why have rules at all if they don't apply, why not call them guidelines... don't go over the yellow lines... do not pass go. OR do whatever the heck you want, and umm we'll just vote.
There's no prize, it's all in fun, I'd say if someone blurs the lines a bit, cool, as long as they're generally doing whatever it is.
*shrug*
The whole likeness/names thing seemed a bit of an afterthought on your part and not a concrete rule (just going by your wording) I'd say let it slide, it's just a fun competition and all of the entries this month did capture the theme well. If there is something you feel concrete on, just say so in the original post along with a warning that ignoring/disobeying such and such rule results in disqualification.
General guidelines of what is preferred, but not required, just to give some shape to things are, IMHO, appropriate. Really, I'm sorry anyone got their feelings hurt in this, it is all for fun, really, it should be more light-hearted and less rule heavy-god-I-can't-believe-they-got-away-with-that competitive.
More intramural and less conference-play like.
Its tough, cuz - you know that no matter what you do, somebody's libel to be unhappy. Its inevitable.
I tend to think two things are paramount - whatever way you choose to do it:
#1) Clarity - you have to state things clearly, right up front. And that includes whether something is a "Rule" or just a "Guideline", or things like "Not following this rule results in disqualification." If its not stated clearly, its going to be problematic to "enforce".
This can become tricky if there's "unwritten" rules that some feel are common knowledge and others don't.
#2) Consistency - its important to try to be consistent in how you're running it. If you play it strict sometimes and loosie-goosie other times - it can confuse and enrage people.
All that said - it is a "friendly competition" - there aint no money involved - but there is time involved, and effort. We do care about the outcome.
..of course, if there are NO boundaries - then we'll have ANARCHY! So, I say some boundaries are good. 
Who says there's no money involved? I got $500 riding on one of you ponies
Overall, like Apro said, I think CONSISTENCY is key. However you start it, that's the way you should keep it.
I'm gonna weigh in with Aprosaath on this one. Whatever it ends up being (guidelines for general things, and hard rules for stuff that can get you DQ'd would be nice as an aside), it needs to be consistent and clear.
For the most part, though... Let the creativity flow! But even for-fun stuff can benefit from a few rules here and there, to make sure it stays for-fun. I'm sure you'll work it out, TA! (I'd normally be more verbose on this kind of thing, but I just got done dealing with family and my brain is in reboot mode).
My thoughts... and I have only one, basically.
1. This is supposed to be for fun. If the rules are too harsh, it won't be much fun. If I follow the rules and someone doesn't, it won't be much fun. If people start fighting over something, it won't be much fun.
My advice, lay down the rules at the start of each month and people should follow them. If they don't want to follow them, they shouldn't be in the contest.
Your contest this year, your rules.
But above all, keep it fun.
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Your contest this year , your rules.
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Oh ho! Someone else is bidding on the hosting rights for next art season!
My Deviant Art page link-link
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I think unless it was specifically stated you can't do something, or that you must do something, then it has to be allowed.
Maybe just a bit more clarity in the kick-off instructions if you have something specific in mind, otherwise let 'em roll!
My Deviant Art page link-link
CoH/V Fan Videos
[ QUOTE ]
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Your contest this year , your rules.
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Oh ho! Someone else is bidding on the hosting rights for next art season!
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I created it last year, passed the gauntlet to TA this year, and I think it'd be cool if someone else stepped up next year as well.
I think that because it's for fun and because the idea is to let people's creativity shine, you should limit the restrictions to really let people run with the themes.
That being said, when you do see fit to put in a restriction or rule and someone breaks the rule, I think there should be consequences since it's unfair to those that followed the rules.
For example, if you specifically decide that signature heroes and villains aren't allowed for a specific theme and someone decides to use Ghost Widow anyway because they thought of an awesome way to incorporate her into the theme, I think that shouldn't be allowed. Because, no matter how great the piece turns out, it gave that person an advantage over those that didn't use a signature hero. Maybe someone else had an even better idea that involved Positron, but didn't do it because the rules said not to.
