2020/21 NESDev Competition

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NESHomebrew
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2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by NESHomebrew »

Download all the 2020/21 entries => https://neshomebrew.ca/files/2020/Compo2020.zip
Submit here => https://neshomebrew.ca/submit

Category 1:
  • This category is reserved for games. Any tools or toys should be submitted as category 2.
  • Mapper 28 compatible entry up to 64KB with NO PRG-RAM
  • Prizes as follows:
    • 1st Place - $512
    • 2nd Place - $256
    • 3rd Place - $128
    • 4th Place - $64
    • 5th Place - $32
  • Limited Edition multicarts for all meritorious entries (at judges discretion)
  • Anonymous entries are allowed if you wish to opt out of receiving a prize, but would still like your submission included.
  • By submitting an entry into this contest, you are giving full consent to use the entry on the multicart. Submissions must meet multicart standards to be included (see below under general guidelines)
  • See General Guidelines below.
tepples wrote:Mapper-specific advice:
  • NROM-128: Be careful not to write to $8000-$FFFF. Test with a breakpoint on writes to ROM.
  • NROM, CNROM: Be careful not to overwrite CHR ROM. Test with a breakpoint on writes to PPU $0000-$1FFF.
  • NROM, CNROM, ANROM, BNROM: $FFD0-$FFF9 of each 32K PRG ROM bank must be unused.
  • UNROM (2): $FFD0-$FFF9 must be unused.
  • UNROM (180): $BFD0-$BFF9 must be unused.
  • A53: Write to register $81 only once, at the beginning of the program, and match the values written to $80 to the size of the entry: $00-$0F for 32K entries and $10-$1F for 64K entries. Specify whether $FFD0-$FFF9 or $BFD0-$BFF9 is unused.
Excessive padding is discouraged. For example, an entry's 10 KiB of PRG data shouldn't be strewn across a 32 KiB PRG ROM; it should instead be packed into 16 KiB. Nor should a CNROM have two CHR ROM banks that are less than half full; NROM with $2000 switching is usually better for that situation. This helps ensure more entries can fit on the multicart.
  • Contest runs until February 28, 2021.
  • Entries should be submitted by March 1st 12:00AM CST
  • Commercially released entries, and previously submitted entries with no changes are discouraged.
  • Multiple entries are allowed and encouraged.
  • Only one cash/cartridge/other physical prize will be awarded per entrant across all categories. If multiple submissions place in a cash winning position, the greatest prize will be awarded, and the runner up will receive the lesser prize. You can only win one cash prize*. You can only win one cartridge**. You can only win one other physical prize.
  • Entries must be original. Plagiarism and copyright infringement will result in disqualification.
  • Use of existing tools/libraries/code qualify as long as permission has been granted by the author.
  • Collaborations are allowed, prize distribution will be decided by those who collaborated on the project. This decision should be known by the person who submitted the entry as they will be our primary contact. Please make these decisions beforehand.
  • There are no restrictions on submissions including explicit content.
  • Publishers and organizers reserve the right to request changes to your entry for content exceeding E10+ ESRB rating prior to inclusion on published cartridges.
    *In the event that a single entrant wins multiple cash prizes, regardless of who collaborated on the projects, the person who submits the project represents the whole. i.e., Project A and Project B won 1st and 2nd respectively. They were submitted by Bob. Larry was a collaborator on Project B. There will still only be one cash prize for the two projects.
    **If the entry is a collaboration, additional cartridges may be purchased at cost for fellow collaborators (or deducted from a cash prize if applicable).

Category 2 (the non-contest):
  • Anything Goes - old unreleased stuff, modified existing stuff, whatever. If it runs on the NES/FC feel free to submit it.
  • There will be no cash prizes awarded for this category.
  • Multicarts and possible physical prizes for all entries included on the multicart (at judges discretion)
  • Depending on the configuration of the entry, it may not be possible to include it on the multicart, however, at the judges discretion multicarts and physical prizes will be awarded. For exceptional submissions, extra effort may be done to adapt the game/cartridge hardware to support being included in the multicart.
  • Entrants are not required to consent to multicart inclusion upon submission.
  • Since this category will not be ranked or judged, it will also not be under the strict submission dates and times. If it is submitted before the multicart is released, then it is fair game. Keep in mind, the sooner it is submitted the better chance it will have at making it onto the multicart.
  • Entries in this category will also not be under the restriction of the General Guidelines above, but material you do not have rights to will not be considered for the multicart.
Category 2 is intended to give publicity to homebrewers by having their work placed on the nesdevcompo website (https://neshomebrew.ca), and to encourage entrants to finish their projects.

