Castle Paradox

J.A.R.S. · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject:

sheesh, longest post I've made on here... Anyway, if I get positive comments, I'll make a new thread with more narrow and specific details, a sort of pre-official contest thread.

Newbie_Power · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1762

J.A.R.S. · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject:

point taken, and good job with that really (thought it frustrates me mostly just because simple tweaks could make it such a cooler game!)
What do you think about the contest ideas I've added though?

Newbie_Power · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1762

I don't really have much interest toward your ideas, to be honest, so I don't have anything to say.

I would just have "Game Design Challenges" and do so in such ways where people don't even need to make complete games.

J.A.R.S. · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject:

Like some sort of monthly semi-contest with a theme anyone is able to join and have their quick take on the theme?
Say, this month's theme is: "Make a game without text" (I know its been done...) and the following week, we change?
I think this could be some sort of cool marathon (as in a TRUE marathon). 12 mini contests over one year, the one who's got the best average wins... this would require massive undertakement though :S

J.A.R.S. · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:13 pm Post subject:

and then I just thought. the same good idea, BUT, before the first theme is even announced, contestants are allowed to do 10 walkabouts, 1 full tileset, 10 songs, 10 battle sprites, 10 enemies and nothing more. For the whole 12 challenges, they cannot alter anything, they can just change maps, script, and textboxes... I think that's a MASSIVELY tough one because you have to get stuff ready (in limited supply) for common rpgs as well as ANY other form of theme that might make it to one of the 12 themes decided by the comittee OR submitted by the users and chosen by the contest host...

Newbie_Power · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1762

*just adheres to the K.I.S.S. rule and goes on his merry way*

J.A.R.S. · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:28 pm Post subject:

me = NOT(english)
Can you elaborate on what that meant?

Newbie_Power · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1762

"Keep it simple, stupid."

J.A.R.S. · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject:

*confusion stirs*

Newbie_Power · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1762

It means to try not to romanticize everything so much.

1) Give them a simple task.

2) Let people try and do it the best.

Now then... If I ran an OHR based challenge... This would be the golden rule:

NO CHALLENGES BASED ON GRAPHICS OR STORYLINE

Challenges I would come up would include:

- Plot script a mini-game.

- Design a short dungeon that best uses a riddle design in order to find new rooms.

- Make use of the Counter stat.

Etc... This way, they can make whatever graphics they want, and they don't have to go out of their way to make a storyline that probably wouldn't be very good anyway. These would be demonstration demos.

J.A.R.S. · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:58 pm Post subject:

or find an alternative to battles and puzzles to make a level interesting... (mini-games fall in this category, but so much more, such as cutscenes). The most fun one being obviously the most creative (hopefully). And don't worry, I always end up simplyfying my ideas by the end, thats called elegance, is it not?

Moogle1 · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject:

The best contests have given the contestants a simple theme then allowed them to use that theme however they chose. This was the model of the 48hr contests, the Human Day contests, and a few others now and then. Themes have been story-oriented, like retelling a classic fable; abstract, like "mistranslation"; or esoteric, like "Why does Gizmog make stupid games?"

There have been a few niche contests that have produced interesting games, like the "Do Something With Nothing" contest or the Plotscripting Showdown, but the turnouts have been very low on those. The best-attended contests are short and open-ended.
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Slime Salad :: Independent Game Design

Newbie_Power · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1762

I should clarify...

When I ban emphasis on graphics and storyline, I mean no challenges such as "Draw a Knight and see whose looks better" or "Come up with a story and see whose is better" Theme games are going to have a story no matter what and obviously take longer than a week to create, but when you want to have a challenge that is OHR Engine based, you want to create challenges that focus on what the engine can do.

Why am I suddenly hating graphics and storyline so much? Because it will give newer people a chance to play with the engine and participate in challenges without needing to have huge expectations for a decent storyline and eye candy.

J.A.R.S. · Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:27 am Post subject:

I think simple theme goes well along with some general rules. The fact the theme is open ended and concise doesn't meant you can't put some restrictions to it. In fact, I like to see restrictions as a "superior effort" just like my idea of limited supply seems to be a good restriction in my eyes which forces the people to be more creative in their choices than they would've been otherwise. Your drawn "heroes" will most certainly not look the same as they would've, and you might even keep one of the walkabouts to make some kind of cursor or projectile in case of mini-games...