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Geek Culture / How to get TGC products for free.

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Jammy
22
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Joined: 15th Jan 2003
Location: Scotland
Posted: 10th Feb 2011 22:05
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23,500 Newsletter Subscribers (October 2010 newsletter),
3261 Facebook fans (10/02/2011),
Amazing numbers of forum members,
And uncountable numbers of silent users.

Yet only TWO entries into the last community competition!

TGC are giving away their time and stumping up very generous prizes, they are now asking for your opinions on the future direction of their fantastic competitions. They are listening to your opinions and acting on them. However, they are getting very little response from the community.

Now is your chance to tell them, what sort of competition would make you enter.

Do you want a FPS creator competition?, a retro competition?, a beginners competition?, or something else?
Do you want better prizes?, fame?, promotion of your game?

Please, let them know, it would be a shame to lose this great community resource.

I have this cool forum badge and I don’t deserve it. I know many of you are better than me.

Would you not like it? Then show your support and post your thoughts here :

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=180575&b=36

So, how to get TGC products for free? -> Support their great competitions.

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thenerd
16
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Joined: 9th Mar 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Posted: 10th Feb 2011 22:48
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I know I'm entering the next compo...

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General Jackson
User Banned
Posted: 10th Feb 2011 23:43
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I want an FPS creator competition. Go ahead guys, call me a noob.

I also want a DBPRO FPS competition.
I would enter both.

- GJ

I am Southern, and I love Grits. Feel free to ask me what grits are if your a yankee
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thenerd
16
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Joined: 9th Mar 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 01:02
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Quote: "I also want a DBPRO FPS competition.
"

Same. I suggest this as the theme for the next competition.

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Master Man Of Justice
17
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Joined: 13th Feb 2008
Location: Between Insanity and Intelligence
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 02:05
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^ would be fun, but truly, no one would finish.
Maybe if we had teams. *cough* GJ *cough*

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General Jackson
User Banned
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 05:22
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Yes, teams would be quite nice
*cough*mmoj*cough*

I am Southern, and I love Grits. Feel free to ask me what grits are if your a yankee
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Master Man Of Justice
17
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Joined: 13th Feb 2008
Location: Between Insanity and Intelligence
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 06:09
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Poloflece
15
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Joined: 14th May 2010
Location: Australia
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 06:10
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I got my badge by default aswell. Brothers of gold

I'm only good (I'd call it) at modeling and FPSC. So they'd be my preferences


Poloflece


Rust Pack WIP here http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=178788&b=24
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Fallout
22
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Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 08:24
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The problem with programming/game dev competitions is they take a lot of effort and you may lose. Compare that to a lottery ticket where I know I'm gonna lose, but I only have to throw a quid and 30 seconds of my time into getting one.

I don't think many people are prepared to spend countless hours of their life making something that doesn't win them anything. It's too much to risk.

The only way I would considering entering is if there was a payback even if I didn't win the prize. My suggestion would be competition entries are all ranked and placed in a high visibility spot on the website somewhere - like a hall of fame. So anyone who comes to TGC, or anyone on these forums are 1 click a way from my game, a blurb about it (and a review from the judge), a screen shot, and a download link.

Without something like that, I couldn't bring myself to risk the time. In fact, even for £100 worth of prizes for example, I don't think it's worth the time. As someone who is no longer at school and earns money (which probably makes up most of the more experienced developers here), money is much less attractive than permanent recognition in a 'hall of fame' type thing .... unless we're talking da big bucks!!! ... then I'll take the money.

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thenerd
16
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Joined: 9th Mar 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 12:39
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Quote: "The problem with programming/game dev competitions is they take a lot of effort and you may lose. Compare that to a lottery ticket where I know I'm gonna lose, but I only have to throw a quid and 30 seconds of my time into getting one.
"

You could say that for every competition - but then it's no fun!

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Fallout
22
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Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 13:14
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Yeah, but if I went to say an "Invention Fair" where I spend a month making a machine that plucks chickens to enter a competition, I'd at least get to stand on stage and get laughed at while I show it off in front of the people. I just feel with these competitions, the satisfaction of having people check out your work isn't there. If that was improved and I felt my work would be viewed and played by lots of people, whether I won or not, I'd enter.

