NiroZ
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1302
Registered: 02-12-2006
IP: Logged

File: Meta Contest Entries.rtf (422.9 KB)
Downloaded 75 times.
License: Public Domain

Well, it is this time again. I was shocked by the number of entrants which failed to run a simple word check on their entry. I even posted a reminder and hinted at it multiple times. :( I did briefly consider removing the rule, but as some people seem to have paid close attention to it, it doesn't seem fair on those who did check the rules.

Anyway, to the voting. When you vote please try to focus on how well the contest is written and its presentation (Do you just skim the entry for the details, or read every word? Did you get bored halfway through reading the entry?)
Also keep in mind how well laid out the contest is. Do they properly cover all the different prizes that are awarded, or did they skimp on properly explaining the rules?
If you are an entrant, remember that you must vote 10 for your entry, and give the others a fair rating. We can check up on this, so no funny business ok?

Also, I must emphasise that you should not vote on the contest idea. But feel free to discuss which contest is had the best contest idea below.

Happy voting!

Edit: If you wish to comment on what you thought of the entries other than the contest idea, remember to put it between these two tags: [unhidetime=10/31/2007 6:00 PM]Your hidden text.[/unhidetime]

---

[Last edited by NiroZ at 10-24-2007 09:29 AM]

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

Just a query, why is mine listed as an Unofficial contest?

EDIT: Ignore that, I realised why. It's my own stupid fault. I didn't make it long enough. I thought when it was posted that "I was just under the word count", that I was just under 1000, and squeaking into the limit. I should have checked better.

____________________________
My Holds

---

[Last edited by calamarain at 10-24-2007 12:21 PM]

Chaco
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3659
Registered: 10-06-2005
IP: Logged

NiroZ wrote:
I was shocked by the number of entrants which failed to run a simple word check on their entry. I even posted a reminder and hinted at it multiple times. I did briefly consider removing the rule, but as some people seem to have paid close attention to it, it doesn't seem fair on those who did check the rules.

I'm mostly disappointed. Yes, you might have posted in the topic about it (and I see you did, in fact) but when I was checking my entry over, I went back and read the rules in the first post of the main Meta Contest topic and there was no mention that a simple spelling mistake would totally disqualify my entry. Surely you could have included "oh hey if I find an error in there, intentional or not you lose".

Still, I'm sure I'll win the Unofficial Contests bracket - surely nobody can resist the need to plan an extension of the canonical Imperial Bureaucracy

____________________________
Quick links to my stuff (in case you forgot where it was):

jbluestein
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1670
Registered: 12-23-2005
IP: Logged

Chaco wrote:

I'm mostly disappointed. Yes, you might have posted in the topic about it (and I see you did, in fact) but when I was checking my entry over, I went back and read the rules in the first post of the main Meta Contest topic and there was no mention that a simple spelling mistake would totally disqualify my entry. Surely you could have included "oh hey if I find an error in there, intentional or not you lose".

I don't think it was a spelling mistake -- there are plenty of spelling errors in existing 'official' entries.

I'm pretty sure your problem was word count. It needed to be 500-1000 words, and my wc on your entry was 431.

Josh

____________________________
"Rings and knots of joy and grief, all interlaced and locking." --William Buck

Chaco
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3659
Registered: 10-06-2005
IP: Logged

That's... disappointing, to say the least.

I suppose I had gotten confused by NiroZ's mention of a "word check" in the first post in this thread and thought he was referring to spell-checking, not word-count-checking.

Guilty as charged.

____________________________
Quick links to my stuff (in case you forgot where it was):

jbluestein
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1670
Registered: 12-23-2005
IP: Logged

Chaco wrote:
That's... disappointing, to say the least.

I agree, although it's probably not as disappointing as if you had been DQ'd because of a spelling error...

Josh

____________________________
"Rings and knots of joy and grief, all interlaced and locking." --William Buck

eb0ny
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 484
Registered: 09-12-2007
IP: Logged

I have a question. Does having an unofficial entry counts as official participation in the contest (that is, official enough to be added to the list of contests one has participated in)?

____________________________

Dex Stewart
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 355
Registered: 01-19-2007
IP: Logged

It does, according to Mattcrampy.

Jatopian
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1842
Registered: 07-31-2005
IP: Logged

...you mean we're not supposed to vote on how good an idea it is? That's not important the way actual gameplay is to gaming? I cannot in good conscience vote in this contest.