It is for fun and all, but if the competitors are anything like me, they probably like to feel like their fun is fair.
rules shouldn't be stated unless they are meant to be followed, maybe in the next one just state what is definite criteria and what is just a guideline so everyone understands the brief
some of the artist's dont spend alot of time on the boards so perhaps they just read the opening post of the contest and went on their merry way. the main thing is to get the brief right in the opening post. that way everyone is on the same foot when they start.
I'll volunteer to do it next year, but my rules will most likely involve all entries REQUIRED to include at least 2 scantily clad hot chicks.
IMO, if it's not in the requirements, it should be allowed. If the requirements are vague, the artist should contact the host in PM (or post in the thread) before going along with their idea in case it goes against the requirements.
As few requirements as possible to make the idea clear.
Otherwise, free-for-all.
Paragon Wiki: http://www.paragonwiki.com
City Info Terminal: http://cit.cohtitan.com
Mids Hero Designer: http://www.cohplanner.com
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Originally Posted by Dispari
I don't know why Dink thinks she's not as sexy as Jay was. In 5 posts she's already upstaged his entire career.
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I'll volunteer to do it next year, but my rules will most likely involve all entries REQUIRED to include at least 2 scantily clad hot chicks.
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*Votes for wassy!*
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Your contest this year , your rules.
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Oh ho! Someone else is bidding on the hosting rights for next art season!
[/ QUOTE ]
I created it last year, passed the gauntlet to TA this year, and I think it'd be cool if someone else stepped up next year as well.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmmm....I may have to submit a bid some time, then...
My Deviant Art page link-link
CoH/V Fan Videos
I think there should be as few hard rules as necessary, and what few rules we have must be followed. That means no mere suggestions as it could get confusing as well as limit creativity.
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IMO, if it's not in the requirements, it should be allowed. If the requirements are vague, the artist should contact the host in PM (or post in the thread) before going along with their idea in case it goes against the requirements.
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That's kinda what happened this month. I asked if it was ok to do something, and I took what was said after as a rule, while others saw it as a suggestion.
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If you do not enforce rules, there is no reason to have them. Either have suggestions and themes instead, or do away with the rules period. Then it becomes an enforcement by group vote. If an artist goes too far off the suggestion, it would be up to the fans to vote them out or keep them in.
http://www.virtueverse.net/wiki/Massacre_Melanie -the original Fire/Dark Corruptor -
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=115217
The Guide to BURN
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I'll volunteer to do it next year, but my rules will most likely involve all entries REQUIRED to include at least 2 scantily clad hot chicks.
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...!
*Starts up the Campaign Engine, to produce 'Vote for Wassy - FArt Organizer 2010' buttons, T-shirts, posters, and signs.*
I want to join next year... I like having a female Judge uh... I mean runner-thingy-person 
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Indeed! Women can be just as good at organizing FArt competitions as men!
Its time for the bias to end!
Since it hasn't been brought up and we (using the term loosely in all cases following since "we" doesn't necessarily define everyone here) all know why this discussion is being brought up yet everyone is kind of pigeon toeing around the topic as a whole.
Rules are Rules, granted the FArt Championship here is intended for wholesome fun and creativity, that shouldn't create a partisan example that "well, since you're my friend I'll let it slide" kind of thing. Some involved may follow things exactly while one or two entrants may skirt under the radar a bit and do something that may not be considered "okay" if we were enforcing rules as rules.
I've seen plenty of times for many different things that "Well, we just see them more as guidelines really..." and that's when someone pushes the boundary and eventually, by the end of it, everyone has "stretched the guidelines" and no one is honestly producing legit stuff compared to in the beginning. It is still a contest regardless of its intentions and should be treated in that same fashion. There should (of course) be a higher level of sportsmanship since we're not vying for a shiny belt/trophy/prize, but that doesn't change that we should have some form of defined, and enforced, regulations.