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BatVink
Moderator
22
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Joined: 4th Apr 2003
Location: Gods own County, UK
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 13:23
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Quote: "The only way I would considering entering is if there was a payback even if I didn't win the prize."


That was why the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place badges have been introduced - recognition for more than just the winner, and more than just one post and a newsletter feature. Hopefully this goes some way towards making the achievements more prominent.

Quote: "My suggestion would be competition entries are all ranked and placed in a high visibility spot on the website somewhere - like a hall of fame."


We've talked about this, and agree it's a great idea. Implementing it isn't a 2 minute job though, the TGC team are already very busy on the important stuff - the applications

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Van B
Moderator
22
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Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 13:43
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Developers always underestimate how much time is required to complete a game - so even though there were only 2 complete entrants, nobody knows how many entries were started.

For smaller community projects, I'd say that supplying media would greatly encourage people to enter. To make a whole game from scratch takes a lot of time, but at least half of that time is creating media - and that's assuming the developer can make media efficiently. Taking away the media burdon, or reducing it would make a big difference.

What about making a DBPro FPS competition, but supply a few guns, enemy models, maybe even a level - then let people make their game right away. The Alienware competition was great IMO, it actually encouraged me to learn character animation - TGC supplied an alien character, and we made about 20 different games, practically every type of game as well - rhythm, racing, RTS, shooters... people really got stuck in. The other great competition was the retro compo, where we re-made old retro games. I think the major hurdle is actually inventing things, not creating them. Most coders can put pixels together, but maybe aren't as creative as artists - however it is quite straightforward to re-create an old games visuals, or at least pick a game that doesn't need a lot of artwork.

Getting external prizes as well would really help - sponsors, some of the prizes in past competitions were amazing. Really, writing a game for £100 worth of software is not something I'd do - in fact I'd struggle to spend £100 on TGC software, as I already own most of it, and the media. Getting some outside sponsorship for peripherals, say a Logitech competition where you win a gaming keyboard and mouse - not a big outlay for Logitech, in fact a good spread in the newsletter would be far more valuable to them. The newsletter goes out to a lot of people, people who will spend £80 on a good keyboard. It can be hard to justify spending a lot of money on peripherals, but spending hours working on a game to try and win them is not too much of a stretch. I mean, I want a Razor Blackwidow mechanical keyboard, but that's £70 - hard to justify when there are bills to be paid. I'd definitely spend a weekend making a small game to try and win one though. Provide tangible, sponsored prizes and I'm sure the number of entrants would shoot right up.

Health, Ammo, and bacon and eggs!
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Metal Devil123
16
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Joined: 13th Jul 2008
Location: Suomi, Finland
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 15:46
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Quote: "FPS creator competition"

This, as I know nothing else, than making games with FPSC

Your signature has been erased by a mod please reduce it to no larger than 600 x 120.
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Libervurto
18
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Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 21:57 Edited at: 11th Feb 2011 21:58
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No one knows about the community competitions because they are only announced on the competitions board which is always dead. We can't be expected to visit a dead board every day in hope that a new competition will be announced.

I think when there is a competition running there should be a banner image on every page or something advertising it so people see it.


Everything worthwhile requires effort.
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Jeku
Moderator
21
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Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 11th Feb 2011 22:14 Edited at: 11th Feb 2011 22:15
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And we should have big competitions like we used to... ala Alienware, the "Snake"/Scorched Earth compo, and the NVidia compo. Nowadays it seems like there's small competitions every month for a few little prizes, and they're not really advertised here. Anyone else remember the thousands in prizes from before? They used to give away entire computer systems, magazine subscriptions, software from other vendors like giles, etc. No offense to TGC of course, but a $100 voucher for the TGC Store isn't as nice when I already bought everything I want from TGC These old compos used to be yearly if I remember correct, and they lasted for several months.


Senior Web Developer - Nokia
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Hodgey
15
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Joined: 10th Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Posted: 13th Feb 2011 08:42
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I think that allowing entries to be published to Intel's Appup Store, at the author's discretion, no matter what position they came, would motivate more people to enter competitions and complete their entry as it holds potential to reward the author.

A clever person solves a problem, a wise person avoids it - Albert Einstein
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NST
AGK Bronze Backer
15
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Joined: 21st Jun 2009
Location: UK
Posted: 13th Feb 2011 12:59
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Or how about publishing the best (say) 10 as a "compilation"? With a bit of sponsorship it need not cost anyone anything.

