Adventure Game Design Contest

[phattie]

Note to moderators:Ã,  I wanted to put this in the contest forum, but noticed that I needed to get permission first.Ã,  So if appropriate, please move.Ã,  Thanks

Greetings to all my fellow adventure game developer enthusiasts,

I am starting a contest to see who can come up with the best adventure game design.Ã,  In this contest, contestants will be creating a short adventure game.

The purpose of this contest is NOT who can make the coolest art or compose the best ditties; so rip 'em or nix 'em (stick figures will do).

What each contestant will be judged on is: quality of puzzles, depth of story, and originality.Ã, 

Use this contest to kick-start a project you've been meaning to create, or just do it for the prize: one year of web hosting through godaddy.com!Ã,  (includes domain name)*

We will be meeting at youngwritersforum.net (see forum: contests), an independent writer's forum group.Ã,  Everyone of all skills are eligible to participate.

We are going to have a short "warm-up" period before starting the contest to make sure that all contestants are comfortable with their ability to realize their idea using the game engine of their choice (we are recommending AGS due to its simplicity, but if you know something else, use it).

The development time is set to 2 weeks.Ã,  You may include people to help you produce your game, BUT only the writer will be eligible to participate in the contest as only the writing is being judged.

Please spread the word.Ã,  The more contestants, the more games we all get to play.

Thanks

Phattie


*Awarded to the winner upon judgment.

[vict0r]

And this is absolutely nothing like MAGS, monthly writing contest or Coding contest?

[Scummbuddy]

I do think its great that you are offering a rather nice prize, though.

[The Inquisitive Stranger]

Too bad I've already got a decent web hosting package.

[BOYD1981]

yeh, me too.
still, i had to pay £100 for it as dreamhost wouldn't accept adventure games as payment...

[Haddas]

And this is absolutely nothing like MAGS, monthly writing contest or Coding contest?

Yes, but do you get free hosting? Not to mention participants outside the AGS community.

[BOYD1981]

nope, but  you do get a very rude host who doesn't even introduce himself to the forum members before deciding he's gonna host a compo just minutes after he joins the community.

[phattie]

And this is absolutely nothing like MAGS, monthly writing contest or Coding contest?

Correct.Ã,  This contest has no theme requirements, mandates a runnable executable, does not require AGS, and is SOLELY based on one's ability to design puzzles, come up with a unique storyline (under any theme), and keep a players interest long enough to win their game.Ã, 

There are several communities on the net where people have expressed interest in creating an adventure game, but didn't know how to start.Ã,  The generic response is for that person to create a "proof of concept".Ã,  Ã, 

This contest in meant to give these people an excuse to get started on their "proof of concept" without having to be locked down to any restrictions.Ã,  Contestants have full creative rights.Ã,  They don't have to release their code as open source.Ã,  They don't have to add certain elements to their story, etc.

Think of it as the "hot or not" ranking contest of adventure game design ideas.Ã,  Ã, It is much more broad than the contests run here.

Anyway,Ã,  I just thought I would extend the offer to people here who might be interested in joining.Ã, 

EDIT:Ã, 

nope, butÃ,  you do get a very rude host who doesn't even introduce himself to the forum members before deciding he's gonna host a compo just minutes after he joins the community.

Sorry,Ã,  I am not very versed in forum mannerisms.Ã,  If one's character is judged based on their ability to engage in small talk before getting down to business, I suppose I am completely borish both in real life and as an internet persona.Ã,  Anyway, to correct this problem, here's my introduction:Ã,  You can call me phattie.Ã,  I helped found the hero6 project 7 years ago.Ã,  My favorite food is pizza, and I like the color black.Ã,  I drive a mustang, and go to the movies every sunday.Ã,  Now how 'bout submitting a game to the contest?

[scourge]

It's a nice idea, but you should check out some of the games completed and in production here, i think people here know how to design adventure games 

[phattie]

It's a nice idea, but you should check out some of the games completed and in production here, i think people here know how to design adventure gamesÃ, 

I know.Ã,  I've played many.Ã,  So let's see who's the best at it.

[Mordalles]

will entrants be entering the complete game, or just the design documents of the game?
and if so, what if you enter a brilliant game design and somebody steals it?

[phattie]

will entrants be entering the complete game, or just the design documents of the game?
and if so, what if you enter a brilliant game design and somebody steals it?

No, it needs to be an executable, or I don't think we will get many people interested in judging/reviewing the submissions. 

At the same time, I know this introduces some difficulties for people who are excellent writers, but not so good at programming.  I beleive AGS only has a small learning curve, so I recommended it as the engine of choice for beginners (this is also why I decided to advertise the contest here).

I suppose that there is a risk of idea theft.  I have been the victim of such in the past, so I know what that's like.  But, contestants don't need to submit a full-blown game, just a small sample.  So, it could just be a demo of a game you plan on rolling out in the future. 

I belive if someone steals an idea from someone else, they will never be able to follow through with it as well as the person who came up with the idea in the first place.  There are many wannabe lucasarts games, and many wannabe Sierra games, but none of them are quite as good as the official stuff...

