The GUI Olympics begins MONDAY
Friday, February 27, 2004 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
This Monday, the GUI Olympics 2004 will begin. It's a contest to see who can create the world's best visual styles, icons, and Winamp 5 skins. Sponsors include Stardock, Nullsoft, ATI, nVidia, and others. Microsoft is also providing prizes to the contest. In total, over $10,000 (closer to $15,000) in cash and prizes will be given out including ATI video cards, an Xbox, tons of software and probably some surprises.
You will be able to enter skins individually or as part of a team. The top teams will get a big bonus prize. Anyone can form a team and there are no restrictions on the size of team (though obviously the bigger the team, the bigger the split in the prize money). You could have a Team MyfavoriteWebsite or a Team "l33t". It's up to whoever starts the team (on Monday there will be a mechanism on www.guiolympics.com to create your own team).
The rules are fairly straight forward. You have to enter submissions that are NEW. They can't be things that already exist. They also have to be in WindowBlinds visual style format. But if you've ever made a .msstyles visual style, it's pretty easy to make a WindowBlinds one and SkinStudio can convert a .msstyles file to WindowBlinds visual style format. And then from there add the missing features to make it competitive.
The contest begins on March 1 but JUDGING won't begin until April 5 so you'll have over a month to actually put together your stuff. And judging goes on during the entire month so you may potentially have nearly 2 months depending on what events you're concentrating on.
Here is the schedule of events:
April 5: Most minimalist visual style, Most creative Winamp skin, Most original icon package
April 8: Best Power user visual style, Most useable Winamp skin
April 12: Most usable visual style, Best power user Winamp skin, Best "themed" (icons go together the best) icon package
April 15: Most creative visual style
April 19: Best themed* visual style*, Best themed* Winamp skin, Best pseudo-OS icon package
April 22: Best Pseudo-OS visual style
April 26: Best overall visual style, Best overall Winamp skin, Best overall icon package
April 27: Top Team/Individual: WindowBlinds, Top Team/Individual: Winamp, Top Team/Individual: Icons
April 29: User's Choice: Best visual style, User's Choice: Best Winamp skin: User's Choice: Best icon package
*themed skin as in the whole skin keeps to a particular theme.
16 Events. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Anyone can enter.
The judges will be admins/employees from Stardock, Neowin, deviantART, and Nullsoft.
So there you have it. WB visual styles, icon packages, and Winamp 5. For $10k to $15k in cash and prizes spread among 16 main events.
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Reply #22 Friday, February 27, 2004 11:00 PM
I'm hoping to enter a WB skin into this, and maybe something else.
Reply #23 Saturday, February 28, 2004 1:20 AM
The GUI Olympics is about the best things in the skinning community. It's not primarily about the money. The GUI Olympics is going to get an immense amount of coverage. Artists like getting their work out there. The skins in this contest are likely to get more exposure than any set of skins released in this time. We will be able to see who relaly are the best skinners out there.
Reply #24 Saturday, February 28, 2004 2:33 AM
Your competition isn’t the gauge of who really are the best skinners out there. Because to be quite honest the best skinners are too busy earning a living to be worried about “getting the gold.” It will only show who the best skinners are who decided to enter your contest.
I think artists should enter this. Competition breeds creativity and something like this is a healthy, creative outlet. I think artists getting a chance to show their “stuff” and having a chance to compete strengthens the artistic community by fueling the desire to exceed expectations instead of rushing to release work just to garner a few comments and downloads.
As far as the far too bold statement “The skins in this contest are likely to get more exposure than any set of skins released in this time.” Let’s just lump that with the word – hype. When you get almost a 11 million downloads like Sven did with MMD3 at Winamp then come talk to me about “more exposure”. Or the fact that the featured skins at WindowsMedia.com get viewed by 13 million visitors a month – every month.
I’ll certainly be paying attention to the talent that’s going to be entering – can always use new blood.
Reply #25 Saturday, February 28, 2004 3:03 AM
P.S. not everyone with a lot of talent is 'working' )
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Reply #26 Saturday, February 28, 2004 3:16 AM
And of course there will be some amazing talent. I just don't subscribe to the blanket statement of "We will be able to see who really are the best skinners out there." As if this contest is the definitive proof of who the best skinners are.
Reply #27 Saturday, February 28, 2004 3:17 AM
Reply #28 Saturday, February 28, 2004 3:33 AM
I have wanted to start skinning again. I can't get motivated, maybe this will do it. Graphically I am a lot better than before. Dunno about the scripting though. I'll muddle through I guess.
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Reply #29 Saturday, February 28, 2004 3:43 AM
You guys are well-motivated, a lot of others aren't. I think Frogboy just means that this will give people an excuse to hop in and see how good they really are. A lot of us think that there are a lot of latent skinners that can do amazing work coasting through because they don't have the 'urge'.