Going back to what I vaguely brought up from the beginning: Some have--over the course of this most recent event--included aspects into their pieces that have not entirely been their own creations in entirety and this has left an undesirably taste in the mouths of others (and not necessarily in the fellow contestants more than those who choose to vote). While this may not have been clear in the rules, the good faith of others may have left it on the table as a rule that shouldn't need to be defined but was obtusely broken. Should contestants be allowed to A.) Matte Paint, B.) Copy in non-created pieces with no additional manipulation or creative use, C.) Directly copy a pre existing work into a piece that was still created by hand but is definitely under someone elses design and rights (ie: objects like logos). These three things are one of the largest concerns brought up in the last several months and (as I see it) the entirety of why this discussion is being ...well, discussed.
My Opinion: Should we be allowed to matte paint (digital work over a pre existing image either to include a large or small addition to the piece, often example would be a landscape and painting in a village or city scape being destroyed by a large monster, etc)? If the use of a background is limited and or entirely recreated by the artist, I see no complain in this. However, if an entire piece is a screen shot with only a single aspect included or changed, this defeats the purpose of the competition.
Should we be allowed to include pieces into the work that were created by another individual/artist? No, explicitly no. Directly including aspects of another artists work into the piece (ie: copied from another source, spliced, or otherwise, and added into your own) is not only infringing on the original artist and liable, it's just unfair in general. Cited Source or Not.
Should we be allowed to work in pre existing but still fabricated parts to the pieces created? This one is a toss up. Should we be allowed to create a copy of a logo and toss it into a piece? That would be left on a judging stand point. Personally, if its not the main focus or entirety of the piece, than I see no harm. On the other hand, if we're including an entire work as the main body and adding or adjusting small details to make it our own, I see discrepancy in that. Any work performed (if based on someone else's work) should be a homage, not a duplication. Granted one of the themes from this year stretched that a bit, for the most part I believe that treating things as a homage was what occurred in most cases.
All comes down to enforcing and creating Rules. How can there be fair assessment if there are only Guidelines that may be smudged?
Now, I know everyone in the community would (on a whole) like to keep the fair and balanced aspect to this part of the forum. Avoid Flamage and keep the Peace, but that doesn't mean certain things--such as a contest--can't be judged fairly but with the expectancy that the comments that follow may be heavy handed. We may just need to hear it like it is. "I'm sorry, you didn't follow the rules, change it or you will be disqualified".
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Warning: crazy space limit reached. Please delete some crazy and try again. |
I agree about the enforcement. The organizer should be willing to stick to the rules they lay out and disqualify someone if need be. By the time it gets to voting, all the entrants should have been judged by the organizer as to if they followed the stated rules, and their call will be the final say. So when it gets to voting time, everyone can be sure that the entries passed the test with the organizer, so we don't have these quabbles mid-vote.
I am posting this thread to get some feedback on some of the background talk about the rules.
Honestly i have alot going on personally right now and have not given this contest the attention it deserves so if you have any ill feelings toward to outcome of decisions around certain things then you can blame me.
The controversy comes from the rules over the course of the contest and the months since it has ran. I have been very lenient to the strict rules because it was my feeling that the reason for this battle was just to spark the creative juices of the artists participating. Not rules as much as guidelines to make it challenging. When an artist didn't submit strictly to the rules i have kinda let it slide because after all there is no prize to speak of for the final winner other than that of the title "FArt Champion of 2009".
It's just a friendly contest amongst our friends here in the community. So my question to you as a community would be, how do you suggest the contest to be ran? Strictly by the rules? Laxed a bit to see where the creations take us? Eliminations or removal of artists that didn't follow the exact rules? Maybe some feedback on how you think the contest has ran so far?
Lets make it a discussion rather than a flame war OK? I just need some opinions as we go further into the contest that is now down to 9 participants. Thanks in advance for exhibiting the type of communication that makes this section of the forums the best sub community as a whole.
-FArt Admin
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