Portable-making contest again?

[ShockSlayer]

we should do an n64 contest!!!
Winner will be person with best looking portable, not fastest one made ( shockslayer..... )

That's never been the case, noob.

I think what we did last time was fair.

SS

[schmellyfart]

Was it fair and easy to understand?

Yes.

[argelfraster]

*starts buying parts for snesp*
Who would give the prizes though?

[bacteria]

I think there needs to be a minimum amount of entries for the compo to be valid, rather than just two or three entries as in the previous one. How about for example setting in a counter, say to 12 or whatever, each time a portable is entered the counter drops and when at zero the compo ends and voting starts. It isn't a race after all, people can enter multiple times but under certain criteria like it needs to be a created portable console and not just a paintjob or LED mod or something else minor. The counter will provide the drive, especially as the counter gets lower and lower, rather than a tight timespan that isn't easy to meet, especially on more complex portables.

[XCVG]

I think there needs to be a minimum amount of entries for the compo to be valid, rather than just two or three entries as in the previous one. How about for example setting in a counter, say to 12 or whatever, each time a portable is entered the counter drops and when at zero the compo ends and voting starts. It isn't a race after all, people can enter multiple times but under certain criteria like it needs to be a created portable console and not just a paintjob or LED mod or something else minor. The counter will provide the drive, especially as the counter gets lower and lower, rather than a tight timespan that isn't easy to meet, especially on more complex portables.

Agreed. Excellent idea Bac.

[vskid]

I think there needs to be a minimum amount of entries for the compo to be valid, rather than just two or three entries as in the previous one. How about for example setting in a counter, say to 12 or whatever, each time a portable is entered the counter drops and when at zero the compo ends and voting starts. It isn't a race after all, people can enter multiple times but under certain criteria like it needs to be a created portable console and not just a paintjob or LED mod or something else minor. The counter will provide the drive, especially as the counter gets lower and lower, rather than a tight timespan that isn't easy to meet, especially on more complex portables.

Interesting idea, kind of a race to see who can do quality work fast. We'll have to for sure have criteria set on how far the progress can be at the time the contest starts, so we don't get people entering projects that started from 90%.

[samjc3]

I think there needs to be a minimum amount of entries for the compo to be valid, rather than just two or three entries as in the previous one. How about for example setting in a counter, say to 12 or whatever, each time a portable is entered the counter drops and when at zero the compo ends and voting starts. It isn't a race after all, people can enter multiple times but under certain criteria like it needs to be a created portable console and not just a paintjob or LED mod or something else minor. The counter will provide the drive, especially as the counter gets lower and lower, rather than a tight timespan that isn't easy to meet, especially on more complex portables.

Interesting idea, kind of a race to see who can do quality work fast. We'll have to for sure have criteria set on how far the progress can be at the time the contest starts, so we don't get people entering projects that started from 90%.

agreed. its a geat idea, but the rule would need to be harsh, and uncompromising.

[Life of Brian]

It isn't a race after all, people can enter multiple times but under certain criteria like it needs to be a created portable console and not just a paintjob or LED mod or something else minor.

Right. As previously stated:

"I really don't think we should limit it to one platform. If it's a video game console of any type that has been made portable with a screen, batteries, and on-board controls ... "

I agree about there needing to be a minimum amount of people committed to building portables for there to be a contest, but how about we wait until we hear from more folks if they are interested in participating before we set any numbers.

Why don't we just agree on a start date and in the meantime people are allowed to gather up supplies? After all, if a seller takes a long time to ship something it shouldn't penalize the portablizer. Since you mentioned it last year and have mentioned it again here, bacteria, how long is a reasonable time for a contest in your opinion? What does everyone else think?

[Taiben]

I'm kinda interested. Summer's busy at work thogh so I coudnt commit or anything.

[themadhacker]

I'm in for the contest thing. Actually, I have not finished the one form last contest.

Also, I am all for the dreamcast's 10th aniversary portable thing.

[Twilight Wolf]

As am I; this would be an excellent way to get more Dreamcast portables made. There are too few of them, I think.

Actually, the Dreamcast's-tenth-anniversary thing actually gives me an awesome idea for a mod, even if it's not a portable. If I can manage to get it done, I'll see if I can't finish it by September 9th.

[Zeturi]

I think the counter would be good, too. We should see how many people are interested first, though, before we decide how many can be entered. Maybe a poll to see how many people would enter?
And yeah, like Bacteria and LoB said, it should have some criteria met like an internal screen, batteries, built-in controller, etc. (So we don't get Gamecubes with the clip on battery and screen and a wavebird.)
I think we could even do a point system for grading the calibur of each project like on those food shows? You know, like:

Presentation: 25 points
Time Completed: 25 points
Awesomeness: 25 points

Or something similar to that. It could give the builder an idea if why they placed where they did. I also think a good prize could be added to the TGIMBOEJ in the trading post. (Easy prize, plus I'm under 100 posts anyway.)

[jjhammerstein]

We should vote for the greatest portable of all time for each console, that doesn't even take any effort, AND would be niftycool.

[ShockSlayer]

Start date should be June 1, end date should be July 31. 2 months, if you can't make a portable in two months for a contest then your probably not going to win.

SS

[bacteria]

Since you mentioned it last year and have mentioned it again here, bacteria, how long is a reasonable time for a contest in your opinion? What does everyone else think?

Six weeks is far too short, yet multiple months is too long; it is a balance between keeping interest in the compo going and enough time to make a quality system, given constraints of life, school/work/family/etc. People always seem to want an extension, etc too. That is why I thought the counter idea was better: there is no point having a compo for a couple of entries, I think the best idea Brian is if you decide how many submissions constitutes a worthwhile compo, then use that number as the counter. Have a caviat - if when the counter gets to say 3 then people could contact and say "nearly done, will enter mine in x days", then if the counter gets to zero and theirs isn't in then they be given a little extra time before closing.