I know it would encourage us (my Son & I) to "have a go" - bit scared of the competition at the moment...
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Phaelax
DBPro Master
22
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Joined: 16th Apr 2003
Location: Metropia
Posted: 15th Feb 2011 21:01
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Jammy gave away our secret!

"Only the educated are free" ~Epictetus
"Imagination is more important than knowledge..." ~Einstein
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Jammy
22
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Joined: 15th Jan 2003
Location: Scotland
Posted: 23rd Feb 2011 13:38 Edited at: 24th Feb 2011 02:58
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Thanks for the great response everyone, but please post your opinions here,

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=180575&b=36

so they will not be missed.

thenerd

Good to hear you will enter the next compo.

General Jackson
I too have asked for a FPSC/DBP compo.

Master Man Of Justice
Teams are usually allowed - you just have to organise and divide the prises yourself.

Poloflece Games
Hi gold brother (this month anyway). Modelling takes up a lot of my game making time and I’m rubbish at it.

Fallout
I have asked James in the Official thread to read your very valid comments as I would not like them to be missed. I too would earn much more money doing overtime at work than entering these compos, however work is nowhere near so much fun and the chances are, I would be coding something anyway.

BatVink
Thanks for the clarification, you do a great job with the newsletter.

Van B
I remember you used to have some fantastic entries into the compos, but have not seen you for a while. How about coming back? There is no reason moderators could not enter. It is hard to believe there is nothing on TGC website you don’t want, new products are being added all the time, but I like your Idea of external sponsor.

Metal Devil123, OBese87, Hodgey, NST
I have asked james to read this thread so your comments won’t be missed.

Jeku
The Community competitions don’t replace the big competitions, The Intel netbook compo was not that long ago with thousands of dollars worth in prises and unquantifiable kudos for the winners.

Phaelax
Sorry, I don’t like winning by default,by entering i was guarenteed at least second place, I feel my badge was not well won. I know what Van B is saying, that many more entries were probably started and just by entering a finished product we deserve it and I do love my FREE TGC PRODUCTS.

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Jeku
Moderator
21
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Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 23rd Feb 2011 22:35
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Quote: "The Community competitions don’t replace the big competitions, The Intel netbook compo was not that long ago with thousands of dollars worth in prises and unquantifiable kudos for the winners."


Well, the Intel competition wasn't as well known as some of the big competitions we've held here in the past. We should have another big compo like the Alienware or Snake/Scorched Earth compos


Senior Web Developer - Nokia
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Phaelax
DBPro Master
22
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Joined: 16th Apr 2003
Location: Metropia
Posted: 24th Feb 2011 01:44
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Quote: "I don’t like winning by default, I feel my badge was not well won"

Oh, so now I'm not deemed worthy competition? That makes me wanna go cry into my hello kitty blanket and write about my feelings on facebook. See what you've done to me!

"Only the educated are free" ~Epictetus
"Imagination is more important than knowledge..." ~Einstein
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thenerd
16
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Joined: 9th Mar 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Posted: 24th Feb 2011 02:37
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Quote: "Well, the Intel competition wasn't as well known as some of the big competitions we've held here in the past. We should have another big compo like the Alienware or Snake/Scorched Earth compos"

I wish I was around on the forums earlier, I've been using TGC products for a lot longer but never participated in the community. The amount and quality of the Alienware compo entries (still accessable on the tgc file server by the way) were amazing! I hope sometime in the future, hopefully soon, we can have another big competition...

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Jammy
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Location: Scotland
Posted: 24th Feb 2011 03:07
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Sorry Phaelax,

I have edited my post - to say what I mean (I Hope). Your entry was very good and in some ways better than mine. I really liked your menus, text boxes and graphics generally, however we were guarenteed a prize just by entering.

I did not mean to cause offence. Think I will send you my Hello Kitty blanket and read about other people’s woes on facebook.

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Phaelax
DBPro Master
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Location: Metropia
Posted: 26th Feb 2011 01:07
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Hopefully you understood I was joking?

Quote: "however we were guarenteed a prize just by entering"

Guess I should have made a 2nd entry just to take the 3rd prize

"Only the educated are free" ~Epictetus
"Imagination is more important than knowledge..." ~Einstein
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