A graphic design contest idea

[StrikeForcer]

After seeing how two topics in the SMBX forum section were panned because of those guys lacking the necessary organizational skills, I found it to be disheartening that such an idea was being ruined by incompetence. So with Joey's permission to make a topic here... here is what I thought how a proper SMBX Graphics Design Contest would work:

- Four categories: World Map (level, path, tile, scene), Tileset (background, block), Background (background 2), and NPC (effect, npc). Each of them judged as separate contests, let alone bound by a common theme set by the host.
- Should last for 45-60 days.

How to submit
- Either by PMing the host or having a separate topic for submissions.
- You must explicitly and publically state in your message on which categories your submission will like to be judged on. Your entry will not be judged if you didn't follow this rule otherwise.

Judges and Judging
- Each submission will be judged on how good it looks (the techniques used and if it falls into commonly-accepted traps of pixel art), practicality (if its easy to use and can be used in more than one thematic situations in practice), and originality (If this graphic does what others haven't with its stock and if said theme was never done before, which is rare. Frame of reference will be using to determine originality is what already exists on the Internet but feel free to disagree on here), on a scale of 1-10. Decimal values up to the hundredth digit is permitted. Debating on whether or not the arrangement counts as a valid criteria of judging.
- A penalty of one point will be issued if the submission violates any of the non-disqualifying rules stated below.
- I think that having 5 judges with the necessary qualifications (who have designed graphics before and knows about the common rules and traps of of pixel art) to be appropriate for judging. They must send the host with a portfolio of their publically-released works and convince the host why they should judge the contest. Done on both a first-come basis and persuasion.
- The host and judges cannot be a entrant to the contest.
- Timeframe for judging: 30-45 days.

Submission Rules (Global):
- You may work with a team.
- All judged graphics must be made by you, this does not include you modifying existing graphics to be a part of your submission. Instant disqualification if this rule is violated. (Ex: A recolored SMB3 Pipe as part as your submission) If you know what I mean, look at this: http://www.smwcentral.net/?p=viewthread&t=80240
- Each graphic must relate to the theme of the contest. Instant disqualification if this rule is violated.
- All graphics must be compatible for SMBX use. PGE compatibility is optional. A single graphics file that shows them arranged in a tileset is also optional. (non-disqualifying, a penalty of 1 point will be issued if it fails to meet this rule.)
- You must also provide a level file (Tileset, Background, NPC) or world file (World Map) to show how they are to be used by others who wish to make use of em for their own purposes. (non-disqualifying, a penalty of 1 point will be issued if it fails to meet this rule.)
- Masks must be properly affixed to your graphic if the graphic has as mask corresponding to what you are replacing. (non-disqualifying)
- You cannot release your graphics until the judging is done. You may however, tease a preview. (the amount of what was shown (ex: Part of whole of your entry) and the sample quality of the image or video (as in, if it has a loss of color, has a watermark, pixelated, or if its JPEGed is what I mean (and is preferred to do when teasing)) determines the penalty here being a loss of one point or disqualification.)
- You cannot submit an existing or previously unreleased graphic to the contest. Every graphic to be submitted to the contest must have its date creation at its earliest at the start of the announcement date of the contest.

Specific (Levels Only)
- (Tileset) Any graphic you made that replaces something of the block folder must not deviate from the source behavior (what the original graphics file being replaced is meant to be used by virtue of what it was coded in by Redigit to be used for) from the original SMBX graphics folder. (exs: A graphic replacing lava to be for decoration, a graphic that looks like something safe to stand replaces a graphic that hurts the player, a graphic that is ambiguous towards the inituitiveness of what is expected for it to act like). A penalty of 1 point will be issued if it fails to meet this rule.
- (Tileset) Corner tiles, fill tiles, "topsoil", ceiling tiles, and wall tiles is the basic minimum that is required to be shown in your entry. Instant disqualification if its not shown in your submission.
- (Background) Any graphic you made must conform to the source behavior. And you only have one background per submission but certain backgrounds have exceptions. Check your folder to see which background graphic applies. Instant disqualification if this rule is violated.
- (Background/Tileset) LUA codes are forbidden.
- (NPCs) Must not deviate from the source behavior of which the original graphic was programmed by Redigit. That includes having a text file or LUA code that modifies its behavior. (ex: Applying nohurt to a Goomba or using LUA codes to make a Missile Bill) Only modifications will be allowed is this: Repositioning a graphic in the text file, adding more frames to the NPC graphic file, changing frame speed, and resizing the graphic file because they do not deviate from the source behavior of the original graphic. Instant disqualification if this rule is violated.

