Sonic the Hedgehog Hacking Contest 2011 RESULTS

After many months of working on the hacks, submitting the entries, having them judged by our own judging team and for the first time, the public, it is now time for the results of the 2011 Hacking Contest!


If you didn't notice already, there was a small turnout this year, and only a few stood out enough to be recognised with a trophy. You'll notice this in the results. Thanks go to our judging team consisting of myself, Cinossu, Dude, MarkeyJester, Mercury and Shadow Fire for this year's set of results. Enjoy!


Hidden Palace Trophy - 1st Place


The S Factor: Sonia and Silver by Aquaslash & Pals


The S Factor is one of those hacks which people like to check out, like Sonic Megamix, Sonic 2 Retro Remix, Sonic Boom and a whole load of others. Whilst the hack is based on Sonic 1, it can be beyond that with new artwork, new levels, a custom music soundtrack and a lot more. Whilst this hack is still in progress, look forward to what will happen in the future.


Wood Zone Trophy - 2nd Place


Sonic VR by ColinC10


ColinC10, who annually submits a brand new piece of work to the Hacking Contest, entered Sonic VR. Up to 40 challenge levels ranging from easy to difficult in a virtual reality setting with PCM-played music from Anamanaguchi. If you haven't played this yet, what rock were you hiding in?


Dust Hill Trophy - 3rd Place


Sonic 2 Heroes by Flamewing


Just a few changes can make a hack extraordinary, like Sonic 2 Heroes. Team-based gameplay based on Sonic Heroes in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Play as Sonic, Tails and Knuckles all at the same time. Palette and VRAM restrictions are overcome with what was previously an idea of what people wanted in a hack - team based gameplay. Now it is here. Enjoy it.


Green Hill Trophy - Hack that plays most like a Sonic game


The S Factor: Sonia and Silver by Aquaslash & Pals


Whilst it plays like a Sonic game, it's not just simple changes, there's brand new levels for you to play. It follows the same structure though, getting rings, hitting enemies and running to the end of the level.


Windy Valley Trophy - Best Art


The S Factor: Sonia and Silver by Aquaslash & Pals


From levels such as Arid Temple to Chaotic Streets, you'll love the art direction in The S Factor. Various artists including Jayextee and MarkeyJester have chipped in with their share of the work in this hack, making it look good. It's not always fun to see the same content over and over again, but you won't in this hack.


D.A. Garden Trophy - Best Music


The S Factor: Sonia and Silver by Aquaslash & Pals


Aquaslash & Pals brings you a soundtrack that you'll enjoy listening to. It's not just imports from other games or ports from another Sonic game, most of the content is custom-made, with some remixes.


HONOURABLE MENTION - 30 Day Project: Revisited by PsychoSk8r


Palmtree Panic Trophy - Best Layouts


Untitled Sonic 2 Hack by D.A. Garden


D.A. Garden brought a few submissions this year to the table. As well as his involvement with The S Factor, he has made hacks of his own based on Sonic 2 and Sonic 3K. He does great layouts, so why not check out this hack if you haven't already?


Genocide City Trophy - Most Difficult Hack


Sonic 1 Lunacy by The Masochistic Maniacs (Destructiox, SonicVaan, MarkeyJester, Selbi, Spanner)


If there's one hack that always gets submitted just to win a particular trophy (which isn't Sonic and Friends as the Shadow Trophy was retired this year), it's Sonic 1 Lunacy. Many difficulty modes are on offer in this hack, along with a few special features. The team are keeping things under wraps as always, but when the time is ready, maybe something might be shown.


11000101 Trophy - Best Technical Hack


Sonic 2 Heroes by Flamewing


Flamewing's recreations of team-based gameplay in this hack has been enough for him to win this hack. Enough said. =P


Knuckles Trophy - Best New Character


The S Factor: Sonia and Silver by Aquaslash & Pals - Sonia the Hedgehog


Sonia from Sonic Underground has a variety of new features, including a twirl move which can actually destroy spikes like Metal Sonic from Sonic CD. Just like the rest of this hack, the artwork for the characters are really good!


Fang Trophy - Best new/modified enemies in a hack submitted


Sonic ERaZor by Selbi


We can remember Sonic ERaZor as "that most fucked up hack" from 2010 but this year saw its release and you will have probably played this hack by now. Selbi's badnik modifications fit in with the "fucked up" theme, if you like explosions and fast attacks, you'll like the badniks in this hack, particularly the fish and the Crabmeat.


Eggman Trophy - Best new bosses/minibosses in a hack submitted


The S Factor: Sonia and Silver by Aquaslash & Pals - Team Metallix


In one of the levels of this hack, you'll face three brand new enemies consisting of A.N.N., Metal Knuckles and Metal Sonic. All will be worth fighting against, when The S Factor is released. You might want to know that some of our judges had a preference for Metal Knuckles.


