Adventure Game Studio

Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kinoko on Fri 11/04/2008 04:07:08

Title: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Kinoko on Fri 11/04/2008 04:07:08
Do you guys know about this?

The 1st Annual Game Making Shindig (http://www.eegra.com/pages/show/title/07_04_2008_Who_s_down_for_a_SHINDIG_/)



I figured some of you might be interested!
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Ryan Timothy B on Fri 11/04/2008 04:32:33
For those of you who are trying to view the link, it's:

http://www.eegra.com/pages/show/title/07_04_2008_Who_s_down_for_a_SHINDIG_/%22
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Kinoko on Fri 11/04/2008 07:09:42
Bugger. Thanks.

I can never figure out all these bloody forum codes.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: miguel on Fri 11/04/2008 10:20:44
I didn't read the deadline for games to be completed, but I think Colorwise would have a big chance on getting that trophy!
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: ThreeOhFour on Fri 11/04/2008 14:18:44
Sounds pretty neat.

Is it me reading too much into things, or is their name really "Agree" backwards?

EDIT: ...or not. I really need to make sure I check the seplilng of things before I randomly type nonsense  :-[.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Sat 12/04/2008 00:33:17
Shame I just did a competition and am fresh out of energy.  But maybe I'll find some reserve energon for this.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: LimpingFish on Sat 12/04/2008 01:06:58
I might give it a whirl. Try something different for a change.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Sat 12/04/2008 01:12:52
What the hell, I whipped this up in a flash.  I will see about making this into a game.

(http://members.cox.net/progzmax/hermes2.gif)

(http://members.cox.net/progzmax/hermestalk.gif)  yay o/
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: FSi++ on Sat 12/04/2008 18:53:25
Quote from: Ben304 on Fri 11/04/2008 14:18:44
Is it me reading too much into things, or is their name really "Agree" backwards?

No, but it looks like Russian for "Game".
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Sat 12/04/2008 21:44:20
Quote from: miguel on Fri 11/04/2008 10:20:44
I didn't read the deadline for games to be completed, but I think Colorwise would have a big chance on getting that trophy!

Akatosh PMed me regarding this topic and I must say I am seriously thinking about partecipating (btw Akatosh, was your nickname taken from Daggerfall?).

Unfortunately there is a long, long document written in legalese (which I didn't manage to translate properly), so I still don't know if the game is elegible or not (e.g. what does "the Game is an original work and has not been previously communicated to the public" mean? Not released yet? Not even a WiP thread?)

Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Sat 12/04/2008 23:57:03
It means you can't have started the project before the competition begins, so no, your game's not eligible.  This is a standard competition ruleset that makes perfect sense, otherwise people who have spent years on something could just finish it and release it in the 2 month window with a massive advantage.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: TwinMoon on Sun 13/04/2008 00:08:54
Quote from: bicilotti on Sat 12/04/2008 21:44:20
e.g. what does "the Game is an original work and has not been previously communicated to the public" mean? Not released yet? Not even a WiP thread?)

It means you made it yourself and nobody's played it.

That does mean you could have worked for years on it, ProgZMax, if you didn't show it to anyone, it's still a valid entry.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Sun 13/04/2008 00:15:20
Pettifoggers in the AGS community... I need your help! Do enlighten me!
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Sun 13/04/2008 00:30:04
http://www.eegra.com/forum/showthread.php44

(in so many words, WiP made with AGS are valid entries)
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Sun 13/04/2008 06:31:17
No, it's not eligible.  This would defeat the entire purpose of a set time length competition if people could just enter a game they've been making for years for an easy win.  This is precisely why they invoke a requirement like 'color' as a theme.  Think about it.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Sun 13/04/2008 07:05:24
from the pre-emptive FAQ on their site:

QuoteCan I enter a game that I've already started working on?
So long as the game is not complete, and has never been publicly available, then yes.