Specific (World Map)
- Path and level folder graphics are not to be scored unless if it cannot be divorced from the context and theme of what the tiles and scene graphics are made for. (Ex: A bloody castle graphic for a chasm of blood overworld)
- Also must not deviate from source behavior. (that includes the banning of LUA codes)

Prizes
- Dependent on the contribution in question.

Feel free to suggest anything to be refined or your own ideas on how it should be done.

Revision #1: Made minor modifications to the rules. Important part to take away from is that the rules governing NPCs have been made more permissive and that the criteria of judging was elaborated.

Revision #2: Clarity edits. Also added another rule.

[Emral]

Yeah this is more like the contest Squishy had in mind a few months ago

I think these rules are well-crafted, and see no problem with them. I just got a minor nitpick about NPC text files, because I tend to make NPCs with a lot of animation frames, but considering I'll probably never be on the contestant-side of such a contest, there really is nothing for me to complain about

[HenryRichard]

Except for the npc .txt file limitations, this is really good! I'd definitely participate in it if it was hosted.

[PixelPest]

If you're creating a custom NPC I see no reason why you shouldn't be allowed a .txt file to change size, framespeed, etc. That already puts a lot of limits on what contestants can do. I see why you don't want Lua files but in my opinion .txt files should be allowed.

[StrikeForcer]

If you're creating a custom NPC I see no reason why you shouldn't be allowed a .txt file to change size, framespeed, etc. That already puts a lot of limits on what contestants can do. I see why you don't want Lua files but in my opinion .txt files should be allowed.

Revision #1: Made minor modifications to the rules. Important part to take away from is that the rules governing NPCs have been made more permissive and that the criteria of judging was elaborated.

- (NPCs) Must not deviate from the source behavior of which the original graphic was programmed by Redigit. That includes having a text file or LUA code that modifies its behavior. (ex: Applying nohurt to a Goomba or using LUA codes to make a Missile Bill) Only modifications will be allowed is this: Repositioning a graphic in the text file, adding more frames to the NPC graphic file, and resizing the graphic file because they do not deviate from the source behavior of the original graphic. Instant disqualification if this rule is violated.

Learn to read.

EDIT: Changing framespeed is not precluded in your NPC graphic if you are going to be adding in new frames. If the contest is run by me personally, I wouldn't be taking any points off.

EDIT 2: Typo correction.

[TheKingOfBoos]

Let's do this thing! If this ever happens, let's have PROX and Enjl be the judges. Maybe h2463 as well.

[h2643]

I'd gladly participate as a contestant, sounds like a good enough contest for me. At least better than the other contests that were either badly written or eventually cancelled.

h2463

pls

[TLtimelord]

Let's do this thing! If this ever happens, let's have PROX and Enjl be the judges. Maybe h2463 as well.

Best choices for judges would be Enjl, Squishy Rex, and Valtteri. They're likely the three users in this community with the most experience with what's acceptable in graphics.

[ShadowStarX]

Let's do this thing! If this ever happens, let's have PROX and Enjl be the judges. Maybe h2463 as well.

Best choices for judges would be Enjl, Squishy Rex, and Valtteri. They're likely the three users in this community with the most experience with what's acceptable in graphics.

Mine would be:
Enjl
Squishy Rex
Valtteri
h2643
Sednaiur
PROX
So basically your ideas but with Sednaiur added to the list as well.

[glitch4]

Mine would be Enjl and h2643. I'm not sure about Squishy Rex, because of his busy life, but I guess he can be contest judge in this as well.

[StrikeForcer]

Seeing that suggestions are made on who should be judges, while I get that they may be popular figures within the community, I would rather have two things: 1. That you explain why they should be judges other than their popularity but rather the merits of their abilities not only as artists but how they can offer critique and criticism, as it is not a popularity contest. 2. To quote Fallingsnow for this situation because it strangely does remind me of an earlier topic that was made to end the last debate on Staff elections, correct me if im wrong:

I want those people to take it upon themselves to informally apply.

The people you just named, you may be disappointed if they decide not to judge. There also has to be an active commitment of them to take up the position of judge.