Spindash Trophy - Best New Ability


The S Factor: Sonia and Silver by Aquaslash & Pals - Silver's Telekinesis


But what about the other character in this hack? Silver stands out with his powerful telekinesis abilities which can manipulate objects like some parts of a badnik, along with being able to float as an after-jump move.


Carnival Night Trophy - Most Innovative Feature


Sonic 2 Heroes by Flamewing - 3 Players at Once


It's the power of teamwork that makes this hack stand out from others. Even the Special Stages have all three characters in play.


Emerald Trophy - Best Special Stage


Sonic ERaZor by Selbi


There may be only one Special Stage in ERaZor, but it's not your average Sonic 1 Special Stage. You might need to re-try this a lot, but there are checkpoints to reach the goal of getting all the Chaos Emeralds for this game.


Robotnik's Revenge Trophy - New Concept based on Existing Concepts


Sonic 2 Heroes by Flamewing


What can be said other than THE POWER OF TEAMWORK!


Crystal Meth Trophy - Most Replayable Hack


Sonic VR by ColinC10


Challenges. Hard challenges. That is all. Also, I missed this trophy on the podcast, sorry!


Casinopolis Trophy - Most Entertaining/Fun Hack


Sonic VR by ColinC10


Forty challenges await you in this year's submission from Colin. How long will it take for you to complete them all - if you can do that.


Vector Trophy - Most Humourous Hack


Yeth by Banoon


If you wanted a hack that could make you laugh, make you smile and make you happy, try out Banoon's hack at some point. From the character to the badniks, it's a fun time for all the family!


HONOURABLE MENTION - Chip McCallihan in Sonic 1 by MainMemory


WTF?! Trophy - Most Unique Hacks Submitted


Sonic the Ghosthog by Hanoch AND Sonic 1 Misadventure by Arctic Leopard


Two hacks are getting this trophy this year. Hanoch's submission turns Sonic into a ghost once hurt, making the level feel like you're using noclip on the objects around you, whilst Sonic 1 Misadventure is unique in its very own way from gameplay to design. No doubt you'll be looking forward to how this hack progresses.


Twinkle Park Trophy - Best 3D Hack


Mushroom Zone by Dude


He brought us Sonic RDX last year, this year he brought Mushroom Zone - a brand new level for Sonic Adventure DX that uses the Windy Valley level slot. Give it a try!


Crystal Egg Trophy - Best 8-Bit Hack


Sonic Chaotic by Ravenfreak


To be fair, this was the only 8-bit submission on offer this year, but Ravenfreak has a good interest in the Master System and Game Gear games. Looking forward to further work.


Christmas Present Trophy - The hack that nobody saw coming


Sonic VR by ColinC10


There's no way you can say that this trophy allocation is a mistake. Every year, Colin brings us something new to the table. We've had Robotnik's Revenge, Sonic 3&K: The Challenges, Sonic 1 and 2 and now we have this. If you haven't yet, play this hack damn it!


Tails Trophy - Best Improved Hack from Last Year


Sonic ERaZor by Selbi


Last year, he brought us a hack to hate. Now it's complete, a few things have changed, it's worth spending some time to play this submission.


OH GOD WHY Trophy - Why was this submitted?


Sonic 1 Reinvented by Watsonman


Hey, when you submit something, don't just show off some palette edits with programming additions and changes you made using a program which can do things for you. If you want to implement features, spend the time to put them in yourself.


Big Trophy - Worst Hack


Latios in Sonic 3 & Knuckles by Watsonman


Scott4 brought us a Sonic 3K hack, but it's pretty much annoying and attrocious at the same time. If you like finding a Giant Ring every few chunks, going through repetitive Special Stages and burning your eyes with rape flavour palettes, try this hack, but it would be better if you didn't. Seriously.


COMMUNITY TROPHY WINNERS - VOTED BY THE PUBLIC


Hidden Palace Community Trophy


Sonic VR by ColinC10


Big Community Trophy


Red the Hedgehog by Dandaman


Palmtree Panic Community Trophy


Sonic VR by ColinC10


Windy Valley Community Trophy


30 Day Project: Revisited by PsychoSk8r


D.A. Garden Community Trophy


Sonic ERaZor by Selbi (HONOURABLE MENTION – 30 Day Project: Revisited by PsychoSk8r)


11000101 Community Trophy


Sonic VR by ColinC10 (HONOURABLE MENTION – Sonic 2 Heroes by Flamewing)


Congratulations to all of this year's winners of the Hacking Contest! There are no special prizes for the winners, although maybe Dude might do what he did last year and make signature trophies for all the winners. We did a podcast on SAGE to announce the results which will be available to download at a later time.


For anyone asking, there will be a 2012 Hacking Contest, and information regarding this contest will be made available in the upcoming months.


That's all for the 2011 Hacking Contest, so thanks for taking part!

 

I think it was easier for those great hacks to stand out this year and win some trophies. Unlucky to those not successful this year, I hope to eventually get something to enter next year.

 

Damn right S Factor won. What an amazing hack.

 

I see that The S Factor won everything. Wow.