Mysterious August Contest!

[Milkdud]

but I don't think school or work are valid excuses.

They are perfectly valid excuses. I go to school on Tuesdays for most of the day and Thursdays I'm there from 8 in the morning to 9 at night. And every other day (baring a weekend) I'm work enough to the point, where most of the time I don't want to sit around, getting frustrated at creating something that's bound to break and take me hours just to figure out the error was sitting right in front of my face.

We manage making 6hr games in two weeks

I'm more interested in the quality of the games as opposed to how long you can make it in just 2 weeks.

 

[Acetonide]

We manage making 6hr games in two weeks, even with a family of four (two kids taking music lessons and soccer) and full-time jobs. I guess it really depends on which hobbies you concentrate on when you're out of work/school. Either way I personally feel unmotivated when extensions get really stretched. I can understand people under special circumstances getting extensions, like a family member having cancer (which we have as well) or something, but I don't think school or work are valid excuses. Just a personal thought.

Hm.. I wonder who this "we" is, but any how, that's not important.. If you manage to make good games in that short amount of time then that's very impressive, but.. You have a few things to consider.

1. The people who wanted an extension are mostly doing everything themselves.. There are people doing their own custom graphics, many people parallax mapping, eventing new systems, writing scripts, testing the game, debugging, etc.. It makes a different if you're all alone in this endeavor.

2. It's not so much that school and work are either valid or not valid excuses, it's about adjustment periods. I'm sure you would struggle too if something near that took up large sections of your time suddenly came up. You have many things in your life to deal with besides making a game, and that you can accomplish so much is very impressive, but these are things you do constantly so you have learned to adjust to it. If you suddenly lost 2-6 hours of your day after several months of having plenty of time to do as you'd like you would probably struggle to learn to balance your time and adjust your internal clock and speed to keep up also.

This is why I think there was an extension.. School is just starting for many people. If it was in the middle of the year or something then I would agree that school isn't a good excuse.. This is also why exams is a reason many people fall behind in other things. They suddenly have to get used to studying and retaining a lot more information than they usually do. If instead they studied and prepared for exams constantly on top of heir usual school work they probably would get faster and more efficient as time went on, and they learned to prioritize better and make better use of their time.. (Gah.. I'm being redundant aren't I? I'll stop now..)

Any how, I can't help but feel I'm getting off topic so that's all I have to say for now.

 

[RyanA]

Aye. I'm doing custom music for mine, and it takes quite a while to do, I've not started much on the game yet and most of the resources I'm using are ones from the community that I thought would fit well, though I've edited quite a few of them and done my best to make a few custom graphics. Not really any scripts and most of it will be evented.

As well as the game, I'm suddenly composing music in a style I've never done before and it's very challenging to make these songs fit the scenes while keeping the genre and theme similar 3: I think I need to start doing stuff on the game and save the music for last >w<

As well as college that will be starting soon and other projects ;>w<

 

[Archeia]

I just want to say that comparing an advanced skill level to a majority who are still just not quite there is a bit unfair.

It's like, yes the two of you can create amazing games in a short time limit due to experience, but the majority are working alone and aren't as experienced as you guys are? If I'm making sense. I just think it's unfair that you compare the efficiency of your abilities to the people that are lacking on both fields.

 

[andrew]

I just want to say that comparing an advanced skill level to a majority who are still just not quite there is a bit unfair.

It's like, yes the two of you can create amazing games in a short time limit due to experience, but the majority are working alone and aren't as experienced as you guys are? If I'm making sense. I just think it's unfair that you compare the efficiency of your abilities to the people that are lacking on both fields.

From my point of view this has a few flaws:

1. There are way better artists, programmers, designers, and writers around here than me or Annabelle (including faster!)

2. We weren't born with this experience, and a sense of responsibility and competition is what drives us. When you have to level out the playing field for everyone because someone is better (subjectively!) how does that help anyone? Especially those that DON'T have the experience? It's certainly wouldn't make me think I should try harder.

3. Having more people doesn't mean it's easier to finish something, if that was the case all those projects with lots of people would be done in no time. Ness, you should know better than anyone that more != better or faster. You can say this is offset by using shared resources, which just about everyone does (scripts others wrote, tilesets from the store, music from NewGrounds or other sources, etc.)

The extension was already given, so I'm just expressing my opinion on this.

