Sonic Hacking Contest 2017 RESULTS

Discussion in 'Discussion & Q&A' started by Spanner, Nov 26, 2017.

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  1. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    After a rather successful Contest Week with many commenting that this year was a complete 180 from last year’s showing, it is now time for the results. Who picked up the trophies and honourable mentions? Let’s find out!

    Judged Trophies

    Hidden Palace Trophy

    Grand prize / 1st place. This is given to the overall best entry in the contest.

    Metal Sonic Rebooted by Lone Devil


    Wood Zone Trophy

    2nd place entry overall in the contest.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo


    Dust Hill Trophy

    3rd place entry overall in the contest.

    Sonic Egg Factory ReMastered by FoxConED


    Generations Trophy

    Best 3D Sonic game modification submitted overall.

    SADX Lantern Engine by SonicFreak94

    HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Heroes Mod Loader & Tweakbox β (Tech Demo) by sewer56lol and Sonic Redux (Character Demo) by InvisibleUp


    Crystal Egg Trophy

    Best 8-bit Sonic hack submitted overall.

    Sonic 2: Zen Island by Yoshister


    Green Hill Trophy

    Hack (or specific level of a hack if non-applicable) that plays most like a Sonic game.

    Metal Sonic Rebooted by Lone Devil

    HONOURABLE MENTION: A generic Sonic 1 ROMhack by CHRdutch


    Botanic Base Trophy

    Best art in a Mega Drive / Genesis hack submitted.

    Mr. Cat’s 16 Day Challenge by MrCat

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Sonic Egg Factory ReMastered by FoxConED


    D.A. Garden Trophy

    Best music in an entry submitted.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Sonic Egg Factory ReMastered by FoxConED


    Lava Reef Trophy

    Best level layout in a Mega Drive / Genesis hack submitted.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo

    HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Metal Sonic Rebooted by Lone Devil, A Generic Sonic 1 ROMhack by CHRdutch


    Gimmick Mountain Trophy

    Best level layout in an 8-bit hack submitted.

    Sonic 2: Zen Island by Yoshister


    Genocide City Trophy

    Most difficult entry (or specific level of an entry if non-applicable) submitted.

    Classic Pantufa the Cat DX by VAdaPEGA

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Sonic Egg Factory ReMastered by FoxConED


    11000101 Trophy

    Best technical / proof of concept entry submitted.

    SADX Lantern Engine by SonicFreak94

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Sonic 2 for PC & New 3DS by Clownacy


    Fang Trophy

    Best new enemy/badnik in an entry submitted.

    Sonic Chaos Quest Ultimate by Narcologer


    Eggman Trophy

    Best new boss or mini-boss in an entry submitted.

    Sonic Egg Factory Remastered by FoxConED

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Sonic Chaos Quest Ultimate by Narcologer


    Spin Dash Trophy

    Best new ability in an entry submitted.

    Sonic 1: Colors Edition (SHC2017 Demo) by campbellsonic

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Sonic & Ashuro by Ashuro


    Carnival Night Trophy

    Most innovative game play feature in an entry submitted.

    Sonic 1: Colors Edition (SHC2017 Demo) by campbellsonic

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Sonic 3 Chaos Adventure by JDpense


    Emerald Trophy

    Best Special Stage in an entry submitted.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo


    Wing Fortress Trophy

    Best cutscene in an entry submitted.

    Sonic Egg Factory ReMastered by FoxConED


    Robotnik's Revenge Trophy

    Best fresh concept using existing concepts as the backbone in an entry submitted.

    Sonic 1: Colors Edition (SHC2017 Demo) by campbellsonic

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Metal Sonic Rebooted by Lone Devil


    Casinopolis Trophy

    Most entertaining / fun entry submitted.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo

    HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Metal Sonic Rebooted by Lone Devil, Sonic & Ashuro by Ashuro


    Polygon Jim Trophy

    Most unique entry submitted.

