Community Contests - Into the Future
by Geoff Beckstrom · 06/08/2012 (10:54 am) · 25 comments
We have had some great success with the Community Contests. One winner was a long time community member with only 1 blog post in over 5 years who out of nowhere participated and won. I know that a number of winners have been able to buy full licenses or upgrades that they just didn’t have the extra $100 or so dollars to do in their student budget.
I look forward to seeing some polished and finished games that started as a result of a community contest.
Though this may sound like a post mortem ending the community contests be assured that is not the purpose of this post. Actually I am reaching out to you the community for ideas on where to take contests in the future.
I am flat out of ideas.
I could blame it on having 4 kids under the age of 7 at home.
Or I could blame it on the fact that I have been split between 8 different projects in the last 3 weeks and I feel bit like Sybil.
Maybe it’s the 100 degree heat melting away my creative juices…
But this is your chance what type of contest would you like to see:
-3D vs 2D
-Genre or play styles
-Time limits
From the entries I have seen over the last 10 contests I know how creative you all can be so give me your input and let’s have an amazing summer of Community Game Contests!
I look forward to seeing some polished and finished games that started as a result of a community contest.
Though this may sound like a post mortem ending the community contests be assured that is not the purpose of this post. Actually I am reaching out to you the community for ideas on where to take contests in the future.
I am flat out of ideas.
I could blame it on having 4 kids under the age of 7 at home.
Or I could blame it on the fact that I have been split between 8 different projects in the last 3 weeks and I feel bit like Sybil.
Maybe it’s the 100 degree heat melting away my creative juices…
But this is your chance what type of contest would you like to see:
-3D vs 2D
-Genre or play styles
-Time limits
From the entries I have seen over the last 10 contests I know how creative you all can be so give me your input and let’s have an amazing summer of Community Game Contests!
About the author
Las Vegas studio director and operations manager.
#22
I'm not thinking that the community competition stuff is bad, But I think that a lot of us are kind of in dismay on how stuff is organized in the resources sections, The old wiki way wasn't that bad - can we have it back? Some kind of folder structure?
I mean every site that I know that provides resources at least tries to organize the types.
Here is one such example: obex.parallax.com/
I participated in the last global game jam, that was fun but it takes a long time to develop everything and I migth have been able to get more done if the resources were put together in a better way.
Secondly, I'm not sure the resource section of the site couldn't be better. Perhaps if Garage Games, took a moment to improve how resources are organized, people might feel more interested in making them and putting them in the catagories? Secondly, a lot of repeat resources wouldn't appear and your community members wouldn't accidently discourage people from making resources because they point them to resources that do the same thing from years ago.
Gather all of the tribes 2 community scripts together and make a scripting resources area that show all of those resources. That tribes 2 community made MMO's there is a ton of interesting script stuff out there.
And lastly how does one go about getting an internship/game testing/engine testing etc. with you guys?
06/11/2012 (11:24 pm)
What would make Garage Games awesome?I'm not thinking that the community competition stuff is bad, But I think that a lot of us are kind of in dismay on how stuff is organized in the resources sections, The old wiki way wasn't that bad - can we have it back? Some kind of folder structure?
I mean every site that I know that provides resources at least tries to organize the types.
Here is one such example: obex.parallax.com/
I participated in the last global game jam, that was fun but it takes a long time to develop everything and I migth have been able to get more done if the resources were put together in a better way.
Secondly, I'm not sure the resource section of the site couldn't be better. Perhaps if Garage Games, took a moment to improve how resources are organized, people might feel more interested in making them and putting them in the catagories? Secondly, a lot of repeat resources wouldn't appear and your community members wouldn't accidently discourage people from making resources because they point them to resources that do the same thing from years ago.
Gather all of the tribes 2 community scripts together and make a scripting resources area that show all of those resources. That tribes 2 community made MMO's there is a ton of interesting script stuff out there.
And lastly how does one go about getting an internship/game testing/engine testing etc. with you guys?
#23
Tutorial Request Thread
TDN
First I will be blunt - on three occassions since I have started working here I have asked for volunteers to scrub and re-launch TDN and the response from each request has not been enough to get the job done. If that has changed - email me and I will be happy to organize a community effort to do this.
Jesse - send a resume and a portfolio of work to jobs@garagegames.com and the appropriate people will follow up with you if there is a fit.
I definitely see value in doing contests centered around tutorials and resources along with the many other great ideas already posted. I have an idea ready for this Friday and we will go from there!
06/12/2012 (9:46 am)
Guys - lets make sure this doesn't go off topic. This blog is simply about ideas on the community contests. If you want to discuss wiki or resources please do so in the appropriate forums.Tutorial Request Thread
TDN
First I will be blunt - on three occassions since I have started working here I have asked for volunteers to scrub and re-launch TDN and the response from each request has not been enough to get the job done. If that has changed - email me and I will be happy to organize a community effort to do this.
Jesse - send a resume and a portfolio of work to jobs@garagegames.com and the appropriate people will follow up with you if there is a fit.
I definitely see value in doing contests centered around tutorials and resources along with the many other great ideas already posted. I have an idea ready for this Friday and we will go from there!
#24
Also, creating core features that we see in games today like a sling shot angry birds physics parody, or a mini minecraft example. I believe outsiders and current users newb and hardcore want to see attempts at making the games they love to play. Being able to show the community and potential new members that the games the love to play or create is possible with Torque products will help build the brand and bring more people into the contest arena. Hitting up top ten lists in game sales or mimicking popular contests from congregate will encourage skill development within the community and showcase that torque is a user friendly competitor.
And, (this may stray off topic a bit) but getting other free tools such as blender and gimp to sponsor contests may help drive traffic and customer use. Reaching out to tutorial websites like lynda.com, thegnomonworkshop.com, 3dtotal.com, and 3dbuzz.com to sponsor the contests and possibly take on making a tutorial series out house will build the community, exposure, and maybe new prospects.
Hope it helps now back to the grind...
06/22/2012 (8:49 pm)
I think the contests should be sponsored by some of creators of third party development content for Garage Games products. It gains them more exposure to there product by donating a download or a discounted rate coupon to the contest. Also, creating core features that we see in games today like a sling shot angry birds physics parody, or a mini minecraft example. I believe outsiders and current users newb and hardcore want to see attempts at making the games they love to play. Being able to show the community and potential new members that the games the love to play or create is possible with Torque products will help build the brand and bring more people into the contest arena. Hitting up top ten lists in game sales or mimicking popular contests from congregate will encourage skill development within the community and showcase that torque is a user friendly competitor.
And, (this may stray off topic a bit) but getting other free tools such as blender and gimp to sponsor contests may help drive traffic and customer use. Reaching out to tutorial websites like lynda.com, thegnomonworkshop.com, 3dtotal.com, and 3dbuzz.com to sponsor the contests and possibly take on making a tutorial series out house will build the community, exposure, and maybe new prospects.
Hope it helps now back to the grind...
#25
08/04/2012 (5:08 pm)
deleted 
Torque Owner Edward Smith
Silencersoft
Ones that help the community with resources and bug fixes and implementing cool features that GG doesn't have time for.
And a best game of the season. Put your game demo in for a chance to win some support from GG, maybe GG could help fix a few bugs or help fine tune the performance etc, maybe like the GG support for a day 1 as the reward. Help plan release and development, marketing etc.