____________________________
DROD has some really great music.
Make your pressure plates 3.0 style!
DROD architecture idea generator

Remlin
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 181
Registered: 04-28-2005
IP: Logged

Oops, I accidentally voted a 10 for everything. Doesn't matter since it effects everyone equally, just noting it.

eb0ny
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 484
Registered: 09-12-2007
IP: Logged

Jatopian wrote:
...you mean we're not supposed to vote on how good an idea it is? That's not important the way actual gameplay is to gaming? I cannot in good conscience vote in this contest.

But I wrote the whole thing for the idea! Not fair

____________________________

techant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 854
Registered: 06-08-2004
IP: Logged

eb0ny wrote:

Jatopian wrote:
...you mean we're not supposed to vote on how good an idea it is? That's not important the way actual gameplay is to gaming? I cannot in good conscience vote in this contest.

But I wrote the whole thing for the idea! Not fair

If Meta Contest was to be considered as an entry, how would it fare?

I guess you both voted...Ugh

____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!

NiroZ
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1302
Registered: 02-12-2006
IP: Logged

Jatopian wrote:
...you mean we're not supposed to vote on how good an idea it is? That's not important the way actual gameplay is to gaming? I cannot in good conscience vote in this contest.

I agree that if they were real contests, it would be important. However, that is a very difficult and subjective thing to vote on, let alone think up...

Remember, I'm trying to make the entry conditions as low as possible.

Chaco wrote:
That's... disappointing, to say the least.

Spare a thought for Coppro

To be honest, I'm kicking myself for not anticipating this, but I though that after I posted a reminder that it was a simple enough thing that you guys would pick up on it. I'd forgotten how easily I forget to do that with my essays.

Tim
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1979
Registered: 08-07-2004
IP: Logged

I gave every entry a 10.

No, I'm not cheating, I just wanted to vote "Ugh" for the other question. Even though I found that entry to be the clearest of them all. Everything I needed to know was there, and it didn't had too many difficult words.

Perhaps because English wasn't my first language, but rereading the contest rules, and comparing them with the judging criterias in this thread, I think I understood half the rules incorrectly. I must say I was really surprised that I really thought it was a "Meta Contest" instead of a "Funniest Contest Descirption Contest". Then I wanted to check the "judging criteria" and I realised that those were not required.

Note that I'm not blaming NiroZ, as this isn't the first time I got the contest rules wrong.

But I do want to know how I can understand the rules better in the future. Do any of you have any ideas that can help me? (Please don't tell me to ask if I don't understand the rules, because I think I understand them, it's just that during the judging time I realised I understood them incorrectly )

____________________________
The best way to lose customers is to let little kids running loose on a forum with too many mod points.

NiroZ
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1302
Registered: 02-12-2006
IP: Logged

Tim wrote:
But I do want to know how I can understand the rules better in the future. Do any of you have any ideas that can help me? (Please don't tell me to ask if I don't understand the rules, because I think I understand them, it's just that during the judging time I realised I understood them incorrectly )

I think the best way would be to restate the contest in your own words, and get the contest host to confirm that it is correct.

Jatopian
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1842
Registered: 07-31-2005
IP: Logged

I think Tim shouldn't worry about that, and the contest organizer should be clear about the rules. I don't think that's much to ask.

____________________________
DROD has some really great music.
Make your pressure plates 3.0 style!
DROD architecture idea generator

Dex Stewart
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 355
Registered: 01-19-2007
IP: Logged

Jatopian wrote:
I think Tim shouldn't worry about that, and the contest organizer should be clear about the rules. I don't think that's much to ask.

That is true. I also think that NiroZ stated them clearly enough.

techant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 854
Registered: 06-08-2004
IP: Logged

I think they were clear too. But, it would be a good idea to restate the main concepts as they are understood because of the language differences. You may just want to PM the host of the contest.

I did have a question as to why when it is time judge it makes sense then. What changed.

____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!

NiroZ
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1302
Registered: 02-12-2006
IP: Logged

Dex Stewart wrote:

Jatopian wrote:
I think Tim shouldn't worry about that, and the contest organizer should be clear about the rules. I don't think that's much to ask.

That is true. I also think that NiroZ stated them clearly enough.

Jatopian. Have you ever read a book, then had your friend read the book, and have both of your interpret the book completely differently? If not, I recommend you read one of the 'classics' and then read what the critics say about the book. You will quickly find that there are several different interpretations about the book. None of which are wrong.

Not that I'm saying that what I write is a classic and should be noted down in the annals of history, but in the absence of the author it is easy to come to a interpretation that differs with the authors intention. I'd appreciate it if you would be less forthright in your criticism, Jatopian.

