hopefully more and less experienced members will be mixed together more evenly.  Newbies will learn from more experienced members and hopefully try their best to keep a high standard, but I'd like to add that this shouldn't be a fiercely competitive activity.

I remember being in an ATC and really enjoying it.  We had a randomised team (since those remamining without a team were grouped up) but had 2 AWOLS, which hopefully should not be able to happen so often here.

Ok, this needs a bit more attention than my "make ultimate teams" post...


Firstly. Team competitions are really good for the start, especially for the people who have the will and quite possibly some talent to do an adventure game, but somehow haven't managed to finish any. I remind that teamwork keeps teammembers motivated, you don't do it just for yourself.

Secondly. I remember my participation in 72 hour game development contest (create any kind of game, from scratch, for a given theme, in 72 hours) and it was really fun! We didn't quite manage to finish the game 100%, but it was at least playable. Dates were set on a most logically suitable period and there were no further discussion, those who were "buzy" on those times, had to suite themselves by their own, and it worked very well. I even had school and ended up just fine.

Thirdly. I am not 100% shure about random teams. What if team gets three non-programmers or something? Well, I guess these things can be sorted out, but still. But apart from that, random teams would make the competition much more fun, if time zones match (in a longer period, it might be a problem. But in shorter period, like 72hgdc, it probably doesn't make much difference, since everybody is going to get as few sleep as possible  ;D )

Fourth. Whats an AWOL?


Fifth. Mods, admins, gods, authorities, where are you?

AWOL = Absent WithOut Leave, meaning they've joined the competition and then disappeared off the face of the Earth.  I'm really surprised the idea got any interest, hopefully if enough people approve it might get off the ground.

Quote from: radiowaves on Wed 11/04/2007 19:25:00
Fifth. Mods, admins, gods, authorities, where are you?

At least I'm here, just didn't think we have good enough reasons to start any new activities at the moment,

I've had this idea for awhile.  It's called the "Chris Jones working on a new version of AGS animation".  Hopefully, it would be part of one of the existing animation competitions... Sprite jam or whatever it fits in. 

It would last a couple weeks I should think and the winner would host the next competition.  I just thought it would be fun to see how people would animate Chris working.  No limits on colours and the size could be changed to fit what your idea is.

Here is the basic sprite

(http://theatrx.8m.com/Chris%20Jones1.gif)

Well, since you are supposed to be hosting new animation competition, why not make this the theme? ;)

Yes, it is Theatrx's prerogative to start a new Animation competition.  And the theme is brilliant!  I'll PM him to start a new Animation Competition thread.

Well you might think it's a silly idea but here it goes:
1.
Goal: Is to make most advanced and greatest game WITHOUT using ANY
script
2.Details: You'll have a month for it. You CANNOT use any module/plugin/template.
There will be a qualification round where you give your game in EDITABLE form
so the judges can check that you havent used script. You can use the defult template.
Then you have one month to create the game for the competiton.(if you are qualified!)

Well thats all. You can add plus rules if you want. ;)

Quote from: Wtcq on Wed 02/05/2007 10:28:51
Goal: Is to make most advanced and greatest game WITHOUT using ANY
script

What would be the point of that? If you count the interaction editor, you can basically make whatever you like but you're just restricting people to a somewhat awkward method. If you don't allow the IE either, you can't feasibly make a game, just a bunch of graphics and sounds.

Ok mates, I'm going to start resurrecting the writing contest. With the original rules, except only this time, you'll have 2 weeks + additional time if needed, and encouraged poetry contest included, which means you can try all the ways of the art of typewriting. So I want votes, raised hands to be sure people will contribute. The wish is to start it tomorrow, on monday, but if there's not enough people willing to enter, I shall either delay it or hang myself.

Though I got some suggestionsto keeping this a seasonal contest that lasts longer, and is then opened only like 4-5 times a year, and that way could only work with just one host. Well, I volunteer ;D Seriously though, the topic could be discussed together, but it's true, people might find it easier to write if they had more time. And they'd stay interested if it was a seasonal thing, so that there wouldn't be one all the time. Ok, this is choise nr 2 and the one above is choise nr 1. please tell me how you feel.

I *really* want the writing comp back. I'd enter regularly in whatever version of the comp. is allowed to come back :)

I don't think the mods read this thread anymore.
Someone should just cheekily start a writing contest/activity without permission.
I would do it, but, errr, I left the cat in the washing machine...

The thing is, people want adventure related subjects and I'm bad at that :)

Quote from: Stupot on Wed 22/08/2007 10:43:11
I don't think the mods read this thread anymore.

I do, whenever there're new posts.
Actually I'm aware of the recent "bring back writing contest" or "bring in a new writing activity" business. Lo_res_man did send me a pm about this pointing me to the recent discussion thread. I had replied but so far he doesn't reply yet.

Quote
Someone should just cheekily start a writing contest/activity without permission.
I would do it, but, errr, I left the cat in the washing machine...

Don't do this unless you're authorised to do so, we don't want people to start new activities whenever they come up with random new ideas.

Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Wed 22/08/2007 11:34:56

Quote
Someone should just cheekily start a writing contest/activity without permission.
I would do it, but, errr, I left the cat in the washing machine...

Don't do this unless you're authorised to do so, we don't want people to start new activities whenever they come up with random new ideas.

Hehe... It's OK, I haven't got the balls to break the rules... my membership means a lot to me.

The GIF fighting estafette:

The host starts by making a small animation of two characters preparing for a fight. The drawing should be basic and easy to copy.
Then guys who partisipate in the competition make a "sequel" to the first one by, showing the first blow, attack, shot, kick or whatever.
The host chooses the best one if these are more than one.
Then competitors draw a sequel to this one too and so on.
When everyone are out of ideas the host makes the final animation of how the fight ended and posts the whole fight.

Everyone who contributed (including the host) choose the best  "sequel" by voting. Voting for yourself is not alloved.

 How about some kind of Movie Making contest.

Each [let's say] month, participants have to make a movie and the winning movie is chosen by the host who gets to set the rules for the next following contest.

The host of each 'month' can decide:
The theme of the movie
The Length... (maybe between 5 and 15 minutes long).
A particular Genre.
The media allowed to make the movie.. (video, flash, whaever)
Any other rules he or she fancies adding.

Winner's will be decided by a voting process where everyones vote is worth one point except the Host's whose vote is worth three points.

I know this isnt really related to adventure gaming, but it's a good way to get people being creative and theres nothing to stop a host from making AGS-related rules such as 'Make a fight scene involving two AGS characters', or something.

What do you reckon?

Quote from: Stupot on Mon 12/03/2007 22:13:16
I have an idea for a competition.  Everybody loves cut-scenes, but what about whole movies?.. or at least 10 minutes shorts.  How about using AGS to tell a story based on a loose theme given my the competition starter and winners thereafter, no gameplay allowed but gripping narrative and slick direction required.  I really like this, plase somebody else say it's a good plan!! :)

You're quoting yourself now? Or repeating yourself?

Haha... you have a better memory than I, Rui.
Nice to know someone's keeping an eye out for me.  ;)

Although it's slightly different because in the old post I was on about using AGS to make something, but this time round I'm just talking about using a camera, or any other means, really.

Well ok. Listen to this one...
How about there is a monthly/week/whatevery competition by the name
AGS Show

1. Description
AGS Show is a competition where people make a game (possibly very short) based on the AGS show idea.
AGS Show is like Friends are. A comedy show that is. Except that instead of the characters in friends famous AGS or basically adventure gaming characters will star on each episode. The story of each episode can be decided by the author of each game. The winner of each competition will set the output of the next episode. I could create an episode myself just to let you see the idea.

I hope you are aware that there already was an AGS Show (http://americangirlscouts.org/agswiki/AGS_Show), right?

I've recently been playing a fair few 'Escape the Room' games.  They are quite handy for people who want a quick point n click fix but don't have a lot of spare time.

How about we have either:

a) a monthly/weekly/fortnightly 'Escape the Room' contest where the winner of each contests sets the next theme, as per most other contests or...

b)We have a long running thread wherewe can all can submit Escape the Room games as and when we like and keep an updated list in the first post.

I quite like the sound of 'b'.  This way is is more 'activity' than 'competition' and can be on going.  Also it would be could practise for people who want to concentrate on the puzzle element of their games rather than getting bogged down with backgound art.

Any takers?

Quote from: Stupot on Tue 15/01/2008 11:51:17
I've recently been playing a fair few 'Escape the Room' games.  They are quite handy for people who want a quick point n click fix but don't have a lot of spare time.

How about we have either:

a) a monthly/weekly/fortnightly 'Escape the Room' contest where the winner of each contests sets the next theme, as per most other contests or...

b)We have a long running thread wherewe can all can submit Escape the Room games as and when we like and keep an updated list in the first post.

I quite like the sound of 'b'.  This way is is more 'activity' than 'competition' and can be on going.  Also it would be could practise for people who want to concentrate on the puzzle element of their games rather than getting bogged down with backgound art.

Any takers?

Count me in.

Quote from: FSi on Fri 18/01/2008 15:45:42

Quote from: Stupot on Tue 15/01/2008 11:51:17
I've recently been playing a fair few 'Escape the Room' games.  They are quite handy for people who want a quick point n click fix but don't have a lot of spare time.

How about we have either:

a) a monthly/weekly/fortnightly 'Escape the Room' contest where the winner of each contests sets the next theme, as per most other contests or...

b)We have a long running thread wherewe can all can submit Escape the Room games as and when we like and keep an updated list in the first post.

I quite like the sound of 'b'.  This way is is more 'activity' than 'competition' and can be on going.  Also it would be could practise for people who want to concentrate on the puzzle element of their games rather than getting bogged down with backgound art.

Any takers?

Count me in.

What he said.

I agree as well, and furthermore suggest it be a thread on Completed Game Board, alongside with the Hour Games thread.

Yeh, good idea.
That'll keep them all in one place.

I have an idea for a contest for the best graphic posted which must fit only this rule: they must
be made using 5 colors or less. The contest will be open until the 20th of february and its purpose is pure entertainment. The winner will be elected by me.
This contest will be monthly and the rules will remain the same. Each winner will get a trophee with the month of the contest.
So, I'll be expecting your opinion

Quote from: Ferdinand on Sun 27/01/2008 07:25:59
I have an idea for a contest for the best graphic posted which must fit only this rule: they must
be made using 5 colors or less.

This will most likely result in black-and-white stick-figure games... Could become a trend, though.

This will most likely result in black-and-white stick-figure games... Could become a trend, though.
[/quote]
Could be possible, though i came up with the idea because when I attempted at my first sprites, i managed to do some with very few colors, for example I made a tree using only four colors. I don't know how to post an image here, though (Help!).

The smart approach:
Upload the image somewhere (ImageShack isn't too bad)
copy the "form link" they provide
put the forum link into your text between [ url ]  [ /url ] (without spaces)

It's nice that you managed to create a low-colourcount sprite, and I see some potential in making a game with a restricted palette, but not interesting enough to make a full game competition. It's like a challenge to eat a chinese meal with a spoon.

But my idea wasn't to create a game, but to see how good are the graphics people can manage to do with such a restricted pallette. As you say, it's quite easy to make a 4 color sprite, but it's hard to make the best among the other contestants, and besides I though it would be a good way of practising sprite making with few colors, which comes in handy when creating a game. still, i'd have to see if anyone's interested.
BTW, thanks for the tip on image posting. :)
http://www.freewebs.com/definitivegaze/New%20Text%20Document.html (http://www.freewebs.com/definitivegaze/New%20Text%20Document.html)

I have a whacky idea.  I've created the beginnings of a game called Lock Up.  One Room..  it could be more if you choose.  If I submit all the code and characters and rooms... and the competition is completing the game...  Would that be a good competition to see who came up with the best game?  8 characters...  If you're interested let me know.  Steve

Sorry,can i ask something?
I havent been visiting ags forum for quite some time,i noticed that the backround blitz ceased to exist.What happened to it! I really liked that!

Background Blitz is now called Mockup Blitz, where you have to create a background, a character and an interface all at once. BB isn't dead, it's up to the winner to decide whether there will be a round of BB or MB.

About the Mockup Blitz:

It's nice to see that it's relatively popular and there have been some really great entries already considering the short time it's running here.
I'm a bit disappointed though about the fact the there are many entries which don't exactly qualify as mockups. They look more like concept art, not actual in-game screenshots.
While the setting and theme are important, a mockup is all about showing an actual background and actual in-game sprites, together with a working GUI (and cursor), not just a general idea how a game is supposed to look.

It's primarily a graphical activity, not a conceptual one.

The same is more or less true about the Sprite Jam and Animation Competition.
People try to be funny, posting flash generated content or even animations using downscaled photos they got from google image search.
Both activities are meant to get people to draw stuff that can be used in a game immediately.

Am I the only one who sees it this way?

OH,i see!
Thank you Nihylist!

I'm pretty new so I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to re-suggest.
I have noticed that there was once a now discontinued story writing contest, was this due to a lack of interest?  I would be VERY interseted in participating if this comp was reinstated.

Sorry again if this is not an appropriate post.

I've got a really crappy  idea for a competition: It would be called "Your favorite" and it would begin with me as a host, then it would be host by the winner, and then by the next winner and so on. (The winner would be chosen by the host). The host ask the contestants to draw a sprite or a scene depicting their favorite.... (band, movie, video game, book, country, historical character, t.v. show, etc.). With some stuff such as books or movies, the contestant can either draw a character from the book or movie or a famous scene from it, such as romeo and Juliet in the balcony scene, or Darth Vader telling Luke he is his father, or the UFO attacking the white house in Independence Day, etc.
So if the host says "draw your favorite band" you can draw the beatles, the who, the rolling stones, etc.
If he says "draw your favourite video game" you can draw something related to mortal kombat, monkey island, DOTT, etc.

I hope that i could make the idea clear. Sorry if it's hard to understand but I don't speak english good enough.

Definately a good idea Ferdy.
And your english is better than you think... ;)

Thanks, and I certainly hope some more people dig the idea too. I'm waiting to hear opinions.
By the way, when or how will I know if I can start this game thread?

Quote from: Mr. Suit on Sun 02/03/2008 05:49:55
Thanks, and I certainly hope some more people dig the idea too. I'm waiting to hear opinions.
By the way, when or how will I know if I can start this game thread?

You wait for mods to approve (not that I think they will).

And how are mods going to let me know? Do they send a message or directly answer in this thread?

Either way may be possible. But if you don't get an approval after some time, consider the idea scraped.

Where the hell did Photoshop Friday go? Bring that back.

Blame TerranRich (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=31714.0)!

Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Mon 03/03/2008 20:38:29
Either way may be possible. But if you don't get an approval after some time, consider the idea scraped.

Does that mean my 'Escape the Room' idea (see page 6) has been scrapped?
Everybody seemed up for that  :'(

Quote from: Stupot on Mon 03/03/2008 22:53:25

Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Mon 03/03/2008 20:38:29
Either way may be possible. But if you don't get an approval after some time, consider the idea scraped.

Does that mean my 'Escape the Room' idea (see page 6) has been scrapped?
Everybody seemed up for that  :'(

Well, it wasn't that much of a competition, more like a hourgames thread.

And how long should I wait before I know my idea is doomed? I was really into it. :(

You must wait until your intuition tells you to either bother the mods via spamming or to develop the idea and start lobbying it :D

OK , so I'll just wait I few days. Also, If I just go ahead and start the thread myself, it's under the risk of being deleted, right?

Presumably yes.

Crap. Really, how often do competitions posted here get the mods' approval?

I think the problem with your idea, Mr. Suit, is that, like a lot of the ideas in this thread, it's a subset of an existing competition.  What I mean is, you could win either the Sprite Jam or the Background Blitz and then declare "Draw your favorite [insert item here]" as the topic.  The new competitions that get started are usually wildly different from other competitions out there (but still somehow connected to the skills used for the development of adventure games) or are twists on older competitions that are attempts at reviving dead competitions.  (Like the writing competition was recently revived as a ministory competition, and has now morphed into the chain story.)

Too many same-same competitions end up decreasing the participation across the board, which is why the mods don't approve many new comps.

OK, so I'll just keep on trying to come up with something new, thanks.  :)

What happened to Photoshop Phriday/Biweekly? It's not crossed out in the forum charter (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=5477.0), yet there hasn't been one since last summer. I really enjoyed those since it was something fun you could whip up in a couple of hours and didn't require the commitment and time of most other competitions.

Actually, I apparently killed that one!  I had only one response to the last photoshop comp which I declared the winner and then... nothing... That would be a good competition to revive with some fresh new idea.  I also really enjoyed that competition!

Edit:  a suggestion for reviving Photoshop Phriday.

-The host (previous winner) provides five or six source images.  Contestants must make an image using at least two or three (or all, I suppose it's up to the host) of the source images and try to make something creative.  This may be more successful since it gives the participants starting images rather than just a theme.

Example: http://www.crestock.com/blog/design/photoshop-contest-07-round-3-winner-announcement-111.aspx

Great idea, Vince. I don't think it should necessarily be a constant feature, because it would be a shame to put too many limitations on  unpredictable themes like "game title anagrams" and whatnot. But providing a number of source images as a theme in itself is an excellent idea and adds to the variety of the competition.

How about a competition where the task is to design the packaging for an existing AGS game? or perhaps a poster or something.

So I would start the thread and say 'You have to design a DVD-style case cover for A Cure for the Common Cold'  or 'a poster for Lone Case'...

I would then choose a winner who would then choose the next game and format.

It would be interesting to see how characters and worlds created by one AGSer are restyled by others for the purposes of packaging and promotion.

How about it?

[NOTE - I'd appreciate a 'yes' or 'no' from a mod... it's the least we deserve for putting the time into proposing an idea.  Thanks]

[NOTE 2 - 2 weeks later - Even a PM saying, 'No, Stu, fuck off, your ideas are shit' would be better than nothing. Thanks]

That sounds like a good theme for the revived Photoshop Phriday, Stupot.

When is the next AGS chain story comp gonna start?  ???

Since there's been so much enthusiasm for the chain story or 'grandiose writing project', why don't we have an individual writing competition?

Every fortnight we set a topic like say, 'the sea' or 'road trip' and everyone writes their own short story. Everyone votes on their favorite and the winner gets to chose the next topic. It's a chance for people to improve their writing skills.

I reckon this would be wildly popular, opinions on a postcard please.

There was the writing compo yes. It died. I tried to revive it several times... hmm... I'm completely with you if we should bring the monthly writing contest back as a running activity.

Yeh this seems to be something that everyone is up for but it never happens because it died ages ago...
Thing is, there's loads more new people, and I'm sure all the veterans would be reinvigorated if it started back up again.

Sure, there's always the probability that it might die another death on a few months time, but what's wrong with trying?

No point requesting it here though, I'm still waiting for a yes or no answer on pretty much all of my previous requests.

Look, last time I re-started the writing comp because I thought "it would be fun to do", I PMed a mod, got permission, and went ahead and did it.

Someone PM a mod, ask, say it's BEEN suggested, it's even survived the comp prune, and get permission and get it rolling.

And while you're at it, ask them to bring back the Coding Competition, too.  ;)

heres something i was brewing in the general discussion forum:

BMAGS

What is BMAGS?  How does it differ from MAGS?
BMAGS is a bi-monthly competition for beginner users of AGS.  (bi-monthly meaning it occurs every two months)  By beginner, we mean you have less than four months, or no experience in AGS.  Therefore you can only enter twice, before we think you are ready to take on MAGS, and possibly even going solo into the world of game development.  We have to trust you in saying you are a beginner, because if your not you are only cheating yourself.

What are the rules?
The rules are that you must follow the competitions guidelines, chosen by the previous winner, and the game must be submitted by the deadline.
It's all for fun, and LEARNING.

The winner will be chosen according to a number of things:
-   The creativity they have used in there game.  i.e. how well they have used the guidelines to create an interesting storyline
-   The concept of the graphics.  You don't have to be a great artist, because we are going to judge you on whether you've had a good crack at it and thought about your graphics.
-   Whether they have followed the guidelines.  The guidelines are only there to help spark your imagination.  But you must follow them.

But it's not all for winning.  In fact winning's got little to do with it.  Indeed, it's good to win, but you want to LEARN from this experience.

We'll try to give everyone a comment and tip, so learning can be achieved!

Anybody caught cheating or attempting to enter when they aren't a beginner will be disqualified and perhaps the mods could help me out a little bit...

I ask that if Nagania's application is denied that she at least be allowed to let people know about his competition that would be run in the Adventure-related talk and chat forum, that he may be permitted to post a thread in this forum advertising his competition, this is because his idea is for beginner's and let's not kid herself, beginner's hardly ever both with the Adventure-related talk and chat forum, I know I didn't when I was new here and I suspect neither did many of our long time members when they began to use this forum. No other forum will allow him to do so in their rules and I doubt it'll largely detract from beginner's interest in our official completions and actives here. If he is willing to take such a big risk and put a lot of time and effort into it, then shouldn't he be granted just one post here about it?

the whole idea of a competition exclusively for beginners is, in my opinion, really stupid.
not all beginners are of the same level and there's absolutely no way to enforce any rule excluding people who you deem to not be beginners from entering, and you can't even go on how long somebody has been a member either. i've been a member of the forums for 5 years now and i still consider myself a beginner due to my scripting ability being rather terrible, but perhaps it's better than that of somebody who has only been around for 6 months or so, or less than somebody who has been here for 2 months but has a better grasp of scripting... you see where i'm going with this? and it doesn't just apply to scripting either.
the current MAGS is non-exclusive so that anyone can enter, the only possible reason beginners may want their own competition is so that their "terrible" games stand a chance of winning, and that's a really petty reason. PLUS nobody is stopping anyone from following the MAGS rules and NOT entering it, in fact i think taking the MAGS rules and trying to make a game is a good thing for beginners to do as it means they don't have to come up with an overly original idea of their own.

Quote from: BOYD1981 on Mon 07/04/2008 01:46:56
the whole idea of a competition exclusively for beginners is, in my opinion, really stupid.
not all beginners are of the same level and there's absolutely no way to enforce any rule excluding people who you deem to not be beginners from entering, and you can't even go on how long somebody has been a member either. i've been a member of the forums for 5 years now and i still consider myself a beginner due to my scripting ability being rather terrible, but perhaps it's better than that of somebody who has only been around for 6 months or so, or less than somebody who has been here for 2 months but has a better grasp of scripting... you see where i'm going with this? and it doesn't just apply to scripting either.
the current MAGS is non-exclusive so that anyone can enter, the only possible reason beginners may want their own competition is so that their "terrible" games stand a chance of winning, and that's a really petty reason. PLUS nobody is stopping anyone from following the MAGS rules and NOT entering it, in fact i think taking the MAGS rules and trying to make a game is a good thing for beginners to do as it means they don't have to come up with an overly original idea of their own.

