NESDev Compo 2012

NESHomebrew · Post by **NESHomebrew** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:42 pm

Hello everyone, as you all know the 2011 competition was a success but wasn't short of any hiccups.

I'd like to organize this again for 2012 and want to get some input on a few things:

1. Deadline
2. Voting
3. Prizes

On a side note, the nintendoage people are getting antsy for the multi-cart, any updates for us Memblers?

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:46 pm

Sounds like a great idea! Maybe i'll enter this year

Shiru · Post by **Shiru** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:55 pm

1. As the compo is going to be annual, it normally should start at the beginning of an year, and ends with the year as well.
2. Public.

Also, publishing games as they are sent, without wainting for the deadline, youtube videos, per-game comments is a must.

NESHomebrew · Post by **NESHomebrew** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:17 pm

Shiru wrote:1. As the compo is going to be annual, it normally should start at the beginning of an year, and ends with the year as well.
2. Public.

Also, publishing games as they are sent, without wainting for the deadline, youtube videos, per-game comments is a must.

What about revisions then? I know that there were a few revisions last time, and essentially people could read feedback, then make revisions. I agree completely with the youtube videos and comments.

Shiru · Post by **Shiru** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:37 pm

Well, only finished games (not betas, WIPs, etc) should be accepted to be published on the compo's page, however, revisions like bugfixes or tweaked difficulty should be accepted, of course - with some system to announce that an entry was updated (in the news, or something). On the deadline the entries are finalized for judging, so revisions aren't interfere with the judging process.

NESHomebrew · Post by **NESHomebrew** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:07 pm

The timing of the contest is really such an issue. It does make sense to start at the beginning of the year, and finish at the end. Honestly, December is usually really busy. If you are a college student, you will have exams, then Christmas, then getting ready to start classes again.

bunnyboy · Post by **bunnyboy** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:56 pm

1. I think having it end at the end of the year is a bad idea. That is when many people will have the least amount of time. If it ended at the end of summer (late Aug, early Sept?) then there would be more last minute time available. That might also give enough time for carts to be sold before xmas. 8 months from now is a long time for something that isn't expected to be a complete large scale game.

2. Voting seemed slow but fine, except I didn't win!

If you want to add more you could do a website poll that counts as much as 1 judge.

3. If prizes are actually important it shouldn't be hard to find more donors. Probably not something to worry about because I doubt there are people who won't enter because the prizes are small.

3gengames · Post by **3gengames** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:00 pm

You could hold donations while the contest is going on to get better prizes, doesn't sound bad for the participants to me.

And I think the poll should be a hell of a lot more open for sure, closed voting is just eh. (IMO it's unfair, a small sample size sucks.)

koitsu · Post by **koitsu** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:01 pm

Like last time, I have no problem with Parodius donating prizes in cash form. :-) Just let me know.

Denine · Post by **Denine** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:16 pm

I take, there's gonna be 2 groups again?(NROM and Free For all).
I totally agree with all bunnyboy said...wait compo already started?

NESHomebrew · Post by **NESHomebrew** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:51 pm

Alright, I like the August/September date. Makes more sense to me as well. Should we make this official, or does anyone else have concerns with this timing?

I think the 2 categories worked pretty well last year, if it is OK with everyone else I don't see why we would change it.

@koitsu, I'll be in touch

Hopefully we'll have some extra prize money from the multicart sales as well.

Voting was slow and I take responsibility for that. Open voting will be implemented this year.

So everyone who is interested, there WILL be a competition again this year, details will be forthcoming. Best of luck to everyone this year!

Post by **Memblers** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:17 am

Sorry guys, I've been absent from the project for a while. I have about 40 of the boards assembled - they only need the ROM and CIC/CIClone added. I haven't done any for a while, but could do 30 more with the parts I have now. I put a socket on one of them and it runs Deadly Towers. If the code is ready, I can go ahead and order some ROMs. I've got cash ready to order cases, I need to get those started.

clueless · Post by **clueless** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:19 pm

Memblers wrote:Sorry guys, I've been absent from the project for a while. I have about 40 of the boards assembled - they only need the ROM and CIC/CIClone added. I haven't done any for a while, but could do 30 more with the parts I have now. I put a socket on one of them and it runs Deadly Towers. If the code is ready, I can go ahead and order some ROMs. I've got cash ready to order cases, I need to get those started.

One of my friends build a 3d plastics printer. I asked him if he thought that he could fabricate NES cart cases, possibly with custom game artwork embossed on the surface of the cart, in lieu of a label. He thought that it would be in interesting project and may take it up. This would be totally bitchin'... but probably not ready any time soon.

His home-made 3d printer:
https://plus.google.com/112969895021654020084/posts

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:55 pm

Problem with 3D printers is that because the material is so expensive and the machines so slow you can't effectivly make alot of carts.

Shiru · Post by **Shiru** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:20 am

Even if 3D printing would be cheaper and faster, I highly doubt that such cases had enough durability to withstand the mechanical stress when you put the cart in and get it out.