In order to make communication between the entrants and myself easier I open up this thread were you can ask questions directd at my judging and system. I'll also try to later on report and answer to problems that entries cause on my system, so you have a direct feedback during the competition.

Note : Please refrain from discussing the competition itself here, we have different threads for that, only questions directed at me in here please

Specifications of my main desktop system which I'll mostly use for testing your entries, the second one will only be used if there are problems. Please read the notes when appropriate, it'll maybe spare you some troubles :

CPU : AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
[size=9px]Note : This is a Dual-Core CPU. So it's possible that when you use time-based movement it'll have problems on dual cores and cause choppy or wrong movement. So please try to use hi-speed timers like QueryPerformanceCounter as they work. If you're unsure about this please ask, and I'll tell how to use that one for proper timing[/size]
Memory : 1 GByte
Graphics : Leadtek GF 7900GS with 256 MBytes of VRAM
[size=9px]Note : I always use the newest drivers available. The card itselfs supports Shaders up to SM3.0 and also glSlang[/size]
Monitor : BenQ FP202W 20.1" Widescreen(!) TFT
[size=9px]Note : The native resolution is 1680x1050 at 32BPP with 60Hz. This has a ratio of 16:10 (usual monitors are 4:3), so please add a form of widescreen support to your game, cause otherwise everything will looked stretched which isn't good looking. So either detect 16:10 and make your game have black bars when running at that res or better make it also look right at that resolution (e.g. changing FOV in a 3D-game)[/size]
Sound : Soundblaster X-Fi! Extreme Music
[size=9px]Note : It's connected to a nice 5.1 surroundsetup (with a Yamaha RX-V457) so I'd love to "see" some nice music and sound with a high bitrate. Bad sounds sound even worse on a good setup, please keep that in mind. The soundcard also supports all new standards, up to EAX5.0 and OpenAL.[/size]
OS : Windows XP Pro with SP2
Gamepad : Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2
[size=9px]It has one digital Pad, 2 analog pad (which means 3 axis), 6 buttons on the front and 4 shoulder buttons. It supports force feedback, though rarely any PC game uses it.[/size]
Joystck : Saitek Cyborg Evo
[size=9px]More-or-less standard stick (except it can be adjusted in all weird ways) with a Coolie-Hat, 12 Buttons and 3 axis. It also has a throttlecontrol as a fourth axis.[/size]

Specs of my second system :
Athlon XP 2600+, 1GByte of Memory, Leadtek GF6800 (256 MBytes), 22" CRT (4:3) with desired res of 1600x1200 at 85Hz (32BPP), Sound is NForce Soundstorm (which is actually very advanced for onboard sound). OS is the same as above, input devices too.

And since I'm from germany please take a look at this thread if you want to make a game that is e.g. set in World War 2. We have strict laws about most third reich symbols so make sure you comply to the above thread or otherwise I'm not allowed to download your entry.