Did you miss this part from his explanation of a beginner. Here's the quote from his post that defines it, "By beginner, we mean you have less than four months, or no experience in AGS." So if you've been a member for more than 4 months chances are you have been using it for longer than that but even so let's say more like a forum member for at least a year. Give me a reasonable example of why someone would be a member of these forums for at least a year and not have been using AGS for at least just over a month?

Also who said their MAGS game would even be hosted on this site?They can probably show their trophy in the forums and announce publicly to others they made it and it won, even distribute through various sites using that but anybody who knows it was a beginner's MAGS contest will probably not be expecting a stellar game anyway.

Quote from: rock_chick on Mon 07/04/2008 02:08:44
Give me a reasonable example of why someone would be a member of these forums for at least a year and not have been using AGS for at least just over a month?

Just off the top of my head, this hypothetical person loves adventure games, by which I mean loves playing them. Only this person has ran out of commercial adventure games to play so they have come here to play some good amateur games. They have no interest in creating them. We have lots of these people here.

Why do you care so much anyway? Hell, you've been registered for a longer time than I have so that would cut you out of the beginner-category, would it not? And why are people debating this so much instead of doing it since they so much want to see it happen?

I now think this whole idea is pointless and am not involved anymore, however I still hope things work out if they could.

Nice. If we ignore the rule about being a forum member less than a year then it looks like I would qualify for the beginners competition.  ;D Roughly counting I have two months experience with AGS (one month when I failed to finish a MAGS entry and another month when I did finish one (http://odottamaton.raah.fi/)).

Isn't MAGS a competition that already serves to give people motivation, get people to work on something, etc? Isn't that the perfect way to get beginners to join in?

But anyway, I second Pablo. If people want to see it happen, let it happen. And we'll see the turn-out it has.

Quote from: Pablo on Mon 07/04/2008 03:21:46
They have no interest in creating them. We have lots of these people here.

I agree. I've known AGS since 2003 or something, and even though I've played games, I've never used AGS itself to create games. Some people love coding and programming, and others like me who enjoy writing stories which can be used as scenarios, or drawing, translating, etc  :)

so... do i have the go ahead or not?????

Since there're A LOT of text about BMAGS (both here and that other thread in AGS gen), I don't have time (and I don't wanna) to read them all, but from what I guess (correct me if I am wrong), it's just MAGS for "beginners", with more time and possibly lower expected standard for the games.

If that's the case I'm not convinced to let this proceed.

Like people had mentioned, we don't really need one extra competition that's so similar to MAGS. Furthermore, whether there will be a reasonable number of competitors is questionable. Afterall, MAGS is open to everyone, so there's no restriction on whether beginners can enter or not. Even if a "beginner" submits a subpar entry to it which won't win, no one is losing anything, as all activities here are mainly for fun and practice, if you win you don't get concrete rewards like money or prizes, if you lose you lose nothing.

In my opinion, if this is solely for beginners, it shouldn't even be a competition (in case, 1. games may not be of good enough quality to be ranked, or 2. some of the "beginner" participaters make amazing entries which makes the other entries immposible to compete). However, in that case, I think "beginners" can also hijack the hour games thread a bit (I think most people won't care much about whether you use an hour or a year to make a short game) and post their games there.

Just my opinion, unless someone can kindly summarise what you want to do in three lines of words I don't think I'll look deeper into this idea.

ok, thats cool ill forget about it

I just found out about an old competition that I thought was really cool, it was "Photoshop Biweekly: Using your favourite editing program, modify a picture to fit the theme of the week".
Referring to this thread http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=5477.0
it doesn't have a line through it, meaning it should still be active but it doesn't seem to have been running for almost 2 years.
With all the competitions that already exist and that involve graphic only work I think maybe bringing it back as run once a month or if that seems too long, once a fortnight. Of course this has nothing to do with how long each competition would run for, the same time as before seemed fine, it would just mean there'd be more time between each competition. What does anyone else think?

Quote from: Jack Sheehan on Tue 25/03/2008 15:31:03
Since there's been so much enthusiasm for the chain story or 'grandiose writing project', why don't we have an individual writing competition?

Every fortnight we set a topic like say, 'the sea' or 'road trip' and everyone writes their own short story. Everyone votes on their favorite and the winner gets to chose the next topic. It's a chance for people to improve their writing skills.

I reckon this would be wildly popular, opinions on a postcard please.

As a writer of sorts myself I love this idea, what's the status on it, did it get rejected or has no one pmed a mod about it yet?

Oh, again? :P

There's been a writing comp, it generated interest. Eventually the last person to win didn't start a new thread.

It's worth bringing back to life, yeah. :P It's also been discussed in this thread, if you want more particulars.

Quote from: Rui 'Trovatore' Pires on Tue 08/04/2008 21:27:08
Oh, again? :P

There's been a writing comp, it generated interest. Eventually the last person to win didn't start a new thread.

It's worth bringing back to life, yeah. :P It's also been discussed in this thread, if you want more particulars.

I noticed it has that's why I asked if anyone had done anything about, like pming a mod to get a serious yay or nay. I'd do it myself but just coming into this whole thing means I would probably not be able to make a proper argument. So many ideas are mentioned here and then others come along and agree they like it but then nothing happens and it just seems that if something has enough support why don't they ever get official replies from mods? I know they're busy people with real lives but I thought that was the whole purpose of this thread?

She's right. "We've already discussed it" is not a valid excuse for having a terribly skewed competition section. What is it, 10 art competitions, 1 programming competition and 0 writing ones?

That's not what I meant. :P I'm basically tired of people talking about writing comps over and over again. There's obviously interest, someone PM a mod already!

Quote from: Rui 'Trovatore' Pires on Sun 13/04/2008 13:33:27I'm basically tired of people talking about writing comps over and over again. There's obviously interest, someone PM a mod already!

Since I'd also like more writing comps, I PM'd a mod and got the green light.

The basic idea will be this:
A subject will be given, write a story of around 200-350 words about this subject.
The competition will last two weeks: 12 days to enter, 2 days to vote.

All you fledgling writers keep an eye on the competition thread, I'll post the first FORTNIGHTLY WRITING COMPETITION in a few days.

That's great, I shall be very interested in entering when it starts. Will the winner of the comp get to choose the next subject and will there be any trophies involved, I ask that because so many of the others have them and it could just be one that never changes, also will there will runners up?

Now on to another older subject, is there any, serious interest in bringing back the Photoshop Biweekly competition?

I pm'ed Andail about this and he basically said yes, but wait til after the end of the group writing compo, so have patience people.

Quote from: rock_chick on Mon 14/04/2008 14:38:42Will the winner of the comp get to choose the next subject and will there be any trophies involved, I ask that because so many of the others have them and it could just be one that never changes, also will there will runners up?

My idea is to have first, second and third places. Winner chooses next topic.
You really want a trophy to put in your signature?

Quote from: Jack Sheehan on Mon 14/04/2008 14:48:47I pm'ed Andail about this and he basically said yes, but wait til after the end of the group writing compo, so have patience people.

If you're referring to the writing competition, there might be a slight conflict, since I pm'ed Gilbot yesterday and he might not have known about this.

Quote from: rock_chick on Mon 14/04/2008 14:38:42
Now on to another older subject, is there any, serious interest in bringing back the Photoshop Biweekly competition?

Yes.

yup.

Hey I've never gotten a trophy for anything, I've had stuff published(unpaid), I suck at sports, science, maths, coding and drawing so I guess YES but seriously for the comp it doesn't matter!

Quote from: zabnat on Tue 15/04/2008 07:19:34

Quote from: rock_chick on Mon 14/04/2008 14:38:42
Now on to another older subject, is there any, serious interest in bringing back the Photoshop Biweekly competition?

Yes, totally! Photozhabbing is the funniest thing I like to do.

Alright, as Terran won by default in the last round of Photoshop Friday (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=31714.0), I had sent him a PM, asking him whether he would like to start a new one.

As he's not very active at the moment, I'll wait a few days for his reply. If he doesn't reply or gives up on it I'll see who is interested to host it to keep it moving.

Small update: The writing competition will start when the grandiose writing competition is finished.

Quote from: rock_chick on Wed 16/04/2008 12:31:57
Hey I've never gotten a trophy for anything, I've had stuff published(unpaid), I suck at sports, science, maths, coding and drawing so I guess YES but seriously for the comp it doesn't matter!

Only teasing :P  I'll see what I can do.

Whatever happened to the voice over competition?

Quote from: Questionable on Thu 01/05/2008 20:08:49
Whatever happened to the voice over competition?

It died in pain.

Okay, Terran has just replied that he may be a bit too busy to host the next round of Photoshop Phriday, so anyone who's interested in hosting a new one may PM me, I may let the first one who comes up with a reasonable topic to start it.

I would like to see another rounds of Release Something! and Artitude!

These are non-frequent activities that are always welcome whenever the last round had been ended long enough already.

I'll recommend having only one of them at a time though, so the other activity may start afterwards.

The last Release Something was about a year ago, while the last Artitude was 2 years ago.

So, maybe we can have an Artitude first.

Those who are interested may discuss about it here and see if anyone is willing to provide a topic and be the host. I'll wait for 1 week, so if there isn't any comment on it, I may host this myself at 21st, as I hosted the last round already.

Not sure if it's been done here... But thought it might be fun to have a competition for a 1 room only adventure. It could be interesting to see how imaginative and resourceful we can be.

Would anyone be interested in doing this and helping me setup some guidelines?

Edited by mod: Don't start random activities without authorisation. Merged this post with the appropriate thread for discussion.

This is a basically request for OROW (one room one week) competition to return, as the last one was back in 2006 :o I know of a few forum members who want it to return(and who would enter) and I am sure it would be a success, like the previous OROWs.

I know some members usually run these activities (ie Scotch) but I don't see why someone else can't take the role as host.

Anyway, discuss!
;D

Well,I'd go for it. Miss it..

Feel free to run one, I'm a bit busy right now. Whoever does it, I would strongly suggest sticking to similar rules to before. Every time one is run people ask for more restrictions or longer timespans (theme, two weeks etc). I think that's a bad idea personally and I think the reasonable success of the other ones suggests the format works as it is. The only change so far was to allow people to have multiple rooms if they really want. The point was to make people think small, not to make them worry about if an intro counts as a second room.

Actually I may as well run it, it's not much more work than hosting the games and putting up the old vote page again... I'll make a thread.

Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Tue 13/05/2008 06:25:28
Okay, Terran has just replied that he may be a bit too busy to host the next round of Photoshop Phriday, so anyone who's interested in hosting a new one may PM me, I may let the first one who comes up with a reasonable topic to start it.

Any development on this?

I sure hope it's not dead.
Can somebody poke it with a stick, please?

I had a really neat idea for a competition.  I am very interested in education and educational research.  One thing I have come across is this study on IT and education.  Out of the 20,000 (or so) people interviewed, over 50% liked learning by using interactive games they could control. 

The suggestion I have for a competition is to design a game to teach something.  This can be anything from teaching calculus for college students or teaching chemistry to high school students.  I think you could have some really neat things to teach using AGS as the chalkboard. 

I am not talking about a multiple choice game to test rote knowledge.  I am saying design a game where the player investigates and explores, and as a result will learn the things of importance. 

Quote from: scotch on Tue 10/06/2008 13:40:43
Feel free to run one, I'm a bit busy right now. Whoever does it, I would strongly suggest sticking to similar rules to before. Every time one is run people ask for more restrictions or longer timespans (theme, two weeks etc). I think that's a bad idea personally and I think the reasonable success of the other ones suggests the format works as it is. The only change so far was to allow people to have multiple rooms if they really want. The point was to make people think small, not to make them worry about if an intro counts as a second room.

Actually I may as well run it, it's not much more work than hosting the games and putting up the old vote page again... I'll make a thread.

Anyword on this?

There already was an OROW....in fact, it started on the same day that scotch wrote that post.

However, considering how OROWs are always set at a time when I am unable to enter, I'd be happy to have another one.

OROW!

At the start of the summer there was some talk about reviving Photoshop Phriday, but nothing came out of it. So I was wondering, would anyone mind if I relaunched the competition?

I liked the PP. I'd be happy to see it again.

Same here. They used to be a lot of fun, then seemed to die instantly. I would really like to see PP back myself.

As the PP has been gone for months and seems that at least some people are interested, so if you want to start a new round, I have no objection.

START IT NOW!!!!!!!!

Inspired by Apocalyptic's paintover (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=36070.msg472986#msg472986) of Ioanis's sprite I thought we should have a game where we start with one image, and then we take it in turns to add or change a detail so that we might eventually end up with something entirely different... a bit like a visual version of Chinese Whispers.

There will be no rules as to what you can do as long as you keep it to ONE detail, however big or small... but the image should still be easily recognisable as a nothing more than a modification of the previous image... so okay, that's acouple of rules, but they're pretty loose.

Who's up for this, and who would be willing to draw the first image?

If we start with something small, like a character sprite, then this can be added to and might eventually turn into a full blown background image.

Sounds fun. How should be handled who's next? First come, first serve?

Yeh, it'll run continuously and anyone can poke their head it and have a go whenever they feel like, such as the MSpaint thread. But obviously you can't enter twice in a row.

Sounds like a great idea, but should there be a 'self-moderating rule' that states that you can't immediately change and rebuke someone else's addition?

For example on Apocalyptic's paintover. The logical thing would probably be to add a hook hand, or maybe something random like an umbrella hat. What would be unacceptable would be redoing the legs and cancelling out the previous edit. Granted, once the picture has evolved enough (background, npcs, etc) it would be okay.


Then again, such a thing would probably be done only by trolls, so perhaps it's not needed.
~Trent

I am asking permission to try a new competition here.

My Idea is the THE JIGSAW CHALLENGE

First I would post a picture of an empty Jigsaw Puzzle

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/skeith2572/puzzle.png)

Then the Host would fill in one of the empty puzzle pieces...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/skeith2572/puzzle2.png)

Then the next person would fill in another part of the puzzle, and the person after that would fill in another piece.

Each person would fill in one area at a time until the Puzzle was complete.

Thus completing the empty Jigsaw Puzzle.

I think it would be fun to see how it would turn out at the end.

If granted permission I would like to start a new comp to bring some life to this forum.

Please Let Me Know...

Thank You

Can't speak for anyone else, but I really like this idea. How would it be a "competition" though? How would you judge which jigsaw piece was the best?

I was thinking the same thing after posting this. How would the winner be decided? Oh well, I wanted to start something fresh here.

Domino

I propose that the Sprite Jam is officially turned into a pixel art competition - something which would neccessitate little or no change - and that a Character Competition is started.

At the moment there is no regular activity involving character art where people of all styles are allowed to participate. As character art is perhaps the most important graphical element in a game, it would seem like a dedicated activity where everyone is allowed to enter would be highly called for.

As there is an obvious craving for pixel art activities with technical restrictions, a dedicated activity also seems called for.

This would most likely divide up some interest, and they would probably at least initially get relatively fewer participants, but as they would attract a wider range of participants, it would most likely balance out in the long term. And even if it doesn't, I suspect everyone would agree that it's the fair way to go.

No, there is no official change, whether a sprite follows the restrictions is decided by the rules set by the host of the certain round. The bottom line is, whether an entry qualifies as a sprite for the expected purpose of the round, so it doesn't rule out any possibilities of character art.

Quote from: Gilbet V7000a on Sun 18/01/2009 11:19:51
The bottom line is, whether an entry qualifies as a sprite for the expected purpose of the round, so it doesn't rule out any possibilities of character art.

I don't understand this line, perhaps you could rephrase it?

And it seems like you have misinterpreted the point of the Character Competition: the aim would be to create sprites, and not concept art involving characters.

My point is, I disagree the suggestion to make another extra competition, unless it can be proven to be vastly popular.

For Sprite Jams, the host can set the rules to whatever he wants, so I don't think it is necessary to have a pixel art competition and another "not necessarily pixel" art competition. If you have an idea for a certain Sprite Jam challenge, just manage to win a round and you can be the host for the next round.

You don't see the catch 22 in this system? Seriously?

if you want to show off your artistic talent there's always the critics lounge, you don't have to wait until somebody hosts a competition with rules that you don't bitch about.

I thought the Critic's Lounge was for getting critiques, not for showing off.

Okay guys enough is enough. This bickering is totally spoiling my impression and experience of the AGS forums. As I see it there has been less and less activity in the competitions. However the recent spritejam was quite popular, and all we can get out of this is an arguement? I agree there is no need for a new competition, the spritejam is run like any other competition in the forums. The rules are set by the host. However there is no doubt we are biased with low res, and this is no surprise since that the majorty of adventure games are in low res. I see competitions as a bit of fun, something that will test me and improve my skills and also imspirational. I hope we will eventually all agree one day. And note to all future hosts of competitions remember there are a lot of talented people here and you don't want to over limit who can enter.

Quote from: loominous on Sun 18/01/2009 10:42:37I propose that the Sprite Jam is officially turned into a pixel art competition - something which would neccessitate little or no change - and that a Character Competition is started.

At the moment there is no regular activity involving character art where people of all styles are allowed to participate. As character art is perhaps the most important graphical element in a game, it would seem like a dedicated activity where everyone is allowed to enter would be highly called for.

As there is an obvious craving for pixel art activities with technical restrictions, a dedicated activity also seems called for.

It should be obvious (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=34542.msg452056#msg452056) that I agree with Loominous on this point.

As a reaction to Gilbet (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg480658#msg480658): in the few SpriteJams that I've hosted, I particularly tried to focus on the character (either by means of a small back-story (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=35620.msg466904#msg466904) or by 'skills' (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=36334.msg476751#msg476751)) rather than the limitation (this is also why my last Jam was not pixel but size oriented by stating that: 1.70 meter = 25% of the Y-screen resolution). Nevertheless, I felt - also from some reactions to them - that it was obvious to me the sprite jam is not the right place for this.

Like Gilbet, IndieBoy (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg480676#msg480676) wrote that he didn't see the need for a new competition, and stated that he sees 'competitions as a bit of fun, something that will test me and improve my skills and also inspirational'. The thing is, however, that the only competition that really helped me improve my skills was Loominous' Background Blitz Workshop Edition (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=34542.msg451349#msg451349)...and we all know how that ended. So if that is one of the 'goals' for the competitions, than they have failed...at least for me.

The point is, I agree with Loominous. I am often too limited by the technical limitations set to competitions (I would love to participate in an animation competition...but I don't work with pixels, and classical animation is not possible), which is the reason why I don't participate in competitions that often.

Ps. Sure...the winner can host a new workshop, but if the host prefers pixel- over line-art chances are high that the winner he declares matches close to his or her own style. This is only natural. Consequently, you end up in a vicious circle.
Pps. Partially relevant, my envision of Workshops can be found here (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=34542.msg466646#msg466646).

QuoteThis bickering is totally spoiling my impression and experience of the AGS forums.

Oh, this idea was put forth with the intention of actually ending this argument. I totally agree that it spoils the mood, and is bringing out really ugly sides of this community. So I thought this would be a nice compromise, where pixel enthusiasts can enjoy limitations, while allowing everyone to participate in a character competition.

I really thought this was a question about unreflectively following traditions, which you can't blame people for, which is why I've tried to appealed to the participants to break with it.

It turns out people really don't care how hi-res enthusiasts are treated, so here I tried appealing to the objectivity of the moderators, who are supposed to have the good of the entire community in mind.

QuoteHowever there is no doubt we are biased with low res, and this is no surprise since that the majorty of adventure games are in low res.

Sure, and I don't of course blame people for their preferences and hope that the pixel community prospers in this day and age.

The curious thing is how you go from "I like lo-res" to "let's not allow anything that's not lo-res". This would make total sense if you wanted to shake things up - kinda like throwing a costume party every once in a while - but as the majority is already using lo-res, why would you to deliberately exclude hi-res entries? I prefer hi-res myself, but why on earth would I want to exclude lo-res?

Somebody's now going: 'yea, yea, but it's the right of the host'. Sure, it's within the rights of the host, but even if it was within the rights of a public bar owner to ban black people simply because he prefers whites, he would still be a immoral jerk for doing so. Just because something is within your rights doesn't make it moral.

Secondly, and to adress:

QuoteI disagree the suggestion to make another extra competition, unless it can be proven to be vastly popular.

We don't actually know how many hi-res people are out there as they're rarely allowed to participate. The sprite jam is by all measures a pixel activity, so just like myself, people might not even bother checking whether they can submit a regular entry. To make sure I wasn't basing this on a false impression, I checked the introduction of the last 50 pixel jams to check with reality:

50 rounds - 6 allowed hi-res/hi-colour entries.

The Sprite Jam is for all intents and purposes a pixel art activity; I'm just asking for a character activity where everyone is allowed to join the fun.

i'm into pixel art but i think loominous' proposal is a good one. sprite jam should either loose color and fixed size restrictions (and have something like Misj's restrictions) or be renamed to pixel sprite jam and have some other competition for any kind of sprites.

As a man i know once said.. You can draw cool with less colours or you can't f#$%#^ draw.

Quote from: Dualnames on Mon 19/01/2009 10:22:57
As a man i know once said.. You can draw cool with less colours or you can't f#$%#^ draw.

Did he do classical- or pixel-art? - Because colours are counted differently. To show what I mean just look at my latest entry in the
SpriteJam (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=36621.msg480752#msg480752): from a classical point of view it has 9 different colours: 3 shades of blue, 4 shades of grey (including black and white), 1 shade of brown, and yellowish skin. From a pixel point of view it has 2986 different colours. This means that for a pixel-artist this image is not within the limits given by the competition while for a classical-artist it is (providing evidence that a limit for one medium (pixels) can exclude another (paper or vector)).

So while I completely agree with this man if he's a classical artist (and chances are that he was considering the comment) it does not by definition apply to the level of  pixels as well.

Ps. I do not consider this (or Dual's) post off-topic, but I appologize to others if they feel it is.

I remember proposing something along those lines a while ago, that you'd have separate restrictions to accommodate both traditional and pixel art, as colour amount do mean different things when you're talking about different media.

So the host could set pixel art restrictions a la: 40x40, 12 colours, and then traditional restrictions, for instance: 12 colours, which would means 12 colours + anti aliasing shades.

This would allow everyone to participate, with restrictions intact. Thought it was a nice compromise, but I don't recall the response.

I don't see the harm in adding another competition; if nobody's going to participate, it's going to die like the other ones. If people do contribute, we gained a popular competition.

I'm a low-spec fan myself, but I don't see the need to impose that on everybody (other than maybe the fact that people are more likely to participate if there are strict guidelines).

If I might throw my two cents in, I think that as opposed to making it another competition where the goal is to create a sprite, it should be based more around the character creation process, maybe something where the contest starter comes up with a theme, like: You have to come up with a design for a main character in a piratical caribbean setting. The character is young and a little geeky, weak - and is described as 'looking like a flooring inspector'. His motivation is to become a pirate.

