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The GUI Olympics!
Monday, January 14, 2002 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Many of us at Stardock are strong believers in social justice. In this case, what I mean is that companies that are doing well have a moral obligation to support the communities that they exist in.
Stardock doesn't exist really in a physical community (I doubt the citizens of Canton Michigan or Livonia Michigan even know we exist). But it does exist in a virtual community that goes by many names and has many definitions based on who you talk to.
WindowBlinds 3 has been a success. A huge success. But its success and Stardock's in general is supported by a great deal of websites that usually run by volutneers who give freely to others with no thought to themselves. So how can a company that exists in such a community give something back and do so in a fun yet productive way?
The 2002 GUI Olympics.
It's not your typical contest. Instead, we created a brand new website called www.guiolympics.com. A neutral site. Then we got together with most of the major skin sites (and I did contact every major one) to have a combined WindowBlinds contest.
In this contest, Stardock is going to give out potentially over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Users who submit skins also choose a website they want to represent. The cash is split between the user and the website they represent. There's enough cash to pay for a lot of bandwidth for the coming year. And enough cash to go on a pretty nice vacation for the author too depending on how well they do (or at the very least, get a few nice things).
Anyone can join and you can represent any site that you don't own EXCEPT for WinCustomize and Stardock since we're involved in running it. Volunteers from WinCustomize (our VOLUNTEER moderators like Alexandrie, Treetog, etc.) are free to enter and represent whatever sites they choose. I don't know who they'll represent but it should be interesting.
Since there are so many awards involved, anyone who enters in a decent skin standsa a pretty good chance of winning SOMETHING. And they stand to help the website in question out.
Good luck and I hope to see as many WinCustomize users participate (representing other sites of course) as possible.
If you have any questions, post them here.
Stardock doesn't exist really in a physical community (I doubt the citizens of Canton Michigan or Livonia Michigan even know we exist). But it does exist in a virtual community that goes by many names and has many definitions based on who you talk to.
WindowBlinds 3 has been a success. A huge success. But its success and Stardock's in general is supported by a great deal of websites that usually run by volutneers who give freely to others with no thought to themselves. So how can a company that exists in such a community give something back and do so in a fun yet productive way?
The 2002 GUI Olympics.
It's not your typical contest. Instead, we created a brand new website called www.guiolympics.com. A neutral site. Then we got together with most of the major skin sites (and I did contact every major one) to have a combined WindowBlinds contest.
In this contest, Stardock is going to give out potentially over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Users who submit skins also choose a website they want to represent. The cash is split between the user and the website they represent. There's enough cash to pay for a lot of bandwidth for the coming year. And enough cash to go on a pretty nice vacation for the author too depending on how well they do (or at the very least, get a few nice things).
Anyone can join and you can represent any site that you don't own EXCEPT for WinCustomize and Stardock since we're involved in running it. Volunteers from WinCustomize (our VOLUNTEER moderators like Alexandrie, Treetog, etc.) are free to enter and represent whatever sites they choose. I don't know who they'll represent but it should be interesting.
Since there are so many awards involved, anyone who enters in a decent skin standsa a pretty good chance of winning SOMETHING. And they stand to help the website in question out.
Good luck and I hope to see as many WinCustomize users participate (representing other sites of course) as possible.
If you have any questions, post them here.
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John Hamp
Reply #22 Tuesday, January 15, 2002 10:32 PM
Reply #22 Tuesday, January 15, 2002 10:32 PM
I've been playing with skinning for a couple of months. This sounds like a lot of fun. I'll probably just represent 1 site since I won't have time to do more skins.
Frogboy
Reply #23 Tuesday, January 15, 2002 10:46 PM
Reply #23 Tuesday, January 15, 2002 10:46 PM
Shoggot: I think most of the judges involved are going to be capable of making an honest judgement of skins. I know I can. Mian has indicated that you would be the judge for Skinz.org. If you don't think you can make a fair judgement because you know who made the skin and such, you may want to find someone else.
We're going to work on the assumption that people are honorable and fair. Plus, we will have the user voting as a guide.
Tack: As a practical matter, all but maybe 5 or 6 people will only represent a single site. But some of the better known skin authors (I own't say who) requested this because they didn't want to be put in the awkward position of having to choose a particular site. I can respect that. For instance, let's say I could participate, who would I represent? I'd either have to not participate at all or possibly offend or anger some of my friends. What we want to do is lower the barrier to entry for all skin authors involved. But that all said, realistically, skin authors are going to largely represent a single site becuase they do have a single, favorite site that they want to help support.
