Could you please take heed of my comments rather than take offense because they weren't all nicey nicey?
I guessed the reason for all of your rules, but i can see there is still no reason for them.
Strictness over the time taken, Do you really think people are going to release a game that has been in the making for longer than 2 days? It will be quite obvious wouldn't it?
Theme That might seem like a good idea. However i have a better idea. No theme and let people get on with it. Why?
Well you see ive had a few ideas in my head all week for a game to make, and though i could simply wait until the compo starts and get going! But now? i had to wait to find out what the theme is, a theme i might not like. then come up with an idea for a good game (that could take a while) whilst the time is ticking away. That puts me off.
Do you really expect someone to release a 6 month in the making game? wouldn't it be obvious?
Anyway if a competition is what is needed for someone to finally get that awesome engine they have had lying around for years and make a quick game out of it, then all the better because we will get more games to play!!
Thanks for the time zone link.
Sorry to bitch like this, i'm frustrated with competitions that i get hyped up for for them to fall down based on rules or stupid ideas for NO REASON!
We should have some set adjudicators, its much easier to calculate winners then. Also, we might have different rating systems, eg. some people mark harder, which could drag down a potential winner.
Adjudicators wouldn't be able to enter for obvious reasons.
The point of the compo is that it forces you to make a game and complete it in a short amount of time. That's the reason for the timeframe.
As greasy stated, there's a theme in order to discourage people from starting on wednesday when I announced this.
What I don't think you realize is that the theme actually gives out a lot more motivation and creativity than it hinders it. Most people wait, and get many ideas when the theme comes about. The other thing is that, like I said before, there are going to be many compos in the coming months, and if I don't have themes, no one will participate after the second one because its the same thing over and over.
As for scoring, it is done by place. So each reviewer gives scroes, but you get rated based on your place within his/her rankings. So if they score hard (giving out only 3.0-3.9s for example), it doesn't matter, because first place will get the same amount of points as someone who got a 10 from a different scorer.
Again, next compo I'll change this up.
New list of participants:
Peblo
Greasy
Waffleton
SUMGOO
Kirby Smith
Phox
Matt Boothman
Nim
DJ Slink
Evil Kitty
LIJI
AndyUK
Sephirenn
funkbrat
fojomrtl
axel?
Question about pre-made stuff, though: are we allowed to use pre-made movement engines and the like, or does it have to be from a blank app at the start of the competition?
A 36-hour compo without a theme seems kind of pointless to me, but I understand AndyUK's frustration here. It's just too damn hard to make a proper game around a word like "paradox". Abstract themes are okay, because they're often quite flexible and allow for many interpretations, but I think you should make it as easy for us as possible, if you want us all to stay in the competition.
Fuck this, you can take my name off that list. Ive lost the motivation completely now.
"The point of the compo is that it forces you to make a game and complete it in a short amount of time."
Thats the wrong attitude to have, we're having fun here, not being forced to make a game according to random needless ideas.
"As greasy stated, there's a theme in order to discourage people from starting on wednesday when I announced this."
Fine, i understand the reasons, but i still feel it's petty to be strict with this kind of thing. Why would we gain from taking longer on the game? Is there even a prize to be gained? NO!
"What I don't think you realize is that the theme actually gives out a lot more motivation and creativity than it hinders it."
Only if the theme is a good theme. Can you guarantee that?
"Most people wait, and get many ideas when the theme comes about."
Well we don't really have a choice about that, I for once don't like that idea.
"The other thing is that, like I said before, there are going to be many compos in the coming months, and if I don't have themes, no one will participate after the second one because its the same thing over and over."
I see, I don't think it is a good idea to have too many in a short time frame though, or we might get bored with them.
The 'Difinitive' (I think I am going to just keep the crappy spelling in place) 36 hour competition is now under way!
The theme is: 'TIME'
I know it's generic, but I wanted it to be as broad as possible. For some examples, you basically have the entire quick-game and arcade genre's to work with, as you just add a 'timer'. You also have some simplier inclusions, like maybe clocks or digital time into a game, or you have an abstract direction to take, like time-travel or time-reversal. And then I'm sure there are a million things I haven't thought about.
To comment on some of your comments: I think it's encouraged to start from scratch, but if you decide to use a pre-made engine anyways, I would suggest that you let us know when you post it, so we can take that into account. Also, concerning a 'prize', I think I stated earlier that there would be one at the end of this set of competitions, but if not, I apologize. Just keep in mind that I'm doing these mostly for fun, and to bolster the community, the prizes are mainly just for a little incentive (and to get people to submit their games, even if they don't finish them). I'll announce the prize structure at the completion of this competition.
The list of entrants is below, though the gates are not closed:
Peblo
Greasy
Waffleton
SUMGOO
Kirby Smith
Phox
Matt Boothman
Nim
DJ Slink
Evil Kitty
LIJI
AndyUK (still listed just in case you have a change of heart)
Sephirenn
funkbrat
fojomrtl
axel
Pixelthief
Fifth
Borgi
Knudde
Nice theme. I've got some ideas jotted down on paper already, so now it's just a matter of getting it all converted to graphics and events in the next 35 hours. Good luck to all other entrants. May the best game win.