Then the contest entrants would sketch, design and ultimately release a few images to illustrate their concept, before the sprite phase (or even the final sprite, high or low-res as per the entrant's needs and/or the rules of the creator). The main difference between this and the Sprite Jam would of course be in that the new contest is all about 'concept', a 'Concept competition', if you were, where the Sprite Jam focuses around creating a finished, viable product within very specific constraints.

The entrant whose character design fits the concept the best, regardless of their medium, would be the winner in this competition, and it would revolve not around a specific set of artistic skills so much as creativity and the ability to develop a character to convey a certain 'look'. This is a very important step in the game creation process, and I imagine would help people work on their character development skills.

The main gripe about the Sprite Jam is that a lot of people do find the rules to be very constricting. I'm particularly hard on my contestants, because I require that the sprite will integrate well into a game, and like to limit size and palettes to a large extent. This isn't always going to be the case, but ultimately the contest is about building artistic sprite-creation skill. A large percentage of the time in a 'low-res' environment.

Obviously, this does tie together with the Sprite Jam in a number of ways, but it does focus on a different skillset. The Sprite Jam is about creating an image - at times is also something of an art contest. This concept contest would, I imagine, broaden the base of people joining the contest, and if it didn't, then such is life. I think it does have potential.

SpacePirateCain:

Sounds like a neat idea, and like you said, would lessen the overlap, so that people attending the Sprite Jam might actually contribute to both, giving it a potentially very large base.

Would be great if a less controversial figure, such as yourself, would organize it.

Edit: Just realized that another benefit over the Character Competition would be that it could also deal with stuff like vehicle design, which is really fun and would provide variation.

First, well, I do just realized my post was received weird and all. So well, not really sure if your idea loominous would actually make those competitions plausibles, but well, we can always try new stuff and see how it goes. You see low res is quite easy for everyone to enter so it's more user friendly than it is considered. Also let us not forget that AGS used to handle lower resolutions not such a long time ago, so it is obvious that low res artists would mostly join those.

Anyway, if everyone feels like high res or more colour limit (or no colour limit at all), it's fine by me and I think it has serious chances of success.

I don't really see a point to a separate sprite competition, honestly.  If someone wanted to design a sprite jam they hosted around fleshing out a character then there's no rule against it, but a separate concept for such a specific topic?  I just don't see the logic in it.  All of these competitions were designed more around having fun than actually being real competitions with massive, detailed structure, concept art and design stages.  Efforts like that, in my opinion, are better put to use as tutorials since you are essentially showing your technique more than you are making an entry, and it has an unfortunate side-effect of excluding a large number of low-to-moderate skilled members who already feel daunted by drawing something in Paint.

The forums could certainly benefit from more tutorials, but more competitions?  I don't think so.

ProgZmax:

Not sure what idea you're arguing against here. The first proposal was simply to create a general sprite competition where everyone would be allowed to join, and turn the sprite jam into an official pixel art activity for lo-res enthusiasts to enjoy. The second was for a Concept Competition.

You seem to have the impression that I was proposing a Character 'Workshop' as a regular activity, which I'm not sure where you got from.

The Concept Competition, which SpacePirateCaine suggested, would be about concept design, which is basically about capturing a specified character/vehicle/else in everything from an extremely simple doodle to elaborate artwork, and is used for everything from lo-res to 3D.

As it's all about ideas and design and not skillful rendering, basically a complete newbie could come up with a stick figure drawing which would "win".

So it's really an idea competition, rather than a drawing/painting competition (though I really prefer the word 'activity' for all these).

This would allow anyone to join regardless of skill level, and since it's such a vital part of any type of character creation process, it seems like it would strongly belong in a game forum.

QuoteThe forums could certainly benefit from more tutorials, but more competitions?  I don't think so.

I can understand that you feel this way, as you're able to participate in all activities as you please. A clay animator/3D animator/Classical animator can't. Am I to assume that your feelings about this is along the lines of: "They're minorities, who cares about them"?

I don't recall progz ever entering a music competition. Well, as i said low res is easier...than high res is. Concept competition sounds like a good idea though.

Quote from: Dualnames on Wed 21/01/2009 11:46:24Well, as i said low res is easier...than high res is.

Then why can't I do low res and can I do high res? - High-res is only more difficult from a pixel-point of view. I know my background is pen and paper (or digital equivalents) which makes it a lot easier for me to work with lines (including vectors) than pixels. I honnestly don't think that my high res images are any more difficult than ProgZ's low res images (actually, to me his are far more difficult than mine).

Quote from: Dualnames on Wed 21/01/2009 11:46:24
I don't recall progz ever entering a music competition.

I recall him winning one where the entrants had to make an 80s tv show theme tune.

I do think that lo-res is a more forgiving than hi-res if you're new to graphics, but as nobody has suggested that people should be forced to go hi-res/3D/clay/whatnot, it seems beside the point.

Well, thanks Misj and Ben for proving every point of me wrong. 8)
No harm done.

QuoteI can understand that you feel this way, as you're able to participate in all activities as you please. A clay animator/3D animator/Classical animator can't. Am I to assume that your feelings about this is along the lines of: "They're minorities, who cares about them"?

I'm not sure why you've taken the accusatorial approach with these comments.  I have nothing against artists of any preference joining in, but you also have to weigh how many of them are active on the forums and interested in participating regularly.  The fact of the matter is that a vast majority of people on these forums either dabble in or work regularly with pixel art.  Those that work in hi-res, like scotch, Ali, Andail and others are capable (and have shown the ability to) work with pixel art.  Misj's situation aside, I know a great many more people who can work backwards from hi-res to pixel art than I do people who can work forward from it with satisfactory results  -- but is any of this even relevant to the topic?  I ask this because it was you, not I, who brought up these groups being excluded, and I believe I've provided a reasonable explanation for why there probably isn't much demand on these particular forums for competitions catering to 3d modelers, claymation experts, or even classical artists.

Do I think excluding people is right?  No.  I don't think it's particularly fun to be able to do something and be excluded because it's not what other people are good at, but I also don't think a competition should be a 'boy's club' with 2-3 regular entrants and no one else.  I suppose you could still take this to mean I don't care, but I don't think most people would see it that way.

And I'm not exactly sure what you mean about my being able to enter any competitions I like.  Anyone can enter our existing competitions provided they want to follow the basic rules set by the host, and I think that's a good thing!

Speaking of being able to enter any comp you like, I have managed the difficult of entering every competition with a valid entry (whether it was good is irrelevant).

I agree with Loominous's idea - its worth a shot. As somebody said earlier if there are not enough entrants it will die, but it offers an opportunity to be creative - hell you could open it up more beyond just digital mediums and get some interesting things like lego entries or claymation or origami for people who are in to that kind of thing (I know this wasn't necessarily part of Loominous's suggestion but i think it would open it up to a wider audience which would be great).People could still use pixel art, but with 3D and hi res stuff as well. I mean just setting a theme such as 'steam punk' or 'Astrounaut' with no other restrictions and seeing what awesome and original artifacts/characters people can come up with would, i think, work well.

Aside from the miniscule amount of space it would take up on the server i cant really see any disbenefits. it would be fun and interesting to see what people can do beyond traditional pixel art. Call me a minority but I would definitely enter if i had time.

Quote from: Dualnames on Wed 21/01/2009 14:33:10
Well, thanks Misj and Ben for proving every point of me wrong. 8)
No harm done.

A guy's gotta have a hobby ;)

Quote from: ProgZmax on Wed 21/01/2009 05:45:28
The forums could certainly benefit from more tutorials, but more competitions?  I don't think so.

And that brings me back to my vision of workshops  (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=34542.msg466646#msg466646) (which are at least partly 'interactive tutorials').

But I really don't see why urging people to think about the entire process of designing will be a barrier or alienate people, or - for that matter - create a boy's club. Who I do see it that it would force people to think about the things they do...but that will only make them better at it.

Quote from: ProgZmax on Wed 21/01/2009 14:52:51
And I'm not exactly sure what you mean about my being able to enter any competitions I like.  Anyone can enter our existing competitions provided they want to follow the basic rules set by the host, and I think that's a good thing!

I've already given the example concerning colours (which are defined differently for pixel-artists and traditional artist), where my latest entry in the sprite-jam does not comply with the rules from pixel-artist's point of view. And the only way to actually comply with these rules would be by reducing the quality of my work (from my envisioned point of view).

An even clearer example is the animation-competition. I would really like to play around with my animating-skills...however, it is impossible for me to enter the animation-competition because I am character-based and not pixel/sprite based, and traditional animation (which is what I want to do) can not be done within the rules of the competition.

Now I know that including traditional animation in the sprite-jam is next to impossible unless both a pixeled sprite and a character sheet is provided and I don't see that happen without changing the entire tone of the competition itself. For the sprite-jam it is different: if the rules are stated as followed there would be no problem:
Size-limit: The character should not exceed 25% for the Y-resolution
or
Size-limit: 25% of the Y-resolution = 1.80 meters.
the size-limit would be applicable to pixel-artists, traditional-artists, and vector-artists and the only limit is one that is defined by usability in a game.

Personally I don't need another competition if the rules of the sprite-jam are medium-independent. However, I don't see that the sprite-jam will do this, nor that most participants of the sprite-jam consider it the right place. Most of them appear to consider a sprite to be build from pixels (rather than presented in pixels), and to most of them the sprite-jam seems to be analogous to pixel-art-jam. So my only conclusion could be that if the sprite-jam apparently isn't the place for this, then we should find another place to do it (preferably within the AGS community).

Ps. although I also like to see a character(-design) competition, because that is actually lacking, even though it is an extremely important aspect for adventure games.

ProgZmax:

QuoteDo I think excluding people is right?  No.

QuoteI don't think it's particularly fun to be able to do something and be excluded because it's not what other people are good at

Oh, I honestly didn't know that you considered it wrong. What you've said so far has indicated that you thought things were fine the way they are and didn't need to change, which made me assume that you didn't care.

That you always seem to have restrictions that exclude hi-res entries when you host added quite a bit to the surprise.

Anyway, so we're in agreement that it's wrong, so what do we do about it?

Well, so far my suggestions have been:

A: Convince the Sprite Jam hosts to either:
A1: Stop with the restrictions, which has the downside of reducing the fun for lo-res enthusiasts.
A2: Add separate or no restrictions for hi-res entries, while maintaining lo-res restriction, which would maintain the fun for lo-res enthusiasts.
Edit: A2b: Have rules along Misj's line (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg481192#msg481192), where the resolution is based on the height of the intended resolution.

B1: Start a new competition without lo-res restrictions. Downside being overlap with the sprite jam.
B2: Start a concept competition, which would reduce the overlap, and since everyone from lo-res to claymation folks could join in, have a huge base.

I personally like A2(either A2a or A2b) and B2 best.

How would you deal with it?

Oh, and I agree with you about 'boy's clubs', but we can't really know the level of interest, as people have never really had a proper chance of joining in, and by doing so establish a "tradition". I'm actually thinking mostly of 3D folks here. It's kinda like a radio station, where they always seem to be playing music that you dislike. It may very well be that they play your kind of music every 10th night, but it's most likely that you won't be tuned in to notice.

Edit: Added Misj's idea

Forgive me, I have not read all the posts on this topic but the way I've always seen it is the sprite jam is there for people to have fun and learn by doing.

I also see it that if someone wins a sprite jam they get to set the rules... If they want people to develop a concept first and then show the final sprite, that is their prize for winning the last comp. If they want to make it that you have to make a sprite for an isometric Diablo clone, good for them! If people don't like these rules, they don't enter.

A winner ran a comp that involved concept art, someone argued with him about the rules. If someone doesn't like the rules, they can just not enter and boycott that week. If someone else doesn't like that only low res rules are being made, win the competition and change the rules. Does that mean possibly doing low res art to win the comp the first time through? Sure, but that's the way it's set up.

I think this is very simple?

Quote from: MrColossal on Wed 21/01/2009 18:07:42

If someone doesn't like the rules, they can just not enter and boycott that week. If someone else doesn't like that only low res rules are being made, win the competition and change the rules. Does that mean possibly doing low res art to win the comp the first time through? Sure, but that's the way it's set up.

but the way it's "set up" is being questioned here. it's just not fair. what if someone who's into hi res stuff actually wins by doing pixel art and then sets the rules to exclude pixel art? and then other hi res guys do the same thing over and over again. and the only way sprite jam could go back to "normal" would be for someone into pixel art to make hi res sprites better than the hi res people.

MrColossal:

The ideas presented haven't been educational activities, along the lines of the infamous 'Background Workshop'. I'm all for the casual aspect of the Sprite Jam and don't think people want theory crammed down their throat in activities like these. I've tried summarizing the actual ideas in may last post above, in case you're interested.

Anyway, from what understand, your stance is along the line:

If you're a claymation guy, first learn how to pixel well enough to win a round, which will then grant you the right to host a round, but in which you can't actually participate yourself, as you're the host. Alternatively, wait a couple of months for a round that allows hi-res entries.

I'm really surprised that nice guys such as yourself seem to advocate a system like this, when with minor modifications, far more people could join in the fun.

I realize that traditions are important and that the Sprite Jam has a history, which is why the suggestions has kept the Sprite Jam more or less completely intact.

I guess I don't see why people take this so seriously but people do so I will try.

"and the only way sprite jam could go back to "normal" would be for someone into pixel art to make hi res sprites better than the hi res people."

Maybe a problem is winners don't have much imagination when it comes to setting up sprite jams? There is nothing stopping someone who just won a "Make a sprite for the game-n-watch!" jam from starting another that challenges people to make a sprite for a high res 1024x game.

I don't know, I guess I don't care enough about the competitions to get worked up about it. I don't like most of the rules in the MAGS competition but all I can do is either enter and hope to win to make my own rules or wait for the rules to change.

loominous:

You can participate in your own sprite jams if you want. Also you can make sprites with clay that fit sprite jam rules, or you can just make a sprite following the majority of the rules and disregarding the others. No one is going to ban you for having fun and making something awesome. Maybe I'm the only mod that feels that way... Maybe next Mittens I'll be shown the 300 page rule book that CJ wrote up detailing the strict ways to run the comp forum.

The sprite jam for me, when I started it on IRC, was not about winning, we just had a "winner" so that we could vary up who chooses what to draw next. If the sprite jam is about winning for people then I bow out of the conversation because I am not in that mindset.

Also, I'm not against changing the sprite jam if the majority of people want it. Just as long as people have fun and make cool art and hopefully learn something.

I haven't read the last few posts (except the last by MrColossal.)

But I don't see why you guys still arguing.

Competitions with canvas size and color restriction are obviously aiming for low-res peices, but anyone could host a competition with 1024x768 size limit and say 32bit sprites are welcome.

MrColossal:

I too can't stand the concept of 'winners' in regards to art and activities like this in general. (I don't even declare winners when I host stuff, I just point out that someone has received the most amount of votes.)

My impression is that noone in this thread actually cares about winning, and that the Sprite Jam is a relaxed activity where you have fun creating characters.

This is what makes it so odd when people such as yourself come in here and endorse a system that officially excludes so many, when with a few modifications everyone could officially participate.

Sure, you can make the point that even if everyone is not allowed to sit on the bus, they can always bike along with it. But it really isn't the same feeling, and is most likely why you rarely if ever see these kind of side entries (except for humorous non-entries or similar).

And then when you're greeted by opening lines such as: "Ahoy there, fellow pixel enthusiasts!" in a public general art activity, a line which I'm sure wasn't intentionally excluding, you kinda start feeling like a second class citizen.

I'm sure this will be interpreted as a overdramatizing of the situation, but the annoying thing is that it can so easily be fixed! And yet, people keep coming here saying that everything is fine, though they also happen to enjoy the comfort of riding the bus each time.

So my question to everyone becomes: if it doesn't matter to you, but obviously for some, why not change it so everyone's happy?

loominous i don't quite understand why are you complaining.

First off MrColossal basicly told you that you're free to post lineart/clay/etc in a Sprite Jam. Nothing is holding you back and you won't be banned or something...

Secondly I'm concerd about the expreissons you used.

Second class citizen? I think your going a bit too far just because SpacePirateCaine told you he'd be happier to see low-res art from you.

Quote from: ALPHA2T on Wed 21/01/2009 21:37:38
loominous i don't quite understand why are you complaining.
First off MrColossal basicly told you that you're free to post lineart/clay/etc in a Sprite Jam. Nothing is holding you back and you won't be banned or something...

Thought my post made it clear, but here's another analogy that might clarify it:

Let's say you like playing soccer, not because you like winning, but because you simply enjoy it. At the start of a new season, you're told that none of your goals that year will count, but you're still allowed to play. It is explained by an administrative thing that could easily be changed, but everyone else thinks it's fine so you shouldn't complain.

Even if you're a fan of playing, I'm sure you'd feel pretty bad, not because you can't win, but because you feel like you're not being treated fairly.

-

I'm sure that one will be misinterpreted as well, and someone will probably accuse me of hating soccer, but that's the best one I could come up with at this moment.

You say your peice wasn't accepted as a valid entry?

Quote from: ALPHA2T on Wed 21/01/2009 22:20:21
You say your peice wasn't accepted as a valid entry?

This isn't about a particular incident but about a system that everyone seems to agree isn't very fair, but for some reason feel reluctant to alter, in order to make everyone happy, even though it would be easy.

I'm not even a real victim of the system, as I like and can do pixel art. Believe it or not, but you don't have to be the victim of injustices to want to stop them.

Well.

Having a different competition for hi-res and lo-res would be cool.

only question is. Would both stay alive?

ALPHA2T, had you bothered to read the previous posts (from page 11 onwards), you would've seen that this has already been discussed.

Quote from: Gilbert V7000a
My point is, I disagree the suggestion to make another extra competition, unless it can be proven to be vastly popular.

Quote from: loominous
We don't actually know how many hi-res people are out there as they're rarely allowed to participate. The sprite jam is by all measures a pixel activity, so just like myself, people might not even bother checking whether they can submit a regular entry. To make sure I wasn't basing this on a false impression, I checked the introduction of the last 50 pixel jams to check with reality:

50 rounds - 6 allowed hi-res/hi-colour entries.

The Sprite Jam is for all intents and purposes a pixel art activity; I'm just asking for a character activity where everyone is allowed to join the fun.

Quote from: KhrisMUC
I don't see the harm in adding another competition; if nobody's going to participate, it's going to die like the other ones. If people do contribute, we gained a popular competition.

Quote from: ProgzMax
Do I think excluding people is right?  No.  I don't think it's particularly fun to be able to do something and be excluded because it's not what other people are good at, but I also don't think a competition should be a 'boy's club' with 2-3 regular entrants and no one else.  I suppose you could still take this to mean I don't care, but I don't think most people would see it that way.

Quote from: Aljoho
I agree with Loominous's idea - its worth a shot. As somebody said earlier if there are not enough entrants it will die, but it offers an opportunity to be creative

Aside from the miniscule amount of space it would take up on the server i cant really see any disbenefits. it would be fun and interesting to see what people can do beyond traditional pixel art. Call me a minority but I would definitely enter if i had time.

Quote from: loominous
Oh, and I agree with you about 'boy's clubs', but we can't really know the level of interest, as people have never really had a proper chance of joining in, and by doing so establish a "tradition". I'm actually thinking mostly of 3D folks here. It's kinda like a radio station, where they always seem to be playing music that you dislike. It may very well be that they play your kind of music every 10th night, but it's most likely that you won't be tuned in to notice.

I'm going to quote everyone who was in favour of a theoretical "low-res competition", because that would be superfluous. As has already been discussed, most people here who participate in the sprite jam generally use pixel (or "low res") art.

Thanks Dudeman, it's a shame that so much space is taken up by people arguing against ideas that haven't even been proposed.

I also realize that reading all the posts in this discussion isn't very compelling, I've compiled this small list with the actual suggestions so far, so please read this before you join in the discussion:

The suggestions so far:

A) Keeping everything in the Sprite Jam and:

A1: Keep the lo-res restriction, but add seperate restrictions or remove them completely for hi-res entries, which would maintain the fun of restrictions for lo-res enthusiasts but at the same time allow everyone else to join in as well.

A1b: Have rules along Misj's line, where the resolution (and colours) are based on the intended resolution, which would make the restrictions easy to set, and allow everyone to join in (with seperate restrictions). Would make the rules less flexible though.

A2: Remove the restrictions, which has the downside of reducing the fun for lo-res enthusiasts.


B) Keeping the Sprite Jam as is or turn it into a dedicated pixel art activity and also:

B1: Start a Character Competition, without lo-res restrictions (though lo-res entries would be welcome). The downside would be an overlap with the sprite jam.

B2: Start a Concept Competition, which would be an idea centered activity with the goal of coming up with concept images of a character described by the host. As it's a matter of ideas rather than skillful rendition, a stickfigure doodle from a complete newbie could win over a masterfully crafted but less fitting entry. This activity would overlap less with the Sprite Jam, and since everyone from lo-res to claymation folks could join in, would have a huge potential base.

I think these are all the ideas so far, and any new are of course highly welcome.

Eric and I are on the same page with this issue, especially the part about these competitions all just being a bit of fun and the winner just being some sort of title so they can define the rules for the next competition.

Loominous:

The main reason why I tend to set low-res guidelines is (and I think I explained this before) because I personally feel that low-res is easier for a majority of people to work with and get into, and the goal in competitions I host is to maximize the number of potential entrants while giving everyone a fairly good chance of winning.  Specifically, I like to use pre-set 'systems' like commodore 64, the NES, spectrum, etc, to level the playing field so everyone feels they've got a shot.  It's also amazing to see what someone as talented as yourself can manage given tighter restrictrions, and I myself have found it a very fun and informative experience to learn how to work with restrictive palettes and other odd conditions that existed in games of the past!  So that's really all there is to my reasoning there.

Also:

QuoteAnd then when you're greeted by opening lines such as: "Ahoy there, fellow pixel enthusiasts!" in a public general art activity, a line which I'm sure wasn't intentionally excluding, you kinda start feeling like a second class citizen.

I don't want to get personal because it's not my place to judge you, but honestly this seems like more a personal problem, like you've come from a very pixel-centric site like Pixellation and are projecting your annoyances here.  It doesn't bother me at all to see people welcome other hi-res artists, so I don't quite get you here.  This seems like something you personally need to work on, that's all I'm saying, since I happen to know Caine very well and he does hi-res and low-res art.


Misj:

QuoteBut I really don't see why urging people to think about the entire process of designing will be a barrier or alienate people, or - for that matter - create a boy's club. Who I do see it that it would force people to think about the things they do...but that will only make them better at it.