EDIT: Misspellings.

 

[Acetonide]

I have a quick question..

If there is blood that may come up occasionally in the game, will there need to be a warning or anything? Because that may spoil some surprises that would come up in the game... Oh, well.. Actually, what type of things would require a warning if they were included? I mean, if I include things from mythology or demons, would that constitute as religious? If it involves the concept of murder, serial killers, or other serious crimes does that warrant warning? (Obviously sexual crimes require a warning, so I don't need to ask about that.)

In short: Will a warning about blood be necessary if it may spoil things within the game? I mean, it is a mystery so spoiling things is kind of bad. =x

 

[Milkdud]

Something that I've been meaning to ask, but, is there a limit to swearing?

 

[Levi]

Something that I've been meaning to ask, but, is there a limit to swearing?

There's no 'absolute' limit.

Just go for it, and worst case... the Mods'll tell you to tone it down. A few ****s, fricks and ****s should be fine. Just no "personal attacks".

Edit. In case you're referring to the game. I don't think so. Just have a disclaimer/warning.

 

[Reynard Frost]

We manage making 6hr games in two weeks, even with a family of four (two kids taking music lessons and soccer) and full-time jobs. I guess it really depends on which hobbies you concentrate on when you're out of work/school. Either way I personally feel unmotivated when extensions get really stretched. I can understand people under special circumstances getting extensions, like a family member having cancer (which we have as well) or something, but I don't think school or work are valid excuses. Just a personal thought.

Yeah, because real life responsibilities such as work and school aren't nearly as important as a for-fun contest and people shouldn't be allowed to have any relaxation time outside of our responsibilities. Surely we should spend all of our time putting together a game for a contest with every spare moment instead of taking a breather and taking time and having fun with it.

What was I thinking.

 

[Monthigos]

Thank you for the extension. My motivation to work on the game comes and goes and I wasn't sure if I was going to finish in time. I feel a push coming on. I'm starting a new job too so this is sorely appreciated.

 

[Touchfuzzy]

My question to people questioning the extension of the contest:

Do you want to compete against the best?

 

[EvilEagles]

My question to people questioning the extension of the contest:

Do you want to compete against the best?

I'm not sure they're the best in terms of time management and planning. And I believe it is (if not then it should be) part of the challenge too.

 

[Touchfuzzy]

I'm not sure they're the best in terms of time management and planning. And I believe it is (if not then it should be) part of the challenge too.

I'm talking about the resulting games, not the creators themselves.

I'm going to use a Sports Analogy.

Let's say that you are playing another team. And the other team has their star player injured. Do you want the result to always be: WELL IF WE HAD OUR STAR PLAYER, WE WOULD HAVE WON. Or do you want to grind people into the dust with all the best players on the field.

Everyone gets the advantage of the extra two weeks. If your game would have won without it, you have plenty of time to polish up and make it even better.

As far as I'm concerned the contests are about who can make the best game within the same restrictions. And since everyone is still getting the same restrictions, they are just slightly different than when we started, I don't see that anyone is getting an unfair advantage.

You worked under the time constraints better? Awesome, that means you have time to really spruce up your game while everyone else is still struggling to even finish. You have the upper hand.

 

[Archeia]

I have a quick question..

-snip-

My suggestion? Make the blood a different color (like pink) and add a mature version to save yourself from the trouble if you're that worried, haha.

-----

2. We weren't born with this experience, and a sense of responsibility and competition is what drives us. When you have to level out the playing field for everyone because someone is better (subjectively!) how does that help anyone? Especially those that DON'T have the experience? It's certainly wouldn't make me think I should try harder.

My response to this is that you're comparing your output with your skill levels compared to others. I didn't say it was an ultimate "fair" I did say that it was a BIT unfair to compare it in that way. I'm not sure how much more I can say this in English.

3. Having more people doesn't mean it's easier to finish something, if that was the case all those projects with lots of people would be done in no time. Ness, you should know better than anyone that more != better or faster. You can say this is offset by using shared resources, which just about everyone does (scripts others wrote, tilesets from the store, music from NewGrounds or other sources, etc.)

I'm also saying this to people who has less experience or knowledge on certain fields that learning how things work can be unexpectedly hard than what they would normally assume. I am also saying this from a perspective that I can see the problems that everyone is going to face because it is about solving a mystery and not just a normal game. It requires a Beginning, a Climax and a Conclusion.