You know what I mean. Like when you hear people say "Sure, that is great, but if [whoever] was still skinning, you'd see some really cool stuff". I think he just thinks this might get all the old [whoevers], and people that just skin for themselves to chime in.
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Reply #30 Saturday, February 28, 2004 4:25 AM
You might want to talk to R. Peter Clark about coding winamp. Not sure if Peter has the time or not but he's real good with WA5. If you haven't coded winamp 5 you'll need more than a month to learn that and to create all your graphics. Best to team up with someone so you can concentrate on the art.
And really Baker it's time to get into this again. If you're better than before then prove it. Yeh that's right i just challenged you. Put up or shut up baby.
Show these newbies what you got. Take home the GOLD!!Could you imagine Holmes sitting around saying "yeh i could solve that crime but i just can't get motivated to put down the pipe and actually do it." No he would go kick Moriarty's ass.
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, understood. 
Reply #32 Saturday, February 28, 2004 5:02 AM
It's amazing the amount of people in Scotland that don't know about Desktop customization, there are some that know but to many that do not. If i ever speak to people about it they look at me like im some alien, apparently they think Graphic design is just pretty graphics for web sites.
I hate to say this but i may be receiving this wrong, certain ways im picking up on what you say Jesh sounds a bit arrogant at times.
Everything is all about Windows Media Player, but don't get me wrong your stuff is awesome just im picking it up like this is it, it cannot get any better Windows Media Player is da bomb!.
| Your competition isn’t the gauge of who really are the best skinners out there. Because to be quite honest the best skinners are too busy earning a living to be worried about “getting the gold.” It will only show who the best skinners are who decided to enter your contest. |
This is very true but alot (some other top guys) will enter, perhaps not as Professional as what The SkinsFactory or other top artists to name a few can pump out but perhaps close on other programs.
| I think artists should enter this. Competition breeds creativity and something like this is a healthy, creative outlet. I think artists getting a chance to show their “stuff” and having a chance to compete strengthens the artistic community by fueling the desire to exceed expectations instead of rushing to release work just to garner a few comments and downloads. |
Unfortunately over time i've seen this happen to much, rush as quick as possible to finnish it rather get the design as professional as it can be.
Really bugs me when people rush stuff for more downloads or comments, updated a pixel!!! another couple thousand downloads.
I just really hate rushing designs, it has to be perfection or atleast 98% if not it wont see the light of day.
It will be an excellent time to see what all these (new) designers are capable of producing, im sure it'll be a blast.
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Reply #33 Saturday, February 28, 2004 8:40 AM
Oh come on, guys...stop inferring what Brad might or might not have meant....I don't do that cos he'd have my short and curlies for doing so...and I've known him as long as most....
What this contest will do is put a rocket under typical ennui that creeps in from time to time....the woodwork will exude new skins.....this is a good thing [tm].
Jesh's gang is famous for getting it 'rightest' [new word] with WMP....Pixtudio is famous for being ripped and plagiarised [long story - mostly confidential]....all irrelevant.
What it's all about is fun, thrills, entertainment, recognition and [hopefully] some sexy new skins from 'God-knows-who' that will rock our collective socks.
Anything else is 'who cares diddly-squat?'....
Reply #34 Saturday, February 28, 2004 8:41 AM
Jesh, TSF, I don't think Brad was directly or indirectly trying to aim his comments towards you. My take is that he is trying to put a positive spin on the GUI contest, just like any other company would try to do. So there is no need to get paranoid. If your not entering, why make a post. Everyone will know your not entering if they don't see anything by you.
Just like when Baseball calls it the World Series, hype as its only played in North America. At least when Brad says the best skinners in the world, there will be enteries from all over the world. So whether its from the old guard, the newer people or a mix of both,there will be some of the best entering.
.
Reply #36 Saturday, February 28, 2004 8:55 AM
#34 by Admin Jafo - 2/28/2004 8:40:44 AM What it's all about is fun, thrills, entertainment, recognition and [hopefully] some sexy new skins from 'God-knows-who' that will rock our collective socks. |
Indeed, the thing most people forget now a days FUN!!!
Reply #37 Saturday, February 28, 2004 9:12 AM
In closing, I am basically of the following mindset....
Sweet! Dope skins for my PC
Reply #38 Saturday, February 28, 2004 9:22 AM
Reply #39 Saturday, February 28, 2004 10:08 AM
I can't wait! This will be the first contest I have entered for skinning (and actually enter).
To bad there won't be a place where you can see the skin production progress like when SkinIt.net had a contest.
Reply #40 Saturday, February 28, 2004 10:58 AM
| WOM...that's one bad stutter you got there.... |
now that was funny.
I think (and i said this) that the contest is a great idea. Looking forward to seeing the new blood.
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Reply #21 Friday, February 27, 2004 10:51 PM