You use force and urge, and many people don't like being forced or urged to do anything, that's the problem.  We're not really here to tell people how they should design their art, which seems to be a point of confusion.  The sprite jam isn't about telling people how to draw, it's about having fun!  It's not really about learning how to draw better, that's what the Critics Lounge is for.  :D

Quote
Personally I don't need another competition if the rules of the sprite-jam are medium-independent. However, I don't see that the sprite-jam will do this, nor that most participants of the sprite-jam consider it the right place. Most of them appear to consider a sprite to be build from pixels (rather than presented in pixels), and to most of them the sprite-jam seems to be analogous to pixel-art-jam. So my only conclusion could be that if the sprite-jam apparently isn't the place for this, then we should find another place to do it (preferably within the AGS community).

I agree that the sprite jam does tend to be pixel art related, but only because it maximizes the number of potential members who can participate on some level, just as The Paint Game maximizes the number of contributors by allowing anyone with Paint or better to join.  In a perfect world everyone would join regardless of their chances of winning, but in the real world there are people that pass up more complicated competitions simply because they either lack the time to do concept art or detailed back stories (I fall into this category often) or because they feel outclassed.  This is just the way of things, I think, and my response in your sprite jam was more concern that you were reducing potential entrants by overcomplicating it with an almost workshop approach. 

I do think people could host a similar sprite jam encouraging people to show their steps but without those steps influencing the outcome of the competition -- ie, the result is what is judged and not the process.  This way certain groups would not be placed at a disadvantage, which is my primary worry with adding more phases to these competitions.


Another option is that once a month a Super Sprite Jam could be held that has the winners from each weekly jam compete (if they want) in a more detailed competition with rules set by one of the 4 entrants (picked at random).  This could improve participation in the regular sprite jam and allow the winners to test themselves against each other, again, for the fun of it.

Something else to consider is that the Animation Competition typically has very few entrants.  That could easily be modified to serve the needs of a generic character animation and/or creation competition.

Quote from: ProgZmax on Thu 22/01/2009 01:13:52
I agree that the sprite jam does tend to be pixel art related, but only because it maximizes the number of potential members who can participate on some level, just as The Paint Game maximizes the number of contributors by allowing anyone with Paint or better to join.  In a perfect world everyone would join regardless of their chances of winning, but in the real world there are people that pass up more complicated competitions simply because they either lack the time to do concept art or detailed back stories (I fall into this category often) or because they feel outclassed.  This is just the way of things, I think, and my response in your sprite jam was more concern that you were reducing potential entrants by overcomplicating it with an almost workshop approach. 

Its not at all a workshop though - the way i understood the proposal was just to expand the mediums. (assuming we used 2A 2B ideas which split it into two competitions). Imagine it like this - there is a cake baking competition, but i suck at baking cakes. However if somebody started baking competition that allowed for cakes and cookies then i would be more likely to enter. It isn't a workshop, it just caters more to my skills because i can bake cookies but not cakes and it becomes a game not a 'slaughter'. Its not about winning, just having fun, sure, but I think creating a new competition or expanding the old one is only going to expand the audience because people can do what they are good at.

Admittedly this is a game creation forum and subsequently the majority can probably do pixel art, and a lot of people can do both lo and hi res stuff, but it will offer a way to either try something new or do what you are good at for those (which probably includes me) who aren't very good at either. People could always enter both the competitions if they split (time permitting) and could choose between what they enjoyed most if they were too busy to do both.

ProgZmax:

QuoteThe main reason why I tend to set low-res guidelines is because I personally feel that low-res is easier for a majority of people to work with and get into

On the one hand, I understand your reasoning, and if it's true that allowing hi-res entries will reduce the number of entrants, something which we don't really know, then that's a valid argument that I hadn't considered.

On the other, excluding people of a certain kind from public events so that others may be more willing to come in greater numbers is a pretty controversial notion, one that goes against the standard western values which hold the rights/integrity of the individual as something holy, and something never to be breached, even though the outcome may be beneficial to others.

I personally am quite conservative in that aspect and tend to agree with this notion, as I think that mistreating someone in order for a group to feel happier is wrong, but there are of course moral systems that see it the other way around.

Whether you're part of the "happier group", or the mistreated individual will of course influence your view in specific cases, which is worth bearing in mind.

Quote from: ProgZmax on Thu 22/01/2009 01:13:52
the goal in competitions I host is to maximize the number of potential entrants while giving everyone a fairly good chance of winning.

QuoteIn a perfect world everyone would join regardless of their chances of winning

So it seems like you feel that winning, or the chance of winning actually does matter to people.

This kinda tosses the idea of "the system is fine, because they can always participate, even though their entries won't be counted" out the window, no? Don't recall whether you were of that view, so it's not meant as an attack.

QuoteYou [Misj] use force and urge, and many people don't like being forced or urged to do anything, that's the problem.  We're not really here to tell people how they should design their art, which seems to be a point of confusion.  The sprite jam isn't about telling people how to draw, it's about having fun!

I agree with you, and I was personally not keen about Misj's decision to have things other than the actual sprite affect the outcome.

I think the best way for to influence people is by simply creating stuff they enjoy, and then show how you personally do it. If they like it, they'll want to try it by their own will.

There is a certain irony here though, as being forced to do something is what this whole discussion is about. 9 out 10 times this is what we hi-res enthusiasts face in the Sprite Jam.

QuoteAnd then when you're greeted by opening lines such as: "Ahoy there, fellow pixel enthusiasts!" in a public general art activity, a line which I'm sure wasn't intentionally excluding, you kinda start feeling like a second class citizen.

Quote from: ProgZmax on Thu 22/01/2009 01:13:52
I don't want to get personal because it's not my place to judge you, but honestly this seems like more a personal problem, like you've come from a very pixel-centric site like Pixellation and are projecting your annoyances here.

I think you've misinterpreted my point. If it was a pixel art competition, and particularly one at a pixel art site, then that greeting by a host would be totally expected and natural, just as at a bachelor party, the opening line "Welcome Gentlemen!" would be, but not at a board meeting with females present.

It's like if you were to attend Mittens, and there you're greeted by a big banner reading: 'Welcome European AGSers!". Most attendants at it would be europeans, so in a way it makes sense, but I bet you'd find the phrasing needlessly excluding.

And by itself, it's not a big deal, but since hi-res participants are excluded so often, all these small things build up this admittedly over dramatized sentiment. I hope this is starting to make sense without attributing mental conditions to me.

-

I'm having a bit of trouble distilling your suggestions at the end of your post, but by what I can make out it, you favor  the B1. Character Competition idea (it doesn't contain any workshop elements), and modifying the animation competition to allow classical animation, sort of A1 for that competition. Or did I get any of that wrong?

Edit: fixed corrupt sentence

Edit: and slightly altered another one

My apologies for dragging this on...it's just my nature :)

Quote from: ProgZmax on Thu 22/01/2009 01:13:52
Misj:

QuoteBut I really don't see why urging people to think about the entire process of designing will be a barrier or alienate people, or - for that matter - create a boy's club. Who I do see it that it would force people to think about the things they do...but that will only make them better at it. .............. The sprite jam isn't about telling people how to draw, it's about having fun!  It's not really about learning how to draw better, that's what the Critics Lounge is for.  :D .............. In a perfect world everyone would join regardless of their chances of winning

But then it's not really a competition is it? - For the goal of entering a competition is to win (unless you believe that Olympic motto, but I really don't). And the way to win is to get better, so - at least indirectly - the goal of the competition is to get better. If that's not the goal, if the goal is not to have the contenders to try and do the best they can, than it's not a competition but an activity. I have no problems with activities, but my personal goal when partaking in a competition is not to show off my work or skills...

Quote, but in the real world there are people that pass up more complicated competitions simply because they either lack the time to do concept art or detailed back stories (I fall into this category often) or because they feel outclassed.

We are all busy including me. But whenever I start on a sprite (or any other drawing for that matter) I first work with some free-hand inspirational drawings, and try to figure out the stance with stick-figures. While the inspirational drawings might take up some time (but not even that long, because I'm not that interested in getting details right) anyone will have a hard time convincing me that they have enough time to sit behind a computer and push pixels but not to draw a few stick-figures. We're not talking perfect drawings here...we're talking building a foundation for your drawing to make them better.

QuoteThis is just the way of things, I think, and my response in your sprite jam was more concern that you were reducing potential entrants by overcomplicating it with an almost workshop approach.

Actually the point was to increase the number of potential entrants by allowing work-in-progress even if that work was not yet in the pixel-phase. This would allow even busy people to participate (and have a chance to win the competition if their work is truly superior, even though their pixel-skills might not be).

QuoteI do think people could host a similar sprite jam encouraging people to show their steps but without those steps influencing the outcome of the competition -- ie, the result is what is judged and not the process.

You know I disagree on this point ;) - The creation-steps are the foundation of a good sprite (independent of the medium) and if the foundation is rotten the sprite is not usable in a game (even though it might be covered up in the presented frame), and is therefore a bad sprite...at least in my opinion.

Ps. While I think this is a good - and important - discussion, I believe that at least part of it does not belong in this particular thread. Maybe a select group of people should sit together (via PM) and think about some of the problems presented and how best to accommodate as many people as possible. That might also make some of us (including me) less defensive and thus more productive...I don't know. Maybe...
Pps. I'm not saying that the competition should be hard labour and not fun.

Loominous:

I think you have my suggestions right.  I don't know who said people can enter even though 'their entries won't be counted' but it wasn't me and I don't really hold to the 'no chance of winning' thing.  Yes, I very much do believe the competition is more about fun than winning (and should stay that way), but there still has to be a winner for the competition to move forward.

I do think that winning matters very much to some people (it doesn't to me), and that probably needs to be taken into account.

QuoteAnd by itself, it's not a big deal, but since hi-res participants are excluded so often, all these small things build up this admittedly over dramatized sentiment.

I think one of the issues is that I don't really see hi-res members (or anyone else) from being excluded from anything except by their own preference.  No one has said 'hi-res members cannot enter this competition', the rules just don't overtly favor that particular skill.  The Background Blitz very often allows hi-res, and as you demonstrated with the pirate sprite jam you can always paint an image and reduce it Curse of Monkey Island style to fit the dimensions/color limitations.  The same can be done with the colouring ball, though the animation competition provides a sprite so there's not much room to work with there.  I understand the desire to have specifically hi-res supported activities, but I don't think it's fair to say you're being excluded from the current activities (or even being discouraged).


Misj:

We'll have to agree to disagree, because I really don't approve of having a friendly, no pressure competition built around rating a person's concepts and sketches toward completion rather than the end result.  It's just more effort than I'm interested in with a competition about having a bit of fun, and if not everyone does (or can do) it they are automatically placed at a disadvantage. 

Quote from: ProgZmax on Thu 22/01/2009 22:10:39
Misj:

We'll have to agree to disagree, because I really don't approve of having a friendly, no pressure competition built around rating a person's concepts and sketches toward completion rather than the end result.  It's just more effort than I'm interested in with a competition about having a bit of fun, and if not everyone does (or can do) it they are automatically placed at a disadvantage. 

I'm agreeing with ProgzMax.
I don't think that sort of competition would work very well. It's a good concept but ... to judge how well someone can make a sprite based on their concepts and sketches is very subjective. For example, one person may be a brilliant pixel artist and only need the stick figures mentioned in Misj's previous post before making something worthy of being sold. However, the concept art of just stick figures is not very impressive compared to, say, someone who has thirty sketches, and all them showing some sort of development for the character.
Although I agree it will get people to think and really try to make concepts (and get those thirty-five sketches), it does stem down to sort of "who has the most/best developed character" as opposed to "who has a character that isn't overdeveloped and suitable for an interpretive lead character". As the latter is more often than the former used in amateur adventure games to give the player a sense of their own personality into the character.

I'm rambling on, so I'll stop now, but I guess I'm just against such a subjective concept.

Quote from: ProgZmax on Thu 22/01/2009 22:10:39
Misj:
We'll have to agree to disagree, because I really don't approve of having a friendly, no pressure competition built around rating a person's concepts and sketches toward completion rather than the end result.  It's just more effort than I'm interested in with a competition about having a bit of fun, and if not everyone does (or can do) it they are automatically placed at a disadvantage.

Quote from: Dudeman Thingface on Thu 22/01/2009 22:36:24
I'm agreeing with ProgzMax.
I don't think that sort of competition would work very well. It's a good concept but ... to judge how well someone can make a sprite based on their concepts and sketches is very subjective. For example, one person may be a brilliant pixel artist and only need the stick figures mentioned in Misj's previous post before making something worthy of being sold. However, the concept art of just stick figures is not very impressive compared to, say, someone who has thirty sketches, and all them showing some sort of development for the character.
Although I agree it will get people to think and really try to make concepts (and get those thirty-five sketches), it does stem down to sort of "who has the most/best developed character" as opposed to "who has a character that isn't overdeveloped and suitable for an interpretive lead character". As the latter is more often than the former used in amateur adventure games to give the player a sense of their own personality into the character.

I'm rambling on, so I'll stop now, but I guess I'm just against such a subjective concept.

ProgZ:

Before we begin: I play this a little personal to make a point. My intentions are not to personally attack you (even though it might seem like that)...it was just easier to present my argument this way (by giving pixel-artists a face...your face in this case). I also mis-use some of your words to show that the arguments in favour and against are not that different. I know that by using these quotes I present your opinion in a light that does not do your opinion justice. Please ignore all that, and just read the irony/sarcasm that I intended. :)

You do realise that you are saying that the argument 'if not everyone does (or can do) it they are automatically placed at a disadvantage' is - or at least appears to be - in disagreement with the 'in a perfect world everyone would join regardless of their chances of winning' argument? - I mean, to me it appears that on one side you say that it is not about winning but about the fun, while on the other side you consider it unfair if - due to the rules free to set by the host (as stated by Gilbet when he said: (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg480658#msg480658) "For Sprite Jams, the host can set the rules to whatever he wants" and to a lesser extend by you when you said: (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg481184#msg481184) "anyone can enter our existing competitions provided they want to follow the basic rules set by the host, and I think that's a good thing!") - not all participants have an equal chance of winning. The point is: that is exactly what this discussion is all about...some people feel that they are automatically 'placed at a disadvantage' because they don't do (or cannot do) pixel stuff. I don't understand how anyone's view can be different concerning these two - more or less similar - points: if it is unfair to promote the inclusion of concept-art because not everyone does (or can do) it and are therefore automatically placed at a disadvantage, then it is equally unfair to promote pixel-art because not everyone does (or can do) it and are therefore automatically placed at a disadvantage...or is my logic really completely flawed here?

I could even use your argument (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg481366#msg481366) 'No one has said 'hi-res members cannot enter this competition', the rules just don't overtly favor that particular skill' and bend it towards: 'my 'add concept art' preference never said that 'people (pixel artists apparently) who don't show/have concepts or work-in-progress cannot enter this competition', the rules just didn't overtly favour people that are not interested in that particular skill'. I mean...if one is fair (even though it is disadvantageous to certain groups) and the other is not (because it is disadvantageous to certain groups (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg481257#msg481257)) then my rationale is really messed up, because I don't see the difference.

By the way...creating concept-art is fun. Annoying at times, but fun non the less. And at the same time it helps you explore the character and create a better end-result in the process. Personally I believe that's a good thing...even for a sprite-jam.

I understand that you are afraid that changes within the rules will alienate certain people, and possibly chase them away. On the other hand...didn't the rules as they are not already do that? - I can say for sure that it mostly chased my away from the competitions, because there is no fun to be gotten at drawing some silly pixels (my apologies to the pixel-lovers, but I really find pixels boring). So if it is about having fun, than at least I can say that for me most of the Jams hosted have failed...because the rules enforce something that I just really don't consider fun: pixel-art. So if a few small alterations to the rules (like defining size-limitations as relative numbers based on the screen-resolution and not as absolute numbers) than I'm all for that.

(sorry for mis-using your own words against you, I did have fun writing it down though...)

Dudeman:
You stated that you were against such a subjective concept. On the other hand, deciding which sprite is the best is in itself a subjective concept...even if you include functionality (which would bring me back to sprites and characters needing to have a good foundation, and thus advocating for including work-in-progress). Oh, and to be honest, I've seen stick-figures that I am really jealous of.



Ps. I am not saying that I will ever encourage concept/work-in-progress in future Jams...but I do stand by my choice of promoting it, as well as its importance in sprite development. I felt I had to try it, just like I felt I had to try the resolution-relative size definition, promoting colour-use rather than a colour-limit, character- or skill-based rather than theme-based, and the 'as a host you are obliged to comment on everyone who spend time and energy on entering your competition'...some of these ideas may have failed, and others were successful. Each of them were, however, used to encourage participation for as many people as possible and lower the threshold for people out-side of the conventional participants.
Pps. Just imagine what would have happened if I decided to focus on style, and require each participant to enter a sprite in a style not common for him or her...

I don't think you effectively used my words against me because there is a real difference here, and it's simple.  You can take a hi res image and, though some effort, make it a respectable piece of pixel art.  Loominous proved this with his pirate entry, which I thought was quite good.  Someone who works only with pixel art can't suddenly scale up a small pixel image and have it look anything but blocky and distorted in hi-res (bear with me).  This argument applies to a competition relying on the stages leading up to the result, because I for one do not have 'stages' of pixelling (nor do most pixellers) because you are just connecting dots together until they form a pleasing shape.  I don't go through the lengthy process of concept sketches or anatomical line drawings like a classical artist would, which means I have nothing to show you but my results and the color palette I've selected.  The difference here is that while you do both with hi-res artwork, you also have a result to show, and this result is what evens the playfield between the approaches and allows for a more fair competition.  Just because winning isn't important to me doesn't mean it's unimportant to other people or that the competition should be conducted in an uneven manner, and I honestly don't think the sprite jam is unfair as it stands, though imposing additional restrictions like concept art as conditions for winning would quickly make it that way. 

As it stands, you have just as much chance of winning with your ninja as Ben does with his, or Ghost with his, because the outcome relies only on which sprite Buloght finds most visually pleasing.

I'm not sure where you're having a problem with this?

Sure, you can always downsize.

Let's take the Music Competition as an example. Let's say that chip music enthusiasts were the majority there, which is kind of akin to lo-res.

In nine out of ten competitions, they'd set size restrictions of the music files to 50 kb, and restrict the quality to 8bit.

In response to complaints from regular composers about being excluded, they'd argue that it's just the hi-def preferences of these people that are stopping them from participating -- everyone can after all downsample their works, and in some cases it works really well. Upsampling on the other hand wouldn't work, so the system is fair.

The regular composers suggest that, sure, they don't mind the chip music guys enjoying separate chip limitations, but couldn't they be allowed to submit entries as well, which would make everyone happy? It's after all not a Chip Music competition, and there's no other music competition on the forums to which they can submit their work.

The chip enthusiasts respond that they're happy with the current system, so they see no need to change it.

Doesn't this strike you as at least so far from ideal, that if it can be easily changed to make everyone happy, then that would seem like the right thing to do?

Edit: Modified a sentence

The focus of this discussion starts to be work-in-progress and concept-art (and thus strictly speaking my latest jam), while it should be: can we adapt the rules of a competition to a minimum to include a maximum number of possible contestants without excluding anyone.

I understand that some people feel no one is excluded, while others feel that they are excluded (at least excluded from using the style that is most fun to them). Personally I feel that the latter is correct, since I myself feel it too. As a result this discussion is - at least partly - personal. And this might sound arrogant, but my only request is that people set the rules such that I can play as well. I have no problem with occasional competitions that have a theme where not everyone can enter (let's say: create a sprite that would work on a Gameboy (non-colour), or another time create a sprite for a high-res game)...but in general the rules should be set such that both me and ProgZ can play. And as it is, most Jams are not open to me if I accept the rules and I can only enter if I bend the rules. I feel that shouldn't be necessary...

---

Quote from: ProgZmax on Fri 23/01/2009 01:02:31I don't go through the lengthy process of concept sketches or anatomical line drawings like a classical artist would, which means I have nothing to show you but my results and the color palette I've selected.

As I said I don't do pixel-art, so I may be wrong here...but I've seen the work-in-progress and tutorials of several pixel-artists, and from what I understand many of them do not have a process like "I'll put some pixels on the screen and we'll see where it ends"...as I understand it, many of them have some planning stages. SpacePirate's entry was a proof to me that pixel-artists are not falsely disadvantaged. In your case, I assume that you start with flat images and add shadowing and highlighting effects or something. If you really start with an empty screen and end with a final image without any in-between steps then indeed, you'd be at a disadvantage to others...

QuoteAs it stands, you have just as much chance of winning with your ninja as Ben does with his, or Ghost with his, because the outcome relies only on which sprite Buloght finds most visually pleasing.

But strictly speaking my entry broke the colour-rule and would thus be disqualified. If I win it is by grace of Buloght, and him accepting that I re-interpreted to rules to fit with high-res art.

QuoteYou can take a hi res image and, though some effort, make it a respectable piece of pixel art.  Loominous proved this with his pirate entry, which I thought was quite good.  Someone who works only with pixel art can't suddenly scale up a small pixel image and have it look anything but blocky and distorted in hi-res (bear with me).

Actually...depending on the style it doesn't take that much effort to convert a pixel-based piece into high-res. As an example Ghost's style is quite easy to high-res in my opinion, as I did here (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=33367.msg433019#msg433019) (this also applies to his more-low-res sprites by the way)...I'll admit that your pixel-style is more difficult...but creating a good quality low-res image from a high-res image doesn't take that little effort either. (by the way, you stated that 'it's just more effort than I'm interested in with a competition about having a bit of fun' to present different creation-steps, but now you're saying that high-res artists can easily put extra effort in reducing the quality of their art to fit within the pixel-arena...well, at least to me that is no fun to do, and therefore not the kind of effort I want to spend on it).

---

QuoteIf you really start with an empty screen and end with a final image without any in-between steps then indeed, you'd be at a disadvantage to others...

This is pretty much my constant approach, honestly.  The only way most pixel artists can show 'method' is to record what they do and make it available, since there's so much back and forth with color picking and shifting pixels around and altering dither patterns until they look good.  And Caine actually told me he showed those steps specifically for the competition and doesn't normally do his work that way :).

As far as the hi-res vs low-res conversion, I think this is another case where we will agree to disagree, since logic tells me it is easier to downsample than upsample (with good results).

Quotemost Jams are not open to me if I accept the rules and I can only enter if I bend the rules. I feel that shouldn't be necessary...

I really don't think this is true, and you could have reduced the colors of your entry to maintain the rules and still have it look good imo. 

One of the perks of the sprite jam is defining your own rules (within reason), so winning grants you quite a bit of latitude to allow larger dimensions or infinite colors (if that's your preference). 

Loominous:

I agree with you but again, I think it's the right of the winner to decide what sort of whacky/conventional rules he/she likes as far as the sprite jam goes.  If he/she gets no entries, it's obviously an unpopular idea.  If you win and say 'use any methods you like to make me this' then more power to you, and I'd have no problem with it. 

