JGO Game Competition?

General Discussions
#1

Hey folks,

Checking out two of the entries that our own members at JGO made for the Ludum Dare competition, it got me thinking. Why not make some sort of similar time-based competition amongst our own community? I know we’ve got the 4k and 16k comps, but as far as I understand there is nothing time-based here.

I think it would be really fun to do something like the 4k Mario competition, or add some other unique elements to it.

For example, we could say that you must have some elements that are based off our site rankings (JGO Ninja, Strike Force, etc.), or perhaps every game name has to use one of the subforum acronyms (like LWJGL, jME, etc.) but with our own interpretations of the letters. Or a single provided image must be included 5 times in the game, etc. etc.

I like the idea of having a theme or somesuch as well. The prize for the contest obviously wouldn’t be much of anything aside from recognition. It would mostly be for fun.

Comments? Good idea? Bad idea? Already something like this?

#2

There have been contests in the past, even a mario themed one from Woogley.

All it takes is someone to actually take charge, organise and encourage people. That person has to stick with it to the end of the contest.

It’s been shown that prizes don’t matter, even if they are nice.

Post something cool in a reasonable (for people with other things in their lifes) time frame and I’m sure it’ll get moving.

Don’t be surprised if people expect it to be a repeated (annual?) thing tho :slight_smile:

Kev

#3

I won’t write a game but I’d be up for judging :slight_smile: (Be warned though I’m extraordinarily critical :D)

Cas :slight_smile:

#4

Cool, sounds good. Well, I’ll make a spot on my website for it, then post that up here later today.

Do you think that having the contest 2 weeks from now is reasonable? Or 2 months? What exactly is a good timeframe that people will need do you think?

#5

Meh, 1 month from now. Make it 7 days long or something. Java ain’t exactly easy…

Cas :slight_smile:

#6

Haha.

It’s in my interest to keep it close to now because I’m free from a full-time job until mid September. :stuck_out_tongue:

But anyway, I think I’ll put it on September 20th - September 26th. I’ll make the contest site soon.

#7

Just my 2 cents…

I’ve found that if you plan it yourself (rather than it be “planned by the community”) and then just announce it a week before it starts, there’s alot less drama and the experience is alot better

First impression is the most important, so if someone opens a link to your recently announced contest, and sees there is already an established framework and completed website ready to go, chances are much better that they will participate

So basically my point is… it’s your contest. You plan it. You decide the themes and rules. Have the website ready BEFORE announcement day. Then let us enjoy the challenge that has been presented to us :slight_smile:

Not saying you’re wrong in posting incremental updates or pre-planning questions… but we have tons of WIPs around here. It’s just nicer to see something already complete by the time it’s announced. Besides, if you change your mind, nobody would be the wiser, and nobody would have to endure the “well my job is so busy, so I had to discontinue” apology post :wink:

#8

Great, thanks! I’m in the process of getting everything ready to go right now. The site should be finalized and the type of contest decided upon before I make the official announcement.