Dex, I'm not sure what you are getting at there, as your two sentences seem to be contradictory.

techant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 854
Registered: 06-08-2004
IP: Logged

On a different topic - Only for those who have voted: I Need Feedback


____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!

---

[Last edited by techant at 10-26-2007 04:24 AM]

NiroZ
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1302
Registered: 02-12-2006
IP: Logged

Sorry to lean back onto the off topic discussion, but could people voting 10 for each entry stop doing so? Not because I want to stifle your opinions, but the fact that the range for the average of each entry is 6-8, it's getting kinda ridiculous.

Thanks

Dex Stewart
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 355
Registered: 01-19-2007
IP: Logged

NiroZ wrote:

Dex Stewart wrote:

Jatopian wrote:
I think Tim shouldn't worry about that, and the contest organizer should be clear about the rules. I don't think that's much to ask.

That is true. I also think that NiroZ stated them clearly enough.

Dex, I'm not sure what you are getting at there, as your two sentences seem to be contradictory.

Well, first I say that the contest organizer should be clear about the rules and that that isn't to much to ask. Then I say that you were indeed clear about the rules.

Znirk
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 613
Registered: 07-28-2005
IP: Logged

techant wrote:
I realize you would never us such a layout for a real contest, but it might be fun to. It wasn't that hard.

Not particularly hard, but as it turns out, no fun either. Perhaps fewer and larger text blocks would have fared better, but as it stands it's a vaguely amusing idea done to death and beyond.

As for the scoring: Meta Contest was declared to be about things like "clarity" and "presentation", so choosing not to present the information at all except to those who are prepared to do a lot of repetitive clicking was probably a bad idea.

NiroZ
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1302
Registered: 02-12-2006
IP: Logged

Dex Stewart wrote:
Well, first I say that the contest organizer should be clear about the rules and that that isn't to much to ask. Then I say that you were indeed clear about the rules.

Then how come Tim and others misunderstood the rules? (the million dollar question)

Maurog
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1501
Registered: 09-16-2004
IP: Logged

Well, you know, it's like having a pizza contest and then judging it only by how the pizzas look. No matter how much you're gonna explain to people that taste and smell won't count, it's just unnatural.

Calling it "meta-contest" instead of "creative contest writing competition" was a mistake.

____________________________
Slay the living! Raise the dead!
Paint the sky in crimson red!

mrimer
Level: Legendary Smitemaster

Rank Points: 5141
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

I dunno... It was a contest about contests, so meta-contest seems appropriate.

____________________________
Gandalf? Yes... That's what they used to call me.
Gandalf the Grey. That was my name.
I am Gandalf the White.
And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.

NiroZ
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1302
Registered: 02-12-2006
IP: Logged

Maurog wrote:
Well, you know, it's like having a pizza contest and then judging it only by how the pizzas look. No matter how much you're gonna explain to people that taste and smell won't count, it's just unnatural.

Well the plan never was to have a pizza party.
Seriously though, I considered including the contest idea but the problem was that to think up a decent idea is a difficult thing to do in itself, as you can easily have a bad writeup of a good idea or a good writeup of a bad/unoriginal contest idea. And because I thought that writing up contests to be easier than thinking up an idea to run a contest on, I chose that.

Yes, in hindsight I should have picked a very vague contest idea and then seen how people ran with that, but then again, with hindsight I would have stated the word count in red flashing capitals large enough to break the formatting of the page. Twice.

---

[Last edited by NiroZ at 10-27-2007 03:49 AM]

Maurog
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1501
Registered: 09-16-2004
IP: Logged

It looks like the rattlesnake just bit its own tail.

ErikH2000 wrote: NiroZ, our official contest coordinator, is using this exercise as a means of harvesting ideas for future contests and gauging their popularity. If you would like to have, for real example, a DROD-themed cooking contest, then scoot on over to the poll and say so.

I detect a hint of flawless consistency.

____________________________
Slay the living! Raise the dead!
Paint the sky in crimson red!

NiroZ
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1302
Registered: 02-12-2006
IP: Logged

Maurog wrote:
I detect a hint of flawless consistency.

Erik is as much involved in this contest as Tim is.

Less, actually, if you consider posting in this thread as involvement.

Chaco
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3659
Registered: 10-06-2005
IP: Logged

I find it hilarious that mrimer's not-really-an-entry parody of a Java webpage is actually winning the unofficial contest running as of this post.

____________________________
Quick links to my stuff (in case you forgot where it was):