Let's say I am one little lucky fellow ;)
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Sun 13/04/2008 20:32:32
I won't be entering in that case, since there's a distinct and utter lack of fairness in that sort of situation.  I expect someone who has been working on a game for over a year will slightly modify and submit it to fit within the rules for a quick win, which really kicks people in the teeth who started their project when the competition began and only had a couple of months to make it.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: LimpingFish on Sun 13/04/2008 20:47:42
I agree with ProgZ.

This is also one of the reasons the OROW competitions died, in my opinion.

Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Sun 13/04/2008 20:48:58
Quote from: ProgZmax on Sun 13/04/2008 20:32:32
I won't be entering in that case, since there's a distinct and utter lack of fairness in that sort of situation.  I expect someone who has been working on a game for over a year will slightly modify and submit it to fit within the rules for a quick win, which really kicks people in the teeth who started their project when the competition began and only had a couple of months to make it.

Don't be so disappointed ProgZ, the ruleset clearly states that (verbatim)

QuoteAll submissions to The Shindig are subject to scrutiny by a panel of EXPERT JUDGES and will be evaluated based on the following (utterly subjective) criteria:
[...]
Adherence to the Competition Theme
[...]

So you can't just slightly modify you work and *puf* win the competition.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Sun 13/04/2008 20:51:47
That doesn't mean anything, really.  They'll just rate it based on their tastes, they aren't going to disqualify it because any unreleased game is up for grabs by the rules.

Also, I'd expect a more fair and balanced system when money is involved, in the very least.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/04/2008 01:04:13
I've got to agree with ProgZ as well. 

Bicilotti, this post isn't addressed to you, as I think your game certainly fits their rules and as such you should definitely enter it!  Plus, your game looks amazing and I can't wait to play it!

But on the topic of game creation challenges like this, I do think that they should only accept games that were specifically started for the competition to promote fairness among all entries.  Obviously, the authors would have to be on an honor system, because there's no way to verify that a game was made entirely within the timeline.

As for OROW, was that really a reason that it died?  I never caught wind of any accusations of people using more than the allotted time.  Some of the winning entries were pretty incredible on any timeline, though, and so I could see how there might be suspicion.  But I always just took everyone's word.  I was really proud of what I accomplished for OROW in a week (a week of no sleep!) and if it had been beaten by something that someone had spent two months on, I'd have been understandably upset.  I still hope the OROW comes back some time.  I'd even host it myself.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: LimpingFish on Mon 14/04/2008 01:21:52
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/04/2008 01:04:13
As for OROW, was that really a reason that it died?  I never caught wind of any accusations of people using more than the allotted time.  Some of the winning entries were pretty incredible on any timeline, though, and so I could see how there might be suspicion.  But I always just took everyone's word.  I was really proud of what I accomplished for OROW in a week (a week of no sleep!) and if it had been beaten by something that someone had spent two months on, I'd have been understandably upset.  I still hope the OROW comes back some time.  I'd even host it myself.

I don't think any specific accusations were made, and I certainly don't think there is, or was, any cause for accusations to be made. But the fact that we could only take peoples word that they had spent seven days making their entries meant that rumblings about games being started ahead of the official OROW start date, were, and are, unavoidable.

OROW might work if it was suddenly sprung on the community, like a pop quiz. You probably wouldn't get a lot of entries, and you still couldn't be sure that people were sticking to the rules, but, unlike announcing an upcoming OROW a month in advance, you'd stand a better chance.

Not that it's an earth-shattering big deal in the bigger scheme of things. :)
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: MrColossal on Mon 14/04/2008 05:39:41
OROWs never died so I don't know where that came from. As far as I know we just haven't had another in a while.

Also, when we were first coming up with the OROW we asked ourselves "should this be a competition?" and the only reason we said yes was to give a sense of closure on the project. Winning an OROW means nothing, at least to me and the other people who started it. The point of OROW was to get people making games and if someone uses the OROW as a way to convince themselves that they could finish the game they were working on and release it for all, then that's only a good thing.