    Achi (AKA another trend in gaming that is slightly annoying and ultimately pointless) by Natsumi


    Tails Trophy

    Most improved entry from last year's contest.

    Sonic & Ashuro by Ashuro


    Blaze Trophy

    Entry from this year's contest that is felt to have the most potential.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo

    HONOURABLE MENTION: Sonic 2 for PC & New 3DS by Clownacy


    Newtrogic High Trophy

    Voted best entry of the contest by the Media Panel.
    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo

    The following Judged Trophies were not awarded:
    • Windy Valley Trophy: Best art in a 3D modification submitted.
    • Jungle Trophy : Best art in an 8-bit hack submitted.
    • Speed Highway Trophy: Best level layout in a 3D modification submitted.
    • Azure Lake Trophy: Best multiplayer entry submitted.
    • Advance Trophy : Best handheld game entry overall.

    Community Trophies

    Hidden Palace Community Trophy

    Best entry submitted overall.

    Metal Sonic Rebooted by Lone Devil


    Generations Community Trophy

    Best 3D Sonic game modification submitted overall.

    Sonic Redux (Character Demo) by InvisibleUp


    Crystal Egg Community Trophy

    Best 8-bit Sonic hack submitted overall.

    Sonic 2: Zen Island by Yoshister


    Windy Valley Community Trophy

    Best art entry submitted.

    Metal Sonic Rebooted by Lone Devil


    D.A. Garden Community Trophy: Best Music

    Best music entry submitted.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo


    Lava Reef Community Trophy

    Best level layout entry submitted.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo


    11000101 Community Trophy

    Best technical entry submitted.

    Sonic 2 for PC & New 3DS (PoC) by Clownacy


    Polygon Jim Community Trophy

    Most unique entry submitted.

    Achi (AKA another trend in gaming that is slightly annoying and ultimately pointless) by Natsumi


    Tails Community Trophy

    Most improved entry from last year's contest.

    Sonic & Ashuro by Ashuro


    Blaze Community Trophy


    Entry from this year's contest that is felt to have the most potential.

    Sonic 1 Dragon Edition by DragonWolfLeo


    Evaluation


    Like last year, we want YOUR feedback on this year’s Contest Week so please take the time to fill out this form and let us know what you thought about this year and what we can look at for next year. So we can get planning for next year sorted out and next year’s Contest announced by the end of this year like always, please note the deadline for the evaluation is the end of Sunday 3rd December. It won’t take you that long to fill out this form, so if you are able to, please do so.