[Renal Shutdown]

It's an interesting idea, phattie, however I don't think you've put much effort into the logistics of it all.

AGS needs more than a script and puzzle ideas.  It needs art, coding and possibly music.  And ripping sprites and backgrounds is a pathetically lame way of making a game, so that'll mean the folk have to do art as well.  For someone who's not made a game before, learning the coding and drawing all the art is going to take time.  I, and others have been here for ages and not made a game yet.  It's possible to make it with awful graphics, but chances are that will affect the judging, if it came up against a game that looked good.  It's all well and good saying that art and music don't matter, but subconciously they'll affect a persons judgement of a game.

Honestly, I think you'd be better off getting people to make an Interactive Fiction game (Text Adventure).  It's much more suited to a forum for writers.  If people have expressed an interest in making a graphical game, surely they would have looked into it already.  IF would also make for a more level playing field, since graphics and music are really an issue.  There's been IF engines around for as far back as I can remember the internet, so it shouldn't be hard to find a relatively easy one.  It's more than likely much easy to code than an AGS game, too.

Also, you have no idea how much a statement like this annoys me (and probably others):
"The purpose of this contest is NOT who can make the coolest art or compose the best ditties; so rip 'em or nix 'em (stick figures will do)."
Ripping is the lamest form of art. I'd personally rather see scanned in images of crayon drawings as sprites.  At least that requires a modicum of effort.

Good luck and whatnot with the idea, but chances are, I'll avoid all the games made in for this competition.  It sounds harsh, and I apologise for that, but I don't want to waste my time playing something that's been made with a less than half-assed effort.

[Kinoko]

I have to say, I agree with pretty much all the criticism of this idea. I admire your ambition, and I like that you can type well and all, but the competition does seem to have a lot of holes, not much point, and well, has a kind of harshness to it.

None of us are the "best" at making games. I... was gonna write a lot about that but I have to go attend to my cat, who won't shut up.

Good luck with it if you go ahead and all, but I don't think too many people here will be interested considering we have things like MAGS and whatnot.

[phattie]

It's an interesting idea, phattie, however I don't think you've put much effort into the logistics of it all.

AGS needs more than a script and puzzle ideas.Ã,  It needs art, coding and possibly music.Ã,  And ripping sprites and backgrounds is a pathetically lame way of making a game, so that'll mean the folk have to do art as well.Ã, 

I'm not endorsing the concept of ripping art, but it is a popular method right now, especially within fan communities.Ã,  I have been a "quasi-member" of several failed projects.Ã,  They failed simply because the leader of these projects put too much emphasis on art.Ã,  The secret is to put NO emphasis whatsoever on art.Ã,  It is much more beneficial to RIP art and use them as PLACEHOLDERS, than to try and produce satisfactory art from the get-go.Ã,  Replace the art later, but finish the game.Ã,  If the game is good, people will be more motivated to help you.

I also don't like the mentality that coding/scripting an adventure game is difficult.Ã,  Yes, there is a learning curve.Ã,  But AGS, AGAST, SCI, MAD, and whole bunch of other engines have made it considerably easy to create an adventure game. I don't accept the belief that it would be too difficult for a beginner to learn these tools.

A text adventure game is acceptable for this contest.Ã,  It is true that there will be a natural tendency for people to rank games that HAVE graphics (and those that have good graphic) highly.Ã,  However the ranking system is very specific.Ã,  It asks the players to rank the story, or rank the difficulty of the puzzles, etc.Ã,  It will not allow them to be too biased.Ã, 

I wouldn't want people playing these games if they think that they are "half-assed" because they used ripped/crappy art.Ã,  These games are about how good the idea is, how clever the puzzles are, etc.Ã,  Nobody can tell me that those things don't take effort.Ã,  The problem with gamers now days is that all that matters for them is if the game looks pretty.Ã,  Don't participate in this contest if that's your crutch.

None of us are the "best" at making games.

Nobody is the "best" at anything.Ã,  It's a subjective term.Ã,  But what we can find out is who can create an adventure that appeals to the masses.Ã,  In my book, that person is the best.Ã,  In other people's book, it's just a popularity contest.Ã, 

...but the competition does seem to have a lot of holes, not much point, and well, has a kind of harshness to it.

I don't see any holes in it.Ã,  It can't get much more simpler than it already is.Ã,  It doesn't need a point either; I'm trying to encourage people to make an adventure game.Ã,  Who cares if you already have a website or not interested in the prize?Ã,  There are lots of people who have some good adventure game ideas, and even more people who want to play them.Ã,  I think it would be fun to participate in a contest of this nature just for the hell of it.

Anyway, for those who want to be negative and/or critical, fine.Ã,  This contest remains open.Ã,  For the people out there that have been wanting to make an adventure game, but haven't had an excuse, now is the time to do it.Ã,  I plan on submitting an adventure game myself.Ã,  I will use ambiguous (but well animated) stick figures.Ã,  People are welcome to use them for their submission if it makes it easier.