Our main point of contention seems to be the purpose of the rules.  I don't think exclusion is the goal, it's more to challenge the entrants.  That said, I still think that altering the animation competition to be a bit more interesting is a good idea, but I don't really make the decisions as far as that goes :).

Quote from: ProgZmaxI don't think exclusion is the goal, it's more to challenge the entrants.

Sure, in almost all cases, style exclusion is simply an unfortunate side effect.

And I'm fully aware that there's a fun challenge in using as few colours and pixels as possible to create something great, and none of my suggestions have aimed at removing this challenge for pixel art enthusiasts.

I think the vital thing that's missing here though is that this particular challenge, like in chip tune music, is style specific.

Regular composers don't care about the size of their files, their sole aim is to create great music, which is enough of a challenge for any genius. In the same way, for regular artists, whether they work in clay, 3d, pencil, whathaveyou, these particular challenges simply do not exist.

This leads to the current unfortunate situation, where regular artists have lo-res restrictions imposed on them, akin to regular composers being restricted by chip-tune restrictions.

Which lead to my suggestions that either: A) Keep things as they are, but have lo-res restrictions apply only to lo-res entries, or B) turn the Sprite Jam into an official pixel art activity, and start a Character Competition that allows any style, and which aim is merely to create as good characters as possible.

Just as applying 3D restrictions, such as polygon count, to pixel art entries doesn't make sense, I simply don't understand why we can't make everyone happy by having pixel art restrictions apply to pixel art entries only, which seems as natural as can be. It just baffles me.

Edit: oh, and like Misj, I'm not at all opposed to occasional general rules to shake things up, like every once in a while have gameboy restrictions, or for that matter anime "restrictions". Variation is after all fun.

There are a few things that I have learned from this discussion. First of all, I do not understand pixel-art...at least not as it is done - apparently - by most people. I mean, I understand the process as it is done in Day of the Tentacle or Full Throttle where they basically used the same approach as is done for traditional art, but adapted it to fit the needs of a low resolution. But as ProgZ presents the way pixel-art is generally done here, I feel that it lies so far away from traditional art, that the way to think about certain concepts is vitally different for both. I also found that pixel-artists don't really understand traditional art, and the way a traditional artists thinks about these concepts and what is important for a piece to actually shine. Maybe this means that the two just really aren't compatible.

So that brings me to Loominous suggestions:

Quote from: loominous on Sun 25/01/2009 13:07:58Which lead to my suggestions that either: A) Keep things as they are, but have lo-res restrictions apply only to lo-res entries, or B) turn the Sprite Jam into an official pixel art activity, and start a Character Competition that allows any style, and which aim is merely to create as good characters as possible.

Based on this discussion I doubt if (A) is possible, so that leaves me to (B): a Character (Oriented) Competition. And I am strongly in favour of this. However, to execute it well, it should not be like the pixel-sprite-jam where the assignment is defined as 'draw a whatever', but more in the way my granny-competition was: provide a character-description, present the tone of the game (family, horror, fantasy, etc),  and provide size-limitations that are screen-resolution dependant (it's for a game, not a cartoon). In some rare cases additional style (not medium) limitations could be added like: it's a manga game, it's a new instalment of Super Mario, etc., but this should not be a general rule.

So: I'm in favour of (B), because this discussion taught me that (A) appears to be impossible.

Misj:

QuoteMaybe this means that the two just really aren't compatible.

I'm not sure what precisely would be the problem. A nice sprite is after all a nice sprite, regardless of how it was created or what resolution/colour amount it has.

Whether the DOTT characters were pixeled from scratch or done through extensive sketch processes seems irrelevant when you judge the end result, which after all what matters in these activities and in the end.

Quote from: loominous on Sun 25/01/2009 19:53:38
I'm not sure what precisely would be the problem. A nice sprite is after all a nice sprite, regardless of how it was created or what resolution/colour amount it has.

Whether the DOTT characters were pixeled from scratch or done through extensive sketch processes seems irrelevant when you judge the end result, which after all what matters in these activities and in the end.

Yes, but apparently the interpretation of 'what is a good/workable sprite' depends too much on the design-point-of-view that someone has when looking at it.

For a traditional artist it is easier to see whether a 'traditional' sprite (Monkey Island 3, King's Quest 7, Broken Sword 1) is usable. If pixel-art is close to this traditional point of view (like DOTT, Sam'nMax, or most of the stuff Ghost draws) he can still see how and why it will work. However, the further it is away from it (like ProgZMax's work for example) he will have difficulties to judge on the usability of the sprite in a (adventure) game; even though that would be one of the definitions of a good sprite. The same is true for pixel artists: the further away on the spectrum the art is from their point-of-view the more difficult it is for them to judge it's true value.

I would love to see the Jam corrected to fit whichever approach a contestant wishes to follow to create his or her sprite. But this won't happen as long as one side doesn't understand the rules of the other. And certain key concepts are viewed upon too differently (colours are counted differently, traditional (or vector) artists do not 'think' in pixels, etc) for that to occur...apparently.

So rather than 'force' a change (even though I believe that such a change would be a good thing) I think it is better to go for the other solution: creating an additional contest that is more character oriented. I personally also think that such a contest is more valuable than the sprite-jam (both to pixel-artists, traditional-artists, flash-artists, and whatever-artists). That doesn't of course mean that the Sprite Jam would become obsolete or should be stopped.

---

Ps. We can discuss about this for months and never get anywhere. Some people indicated that they saw the value of such a contest, others said they don't. Let's bring this to the next step: Will we create a new contest that is character-based or not? - I say Yes.

Pps. What would be acceptable rules for such a contest? - I have indicated some in my previous post...but other may have better ideas. As long as it's character- and not sprite-based the two activities should not compete with each other.

I just wanted to tell you that there is a new Sprite Jam going on without size our colour restrictions. So, why not stop discussing and do some art?  :D

This discussion has taken an unproportionate amount of thread-space, so I'd like to settle it for now.

Loominous, I have a very hard time understanding why this is such an issue for you.

When you went to art class, were you never instructed to take different - sometimes very demanding - paths to reach the end product? Sometimes you painted negative space, sometimes you were restricted to using only the palette knife, sometimes the reference image was turned upside down.

In the same sense (since you used the football allegory yourself, and said how it would suck if your goals suddenly didn't count for no apparent reason), a football coach might, during a training session, instruct the players as follows: To practice passing, they will advance towards the goal in pairs, make two square passes and then shoot at the goal. Imagine that one player persisted in shooting directly at the goal without passing first, claiming that "a goal is always a goal" and ignoring that there is a pedagogical aspect involved.

My best art classes weren't about everyone trying to achieve as impressive a painting as possible, using their favourite technique (and then compare the results); they were about being challenged, brought out of balance, and then grow from there.

As for the future sprite-jams
We have to try to be objective here, and see to the interest of this community and the setup of competitions. We can only implement so many activities, or the entire board will be dilluted. Just because you think a particular aspect of a competition appears to be missing, and deserves a competition of its own, doesn't mean there will be a healthy amount of participation in that off-shoot over time.

I definitely think that the open nature of the sprite jams is enough to cater for every possible technique and genre over time, but not each time.

As a moderator I would like to end this discussion for now, and simply encourage the future winners to bring variation to the jams, but not resort to some kind of compliant "just paint your favourite picture!" to appease as many as possible.

Now, give room for other debates in this thread. If you can't stand the rules in the next jam, please just refrain from posting and wait for the next one. Or better still, challenge yourself and enter anyway.

  Hi.

   I would love to see a programming competition here but I failed to think how it could be done. I don´t even know if there will be enough people interested.

   What do you think?

   Perhaps a timely competition, something like: program a tic-tac-toe in 24 hours?

There used to be the coding competitions (http://www.americangirlscouts.org/agswiki/Coding_Contest), but I guess it died due to lack of entries. However I wouldn't mind seeing it back, cause I like to challange myself ;D However, I think there are only so many things you could script, and also only so many ways going about each theme. So I don't know if it is much of a competition. The time aspect I don't like, epecially 24hours cause that would difficult to run and unfair since we have AGSer from all over the world.

I think the coding competition lost steam because there was a lack of ideas of interesting things to code. If you check the list, there are 4 versions of 'battles', 2 inventory scripto-things, and 3 graphicky animating type things.

Quote from: Babar on Mon 16/02/2009 16:50:45
I think the coding competition lost steam because there was a lack of ideas of interesting things to code. If you check the list, there are 4 versions of 'battles', 2 inventory scripto-things, and 3 graphicky animating type things.

   Maybe we could make a competition (or activity) to "code better something that everyone must code in a game"? That way the users could think a bit more and learn new ways to code.

Asimos: I'd love a programming contest/competition..just for the hell of it.

I like that idea too and - as dualnames points out - it could be really helpful. I do sometimes have the problem that my code is much longer and more complex than necessary. So I'd love to see the shortest piece of script for certain "situations"..

If it's quite allowed, I'll think of a first theme, and post a reply here..so that people can decide whether we want it back or nto.

How about a model or sculpture contest.  The host sets some guidelines of his choice (say design a creature, or a 3d model of a room), and the contestants have to make this thing using any means from plasticine to toilet-roll tubes, and a lick of paint... whatever.

It might not be directly tied to AGS or games, but it will get people doing creative stuff with their hands and keep them away from the computer for a few minutes at least.

What does everyone think?

Quote from: Stupot on Fri 17/04/2009 10:01:30
How about a model or sculpture contest.  The host sets some guidelines of his choice (say design a creature, or a 3d model of a room), and the contestants have to make this thing using any means from plasticine to toilet-roll tubes, and a lick of paint... whatever.

Been there...done that (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=36703.msg482799#msg482799) ;)

I have had an idea for a Competition.

It's called Movie Madness (or a variation on this).

The idea is the previous winner on the last Movie Madness picks a Film or TV show (even a Comic), and the participants have to create either a Background, Character, Vehicle, Object or Music or they can make all of them if they like. (I feel that characters and objects must be animated due to the greater effort involved in a bg or maybe animated characters / objects can be another category) The entry's must be based on that film/comic/tvshow etc. The host of the comp will pick a winner from each category, and then a vote will be held for the overall winner (I think a vote will be best due to the different types of entry's)

I have the perfect film to start us off.   ;D

What do you think?

* Graphicless Game Competition
* You have to make a game without graphics, wich fully relies on dialog. You have to have interaction through the dialog. Entertainment
* Periodicity: Month long
* Type of competition: Yes there will be a winner.  Anybody can vote on the thread. They download the games, play and vote.
* Thread administrator: The winner or moderators

Are you talking about a text adventure? And if you are, there is nothing from stopping you entering Mags with a text adventure. Therefore I don't see the point in your competition.

Just finished replaying Trilby's Notes...still a great game.  :D

Anyway, it gave me an idea. Maybe we could have a contest where the goal is to make a game where the character remains in the same area the entire time (maybe not a room, but not a large area), but travels between two different versions of it in order to complete the game? I think that would be pretty cool. ;D

I think we should re-invent the animation competition as the interest is so low. I beleive the main problem is that the image is supplied. Why don't we change it so that you have to make a character perform some sort of animation? E.g. "The dog food is stored up high, make an animation of a dog getting the food", "Pirate Steve just recently lost his leg, make a walkcycle demonstrating him getting used to his new leg". Or something along those lines. I think it would be more useful to improve the entrant's skills as they are creating everything rather than being able to animate with someone else's sprite/style.

I have no objection against this, and I think it's worth a try.

So, it's okay for you to start a new one if you want.

(I think maybe it's also a good idea if a sprite IS also provided as some people may not want to create everything from scratch, so entries created by animating the sprite or original ones are both welcome, as long as they fit the theme.)

Space Quest Mania


Hi, there's some idea about creating mini episodes like Maniac Mansion Mania, but about Space Quest.

One guy create first episode with any story, graphics and style. Then second guy similarly continue this episode, then third, fourth, etc.


So, it would be new fan-serial Space Quest of mini-episodes.

I don't know, but if it's always to be conformed to some specific world settings it would be best to have it stay away from this section, like for example MMM are conducted elsewhere (I think it's mostly because of the German background though, and ironically most AGSers (including me) couldn't name most of the MMM games because of this).

Unless we have a section specific for a certain setting (like how the RON boards contribute to a section here now) I don't think it's a good idea to have this in teh activity forum.

Ok, to make the long story short, I want to start an HourGame competition on this board.

There (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=38927.0) have (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39002.0) been (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39046.0) regular (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39102.0) contests (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39163.0) in the past few weeks (and a quasi imprimatur (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39002.msg513199#msg513199) by a moderator).

Check them to see what it is all about, and let us know what you think.

Quote from: bicilotti on Fri 30/10/2009 14:32:38
Ok, to make the long story short, I want to start an HourGame competition on this board.

There (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=38927.0) have (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39002.0) been (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39046.0) regular (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39102.0) contests (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39163.0) in the past few weeks (and a quasi imprimatur (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39002.msg513199#msg513199) by a moderator).

Check them to see what it is all about, and let us know what you think.

Seconded :)

The activity seems to have done quite well the last couple of weeks, and having it here makes more sence.

Actually I have mentioned in that other thread already, if you're certain that it could attract enough activity to make it regular, just start it here.

Quote from: Gilbet V7000a on Fri 30/10/2009 16:08:17
Actually I have mentioned in that other thread already, if you're certain that it could attract enough activity to make it regular, just start it here.

When we had this kind of competition on stickam there was a lot of activity followed by a hiatus period and so on.

I don't know, we might skip a turn if a contest gets deserted.

It only stopped on Stickam because the next host wasn't always on Stickam at the same time as everyone else/the majority of people who would have entered. There was such a pause from that, that any "side" hour games were poorly entered until it stopped all together. Although I doubt this will happen with a forum of 4000 members (compared to the Stickam traffic of around 9 or 10 people maximum at one time). So I vote for it to come to C and A, but maybe a possible day change.

QuoteSo I vote for it to come to C and A, but maybe a possible day change.

I'm all ears.

Sunday?

Quote from: IndieBoy on Fri 30/10/2009 20:03:19
Sunday?

For me is as good as saturday (actually slightly better), let's see what other people think.

Has there been other game creation competitions besides hourgame, OROW and MAGS? I'm thinking something longer than an hour and shorter than a week. Something like 8 hours (workdaygame ;)). That would give you some more time to polish the game. You might even get some animations done in that time. And compared to OROW you don't have to feel that it's unfair when you have to go to work and other can just work on their games ;).

I support this, makes more sense here :)

Well what about a 24hour thing?

Daygame would be sweet.

Consider me in favor of this idea!

Well, the benefit with a 8 hour against 24 hour is that you can take part without losing sleep. Sure, you can only work on a game for 12 hours and then sleep for 12 hours, but competitive people will work on a game for the full 24 hours. I'm sure there are people here who just can't have the whole weekend for themselves, but would still like to participate in a such competition. Like people who have children, wifes, girlfriends etc. Benefit with 24 hours would be that everybody around the world would get the same amount of daytime to work on.

Since hourgame has been running quite nicely recently, one round could be used to test a longer timeline?

I'm not a fan of 8hour games.  Yeah, they -could- work out..  But what 8 hours are we talking about?  I live in US, other people live in the Russia.  There's a huge time difference --   Would I be having hours between 10pm and 6am so they can work between 1pm and 9pm?  Or what?  This is my current trouble with the Hour games! X_X

24hrs gives everyone an equal chance to do it at their own leisure within a time period and makes them feel less stressed for time when their wife/kids/husband/friends/ex-roommate pops in and needs their help with something for an hour or two.   
There may be some people who take full advantage of the 24hrs, but I don't think it's a big deal or that common for a short time frame. ^_^

I'm also in favor of this idea, sounds fun!

I think we should start thinking about a day when we can do this, Saturday/Sunday this week? (Whenever the hourgame isn't) If we can't have it in the Comp&Act board we could always have it at the Adv.Rel.T&C board.

Tijne, you do have a point. Actually I was thinking about Australia/Asia and thinking about how many members are from those regions and I totally forgot America. ;D
If only we could have a gps-time-locked-envelope that would open at 1pm local time and then you would put your game in the envelope 8 hours later before it would get locked. ;)
Then 24 hours would be ideal?

24 hours are good, and I suggest one competition per week. Or one every weekend?

Yes, on a weekend it would be best, but I have a feeling one competition per week would be too often. And ofcourse not at the same time as hourgame, probably not even on the same weekend. Maybe bi-weekly would be good?

Quote from: zabnat on Mon 02/11/2009 15:56:42
Yes, on a weekend it would be best, but I have a feeling one competition per week would be too often. And ofcourse not at the same time as hourgame, probably not even on the same weekend. Maybe bi-weekly would be good?

Maybe inbetween hourgame competitions? E.g. hourgames on the odd weeks, 24h games on even.

Saturday to Sunday? Saturday 9pm to Sunday 9pm or something? I would be game for that. At least I can go out Saturday and still have time to work on something the next day. Can someone work out when would be a reasonable time zone friendly time?

I have a suggestion.  Back when I visited these forums regularly, the way the animation and color comps sometimes worked is that no one would post an entry for weeks on end.  At that point, the person who started the contest would post a complaint about the lack of entries, then the comp would either continue to drift on until it was given a mercy kill, or someone would post an entry out of pity.  That would result in an exchange somewhat like the following:

+Hey, I posted something.  Does that mean I won?
-You're the only one, so I guess.  Yeah, sure.
+Can I just start a new contest, or do I have to ask someone's permission, or what?
-No, you can just start it.
+Cool.

So my thought is, why not make the pity post an official part of the rules?  If a comp goes inactive (i.e. there are no entries for at least a week after the deadline) then the first person to post an entry automatically wins by default and can immediately start a new comp.  Making it part of the rules will eliminate confusion and those time-wasting 'Did I win?' 'Yeah, I guess' posts and hopefully give people incentive to create an entry, even if the deadline has long since passed.

I agree with this to some extend. It is important to keep sleeping activities active again but if people can start the new round once they post something it may lead to abuse, in case the "entries" actually aren't created with any effort and may not even follow the rule of the competition. So, we need at least some people to recognise it as an accepted entry first (not necessarily the original host, I guess a few people are enough, and of course, a single moderator can approve it also), then if all goes well he of course will win by default and can host the next round.

Hi!
I posted a suggestion in this week's hourgame, which was created so that all could join the awesomeness that is the Hourgame Saturday :)

Then I realized that the people who can't join the hourgame don't read that thread :P

Quote from: Bulbapuck on Fri 04/12/2009 11:00:43
So, I had an idea and I want people's opinion on it:

Having the "Hourgame Saturday" every week is fun, but it results in it being less special then it was before. Hence the amount of entries is falling.

So to get the most out of this event: here's my suggestion:
Have the hourgame every other week at 7:00 pm as usual, but every other week have it at 7:00 am.

I believe this would imply an increase in activity, and also allow everybody to join and not just the ones up at 7:00 pm.

Please post here what you think of this idea.

Initial reactions are positive (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39476.0), but they come from people who probably won't enter every other week.

So, some opinions from people who this applies to?
Maybe there's a better time?

Hello!

There's idea for competition: Secret Word (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39517.0)

***

(description)

One guy create minigame and hide word in it (any ways). Another guys must guess this Secret Word, and winner'll create minigame with new word, etc.


For example and as first word:

http://jift.narod.ru/invis/x_word1.rar (500 kb)

***

So ok or sux?

Suggestion for...

***

Month competition, where agsers create sequel for any games (even not quest) in any genre (not necessary create quests only).

There'snt topic of month comp., just one goal - creating sequels.


Agser can create: sequel / prequel / "between-quel" (e.g., 4.5 chapter) / alternative version of original chapter / crossover (crossing diffr. games) / spin-off (player is cameo character from original)


Any graphics: from original game / yours / not yours ;)

And every month agsers create sequels to any random games. Any length, etc. Winner'll be leader of month sequelization.


e.g., War Craft 4 as jRPG, DukeNukem 4 as quest, Simon the Sorcerer 0, etc. Any games. PC/Videogames/AGS

And of course there'll be same numbers of chapters sometimes, but nevermind.


So if it's ok, let's do it? ;D

So when is the next OROW (wags tail)? 
Everyone loves a good OROW competition. :P

The last one was June, 2008.

I suggested the last one and never had time to enter... I think it might be a curse Ryan. However I'm up for another OROW soon  ;D

orowc ftw.

OROW! I've always wanted to enter one of those :D

Who's knees do we gotta bust to get this going? lol

Quote from: Ryan Timothy on Thu 14/01/2010 23:43:15
Who's knees do we gotta bust to get this going? lol

Yeah, honestly! What do we do to start it up? How was it done previous times?

I'd suggest waiting till the awards are over. Now people should use their time to play all the nominated games and vote.

Quote from: cat on Tue 26/01/2010 16:48:22
I'd suggest waiting till the awards are over. Now people should use their time to play all the nominated games and vote.

You're right, I'll bump this afterwards.

But how will we start it up then? I wasn't around in June of 2008, so I've never experienced one.

AGS Team Challenge (ATC)

ATC is a long standing AGS Tradition that has a history of rocky partnerships, missed deadlines and great games. It's been a while but I think it's time to revive it.

Summary:
ATC is a game competition that mimics the professional game creation environment. Teams consist of individuals with specific roles and milestones to fulfill and achieve. Teamwork, cooperation, pressure and enthusiasm are essential to succeed but when success happens it is a community milestone and almost always a quality product. The competition has been known to kick start relationships, creativity and passion and always be worth watching.

The proposal:
The format I am proposing is based on what information I could get on the previous competitions, opinions of former participants and some personally selected tweaks. It start; The competition begins with a recruiting process of approximately two weeks. Individuals make a post stating their ability to fulfill anyone of several specific roles:

Artist (Includes animation, background, sprite, etc-) - It is recommended to provide bodies of work
Programmer/Coder
Music/Audio (Includes voice acting) - It is recommended to provide bodies of work
Writer/Dialogue - It is recommended to provide bodies of work

During this two week period potential participants post their abilities and are able to recruit and join teams with other members. Teams must have at least 4 members and no more than 6. (I believe allowing variable team numbers increases the chance of all willing participants securing team slots.) If you are not chosen by a team but still interested in competing you may be placed in a pool and teams will be drawn at random from the pool to A.) Create new teams and B.) Fill out existing teams. Anybody not able to be placed will be kept as a reserve to substitute for missing team members.

Once teams are established the topic and deadline is announced and the teams are off! The build length would be approximately 6-8 weeks and along the way the teams would be expected meet specific milestones:

72 Hours: Team Name, Roster with each team member having an established function (the execution of this function will not be enforced,) a team leader (whom will direct team duties, communicate with competition officials, expel team members, recruit substitutes and ensure execution of duties)

1 Week: A Game Description/Synopsis

Midpoint: A Screenshot of in game work

1 Week before deadline: game as it exists so far

Deadline: The completed game, a walkthrough, a list of credits (if not included in game) and a leader assessment of team members.


