Eegra Game Making Shindig - it's a competition!

[Vince Twelve]

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.

[LimpingFish]

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.

[MrColossal]

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!

[FSi++]

Oh, by the way, when is the next OROW gonna be?
I always wanted to participate in one.

[CodeJunkie]

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 

[LimpingFish]

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.

[MrColossal]

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?

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

You're just saying winning doesn't matter because you won, obviously.

[Klyptomaniac]

Damn, I'm too young to do this!

[bicilotti]

And so it's over! Here you'll find all the entrants (including ours) with some screenshots/a brief description of the games. Cheer for us!

[Ghost]

If nothing else, the eegra guys do now for free showcase an upcomiccoming AGS jewel. Always a good thing 

[bicilotti]

Third they came.

[Ghost]

I read the reviews 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  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]

[Stupot]

Congrats guys on getting into the cash.
I can't wait to play

[Kinoko]

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.