    Special Thanks
    • The Judges – which along with myself were Cinossu, Clownacy, Dandaman955, Dario FF, OrdosAlpha, Selbi , SuperEgg, and SSF1991 (Donnie) and Twilightzoney. Despite the challenges this year we were able to get the judging fully completed and evaluated. We had a few newcomers this year who have fit comfortably into the role, and I personally think that we don’t need to bring in anyone new for next year as we have enough people to do the job.
    • Cinossu for his brand new website that finally came to fruition this year. Although he had a significant downtime due to his laptop having issues alongside other delays, he has given us a new site that does the job really well and will last us for a very long time. Although some features were not implemented this year due to not having enough time to get them in such as the Comments Section and Teams, they will be back next year and you can suggest in the Feedback Form of what could be added to the site next year.
    • SuperEgg for organising the majority of the media side of things, bringing you the list below of people in the next section.
    • The Media Panel that consisted of AquelGamerMexicano, AntDude, coopercastille, FoxConED of Sonic SCANF, MegaGWolf, Neo Hazard, premydaremy, RadicalSoda, redhotsonic, SomecallmeJohnny, sonicyoda of SEGADriven.com, The Geek Critique and TheRealFTA of FTCR. Many have streamed during the week or produced videos, any which have not yet, will do so after this week.
    • Bartman3010 from Sonic Retro, VEDJ_F from Sonic Stadium, Ryan from Tails Channel and Tristan from TSSZ News for providing coverage of the contest.
    • SeanieB for providing server hosting and accommodating us well in terms of fixing slight issues and providing statistics. Aside from some brief problems on Monday that were quickly fixed after a few settings were changed, there were no long periods of downtime this year, which I’m sure everyone is pleased with.
    • amphobius, LazloPsylus, Shannon and StephenUK for their previous involvement in this year’s Hacking Contest.
    • Ayla, also for the above reason but for organising the Sonic Hacking Contest for the past 15 years. Unfortunately due to personal reasons she was not able to take part in judging, but was very instrumental in reforming this year’s Contest alongside others including proposing the Quality Control Criteria that changed the Contest for the better. Ayla planned to make this year her final year of judging which will now not happen, but I think everyone should thank her for what she has done over the years and hopefully she has a good retirement from the Contest.
    • redhotsonic for his Hacking Contest Trailer.
    • CpChan, gsoft, Lange, Lil-G, Natsumi, Perfect Chaos Zero, P3DR0, redhotsonic, thevaleev and Volg Shan for providing moderation services during the Contest Week on our Discord server to ensure people got in and not out of line. Also, Titanus on Discord for being awesome.
    • Everyone who submitted to the Contest or Expo, no matter if they won trophies or not, but especially Jon Burton from Travellers Tales who submitted his Sonic 3D Directors Cut Beta to the Expo. To have an original developer submit something was never something we ever expected to happen, until this year. Although he was not able to get involved more this week as he was on vacation, we are planning on doing something with him very soon which a lot of you have wanted to get involved with, more will be announced when we can.
    • And You…for taking part in the Contest Week.



    The End…For Now

    We will be back for the Sonic Hacking Contest 2018. Information for that will be posted hopefully by the end of this year. We have done really well this year, so let’s keep it up the good work for next year!
     
  2. Ashuro

    Ashuro Anti-Cosmic Metal Of Death Member

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    Tails Trophy!! :D :eek: :D
    Tails Community Trophy!!! :eek: :D

    Thank you everyone!! ^-^

    And congratulations for the winners and thes other hackers for this year!! :D
     
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  3. Selbi

    Selbi The Euphonic Mess Member

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    What a blast this contest has been for me as a first-time judge! Congratulations to all the winners and big props to all the fellow judges, streamers, and organizers. Now that I've seen the other side of the picture, I know just how much work this whole contest is.

    That being said, I might've taken the whole judging process a little bit too seriously and actually wrote 21 fucking pages worth over 7000 words for all the entries I've judged. This is mostly addressed to the respective hack creators, because I saw a lot of potential underneath a some unpolished work that could shine bright for next year with just a little more work to it. So if you were looking for non-sugarcoated feedback on your hacks, here you'll see the full load:

    SHC 2017 Judgement Write-Up

    Let the next year be even better!
     
  4. Pineapple Arse

    Pineapple Arse I ironically hate cold temperatures. Member

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    I would like to say this was an amazing contest. Most of the entries were amazing, and it was fun to experience what people had to bring to the table this time around. Now on a personal note, I would like to say that my hack, Sonic 1 Back to South Island, was majorly unfinished with little to no polish, but I only submitted it to get feedback. I would like to thank you all for supporting my piece of shit, because now I have a glimpse on what I can do to improve it!
     
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  5. Ashuro

    Ashuro Anti-Cosmic Metal Of Death Member

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    @Selbi : Thank you very much for these superb reviews and critics, I can only just improve my work for the next year, for now i will try to fix all these problems (about Sonic stuck in Ashuro's levels, PLC issues, resize camera that kill Ashuro and the Tutorial Zone glitch when you soft reset the game...).

    See you next time my friends!
     
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  6. B. Comet

    B. Comet Is fun still infinite? Member

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    I am really happy to read feedback from one of the contest judges. I just need to clarify the 2 two negative points about @Selbi 's review.