In order to win the competition a game must receive the majority of votes from the public, whom will vote on certain criteria:
A. How well the game adheres to the original game topic
B. The "playability" of the game (Plot, Puzzles, Immersion, Compelling)
C. Game Design (Characters, GUI, Objects, BGs, Music)
D. X-Factor (Overall Favorite game of the reviewer)

Additionally the teams must be found to have adhered to competition rules:
1. The team did not accept help from ANY outside sources.
2. All materials are original and were created on-the-fly, for the completion, during the competition.
3. Teams may not exchange concepts, ideas, information or knowledge about the games that any other team is creating for the competition.
4. Teams competed in good spirit, had fun and never let the competition overwhelm them!!!

If no games are completed the game deemed closest to completion by the host will be considered the winners!

Ultimately this is all open to discussion! What are the thoughts of others?

Ah, the ATC.  Yeah, it's full of glorious failures so I'm not so sure it's worth bringing back.  It's just so difficult finding a group of people who will really stick it out and do their part.  I'd be more interested in this if I had Ben304, VinceXII and GregJazz/Ghormak as my wingmen.  The four of us could make the most awesome game ever to be called 'awesome'.  In fact, we would BE TEAM AWESOME.

I like the idea of a team competition, but it seems like it may be too ambitious.  A competition like that would be very hard to organize.  Teams would become unbalanced very easily.  Plus you'd need eight people to sign up just to have an actual competition (which is a lot if you look at how many people enter any given MAGS or Hourgame).

Back when Ben304 and Calin released 'Hope' I had an idea for a competition very much like this, only with teams of just two people.  Basically it would work exactly as Questionable suggested, only during recruitment, instead of applying for one specific job you list your strengths and weaknesses as a designer and get paired with someone who complements your abilities.

Of course, the balance issue stated above still stands, but at least this way there's a better chance of having enough participants and it's less likely you'd get screwed over by one of your teammates bailing out mid-competition.

It's worked in the past! It always seems to draw out the most people...

I did consider the fact that in order to have a decent competition you would need at LEAST 12 people...

It is a proposal so feel free to suggest amendments that would make it feasible!

Personally I would rather work in a 2-3 person team but I was basing the rules off what existed in the past and that was one of the things that changed the least. I also don't think that the teams would get unbalanced. I think a 3 man team could easily beat a 6 man team. They all have different dynamics and different issues to contend with.

MAKE SUGGESTIONS GUYS! Lets mold it until it makes sense...

Due to my near-total devotion to my studies at the moment, it is unlikely that I will have time to participate in the next year or so, but still:

Two people sounds like the perfect number, as I'm sure that statistics will say that most of the budding and flowered AGSers will probably have 2 of the 4 skills needed for a full game;

I personally would be ten times more confident that I could complete a game in a team, and would therefore be more likely to enter;

With two people making the game, it could be turned into a highly AGS educational exercise with the addition of noobs being allowed to tag along with the teams;

SSS's suggestion makes the most sense to me.


I personally think many people would join these sorts of things if they weren't left so much to their own devices when it came to signing up...

Quote from: ProgZmax on Fri 26/03/2010 05:52:36
I'd be more interested in this if I had Ben304, VinceXII and GregJazz/Ghormak as my wingmen.  The four of us could make the most awesome game ever to be called 'awesome'.  In fact, we would BE TEAM AWESOME.

I'd join your cool team!

QuoteArtist (Includes animation, background, sprite, etc-) - It is recommended to provide bodies of work

I have to say though, if this were gonna take place I'd recommend considering splitting up artists into background artist/animator in order to reduce the workload. Doing one or another is enough work as it is, doing both can be a total overload. I've done a couple of "work with programmer partner to make short game totally quickly" situations (Trance-Pacific, IWWWHIWHIWHIWHIWHIWHIWHIWWHHIIHWHWIWHIHIWLOLMONKEYISLAND, and Hope) and it gets pretty hard to juggle your time between both backgrounds and animations.

Putting animations with backgrounds is basically akin to putting writer with programmer, as far as I am concerned.

Maybe I'm just a wuss though :P

Teams sound like a really interesting idea.  One potential issue I see with getting people to enter is that, for example, while I'm passable at some parts of making a game, I'm not great at anything.  I don't know if there are other newbies like me who feel that they aren't good enough yet to contribute much to a team (and who don’t have any previous examples of their work to show).  Maybe random team assignment to prevent all the really good people from joining up as well as to make sure everyone who is interested is able to participate?  Or maybe a designated person matches up the teams based on people's strengths?  Of course, neither of those suggestions help ProgZmax’s point that you need to have partner(s) who will get things done, as you have no control over who you will be with.

I'd also second the idea of separating background and character artists; I'm OK at backgrounds but I suck at characters!

i'd get in a team competition :)
as for newbies feeling like they're not good enough to participate, surely the whole point of competitions like this isn't just for WINNING, but for improving?
what better way is there to improve?

plus i think what would be a cool thing to do is for people to form there own teams and they can accept/reject people based on the teams desicions.
that way you can have like an allegiance to your team and then all sorts of fun stuff like banners to be worn in sigs etc can come around :D

just my thoughts...
anyways there seems to be lots of interest so go for it??

EDIT:
I read my post and i don't appear to making a whole lot of sense...
what i mean is, don't like say ALRIGHT GO GO GO.  let each team form as they will and work it out, then when the team is ready, they ask another team to do battle, and someone chooses a topic and they get cracking.
if you still don't understand what i mean, check out the way teams and battles run over at Gimptalk.
http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/general-discussion-f12.html
The New Nation, Team FTW, etc are teams.  they run their teams and battles in a similar way over there that i think would be cool here.

With a mind like yours I know who I'd like to team with! ;)
Unfortunately, I say again, I'd be unable to contribute other than with my humble opinion.
But I like your idea.

shucks, thanks :)
hopefully this gets enough interest because i think this would be very cool :)

I'm going to bump 2 ideas that people seemed to be into (me included) but never really happened.

• OROW
  
• 24 hour - game
  

I hope these will start someday, I know that I would join :)

I would definitely join an OROW compo.

Just an idea, but what about a chain choose-your-own-adventure competition? It'd be similar to the two other chain story comps, but there would be branches in the narrative and multiple endings, just like a CYOA.

Hi,

There have been three successful hoursong competitions so far in the General Discussion forum, but the turn ups are not as good as they could be I guess. We think it might help if we post them in C&A. Is that OK?

-Wyz

edit:
Ok, thanks!

I'll say it's okay, so just start it here when you're having the next round.

I was babbling random crap on #ags as usual while people hinted that one particular idea is worth sharing so here you go.

The idea for the competition is about that it lasts relatively long - a month, two months, three months or whatever - but each participant must submit a demo of his/her game every week. Moreso the demo must contain new content every week. For example each new week there must be 2 new rooms in the game. Of course some variety in this rule can be made, i.e. if the maker doesn't want to add 2 more rooms at the moment or at all he must add 15 more interactive hotspots, or 10 more dialogues or some puzzles or some other original content. If he doesn't he either claims his game to be complete or drops out of the competition with much much shame.

As the one last note - as much as i love AGS i'd like such compo to be engine-wide.

Thank you for your attention.

qptain nemo:
I quite like the idea, as it would probably generate lots of inspiration for those who tend to get stuck at certain points in their game-making.
So everyone starts from scratch, then they must regularly show up the required progress or lose? And the one with the most progress after - say - 6 months wins? Or will it go on until only one person updates, and he/she wins?

Andail, I wouldn't just test the endurance of makers, because it can be fun to watch but the games' quality can suffer if it's just a some sort of race instead of a game-making event.

I'd do it like this. There's a fixed deadline - 1 month or 3 months or 6 months - depending on how complex the contest's topic & concept are. Everybody must show progress at least once each week until this date strikes. Anyone who doesn't show an update in a week drops out and his game doesn't participate in the final voting/choosing of the winner. But anyone can at any moment claim that his game is finished, in which case his game remains eligible in the end, but obviously he can't update it anymore and will have to compete with games which were worked on for a longer time. Games that make it to the end are judged/voted for as they usually are: by the overall quality, how enjoyable and well-executed they are, etc.

Sounds good to me, not too strenuous.

I like it. It's shaping up greatly. I say we do this. ;)

But if you show your progress each week, then you kinda reveal what your game is about, no?

Quote from: Cuiki on Fri 23/07/2010 17:35:44
But if you show your progress each week, then you kinda reveal what your game is about, no?

Well... yeah. But:
1. Not everybody has to check on your game every week and obviously not everybody will. Only the competition hosts have to check if you're making progress or not. To the majority of public your game will still be completely fresh after the moment of final release.
2. It's very likely you're revealing stuff in your game in chronological order anyway unless you have some exotic non-linear development methods. So even if somebody plays every week's demo, he still gets everything in the kinda appropriate order without really spoiling anything I guess.
3. If you're really concerned about this, you can follow the rule very formally, i.e. submit demo with new rooms available, but make all hotspots not fully interactive or in some other way make demo non-revealing.
4. And finally the quite obvious measure which I came up with only after writing all previous stuff: the demos that are submited to the compo can be made non-public. Or they can be made either public or non-public by the will of the developers. Because it only matters that the competition hosts check on your progress after all.

Quote from: qptain Nemo on Fri 23/07/2010 18:12:34
Only the competition hosts have to check if you're making progress or not. To the majority of public your game will still be completely fresh after the moment of final release.

Oh, that makes sense. All in all I think it's a good idea.

Is there any chance in a  Background Blitz "Workshop Edition"

I know, that's a whole bunch of work for the tutors... but if it ever gonna happen again, I'll join immediately.

Quote from: abstauber on Sat 25/09/2010 21:14:38Is
there any chance in a  Background Blitz "Workshop Edition"
I know, that's a whole bunch of work for the tutors... but if it ever gonna
happen again, I'll join immediately.

While I lack time at the moment  (which is one of the main reasons why I didn't join any of the recent  competitions), I agree that I would love another BB:WE. Actually, ever since the original workshop edition (wow, has it been  two years (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=34542.0) already?), an idea (actually two) for a second BB:WE whispered in the back of my mind...although it never fully materialized.

Anyway, if more people are interested, I would love to start one within the next  few weeks...

I'd be up for doing another one, though I ve been pondering how one could develop the idea, perhaps into a "concept workshop", possibly divided into seperate activities.

There are two directions to potentially expand it as I see it: writing and character design.


Writing

One part of game creation that this sub forum never really deals with (apart from MAGS) is coming up with interesting game settings and characters.

So instead of having one of the hosts coming up with the setting, there could be a pre-stage where people, in the same workshop spirit (focusing on the process, providing and receiving feedback), developed game concepts, and a special location (and character) within that world.

Through a voting process, one concept could be picked, which would then become the basis for the background/character part.


Character design

After the background part, or possibly simultaneously, there could be a character stage, where the goal would be to develop characters that embodies the traits specified in the script, and integrates well into the backgrounds.

-

I liked the subdivision into seperate parts that the last one had, which allowed you to focus on a single aspect at a time, also giving the chance for people to write mini tutorials on the topic.

The character design part could have parts such as: Pose/skeleton, Mass/volume, Details/expression/colours.

Not sure what parts the writing stage would have though, perhaps someone with a writing background could come up with some.

-

Expanding it could of course result in a bloated mess, so I'm just tossing out a few ideas to see if there would be any interest in these other aspects.

How about...

Puzzle Design

It's the heart of every adventure game still there isn't a competition about it.
It could feature a problem and you have to come up with a creative and plausible way to solve it.

Wouldn't Puzzle Design better be taken to Sprite Jam? I remember an item combination competition, which was pretty informative. But just for one background? Maybe if we sketch the other backgrounds as well - but then we could also create some kind of MAGS workshop.

Hmmm... maybe we could do that as well ;D


But for starters I'd be fine with any workshop provided.

I think mode7 means as a general competition, not as a workshop. But there already used to be a puzzle competition...it went on for a while, and eventually ran out of steam- there are only so many situations you can come up with before it starts getting boring and overblown.

I'm up with loominous on the writing side.

Quote from: loominousWriting

I'm not sure whether the exact idea of loominous would work of course, but definitely the forum needs more activities based on it.

maybe the best would then be to have a sequence of workshops starting with someone starting with a plot (containing the setting, and general events), as well as some textual character descriptions, and then have workshops about writing (the introduction scene ?), character design (based on the descriptions) of a single character (main character?), the development of a single environment (with interaction points), a single animation, a musical theme for either the game or a character, etc. Each of the subsequent workshops based on the earlier (though not necessarily limited to the (finished) entries).

As long as the main purpose is to include some critics to the workshops (it's not about competition I think, but about activity) even from those not participating themselves, I would be happy to join (if I have the time...and if my computer doesn't die on me).



Ps. I'd also love to have a workshop about going from concept art to character sprite, creating a Sierra-speech-style face to a (low-res) sprite, finding an original style for a game, etc.

EDIT: Aaand....my computer died (and I can't find my WindowsDVD in my boxes yet (I just moved, and the house isn't ready yet to unpack)).

I also like, what ProgZmax started this month (Pixelween: Gui, Background & Character).
That would have also been a great opportunity for a workshop - of course a bit limited.

So to make it less complicated, maybe we could first choose a setting, eg. horror, romance, film noir, western etc.

I could imagine that it's easier to get started this way. Or even: let's vote for the topic and than some of you guys take over and e.g. provide a character sheet or whatever one uses to plan a background.

That could be a real cool comp!

About Writing Competition(s):

I know I'm a new-comer on the forum and I'm completely new to writing for video games, but I don't understand the writing competition. How is that supposed to help writing in video games (writing short stories and poems)? Though my research into this field has only started, there is one point that is clear. You don't write video games in the way you write for everything else. Though they incorporate certain aspects from other media types, games are a pretty different (and new). You can't write for a video game as you would write for a short story; it doesn't translate well.

Do I have a solution? No. At least not yet.

Quote from: Harbinger on Fri 19/11/2010 15:42:46
You can't write for a video game as you would write for a short story; it doesn't translate well.

You must think there is some translation.  In the "Offer Your Services" thread you mentioned winning a short story contest as your experience for writing a video game.

I do like the overall idea of a "game design outline" contest, though I don't know if that has been tried on here before.

Quote from: kconan on Fri 19/11/2010 16:26:16

Quote from: Harbinger on Fri 19/11/2010 15:42:46
You can't write for a video game as you would write for a short story; it doesn't translate well.

You must think there is some translation.  In the "Offer Your Services" thread you mentioned winning a short story contest as your experience for writing a video game.

I do like the overall idea of a "game design outline" contest, though I don't know if that has been tried on here before.

Yeah. It's probably not right, but-- for now-- I think you have to be a solid writer before you start writing things for games. And then it's one thing to just write dialog blurbs and another thing to create a plot/narrative that holds hands with gameplay to make the over all game immersive as possible. Before you just jump into writing whatever for games, you've got to understand how to craft a story (short story, screenplays, etc). Though in the future, one could probably jump straightaway to writing narrative for games (I mean, I see a few books emerging titled as "How to Write Narrative for Video Games" just like "How to write Screenplays").

I was also probably wrong to have said that I've won that or had a class. I didn't do research before that; I had just fiddled around with the AGS. There might be some translation, but if you try to write a game like for a short story, you'll end up with a bunch of cut scenes and a not-very-interactive game-- or that's my thought. And like I said, game writing incorporates some things from other mediums like short stories and screenplays, but you can't write a game as if you're writing for a movie or novel.

Personally I feel the writing competitions have helped my writing overall in games. I'd like to see a game design competition though for sure. I approve with all hands up regardless.

So, any ideas on what a game design writing activity could look like?

I'm guessing that the most appealing aspects to writers would probably be stuff like: character backgrounds, dialogues, cutscenes, or similar, so it should probably incorporate some of those.

To avoid being limited to mere framework design, I guess something like the game's first cutscene could be included, kinda like a trailer, where you'd get the taste of the general atmosphere.

So for instance, with a theme like: 'The Kite Flying Society', the activity could include:

I) Designing the world
II) Designing the main story
III) Designing the (main) characters and their backgrounds
IV) Writing the intro

As a complete novice when it comes to writing, I'm just tossing out ideas.

This activity could work as a standalone one, or be part of a general game design activity.

I'm not so hot at creating stories from scratch, but I'd love to see more design-oriented competitions.
To try and stay more on topic, and to actually contribute, I will say that I absolutely love this:

Quote from: loominous on Fri 19/11/2010 22:52:45
I) Designing the world
II) Designing the main story

Those are things I do on a regular basis - I usually get into double figures every week - and rather enjoy doing.
Once it get's down to the semantics of game story design, I tend to lose it.  :P

An Xmas competition where you have to make a game as an individual or a team for Christmas with any kind of Christmas theme, and there are prizes for the winning team. But please let me know if I can run this by the 7th!  :=

* Title of activity
An AGS Christmas

* A thorough description of its concept and purpose (educational or entertaining?)
Make a game of any kind using AGS with a Christmas theme for release by 23rd December 2010.

* Periodicity (how long each round will be and how often it will occur)
From Andail's approval through til 23rd December.

* Type of competition: Will there be a winner, who will elect the winner (if there is a vote, how long will voting go on)
A panel, including Santa Claus, DualNames and IceyGames will judge your game on a) Overall fun b) Innovative use of AGS c) Original art and content and d) Greatest sensation of Christmas

* Thread administrator: Will the activity/competition be maintained by the winner of the previous round, or by the same person every time?
This is a one off, anyone is eligible to participate, a small committee will decide the winner. There is no reprise until Xmas 2011. A small number of prizes will be awarded to the winning team, including a commercial AGS game and a graphic depicting you and Christmas.

Based on some discussion here:

Title: "The AGS Films and TV Competition"

Held: Every three months, the competition itself will last three months.

Minimum Entry rules: Must be either a first person or third person adventure game. It must contain a minimum of 5 rooms, 2 puzzles and 2 characters.

Rules: Each Game entered must be original and not already released in any form. It cannot be a remake. However, prior artwork from other games can be used. The game must be made using any version of AGS. The Game may have any type of graphics, GUI, options, etc... that is typically found in a point and click adventure. Each entry can consist of a team of 1 or higher, but no more than 5.

Thread Administrator:  I will host the competition myself. The winner(s) (Whether one individual or a team) must collectively host and decide what the next show/film and its features will be. A thread administrator can participate only on a team project, not on his own project and cannot be the project leader either. The same goes with the current host. However, if the current host consists of more than one member, they must then wait until the current period of the competition is over.

Type of Competition: Each competition will have a winner and will be decided by a poll vote from the members of the AGS Community. The vote will last only a week and begins immediately after the deadline. If there is only one entry, then they automatically are the winners for that period of the competition. If there are no entries, then the competition will be extended one more month. If there is still no entry, the competition is scrapped and the current host must pick a new show or movie to base the competition on. If three periods of a competition in a row have no participation, then the competition will be scrapped all-together.

Description of the competition:

The AGS TV and Film competition is a competition where one or more members get together to develop a game based on either a TV Show or Movie decided upon the current competitions host or winner. The game can be based on any current or older tv show or film with the exception of reality tv shows. Crossovers are allowed. Comic book themes are also allowed as long as that particular comic story has been made into a movie or tv show. Cameo's of characters are also allowed. This allows the community to create games based on their favorite films or tv shows that would have otherwise never developed into a film. Each period of the competition can have certain rules that apply to it, such as how the ending will be or what items must be used, which characters must be used or excused etc... The rules completely lies with the host of the competition.

If we have any takers, please vote and agree to this competition.

I think this is a great idea!

Although joining and making a game is unlikely for me ;)

Quote from: loominous on Fri 19/11/2010 22:52:45
So, any ideas on what a game design writing activity could look like?

I'm guessing that the most appealing aspects to writers would probably be stuff like: character backgrounds, dialogues, cutscenes, or similar, so it should probably incorporate some of those.

To avoid being limited to mere framework design, I guess something like the game's first cutscene could be included, kinda like a trailer, where you'd get the taste of the general atmosphere.

So for instance, with a theme like: 'The Kite Flying Society', the activity could include:

I) Designing the world
II) Designing the main story
III) Designing the (main) characters and their backgrounds
IV) Writing the intro

As a complete novice when it comes to writing, I'm just tossing out ideas.

This activity could work as a standalone one, or be part of a general game design activity.

I think these are good ideas for a framework.  Right now, I'm using a tree editor to write the script for my game.  It don't know how easy it would be for participants to submit and exchange tree editor documents, but it's a great way for someone to 'read' your game.  Navigating and reading through the various branches plays a bit like a text adventure.  You can't get too in-depth with puzzles, but you can present the basic concepts in the order that they would appear in game.  Just a thought.

I was wondering about OROW.

I'm not going to host it this year, but if there are any volunteers I would gladly join :D

I don't know if somebody came up with this idea before. In a video interview I have seen recently (not published yet), an old school adventure game designer mentioned, how much room for imagination in adventure games has been taken away from the players by inventing graphics in the games. I thought about it and wondered how much different the scenes would look like if different people tried to draw a scene that is only described by text.

The idea for a competition is to post a room description from a text adventure game and let people draw that scene to see how different the picture of the inner eye is in different minds.

What do you think about that idea? Do you think it could work?

Love it.
I might even enter, but not with anything worthwhile. :P

Quote from: neon on Fri 24/06/2011 17:55:31
I don't know if somebody came up with this idea before. In a video interview I have seen recently (not published yet), an old school adventure game designer mentioned, how much room for imagination in adventure games has been taken away from the players by inventing graphics in the games. I thought about it and wondered how much different the scenes would look like if different people tried to draw a scene that is only described by text.

The idea for a competition is to post a room description from a text adventure game and let people draw that scene to see how different the picture of the inner eye is in different minds.

What do you think about that idea? Do you think it could work?

This sounds awesome. Maybe it can be folded into the next background blitz, just for fun?
It sounds too similar to the background blitz so I don't know whether both would be able to run parallel.

Why do we not have a YAGS? Or even a DAGS? Or a CAGS?

Oh, sorry I did not follow that... the interview I mentioned is this one:

http://www.adventure-treff.de/specials/video.php?id=620

I remember some time ago loominous made a workshop themed Background Blitz in the competitions forum.
I thought it could be really cool to have more of these workshops - With focus on a specific area. Could be backgrounds, drawing rooms, choosing the right colours, shading or walk-animation. There you could train your skills and get help from those who are good at it.

That's why we have the Critics Lounge you might think - That's true, but in a workshop you're working with a specific issue rather than posting a drawing you want people to critique.
If such a workshop - or workshops were to be created I would love to see people like loominous and/or zyndikate as mentors.