Please reply on this thread, PM me, or email NESHomebrew@gmail.com with any questions or clarification. Thanks and GOOD LUCK to all entrants!
Last edited by NESHomebrew on Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:50 am, edited 3 times in total.
NESDevCompo website: http://neshomebrew.ca
Ti_
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by Ti_ »

I can upload dune, if demakes and covers are allowed. for category 2. Not for cartrigde.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7aCAy1-70c
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dougeff
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by dougeff »

It's not an exact copy of that game. I would think if you changed the name, it would be fine (for category 1) You might lose points on "originality".

Just say it was "inspired by" Dune II, but call it Sandstorm or something else.

(I am not a lawyer)
nesdoug.com -- blog/tutorial on programming for the NES
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by Ti_ »

dougeff wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 6:54 am It's not an exact copy of that game. I would think if you changed the name, it would be fine (for category 1) You might lose points on "originality".

Just say it was "inspired by" Dune II, but call it Sandstorm or something else.

(I am not a lawyer)
It's anyway incompatible with category 1 (mapper, size).
If it's needed I can change title, but there's also some stuff that very close to original (various screens).
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Goose2k
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by Goose2k »

3 Questions:

1) What is the official name of this competition? I have a screen in my game that say "2021 NESDev Competition Edition", but should that be 2020? Or 2020/21 maybe? (the forum thread uses 20/21, but the forum category is just 2020, and my calendar says 2021 :D )

2) How do I officially submit my game?

3) When will the games be sent out for judging? I ask because I plan to release the game publicly at the same time, and I have been telling people that will be March 1st, but I'm realizing now there may be some turn around time to send the games to judges.
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by calima »

Submit instructions appear a couple days before the deadline, because they don't want re-sends.
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by Ti_ »

dougeff wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 6:54 am It's not an exact copy of that game. I would think if you changed the name, it would be fine
Ti_ wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:45 am If it's needed I can change title, but there's also some stuff that very close to original (various screens).
full video: https://youtu.be/7TRBC3gnXno
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NESHomebrew
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by NESHomebrew »

calima wrote: Thu Feb 11, 2021 11:02 am Submit instructions appear a couple days before the deadline, because they don't want re-sends.
Oh yes, this has been quite the pain in the past. I think one year I had 10 submissions from one person :)

I usually will distribute the rom pack right away before I update the website. But if there is concern, nothing is stopping you from posting it early or distributing it yourself!
NESDevCompo website: http://neshomebrew.ca
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Controllerhead
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by Controllerhead »

Goose2k wrote: Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:39 am Should that be 2020? Or 2020/21 maybe?
2020 with carry set :lol:
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NESHomebrew
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by NESHomebrew »

I've hacked together a submission page. Please let me know if there are any issues.

https://neshomebrew.ca/submit/
NESDevCompo website: http://neshomebrew.ca
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NESHomebrew
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by NESHomebrew »

M-Tee has done me a huge favor and put together a document with all the entries descriptions etc. We now have if bundled with all the roms. These are the versions that are to be judged.

https://neshomebrew.ca/files/2020/Compo2020.zip

I'm still working on the judging forms, but in the meantime M-Tee has made an area in the PDF to make your own notes if you feel like printing it out and doing so.

If you want to join my discord server and ask any questions that would be great. I'm definitely more active there on a daily basis.
https://discord.gg/X4T3qep

-Brad
NESDevCompo website: http://neshomebrew.ca
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NESHomebrew
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by NESHomebrew »

The voting emails have gone out!! If you did not receive yours, please let me know and I will sort it out ASAP!
NESDevCompo website: http://neshomebrew.ca
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by RJM »

I have a question in regards to the voting form. I see it came prefilled for my entry.
It would not make much sense to vote for my own game. Did I get it right, that I should leave it as it is?
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by Goose2k »

RJM wrote: Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:39 am I have a question in regards to the voting form. I see it came prefilled for my entry.
It would not make much sense to vote for my own game. Did I get it right, that I should leave it as it is?
Leave as is.
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NESHomebrew
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Re: 2020/21 NESDev Competition

Post by NESHomebrew »

Your own entry gets full marks. It should also be write protected...
NESDevCompo website: http://neshomebrew.ca
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