PGD Annual 2007: Possibility of Two Competitons!

[WILL]

Well if by 'tiny' you mean 24-hour or 48-hour like Jeremy is thinking, then not, not for the PGD Annual anyways.

The thing about those action packed competitions is that they really draw on your ability to pull out all the stops for 1 or 2 whole days. And afterwards, at least with the impression I get, is that you'll probably be all drained of physical or creative energy afterwards. So when it came time to startup the 4 month you'd be starting with an instant handicap.

Plus if we were to stick one afterwards you'd still be tired from it as a long development period like our 4 month annual competitions take their toll over time. (kinda like sprinting vs. long distance running)

The 1 month is ideal because it gives a more moderate length of time and you're not as frantic about coding as to restrict some forethought about what you might want to do with the main one, should you decide to enter it aswell.


I'm sort of rolling around in my head the idea of starting the main competition off about half way or a week left into the 1-mo compo as you already have a basic idea as to the theme will be based around or close to.

This is not official just yet, but we are also considering making the planning stage submission manitory for this one aswell. (just for the main comp. not the small one) If this is the case we will provide the template for the design docs and all you'll have to do is fill it out. But this would make room for some minor overlapping to help condense the time frame of the whole event slightly.

[tanffn]

I was think thing to continue dividing by four, making the tiny competition one-week long.
One month is just too long, for me anyway, especially giving the new contest format (deadlines).
I think the tiny competition should have it own set of unique rules, maybe even give an engine a day or so before reviling the topic. Allowing the contesters start on an even grounds and focus only on the tast at hand..

[NecroDOME]

24-hour

well, that would be a sleepless day...

For the first 1 month and then 4 month compo it sounds to me more than a 5. I think it's better to make a 4 month and then a 1 month with a fresh start. This way you get more games. (correct me if im wrong)

[NecroDOME]

I think one week is to short... Most people don't have time to build off a engine and a game wihtin one week.

[WILL]

Yeah... 1 week is way too short. But we would not have any more than the one deadline for the smaller one. It would be more typical of the usual game competition.

Then again... this whole idea fringes on the amount of people entering either of the two competitions. In other words, we'd have to have enough new entering teams in total so we are not just splitting the teams for the small competition with the ones from the big competition. If we can't see a signifigant enough increase of interest in the PGD Annual it's self this thing isn't gonna happen.

...or it just might take a few more years.

[FNX]

I've answered both but not at the same time.

I would like to have one main compo once a year, for example across the
new year like now, maybe shorter than 4 month but not far from it.

Also, it would be nice to have say 2-3 short compos during every year,
maybe march-june/july-october.

I say so because last year i got some big troubles with my daily job
right before the first deadline that forced me to retire. It this is gonna
happen again at least i can get into the next one without waiting for 12
month. Also it would generate more traffic/activity on the forums by
the community.

Of course the 2-3 months compo should be more complex than the 1
months (or 3 weeks) one, like MMO-game the long and a simple arcade
the second.. stuff like that

[tanffn]

I think one week is to short... Most people don't have time to build off a engine and a game wihtin one week.

Thats why I said give the competitors a pre-made engine a few days before the competition starts.

I think it will allow focusing more on the game rather then other elements.

[NecroDOME]

A pre-made engine?
Not everyone likes a pre-made engine. We'r building almost than 2 years on our own 3D engine, so when I gonna make a game, it uses my own engine!

[Zenophran]

Perhaps an appropriate engine could be made available as a "default" engine for the competitions. This would allow people to use their own engine if they wish, but helps out new starters by giving them something to work with.

Another thing that would be very useful, especially for the short competitions, is a content pack. The pack could include some models/textures/sounds/etc for use in the competition. eg: a fantasy competition may have a warrior and mage, a few trees and grass textures. For some competitions the requirement may be to use only the supplied content and focus on gameplay.

Just a (very sleep deprived) thought.

[NecroDOME]

Perhaps an appropriate engine could be made available as a "default" engine for the competitions.

This would be a perfect idea.

Another thing that would be very useful, especially for the short competitions, is a content pack.

Also a good idea...