Just a wish/suggestion :) What do you guys think of that idea?

My suggestions :)

***

3 in 1: Jack, Chuck, Glory

Series like RoN. Main hero is schizo, he has three personalities: Jack, Chuck and Glory. Jack is normal state. Chuck is crazy & dirty. Glory is very happy guy (as sectarian).

In the first episode the hero (and each personalities) doesn't know about his split personality. And it happens uncontrollably. Each personality has special abilities and nature of the action.

The hero lives in the house, works in the simple office job... And nobody knows about his 'secret', but SUDDENLY after very bad gap with some girl the hero'll become to fail...


Each AGSer create episode with new plot and characters.

***

Mystic Thing

Mystic (LOST-like, for ex.) + RoN-style. The first AGSer'll create LAST episode of the series. Then next AGSer'll create previous episode, etc. I.e. inverse.

AGSers'll create plot on the run in the back order. New (new previous ;)) episode will clarify some things and create new secrets.


When AGSers'll reach the first episode (which clarify all or almost all things), some AGSer or all together ;) will create REALLY LAST episode, i.e. after the 'LAST' episode (which was the first, really))


Episodes could be in any style (but better be adventures), from any character vision.

***

Real people: The Series

Again RoN-like.

Each character is managed by defined AGSer. Also one AGSer can has several characters. And also there could be NPC (monsters, ...) which haven't assigns to defined AGSer.

Episode creator talks to AGSers via PM about their dialogs in his episode. And the creator doesn't spoil (doesn't say anothers' dialogs to other AGSer-character-holders).


Before this each AGSer, member of this thing, must write in defined thread about their characters (i.e. they'll create chars). With sprites or without it (so the creator use any sprites for it).

Assigned AGSer (characters holder) manages dialogs and actions of his characters in all episodes. The episode creator must to PM all holders for it.


It's like tactics adventure game with real people.

***

Triple Hourgame

As three hourgames in a row, but with one game. And AGSer can't change previous version of his game, he can only continue to make it (i.e. add new stuff, not replace).

There're three topics. The 2nd, 3rd topics are told only when previous hour is gone. i.e. in a row. AGSers don't know next topic while hour doesn't finish.

And topics could be trash and very different (for fun))


So this competitions for 3 hours. And also after it each AGSer'll present own (triple-hourgamed) game.

Hello, I represent a small company, and I'd like to announce a contest for best character/animation of a computer fairy (I'll write details if I'm allowed to post a contest)  with a prize of 50$. How would that sound?

 Voice Acting Competition
This competition lasts a week and includes a fixed host, who comes up with lines and a set guideline for a voice actor to perform. An example would be: "Fetch me eggs, wine, beer and a magazine for the market. If you don't, I will cuddle you until you die!"(note that there would be longer lines) said by an an evil villian with a lisp. The voice actor would then record these lines and post them on the forum with a working link. The winner is determined by majority vote. Voting commences the day after the deadline. The first second and third places recieve tophies (and bragging rights).
The competition is for educational and entertaining purposes. People practice working as a voice actor, and have fun in the process.
I hope you will consider this competition for your competition forums,
Sane Co.

Although I'm a little slow with seconding it, I think Sane Co.'s Voice Acting Competition sounds like a great idea.  You could have fun, hone your skills, and not invest a tonne of time: the perfect contest!  I don't think the lines need to be terribly lengthy: short and sweet work for me.  Even just themes would work: two guys exchange insults -go!  A kid loses his candy -go!  Scolding wife is angry about trivial thing -go!

I only recently discovered the Hall of Fame thread and noticed there used to be a voice acting comp up until 2006.

I've been trying to think of a tactful way to suggest bringing it back (apparently I completely ignore stickied threads like this one and the HoF thread). I'd like to give voiceover work a try, have a mic and a copy of Audition, and a range of voices I'm capable of performing. However, I don't want to volunteer for game work because I'm completely inexperienced and I could be a total wash-up.

A voice acting comp would give me, and perhaps others, a nice way of trying out.

Scrapheap Challenge  -  more an annual sort of thing, I guess but the idea to make a game where all the backgrounds or characters (depending on what you have the most of) that you've drawn but never used are the assets you use to make a game. It's similar to the complete your game challenge, but it's come up because I've noticed that my Pictures folder is crammed with pixel art characters which, of course, I've never used because I STILL have managed to not make a game yet.

Alternately if we could host a page where a heap of people upload unused sprites, backgrounds (pieces of music, I suppose, AGS is all inclusive :P) and then the challenge is for people to make a game using only those resources...

Eh, as I'm typing this I'm going off the idea, actually, as it's similar to a lot of AGS stuff that's out there. But it would probably be fun anyway.

I agree with Barron. We should make it less specific, or we could do both.
And Eric I totally agree with you. That's why I posted the idea.

I say check in with the mods then, point to the precedent of the previous voice acting competition, and get this thing restarted -- it was your idea, after all!

Yeah. As the original activity was pretty dead by now, I think it doesn't hurt trying to start anew and I think the rules are okay.

So go ahead, start a new round and we'll see whether this will last.

* Title of activity: Resource Swarm
* Description: The participants must participate with two characters, a background and a story. The purpose is educational and entretaining
* Periodicity: Participate time: 1 week. Voting time: another week
* Type of competition: The winner is elected by votation of favourite bg, character and story.
* Thread administrator: The winner will be the administrator of the next round

I have an idea but don't know how to manage it ;)
The idea is make a huge image where everyone participating paints one piece. One of these huuuuuuge scrollable pixelart images.
I have an idea for a theme that would be diving platform. Imagine some ladders tied together reaching up high into the sky or even space with a dark blue background on top and going down to brighter blue. There are people climbing up, some are diving down and there are cupboards tied in inbetween and so on. The whole thing stands on a mountain where stairs and more ladders lead up, and will extend down into the water where people are landing and diving and eaten by sharks and some skeletons on the bottom of the pond. It could even extend deeper to some caves where people are having waterfun and some skeletons are buried inbetween the rocks.

a huge but still limited palette is useful here.

So one method would be to sketch it all out and have artistic people sign up for parts and see what happens.

or method 2: have no sketch and have artists sign up for pieces but one at a time and you have to extend where the former part ends. this seems more constant but also slow in progress.


Sounds interesting? So how would you manage this? And what to do if an entry is really really bad and doesn't fit to the quality of the other parts?

I think the exquisite corpse method is the way to go. Could be interesting!

I like the voice acting one that Sane Co. suggested and started. I already submitted my entry....no, I'm not campaigning for votes!!!  (roll)

exqusite corpse sounds indeed exquisite. But that would be rather chaotic and I like chaos. And you wouldn't have to manage all that much. (laugh)
You only need a fixed width and a ~maximum height, once you're done you post the last 2-3 lines of pixels and the next one can paint on from there. Once the next painter posted his 2-3 lines of his finished picture you can post your whole image. And the first post is constantly updated with the additions. Interesting surreal results guaranteed :D

cons:
-slow progress, only one person at a time. Can be avoided by going up and down from the startimage. This need some more managing though ;)
- if this person fails to deliver someone else has to claim his addition and this takes even more time so people might lose interest. If the results are really mindblowing though...
- why hide the image? maybe some more continuity is also great. But this is against the corpse excuisite idea

soooo, how does 200x200 for every patch sound?
style: pixel art
palette... dunno, I like my freedom, the 8 bit era is long gone and 65536 colors are more than enough (16bit)
one rule: make sure to have some unfinished shape/form/stuff going to the border and not only the end of a background gradient.


I also have an inspiration for a starting image, so if I manage to complete it by tomorrow expect a new thread and some pixels to continue from :D

In my attempts to "fall in line" with the rules around here, I am reposting what I proposed as a separate thread earlier.

I was wondering if any of the awesome developers here at AGS have ever thought about holding a contest and then as an Award, the winner gets a cameo in-game! It could be in the form of a shout out, a poster in the background or maybe even a hand drawn (or pixelated) version of them in the game? Sorry I don't have any games in development right now or I would offer it myself, but I think that would be a really cool and fun way to get people excited about: A) Your game being released and B) Posting more often in the forums! I for one would love to be remembered in digital form in one of your fine pieces of interactive art.

Have anyone ever mentioned such idea as using the winner of previous competition of different type as a reference? By winner I do not mean AGSer :) but the piece (art, music etc) that won the award.

Consider: someone makes a great background in the "Background" competition, and for the next "Music" competition participants should write music for that background. Or "Writing" competitors should write a story that takes place or somehow connected to the location on the background.
I a while a piece of music or writing could be taken as a reference for making background pic.
Same for sprites, animations etc.

Found similar suggestions:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg583545#msg583545
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27157.msg554968#msg554968

I couldn't remember well, but I think such thing has been done before.
After all, it's all up to the host of an activity on how the rules in the round are set up.

I agree with crimson wizard and every so often a game should be made in this manner, one room of course. but there would first be background, then writing, then music then voice acting, and finnally we could have a coding comp. I bet it would make a cool game.

if there was a coding comp with already done assets it would make more than only one cool game. But then writing should be interpreted freely ;)

I have another idea.

AGS OLYMPICS

All the actual competitions in one!

I'd like to host another Chain Story if there would be enough interest.  It's been about 2 years since the last one!  They always turn out pretty funny!

Some of the past chain stories:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=41299.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=33723.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=41001.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=38663.0

Can we bring back the *Photoshop Biweekly: Using your favourite editing program, modify a picture to fit the theme of the week.?

Sure. It was popular and I'd like to see a comeback too.
If you want you can start a new round. Otherwise we may see whether there are volunteers and if not, I will start it.

I would like to request permission to start a new forum-game similiar to this one: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=44156.0

I've prepped enough material for a new game to get it started, and just like before, I'll make more up as I go. Hopefully we'll have as much fun, if not more, than in the last game. :)

The name of the game (and the thread) would be: "Afrika Korps - A community roleplaying adventure in 1942"

Quote from: WHAM on Fri 05/10/2012 20:26:49Afrika Korps

This game is already darker than the last one and it hasn't even started yet.

Yeah. Go ahead WHAM. One suggestion though, is that maybe you should keep the game's name on the subject each time. That only the chapter's title was shown in the topic and that the whole thread's name changed whenever a new chapter started was quite confusing. Something like "gamename - chapter x" would be better.

BTW, would you like me to lock the thread of the last game now, or do you want to keep it open for a while to receive more comments?

This time the game name is set, no changing the thread name every now and then. In the last game I hadn't even planned a full name that would describe the whole story (at the beginning it would have been a spoiler!), but this time it at least describes the setup and instead the players will be affecting the story in different ways. You'll see, I hope.

The old thread can be locked later today in my opinion, since the story of it is no longer developing. I'll add one more post to it, telling people they can PM me or find the new game in a new thread first.

Okay. Done.  :smiley:

How about a monthy RoN like competition where the monthly winner's game gets made canon to the story series

What about another OROW?

Quote from: cat on Thu 11/04/2013 16:20:25
What about another OROW?

Ditto. We're way overdue for a new OROW, don't you think?

A RON (or OSD) contest might be nice too. :smiley:

Quote from: cat on Thu 11/04/2013 16:20:25
What about another OROW?

+1 to that suggestion!

Yeah! Let's do an OROW!

Sounds sweet!

So who should we ask for permission?  :cheesy:

Yeah, since it's been a while after the last round, any person who wants to be responsible and has the rule set thought out already may attempt to start a new round.

You are also free to start a new thread in this section to discuss about rules, dates, etc. before making the real thing.

I had an idea for a little art game where we start with a blank jigsaw template and take it in turns to draw a new piece of the jigsaw and eventually ending up with a somewhat seamless (hopefully) image.
(http://stupot.agser.me/misc/jigsaw.png)

Maybe I would start the first one and to avoid two or more people clashing over the same puzzle piece, we could get 12 people to claim which parts they are doing before we actually start drawing.  Each person has to try to make their piece work well with the pieces around it, while also trying to set up interesting challenges for the people who have yet to take their turn on the blank pieces adjacent to it.

How does this sound?  I would probably wait until after the Workshop is over before starting this, in case anyone taking part in that wants to join this too, but is worried about time. But just thought I'd throw this idea to out there and see if anyone's interested.

I'd start with this small 12-piecer, but if it goes well we could do it again with an even larger puzzle.

Anyone wants a competition to make a new AGS splash screen?
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48269.0

Sounds to me a good idea. Just make a new thread with the dimension requirements and set a deadline?

I've finally come up with a new activity, to go along with MAGS and OROW... if it's okay with all y'all!
-----
Title: Cross Cultural Exposure

Description: A crazy idea... of combining Japanese anime/manga characters with Western adventure games (both well-known and obscure).  For example, Sailor Moon and the other Sailor scouts in the Space Quest universe.  Or Dragon Ball (original, Z, or GT) in the Quest for Glory universe.  Or maybe One Piece characters in the Monkey Island world (if either of which is your thing).  Perhaps you'd prefer Cardcaptor Sakura in Discworld or Kyrandia.

Or maybe the other way around, with the Daventry Royal Family in one medieval-themed anime (or maybe in the Saint Seiya universe), or Roger Wilco in one of the Tenchi anime (Tenchi Muyo, Tenchi Universe, or Tenchi in Tokyo).  Or maybe something as crazy as Rincewind (from Discworld) in the world of Pokemon!

Whatever it is, just take one anime and one Western (American or European) adventure game, and find a way to combine the two.

Periodicity: Have it occur every three months (yep, a seasonal thing), and have it last about a month long.

Type of competition: There is a winner involved, and voting will go for two weeks after the main competition time ends.

Thread administrator: The winner gets to pick the theme of the next "Cross Cultural Exposure".
-----

So... if this is a go, who wants to pick the first anime/adventure game combo?

This is way too specific for a recurring contest. (I'm also tempted to make some tactless comment about furries :-D)

I think Khris is right. Your idea could be a nice theme for a single MAGS competition, but for a seasonal event it will wear off too quickly.

Sure, I'll save the idea for an MAGS.

Quote from: Stupot+ on Tue 14/05/2013 12:19:43
I had an idea for a little art game where we start with a blank jigsaw template and take it in turns to draw a new piece of the jigsaw and eventually ending up with a somewhat seamless (hopefully) image.
(http://stupot.agser.me/misc/jigsaw.png)

Maybe I would start the first one and to avoid two or more people clashing over the same puzzle piece, we could get 12 people to claim which parts they are doing before we actually start drawing.  Each person has to try to make their piece work well with the pieces around it, while also trying to set up interesting challenges for the people who have yet to take their turn on the blank pieces adjacent to it.

How does this sound?  I would probably wait until after the Workshop is over before starting this, in case anyone taking part in that wants to join this too, but is worried about time. But just thought I'd throw this idea to out there and see if anyone's interested.

I'd start with this small 12-piecer, but if it goes well we could do it again with an even larger puzzle.

I like this idea.  I think it would work really well.  I've seen many similar works on PixelJoint, and they really turned out well.  Here's (http://www.pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13528) an example, their current isometric collaboration:
[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/P7L2rBd.gif[/imgzoom]
Of course, that's specific to pixel art on a forum dedicated to the form.

Music group Bent has used similar art by artist Rob White (http://www.thearthole.co.uk/clients/ministryofsoundrecordings.html) as album covers.  Here's an example:
[imgzoom]http://www.thearthole.co.uk/clients/ministryofsoundrecordings/ministryofsoundrecordings_bent_always_front_cover.jpg[/imgzoom]

I think AGSers would be able to do something similar if the idea was to make a 'background' type image.  Kind of like a collaborative Background Blitz.

You've got my support.

there once was (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=46031.0) something similar and it produced 7 contributions and iirc I still have one of the hidden pieces on my hdd...

Quote from: selmiak on Thu 11/07/2013 16:25:55
there once was (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=46031.0) something similar and it produced 7 contributions and iirc I still have one of the hidden pieces on my hdd...

That's awesome.  I hadn't seen that, but it's another great idea.

I think both of these would make for fun activities, but maybe only one of them should run at a time.  Unless the idea is to keep the Exquisite Corpse going indefinitely, in which case we could either continue that old one or start anew at any time.

I wouldn't think the collaborative background would be fit for a Blitz, but it is similar.  Not sure how that one should be organized.  To solve issues of choosing the puzzle pieces, PixelJoint's collaborative project had rules like this:

"The first 5 tiles may be anywhere at all and require no neighboring tiles."
"From the 6th tile on your tile MUST have at least one neighboring tile already posted that your tile blends into."

Of course, they had 72 tiles in that image.  There are also rules about palettes, scale, and light sources to keep things consistent.

I'm just posting this for reference in case it would help anyone who decides to run one of these activities.  I'd love to see it, even if only as an observer, but it might be a good challenge for me as an artist as well.

I have a question if I want to start a  competition for art in my game will it be OK?

for you always :=


Anyways, wasn't there a Photoshopping competition once. I was reading about the Typhoon on the Philippines (http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/11/the-chaos-after-the-super-typhoon/281323/) and as sad and dramatic this all is, this one guy with his precious loot just deserves to be photoshopped :D
(http://i.imgur.com/ZivSLeO.jpg)

Yeah, it's a pity the PS competition isn't active for quite a while now. Since you have an idea, if you are willing to host the next round, just make a new topic. :smiley:

I had an idea for a new competition. It's the Play a Song Competition.

The challenge is to create a short game inspired by a song. Like other competitions, the winner of the last round choose the song for the next round. He can provide a YouTube link to the music video, for example. The rules are the same as the MAGS competition, but with 3 months to make the game, and no need to use original art. The game should be evaluated in the following categories:

1. Consistency with the theme: Does the game story really fits with the song?

2. Concept: Does the game design explores good ideas inspired by the song?

3. Elaboration: Does the game really executes the concept?

What do you think? I would love to see some games based on my favorite songs.

That's an interesting theme, but imho it's too limited for a recurring competition, it would wear off quickly. Though it would make for great MAGS theme.

Thanks for your comment. I will keep that in mind.

Any chance of bringing the One Room One Week competition? :)

I think this is a good idea, but it should not overlap with loominous' Background Workshop (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=52230.0).

I'd be up for a little OROW at some point.

Quote from: Stupot+ on Tue 02/06/2015 04:23:14
I'd be up for a little OROW at some point.

Likewise!

Quote from: Radiant on Wed 03/06/2015 19:13:27

Quote from: Stupot+ on Tue 02/06/2015 04:23:14
I'd be up for a little OROW at some point.

Likewise!

DOOOO IIITTTTT!!

Quote from: cat on Sun 31/05/2015 09:39:53
I think this is a good idea, but it should not overlap with loominous' Background Workshop (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=52230.0).

I agree. Perhaps when that's all sorted out we can approach it again? It's good to see that there's some interest in it though. One of the reasons i prefer this to MAGS is i feel it'll be more forgiving to those (well, me) who haven't built a game from scratch before. :)

I'd like to see OROW again!

Love me some OROW! I could host it if noone else is up for it, done it once before and it was fun :smiley:

Bulbapuck! I choose you! Use Topic starter!

Quote from: Retro Wolf on Thu 04/06/2015 21:41:32
Bulbapuck! I choose you! Use Topic starter!

*Bulba!* (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=52255):grin:

What about a board-wide competition? All of the regularly occuring competitions work together and base their topic on each other?

Example:
Writing Competition starts off with a topic or setting (either general like "pirates", "wild west" or more concrete like "Back alley", "Restaurant") and people have to write a short scene/puzzle that happens in an adventure game.
Next is Background Blitz: Every participant picks one entry from the writing competition and makes a background for it.
For Sprite Jam and Tune Contest everyone chooses an entry from Background Blitz as a base for their work.
Maybe we could even fit Coloring Ball in this scheme ;)

Pro: Could be fun :)
Con: All hosts of the competitions have to agree; it might not work if there are not enough entries for Writing Competition or BGBlitz.

Don't forget about sprite jams for the fitting characters. And then we have a coding competition about who can make the best game out of the single parts. The idea is brilliant. The execution is hopefully hilarious.

It probably works out best when all participating competitions run one after the other and not all at once. In that case a con could be that it could lose momentum over time. If all mentioned competitions 'join in' at once it will be just like normal competitions somehow except maybe somehow they all start on the same date. I'm all for let's try this :)

The AGS forum olympics? Sounds good to me!

 8-0 How exciting!
So would the first competitions take place in a week per comp. then followed up by a month long MAGS?
ie:
week #1 writing
week #2 background blitz
week #3 sprite jam
week #4 colouring ball & tune contest
week #5-8 MAGS utilizing the above

I'd give Writing and Background Blitz two weeks each, the same as any regular competition. Sprite Jam, Colouring Ball and Tune Contest could then happen at the same time to reduce losing the momentum. Or as suggested, only do CB and TC at the same time, with SJ before them.

Super idea!

How would the scripts and backrounds be allocated? First-come-first-served or random draw?
Would you allow multiple games with the same background/script?

Animating someone else's work can be tricky. It may be easier if the games are made from a first-person perspective, like visual novels.

I don't think the goal should really be to make a full game. Just some kind of coordinated competitions. If this leads to games being made - even better!

So I'd allow everyone to choose any script/background for their entry, no matter if already used by another person. I think it is all about getting inspiration, practicing and maybe trying something new.

Quote from: Creamy on Wed 30/12/2015 13:49:47
Animating someone else's work can be tricky.

That's why we do all this competitions and activities - to practice and improve our skills :)

Is it time we retired the tune contest? The forum thread for last November's competition is still open.

Hi,

I'd like to run a new competition called "24 hours of AGS". I'm posting here to solicit feedback before I post the thread. Here's a tentative outline of the competition:

---

Depending on how you look at it, 24 hours of AGS is an extended hour-game or a short MAGS. Like MAGS and hour-game, a theme will be announced in the thread when the competition begins. You'll have 24 hours to build a game from scratch, with only the default templates allowed. All other graphics, sounds, text and code must be NEW.

The competition will start at:
12 PM on Saturday the 25th of February (London time) (https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=20170225T12&p1=136)

And finish at:
12 PM on Sunday the 26th of February (London time) (https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=20170226T12&p1=136)

You can check the start time in your local time zone by clicking on the links above.

These times won't work for everybody, and that's part of the challenge. You have *up to* 24 hours. If the competition starts while you're at work, you have the time following that. If the competition finishes at 5 AM for you, you have as long as you're willing to hold out for.

I know there will be some people who decide to stay up for the entire 24 hours. This is not expected, and people who do so will be fighting sleep deprivation.

What IS expected of a 24-hour game? Nothing more than an hour game in quality. In fact, if you can spare an hour during the competition period, you can enter.

To help equalise the playing field, there will be two voting categories (and hopefully trophies):
- Best art
- Best gameplay ("fun factor")

There will also be a special award for the earliest submission.