Ghormak summed it up nicely
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=20162.msg245864#msg245864

Hooray games!
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: FSi++ on Mon 14/04/2008 10:08:36
Oh, by the way, when is the next OROW gonna be?
I always wanted to participate in one.
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: CodeJunkie on Mon 14/04/2008 19:04:00
I think everyone wants another OROW really.  They stopped at the height of their success, like a powercut at a disco.  What killed off the previous OROW discussion topic?  I seem to remember it being a lack of willing hosts, but it sounds like there might be more enthusiasm this time.  Will certainly give a game a crack as long as I'm not desperately busy.

I've never been bothered by the opportunity for spending longer than a week on an OROW game, which is quite possible since the rule is usually 'the only rule is that there are no rules'.  It's not so much in the spirit of OROW, but it's still fun just having a whole bunch of creative games, and comparing how people spent their week.

Another topic derailed thanks to OROW  ;D
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: LimpingFish on Mon 14/04/2008 19:42:26
There was supposed to be an OROW around this time last year, if memory serves. It never got off the ground due to hosting problems, and discussions about the validity of having a competition called OROW, when nobody was pushed about enforcing any kind of rules. And it just kind of trailed off. It was mentioned again in IRC a handful of times, but nothing came of it.

I agree that it should be about getting people making games, but then a general "Make a Game Week" would probably work just as well, and would include less faffing around with rules and such.

Personally, I loved OROW and having to work non-stop to get a finished product out in time. The public vote at the end of the week gave an extra incentive to make a good game, even though we all knew it was just a bit of fun.

Like I said, just announce an OROW out of the blue, and set it to end seven days from the announcement. (EDIT: Timezones, yeah, I know. Well? Don't look at me! I didn't think that far ahead!)

We've only had four of them, and the first two took place within three months of each other. It's been almost two years since the last one. If OROW hasn't died, then it's a very heavy sleeper.

It's about time we woke it up. :)
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: MrColossal on Mon 14/04/2008 20:47:15
I agree out of the blue seemed to work best, look at the first Orow, there was no "is this week best for everyone?" it was just "DO IT OR DON'T!"

There, how about the DIOD week?
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Tue 15/04/2008 01:27:58
You're just saying winning doesn't matter because you won, obviously. :D
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Klyptomaniac on Tue 15/04/2008 02:00:28
Damn, I'm too young to do this!
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Sun 13/07/2008 17:43:34
And so it's over! Here (http://www.eegra.com/pages/show/title/13_07_2008_Shindiggers_Digest_FINAL_COUNTDOWN/) you'll find all the entrants (including ours) with some screenshots/a brief description of the games. Cheer for us!
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Mon 14/07/2008 14:42:08
If nothing else, the eegra guys do now for free showcase an upcomiccoming AGS jewel. Always a good thing  ;)
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Tue 29/07/2008 20:07:21
Third they came. (http://www.eegra.com/pages/show/title/29_07_2008_First_Annual_Game_Makin__Shindig_WINNERS_ANNOUNCED_HOORAY/page/7)
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: on Tue 29/07/2008 21:45:00
I read the reviews (http://www.eegra.com/pages/show/title/29_07_2008_First_Annual_Game_Makin__Shindig_WINNERS_ANNOUNCED_HOORAY/page/7) with a bitter smile first. Personally I think their rating highly subjective, but then again, that's possibly what games are all about- being a matter of taste and style. So congratulations on a not-deserved third place. And I know that there is no way to read that last sentence wrong  ;D For all that it's worth, I totally love to see someone getting a little reward for a cool project.

Spoiler
I also hope you hid a big fat AGS cup level in there, just to show the world! Oh, wait. I did that.
[close]
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Stupot on Wed 30/07/2008 01:33:36
Congrats guys on getting into the cash.
I can't wait to play
Title: Re: Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!
Post by: Kinoko on Wed 30/07/2008 04:32:50
Congrats!

The reviews ARE highly subjective and that's exactly what I like about them.

I've only played the first and second place entries so far, because I CAN'T STOP PLAYING "Go Beryllium"! DAMN, this game is fun and addictive. and I suck badly at it.