Stormynature

So who has looked at the upcoming release of Defiance- the tv series and the game? On one hand you will have a character driven TV series and on the otherhand a third person shooter (amongst other things) MMO. Will both formats be successful or will it be a case of too much grand concept and not enough meat on the bone for one or both of the delivery systems? Your thoughts?

Hello people with more power than I have.

Please move my thread Writing Challenge "Underground" - There be prizes! back to the Writing forum.

I have embarked on running a set of challenges. Once per month in Game design, Writing for Games, Music and Sound and Visual Arts. The first of those challenges you can find here: Tumbleweeds - A creative challenge with rewards.

The philosophy of why these challenges exist I have discussed with Michael as per the following conversation (amended to remove erroneous issues):

Stormynature

Basically I started this competition (with a view to making this a regular thing) by where the top 3 (as determined by upvote/downvote) will get a GDNet sub for a year bought for them by me (or a steam prize if they have something equivalent or better). Given that it is coming up to the end of the month at which point the Tumbleweeds competition comes to a close. I needed to figure out how I was going to ensure Gamedev got the money off me to cover the winner's upgraded subs, where appropriate

Michael

Dude.. no prob, we'll donate the subs to help you out. Just send me the winner list when you are done with the competition. Good luck! =)

Stormynature

Nay don't donate!

Part of my twisty thinking behind this is not only providing some extra funds to the site (albeit not huge funds but it will add up overtime and I don't mind paying) but also to generate ownership within members so that when the sub does run out they are more likely to re-up by themselves.

Of course the main reason I am running these and future comps (which will incorporate each of the four creative forums- one per month) is also to start showcasing talent within the creative forums from people who might not necessarily have something substantial they could present by other means.

Michael

I like it.. it's an interesting idea for sure. =) Well I suppose one way of doing it would be to collect the registration fee amount and send it to our paypal @ advertising@gamedev.net. Then I could give out coupons to the winners that they could use for GDNet+ access.

Would that work?

Finally the last thing in my post says the following:

Also in case anyone does wonder why I don't do this through the lounge rather than in the the specific creative forums (yes there will be also art/music ones in the next 2 months), it is because I am looking for those who show intentions of interest by being respective members of the forum as opposed to drift netting entrants.

These challenges are about finding the people who are a part of that particular forum. They are about mining the talent of those particular niches and contributing the mini-communities that exist within each forum's growth. . I don't want it an open slather process and more importantly I don't want it placed where the target group is not.

So please move the thread back or if it is disagreed - provide a reasoning that makes sense.

This particular competition is starting early as so many creative writers are damnably slow writers. It will only happen this first time, future competitions will start on the end day/first day of a month (Game writing is done to timelines set by others - get used to it!).

The situation.

Your protagonist is at the bottom of an extensive cave system. His/her goal is to escape this cave.

The task:

You are to write an origination story of how your protagonist found themselves at that location, as well providing the elements of why he/she must escape that situation.

Competition Closes:

30th April 2013          --------------    NOTE: Judging starts from now -- early work will probably be seen more - so take that into consideration.

Rewards

The top 3 stories as shown by votes through the upvote/downvote will earn a year's GDNet membership (or if already accessed to this rank or higher - a Steam equivalent prize).

Notes

These competitions are going to be a regular thing. You should look upon these as opportunities to showcase your ability as well learning to work within specific deadlines.

Anyone can upvote or downvote posts. If you do have criticisms please make them constructive in your posts (grammar nazi is not constructive). If your posts become conversations please take them over to Private messages.

Also in case anyone does wonder why I don't do this through the lounge rather than in the the specific creative forums (yes there will be also art/music ones in the next 2 months), it is because I am looking for those who show intentions of interest by being respective members of the forum as opposed to drift netting entrants.

I am looking for any specific information (as in real life data) out and about on the webs or other sources that covers budget/expenditure breakdowns for the creation of triple A games.  This would extend also to marketing related costs as well.

Thank you.

Currently we have the Announcements thread, the Developer's Journals and sometimes the lounge are used to publicise/market games that various members. For the most part a lot of these announcements I see are from short-term "just joined to post" members but some are from longer term members who are active participants in helping the site to grow as well seeking aid in their various projects.

What I propose is that gamedev creates a "showcase" gallery (basically a museum as such) which takes those projects created by consistently active members who in addition to their own needs have taken time to help others out in gamedev and have as such become associated in part with gamedev i.e. in a sense that we have contributed to the creation of said game by help through the forums for various problems/advice etc as well been a part of the gestation process and as a form of recognition to those active members. 

I see this as gamedev being able to provide another form of legitimisation/publicity to show that games have been developed utilising these forums as an effective tool and as time goes on, a pedigree of games associated with this site becoming well established.  I would suggest that application for inclusion in this particular gallery be somewhat restrictive - so that it does not become another announcements forum but rather one that meets criteria as mentioned above or something along those lines.

edit: as an addendum this might also be used to store historical jams such as the Kraken event