EDIT::

A mystery game needs to have an ENGAGING PLOT. It needs to keep someone interested on the mystery. It's about making the player CARE the main problem for a genre like this.

END::

Aside from the usual reasonings of why I extended the deadline (people losing a week's worth of work due to moving to universities, thesis defenses and sorts) I do care about the output that is going to be dished out on the contest. Touchfuzzy said it better than I could. I want more people to show off inspiring entries. Like what if there's hidden talent out there and all those sorts of things? I don't see how an extended deadline could work against on polishing any potential plotholes that are missed in stories or not thought out. All those sort of things.

 

[andrew]

Yeah, because real life responsibilities such as work and school aren't nearly as important as a for-fun contest and people shouldn't be allowed to have any relaxation time outside of our responsibilities. Surely we should spend all of our time putting together a game for a contest with every spare moment instead of taking a breather and taking time and having fun with it.

What was I thinking.

Sorry, I guess you didn't understand that post.

See, since everyone has these real life concerns, and holding a full time job or going to school or having a family mostly equal out in terms of having time available.

Students have homework sometimes, or have to write paper. Workers are asked to stay late or have to projects. Those with families have events or sick kids to take care of.

Because someone has a lot going on at school doesn't mean they're having a tougher time than anyone else, so it's not really a fair reason to say because lots of people are starting up school again. I had a major project to launch last week that kept me really late each night, so what? That's life.

(It was quite tempting to phrase all that in the same nasty sarcastic tone you used and I had to rewrite it a few times so-as not to be as rude.)

In regards to fighting them at their best, that's in an ideal world as well. What if I get sick after next week? Suddenly I'M the one who got put at a disadvantage.

I'm not sports expert, but isn't it normal in sports teams to keep going even if you're down a player? This stuff averages out because it's impossible to account for all the situations, so more time doesn't equal more fairness, it'd be impossible to work that out across everyone, so the most fair solution is for those who had a bad situation to carry on.

I'm obviously on minority side here, so I'll just drop it here. Minds don't change on the internet!

The contest continues and the topic should shift back to the reality of it for everyone.

 

[Annabelle (KKMcK)]

Yeah, because real life responsibilities such as work and school aren't nearly as important as a for-fun contest and people shouldn't be allowed to have any relaxation time outside of our responsibilities. Surely we should spend all of our time putting together a game for a contest with every spare moment instead of taking a breather and taking time and having fun with it.

What was I thinking.

And here I thought people were participating in this because they wanted to. Silly me.

 

[RyanA]

I want to participate, but I also want to make it as good as I can :3

 

[Reynard Frost]

And here I thought people were participating in this because they wanted to. Silly me.

That's exactly what I'm saying, people are doing it because they want to, and an extension isn't a terrible idea. They want to participate but they're busy at the moment, and need more time in order to be able to participate.

 

[Zeramae]

I think it all boils down to priorities; I think it's completely disgusting to assume that because I think having more time is a good thing that I'm any less skilled than others who enter this contest.

I also (I hope) understand what Reynard means and am in complete agreement that just because people have the time or not, to expect people need to work on their game during every waking moment of free time is unrealistic. That is, unless RM is their ONLY interest; in which case they would probably be done a couple of days before the deadline even if they aren't the fastest workers.

Bottom line; now people don't have to rush or at the very least feel rushed, and can make a more polished game as a result. As for me; not going to change my original plan, just how I'm going to manage my time. My game isn't going to monopolize all my time, but it doesn't make me any less ecstatic about my project than anyone else here.

 

[Touchfuzzy]

I'm not sports expert, but isn't it normal in sports teams to keep going even if you're down a player? This stuff averages out because it's impossible to account for all the situations, so more time doesn't equal more fairness, it'd be impossible to work that out across everyone, so the most fair solution is for those who had a bad situation to carry on.

They do, but as a fan, I'm not happy when my team plays against a rival and they don't have their best players. Why? Because I hate all the "we would have won, BUT" stuff.

Anyway. I honestly think based on the timing of when this contest started (while tons of people were transitioning schedules due to summer ending) the original deadline was too short. I think it is best for everyone, especially the people who get to PLAY the entries, for it to be extended.