Teams are not allowed. This is about what YOU can do in 24 hours, 12 hours, an hour, or however much time you can spare.

Submitting a theme:

The theme will be chosen at random from submissions received via PM. Submissions will be open from the time of the thread posting until the competition begins. To submit your theme, PM me with the subject "24 hours of AGS Theme".

If you submit a theme, you agree that you will return to vote when the competition has concluded. Voting will last for one week.

Theme submitters CAN enter the competition, but do so under the honour system. If your theme is selected, it is expected that you have not put any prior effort into a game with that theme.

---

So, what do you think? I plan to open the thread tomorrow. That gives us around a day to collect theme submissions and a day to run the competition.

I remember Cassiebsg suggesting something similar. But instead by having a website that randomly chose a theme every hour for twenty four hours.
Thus giving an entire day for an hourgame contest.

You would just need to compare the submission time of someone's entry with the theme that entry was for and when that theme was chosen on the website.

I like the idea, Gurok. Sadly, I don't have time this weekend, but I'd join another weekend.

I'd prefer only one topic for everyone. Otherwise, you could just wait for a topic that suits you. The fun is, to make the best out of a given topic and compare what different people come up with for that.

Quote from: Danvzare on Thu 23/02/2017 11:29:12
I remember Cassiebsg suggesting something similar. But instead by having a website that randomly chose a theme every hour for twenty four hours.
Thus giving an entire day for an hourgame contest.

You would just need to compare the submission time of someone's entry with the theme that entry was for and when that theme was chosen on the website.

Cool idea. It'd take some time to set up the site and I think validating the entries could be a bit of an administrative headache, but it might be interesting to try.

Also, as you noted, a different kind of competition. An hour game 24 times rather than "make a game in 24 hours or less".

Quote from: cat on Thu 23/02/2017 12:41:08
I like the idea, Gurok. Sadly, I don't have time this weekend, but I'd join another weekend.

I'd prefer only one topic for everyone. Otherwise, you could just wait for a topic that suits you. The fun is, to make the best out of a given topic and compare what different people come up with for that.

You won't have time to enter, but will you have time to submit a theme? I'm hoping that topic submission will be a way for everyone to have some involvement.

Yes, there will be one topic for the 24 hour period. As you noted, part of the fun is in comparing people's interpretation of the topic. Having 24 topics also feels a bit like design by committee to me -- attempting to please everyone, but muddying the original concept. This competition is intended to be distinct from the hour game competitions.

I'll post the actual thread in an hour or so.

That idea sounds like a cool AGS idea.

We should call it "The AGS Tournament", with the list MiteWiseacreLives provided above.

It's that time of the year again, and I've been looking to that post from Gurok, about the tune competition and I think we should bring it back. Make it monthly deadlines. So 12 runs of it. Inspiration is very weird and themes are a bit hard to follow if they are strict. So I'm suggesting we go very abstract and open-ended. We can pick 8 feelings (since those are the months left) and make these as the themes. That way anyone that can compose isn't restricted by genres or minutes or anything like that.

My suggestion is to start with "LOVE" as first theme. Love has many expressions and that doesn't tie anyone to any genre in any way. Thoughts? Is anyone really interested in something like this?

why not. I was thinking about using some freeware music program like renoise and make some tunes. Why not post them here then. Though these would be really crappy as these are my first trys in this proggy :P

I'm not a musician, but would sure try to participate as a listener and a voter. (nod)

Yeah... I think it was the narrow themes that killed the music contest...

I remember one about writing a musical piece based on a golf swing. Yeah...erm...probably not that appealing to many...

But open-ended themes like "Love" etc. might provoke more interest.

Like Cassie, I am only a listener/voter as I have no musical talent whatsoever except for really bad Karaoke...

Nice that the Music Competition (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=54580.0) is back â€" since it's so good!  :smiley:
Animation Jam though was also amazing.

I'm happy to see the Music Contest back, and the fact that it's based on votes is an improvement.  I missed it.  I just don't have the chops to compete against these professionals.  Also, having the same host every time who is also a participant kind of makes it a bit too different from the other competitions here.  Just my opinions.  If everyone likes it the way it is, then I'll just enjoy whatever music comes out of it.

:-D

I would like to suggest a Workshop.  I had a lot of fun with the Monster Workshop, and I'd love to participate in another.  Working on something collective like that gives me motivation, which is often in short supply.  And as much as I enjoyed creating monsters, I'd be open to a good variety of Workshop ideas.

Lastly, I'd love to see OROW come back.  Maybe some time this summer would be good?

Quote from: dactylopus on Tue 30/05/2017 01:00:15
Lastly, I'd love to see OROW come back.  Maybe some time this summer would be good?

I second that, July would be perfect for me :)

a music workshop or rather an artistic workshop? I'd be interested in both and hopefully get some stuff done!

A 'What's in my bag'-SPRITE JAM, be it drawn real or fictional stuff, might turn out interesting.

Aside from the main Fortnightly Writing Competition...

When October rolls around, and the Halloween mood is in, maybe do a sort of "AGS-themed creepypasta writing contest."

Quote from: DBoyWheeler on Tue 06/03/2018 22:49:30
Aside from the main Fortnightly Writing Competition...

When October rolls around, and the Halloween mood is in, maybe do a sort of "AGS-themed creepypasta writing contest."

+1
This sounds like a brilliant idea. I would definitely participate. (nod)

Quote from: DBoyWheeler on Tue 06/03/2018 22:49:30
Aside from the main Fortnightly Writing Competition...

When October rolls around, and the Halloween mood is in, maybe do a sort of "AGS-themed creepypasta writing contest."

I like it. I've often thought that next time I win the FWC I would choose “invent your own urban legend” as the next theme. Unfortunately I don't enter FWC much these days, so your idea is better.

Thanks... the creepypasta could be about an AGS game that gets, well, spooky on the player.

Even those that are not horror genre get all spoopy and do weird stuff.  Could be all just within the game, or may even include a portion where it spills out in the real world (for instance, giving that player nightmares long after, or maybe his body freezes up--except for his head and arms--and he MUST beat the game in order to escape the grasp... stuff like that).

Quote from: DBoyWheeler on Thu 26/04/2018 02:30:21
Thanks... the creepypasta could be about an AGS game that gets, well, spooky on the player.

Even those that are not horror genre get all spoopy and do weird stuff.  Could be all just within the game, or may even include a portion where it spills out in the real world (for instance, giving that player nightmares long after, or maybe his body freezes up--except for his head and arms--and he MUST beat the game in order to escape the grasp... stuff like that).

Well, I know what I'm going to steal for my creepypasta.
I'm kidding, of course. (laugh)

So for the creepypasta contest, maybe whoever starts it picks out one of the games in the AGS library (preferably one with a good rating) for the "theme".

Quote from: DBoyWheeler on Thu 26/04/2018 13:57:30
So for the creepypasta contest, maybe whoever starts it picks out one of the games in the AGS library (preferably one with a good rating) for the "theme".

Wouldn't one with a bad rating be easier to make a creepypasta out of though?

Are we gonna have a new Background Blitz anytime soon?(nod)

Quote from: cat on Tue 30/05/2017 10:24:43

Quote from: dactylopus on Tue 30/05/2017 01:00:15
Lastly, I'd love to see OROW come back.  Maybe some time this summer would be good?

I second that, July would be perfect for me :)

Very late, but I really want the OROW competition to stay alive as well. I could host one next summer maybe? Or someone else if they feel inclined. I really enjoyed hosting OROW 9 and wouldn't at all mind doing it again. I think it has to be summer though which makes my timing for coming back to these parts of the internet pretty bad. :=

BTW: Is OROW 9 the latest one? That was 3 years ago now :shocked: Time flies.

I don't see a reason why it has to be in summer. Why wait a whole year when we can do one in autumn as well? Besides, when the weather starts to get worse, people are maybe more likely to spend a week in front of their computer instead of the pool or beach.

I'd like to start a competition for "box art cover" of not commercial AGS games, MAGS or fan game properly. The idea is to pick a very short one playable in few minutes and draw a cover and eventually the box.
It could need the author's permission? Many of them are not active from years.

_

I don't think you actually need permission to do fan art. I think most people would likely to be happy to see their game get a cool box cover...
or you could just make it for a non-existing game... ;)

Maybe going with a theme like most of the other competitions would be better than a specific game. Or maybe something like the game pitches.

I think it's an interesting idea to do box art for existing games. You could chose a couple of them that don't have many or any votes yet in the database: Get people to play the games, get them some fanart and hopefully get them some votes in the process. (nod)

Quote from: Sinitrena on Fri 31/08/2018 17:53:45
I think it's an interesting idea to do box art for existing games. You could chose a couple of them that don't have many or any votes yet in the database: Get people to play the games, get them some fanart and hopefully get them some votes in the process. (nod)

That's the point, Sinitrena.

Quote from: VampireWombat on Fri 31/08/2018 17:42:36
Maybe going with a theme like most of the other competitions would be better than a specific game. Or maybe something like the game pitches.

I think that illustrate an other's game is a different process than the one you have in mind.
And more challenging, in a way.
_

QuoteMaybe going with a theme like most of the other competitions would be better than a specific game.

+1
A game picked by an host may not appeal to everyone.
I'd rather let the participants choose their game according to a theme.

There has already been a box art illustration workshop:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48770.0 (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48770.0) and
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48852.0 (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48852.0)

Would be nice to have another one.

Quote from: cat on Sun 09/09/2018 20:31:32

Would be nice to have another one.

Ehm, actually i've already started, Cat!

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=56429.0

_

Oh well, then maybe the links can be of some inspiration.

I like some of the ideas here:

Quote from: Fred Five on Sun 19/08/2018 11:20:57
Are we gonna have a new Background Blitz anytime soon?(nod)

I do enjoy those, so I'd love to see it again.

Quote from: Bulbapuck on Fri 24/08/2018 11:05:29

Quote from: cat on Tue 30/05/2017 10:24:43

Quote from: dactylopus on Tue 30/05/2017 01:00:15
Lastly, I'd love to see OROW come back.  Maybe some time this summer would be good?

I second that, July would be perfect for me :)

Very late, but I really want the OROW competition to stay alive as well. I could host one next summer maybe? Or someone else if they feel inclined. I really enjoyed hosting OROW 9 and wouldn't at all mind doing it again. I think it has to be summer though which makes my timing for coming back to these parts of the internet pretty bad. :=

BTW: Is OROW 9 the latest one? That was 3 years ago now :shocked: Time flies.

Yes, I believe OROW 9 was the most recent.  There always seems to be a sizable gap between these competitions.

I'd love to see OROW again.  It's tough, because I have limited time and would only be able to give about 3 days to the project, but I've always enjoyed the competition either way.

Summer seems far away, maybe having a competition in winter would be good?  And maybe we could have a TWOR (Two Weeks One Room) or something like that?  Just a suggestion for those lacking time.

Quote from: TheFrighther on Fri 31/08/2018 16:18:33
I'd like to start a competition for "box art cover"...

I like the idea of the Box Art Competition...

Quote from: VampireWombat on Fri 31/08/2018 17:42:36
Maybe going with a theme like most of the other competitions would be better than a specific game. Or maybe something like the game pitches.

This is a good suggestion.  I think that the competition will draw more participants this way, and people can be more free to create anything.  Like a Game Pitch Competition, but instead of using words to pitch the game, you simply use a single image of the front of the box.  No words aside from the title.  So, like a Box Pitch Competition.

Or everyone should be free to choose any game from the archive that they did not create.  This makes it less redundant, adds freedom, and encourages people to go looking through the archive for the game they choose.

Both ideas could work.  2 Box Art Contests...

Quote from: cat on Sun 09/09/2018 20:31:32
There has already been a box art illustration workshop:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48770.0 (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48770.0) and
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48852.0 (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48852.0)

Would be nice to have another one.

Don't forget the Monster Workshop:

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48324.0

I'd be open to more Workshops.  They are fun, and they motivate me to actually work.  I need all the motivation these days.

:-D

And finally, here's another suggestion I'd like to throw out there.  I know it's a long shot, but it could be great:

How about a collective project?  Like Draculator II: Byte of the Draculator...

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=44731.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1491/

Of course, there would have to be a project lead, someone who has the time and patience to put all of the pieces together.  If I had the time, I'd volunteer, but I do not.  I'd gladly participate, though.  I think many would.

So how about it?

Quote from: dactylopus on Thu 27/09/2018 09:40:26

I like the idea of the Box Art Competition...

Ehm, actually i've already started, Dactylopus!

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=56429.0

_

Quote from: dactylopus on Thu 27/09/2018 09:40:26
How about a collective project?  Like Draculator II: Byte of the Draculator...

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=44731.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1491/

Of course, there would have to be a project lead, someone who has the time and patience to put all of the pieces together.  If I had the time, I'd volunteer, but I do not.  I'd gladly participate, though.  I think many would.

So how about it?

I like this idea. Shame it's a bit late for a Halloween game.
And there doesn't necessarily need to be a single project leader if the files were shared properly. It would still require cooperation and coordination, of course.

Quote from: dactylopus on Thu 27/09/2018 09:40:26
How about a collective project?  Like Draculator II: Byte of the Draculator...

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=44731.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1491/

Of course, there would have to be a project lead, someone who has the time and patience to put all of the pieces together.  If I had the time, I'd volunteer, but I do not.  I'd gladly participate, though.  I think many would.

So how about it?

I really like this idea, maybe it can be done a little bit short, assign small random groups of the people that participate (2 or 3 people per group) and make some collaborative games like a mags

Quote from: TheFrighther on Thu 27/09/2018 11:50:09

Quote from: dactylopus on Thu 27/09/2018 09:40:26

I like the idea of the Box Art Competition...

Ehm, actually i've already started, Dactylopus!

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=56429.0

_

I see, but I've gone on to suggest alternatives that I think will make the competition better (in my opinion).  Primarily, removing the game selection and allowing people to either choose for themselves or make up a game on their own.

Quote from: imsomnia212 on Thu 27/09/2018 19:39:44
I really like this idea, maybe it can be done a little bit short, assign small random groups of the people that participate (2 or 3 people per group) and make some collaborative games like a mags

That could be one way to accomplish it.  Teams could take on rooms or areas of the game together creating the characters, sprites, and backgrounds.

Two competition suggestions that I want to suggest:

1. Font design competition. The competition will have a theme of the game. For example "horror game set during the Napoleonic era" and the designers will have to try to make  the font fit the theme. The results of such competition could live on and be used by the community.

2. A puzzle/mini game only competition. We have game pitch, art and writing competitions.  Why not have a competition that would encourage exploration of different puzzle mechanics in an isolated environment.

Not a suggestion for a new competition, more a question about old ones. Sprite Jam and Colouring Ball (Last (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=56751) Ones (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=57620.0)) had been a staple for a fairly long time in the forums and they died at around the same time (christmas 2019). Should they maybe be reactivated? Do people miss them?

I do, but there's really no point in reactivating them if only 1 or 2 people participate...
I fell like the BG Blitz is going the same way.  :-\ Are these signs of forum "dying"?

MAG's was almost going the same way but it picked up I'm glad to say....

I think it's a combination of things that stop some people..

Maybe its waves of constant up and downs...

Slasher ninja'd me. This is an answer to Cassiebsg



But neither Colouring Ball nor Sprite Jam were even close to dead before they just stopped.

Going back through the last 10 contests for both gives these numbers of entries (not entrants, sometimes someone posted more than one entry):

Colouring Ball: 4, 2, 9, 18, 5, 4, 8, 13, 7, 28
Sprite Jam: 0, 4, 4, 7, 0, 4, 4, 4, 15, 5

That looks pretty good.

As for Background Blitz, the numbers are:

0 (yet), 5, 6, 6, 5, 4, 3, 7, 8, 8

That seems fairly constant as well. (Granted, I looked at the number of entries and you're talking about people participating, but I don't think that makes much of a difference.)

I don't think any of these numbers show that the forums themselves have less people around (or are "dying"). It's just the normal fluctuation we always have.

The FWC always has even fewer entries, but some regulars who enter nearly every time or come back at least semi-regular and so we managed to keep it alive with often just two entries.


While I'm on the topic, I really think we should have a Music Competition again as well. The Competition Forum, in a way, shows diefferent aspects of game design and music is a large part of this. But at the same time I would argue that the Music Competition really did not have enough entries / regulars the last time it was active, so maybe there's really not enough interest in that one.

How about making a "rate some games" competition? It could be free form or steered towards a theme...I tried to suggest to people to play and rate dog or cat games in another thread, but I guess making it a competition where you feel like part of a team would perhaps be more motivating. One could assign more points to rating previously unrated games, bonus points for playing and rating long games or whatever is necessary to get in those votes in the right places. If using a theme, the host could provide a list of games, or the players could play and rate any game that fits a given description. I guess a mod would have to be judge to be able to see how many votes was actually cast, or it could be done based on an honour system where the participants post their opinions on the games (hopefully leading to discussion).

* Title of activity - Play and rate. (Or any good title, really.)
* A thorough description of its concept and purpose (educational or entertaining?) - Concept above. Purpose - to get the games in the database proper player ratings. Other than that, mostly entertaining, though constructive criticism could be educational, too.
* Periodicity (how long each round will be and how often it will occur) - No idea. A month?
* Type of competition: Will there be a winner, who will elect the winner (if there is a vote, how long will voting go on) - This would depend on the form chosen. Probably a team would be set as winners.
* Thread administrator: Will the activity/competition be maintained by the winner of the previous round, or by the same person every time? - Don't know.

That's not going to work. People arround here really seem to loath all kind of voting (hyperbole, but still). It's even difficult to get people who enter a contest to vote in this specific contest, so I really doubt all that many people would show up for this.

ComCom (Commercial Competition). Sponsor says the topic of the competition, and agsers must make AGS-game on this topic in a month. Sponsor will choose winner.

Prize: 20$.

A MAGS but you need to pick a fortnight writing previous entry in a range of dates as the initial material to use in your game.

Alternatively, Demoscene like AGS game under certain limits (game plays itself? Size limit in kb for it's .ags file?) has to be developed in arbitrary time span.

Why is there not an AGS award for Best First Game?

I'm not only saying this because it's the only one I could reasonably compete so far, I think it would be a great boost for people who got started, raise visibility and encourage them.

The competitions rules may should state how to proceed in case a competition is running past it's supposed end date (like current Background Blitz!) or has not been re-iterated yet (like current Sprite JAM).
Also if we could have a RELEASE SOMETHING! 2021 in upcoming September.

Quote from: the_schut on Thu 12/08/2021 11:26:20
The competitions rules may should state how to proceed in case a competition is running past it's supposed end date (like current Background Blitz!) or has not been re-iterated yet (like current Sprite JAM).

Completely agree! Too often, competitions die temporarily untill someone goes ahead and starts a new one, which technically needs special permission because the rules say last winner starts the next round. I think if there is no new competition after - let's say - 1 week or 2 after the last winner is declare (or a competition has no entries, which also often stops them), a neutral person should automatically start a new round. Ideally, that would be either the admin of the last round (probably not what people want, becuse it can easily lead to an endless circle) or a moderator (but I'm not sure Gilbert wants this responsibility).

I guess I'll offer to take this task, as I regularly check for new competitions anyway, when I update the Competition Topic Master List.

As you already noticed, there is currently no rules on this, so it is quite flexible in how to handle stuff.

Actually past experience was that, after an activity was on hold for some period (either it ended but the winner didn't return to start a new round, or the OP was AWOL without declaring a winner, or no one entered the round), usual solutions were:
1. The OP of the last round decided what to do next, usual choices were a) the OP would start a new round (usually when no one entered) or asked the runner ups to hold the next round instead
2. Someone who's interested volunteered to host a new round (especially when the activity was abandoned for a very long time)
3. The activity just... died... down (either because no one interested, or people have forgotten about it)

Either way, if anyone wants to continue with/resurrect an activity or suggest what to do next, they may just:
1. PM the moderators, or
2. Post in this very thread, or
3. Post in that particular activity's thread
When I see that I'll response ASAP. Though it'd be faster to start right away, to reduce conflicts (such as two people restarting the same activity at the same time) it would still be better to ask for confirmation first.

Hey mods,

I was looking at the list of dead competitions and wondering if we could bring back a refined version of  Puzzle Time (last active 2005). Looking at the old threads, I think the rules were a bit too vague, the themes prposed were prehaps too broad, and the entries by the few consistent participants tended to be extremely long, all of which may have discouraged wider participation.

I think a narrower and clearer set of rules could make for a more accessible and productive competition.

Rules could be the following:

The host provides a fairly constrained rather than broad scenario (for example, you are in x type of room, trying to accomplish y, and have only specific  items to work with or specific npcs and environmental elements to interact with). Think of the scene from Apollo 13 where the engineers literally have to fit a square peg into a round hole using whatever random spare junk is available on the spacecraft.

Participants write entries that must include the following:
1. Use at least 3 elements from the provided list/scenario (inventory, npcs, a piece of the room like a cabinet or faucet, climb a tree, etc.).
2. Give a step-by-step walktrough of the puzzle solution.
3. Don't add illogical elements to the room. For example, if the room is a forest, collecting some leaves from the ground is an acceptable addition even if the leaves weren'tspecificallymentionedby the host--their presence is implied by the presence of trees--but adding a cave is too much. Adding a fallen tree log would be borderline.
4. Keep any dialog elements summarized rather than typing out the whole conversation (for example, "threaten the mailman", "ask the child for advice", and so on).

Voters would use the criteria of a) how logical does the puzzle seem; b) how creative or unexpected is the use of elements; c) how satisfying is the solution.

Here's is a possible example:

Scenario: you are locked in a bank vault. There are shelves with stacks of cash, a fire extinguisher on the wall, lights on the ceiling, and an electronic lock on the inside of the vault door with a keypad and an emergency speaker button that starts a video call.

Inventory: you have a fake ID badge, a garbage bag, a wrench, a pair of rubber-soled boots, a banana, a pencil, a pair of night-vision goggles, a map of the bank (contains no info about the inside of the vault, only the outside layout), a metal bucket, a bungee cord, a robber's hood mask, a bottle of very expensive brandy, and a hard hat. (List of inventory should be long long but not obviously convenient so as to allow room for creative solutions).

NPCs: if you use the emergency speaker, a security guard will answer. You have not met the security guard.

Goal: escape the vault with a large amount of cash.

Possible solutions could involve finding a way to electrocute the keypad, convincing the guard of your legitimacy using your fake badge and knowledge from the map, bribing the guard with brandy and cash, and so on.

What do you think? Should be bring back a puzzle party?  :-D

Hey @Gilbert just wondering if you saw my post immediately above this. Any thoughts?

Yes. I've seen it now.
The setting is thoughtful enough and I think it's worth a try, especially due to the lack of activities in the recent years.
So, you may start it and see how it goes.

@Gilbert excellent, thank you!