We're going to work on the assumption that people are honorable and fair. Plus, we will have the user voting as a guide.
Tack: As a practical matter, all but maybe 5 or 6 people will only represent a single site. But some of the better known skin authors (I own't say who) requested this because they didn't want to be put in the awkward position of having to choose a particular site. I can respect that. For instance, let's say I could participate, who would I represent? I'd either have to not participate at all or possibly offend or anger some of my friends. What we want to do is lower the barrier to entry for all skin authors involved. But that all said, realistically, skin authors are going to largely represent a single site becuase they do have a single, favorite site that they want to help support.
craeonics
Reply #24 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 4:34 AM
Reply #24 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 4:34 AM
And it's more fun to play (yes, play) for one site, instead of multiple. Add an extra element of competition.
A month and a half, eh?
1. idea generation: 1 week
2. conceptualisation : 1 week
3. creation of basic elements: 1 week
4. creation of advanced elements and testing: 1 week
5. cleaning and more testing: 1 week
6. packaging
It's gonna be tight! Umm, do I have the time... don't know, don't know...
A month and a half, eh?
1. idea generation: 1 week
2. conceptualisation : 1 week
3. creation of basic elements: 1 week
4. creation of advanced elements and testing: 1 week
5. cleaning and more testing: 1 week
6. packaging
It's gonna be tight! Umm, do I have the time... don't know, don't know...
shoggot
Reply #26 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 5:30 AM
Reply #26 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 5:30 AM
Oh, I'll certainly be as impartial as I can. I've had a few years experience at it (ignoring usernames on submissions) - but this may not be true for all of the judges.
Can you, conversely, give any good reason why the names -should- be displayed?
Can you, conversely, give any good reason why the names -should- be displayed?
T-Man
Reply #27 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 9:36 AM
Reply #27 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 9:36 AM
"It's gonna be tight! Umm, do I have the time... don't know, don't know... " - craeonics
Your wasting too much time blabbering. Now go get skinning!
Your wasting too much time blabbering. Now go get skinning!
paxx
Reply #28 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 9:59 AM
Reply #28 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 9:59 AM
jark: it's Velocityart.com
I'm glad they approached me because I could not decide who I would represent. So far it's the only one.
I'm glad they approached me because I could not decide who I would represent. So far it's the only one.
Griffinme
Reply #29 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 11:01 AM
Reply #29 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 11:01 AM
I noticed that the skinners can get a time limeted version of WB and SS. Does this mean there will not be any updates to those for awhile once the competion starts? Will a skin be slighted for not using the latest features if there is an update?
The reason I ask is because new features are not always documented the way they should... hint hint (cough cough). This could add more time to an already tight schedule to create a skin.
The reason I ask is because new features are not always documented the way they should... hint hint (cough cough). This could add more time to an already tight schedule to create a skin.
Istari
Reply #30 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 12:32 PM
Reply #30 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 12:32 PM
I doubt any new major skinning features are going to show up during the contest.
Phar0e
Reply #31 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 7:41 PM
Reply #31 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 7:41 PM
A question for the admins of the Gui Olympics.
If a wb skin has never been released to any skins site in the windowblinds section, but has been included before only with a Litestep theme, is it inadmmisable for the Gui Olympics? I had been planning for a while to upgrade a couple of my old litestep related wb skins (they need it bad)....just curious.
I'm cool either way. (or at least I'd like to think so
If a wb skin has never been released to any skins site in the windowblinds section, but has been included before only with a Litestep theme, is it inadmmisable for the Gui Olympics? I had been planning for a while to upgrade a couple of my old litestep related wb skins (they need it bad)....just curious.
I'm cool either way. (or at least I'd like to think so
Phar0e
Reply #32 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 8:09 PM
Reply #32 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 8:09 PM
er, disregard the previous question please. After giving it some thought, it would only make sense to follow the "spirit" of the rules, in that the submissions should be new ones.
I beleieve I will start from scratch on one or two.
I beleieve I will start from scratch on one or two.
Frogboy
Reply #33 Saturday, January 19, 2002 11:17 AM
Reply #33 Saturday, January 19, 2002 11:17 AM
The main points are to have fun, support skinning, and support skin sites.
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Reply #21 Tuesday, January 15, 2002 6:40 PM
If there's no real issue of site loyalty, why even involve the various communities? Why not make it a simple skinning competition?