    • But why the hell is it Scrap Brain music? This makes no sense.
    • Also: it's 2017. Why are people still making Sonic 1 hacks without Spin Dash and the most commonly used bug fixes?
    1° I used Scrap Brain because I wasn't able to learn SMPS at the time and I didn't find any suitable "free asset" to use, so I choose S. Brain Zone theme instead of sticking with Marble Zone original.

    2° I was (and I still is) too dumb to apply bugfixes and adding the Spin Dash. My original plan was adding a new move (some sort of double jump) instead of the Spin Dash. To see how things could work out.

    Well, with that said, I loved to participate in this year contest, even if my entry was the most underwhelming one, it was something I wanted to do a long time. I will take all the feedback I can and start develop a new hack from scratch (since I lost all the archives anyway...).
    I hope I can join the next year SHC too, if everything goes right in my pitiful life.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2017
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  7. FireRat

    FireRat Do Not Interact With This User, Anywhere!!! Exiled

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    As for EFR...

    No isn't, to make it easier, I made it so you're invincible to them when you use the insta-shield, until Sonic touches the floor again. All you have to do is stay in the air when a laser is coming near you. Or the alternative strategy: Spindash from either side of the screen

    Most of the people who play this part for the first time don't know that there's a tube under the shield monitor, nor that it is actually preferable to keep on the slope until falling into the tube that comes after. And when you jump after touching the left spring, you're pretty much done.
    Perhaps we or I are too used to the Sonic physics, but IMO while writing & testing the level I have never felt the level is too hard in any way, and I mean I done a lot of trial-and-error from "super easy" to "impossible" or "unplayable" speeds, all in less than 1 day though.

    Oh that's unfortunate, the final is a nuclear shield to add the final grain of salt and finish the factory. The idea was to add some exclamation signs to it and then a more detailed destruction sequence, but we had time constraints. Fun fact: before the final shield, a boss was planned, half-developed, but had to be dropped as well because the time constraints, so it will be released in other level from Sonic Virtual Adventure some day instead. Finally, the Tornado sometimes doesn't appear on the screen range, or way too low, because time constraints again. Finally, the credits screen is missing, though the list that Eduardo Knuckles prepared is used at the release release thread.
    Please excuse the inconveniences, I personally wish I could come up with a better result from the program's part, but do note that EFR is actually a "Plan B" hack, because we already realized we couldn't complete a SVA demo on time given the circumstances-

    The mere fact of having participated in a project that gets a place in a Sonic Hacking Contest for the first time in the life is quite meaningful, IMO. And I'm glad of this. Thanks a lot to those who gave their opinions on this project =X
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2017
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  8. CpChan

    CpChan Newcomer Trialist

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    I was really glad to help out with moderating, as well as be present for the contest! It was my first SHC being active in the community, as every other year I always was a spectator looking in. And I'm really, really happy I decided to be more involved this go around. It was a great week, with a lot of talented people!

    Hope next year is just as great- and I hope I'll have something to submit by then! :D
     
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  9. Narcologer

    Narcologer Hell angel Member

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    Finally, after 5 years of practice in Sonic hacking I was able to win the trophy. :cool:
    I hope I'll be able to submit even better work in next year contest.
    This contest was really good. Thanks to everyone who was the part of Contest week. ;)
     
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  10. Big the Fat

    Big the Fat Newcomer Trialist

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    I'm a long-time lurker coming out of the woodwork just to congratulate all involved in this year's SHC.

    The organisers did a great job, the Youtube and Twitch presenters were a lot of fun but, most importantly, the entries this year were some of the best I've seen in a long time.

    It was so refreshing to see lots of interesting projects that weren't swamped in memes and GHZ. I can't tell you what a difference that made for me as a spectator and end-user.

    Well done everybody!

    I can't wait to see what comes out next year. :)
     
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  11. TruffledToad

    TruffledToad Mushroom says, mushroom does. Member

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    I don't know how to feel about this contest TBH, I played some of the genesis hacks, then I just stopped focusing on the contest altogether. I kinda regret doing so, as I missed out on Johnny's streams, and I wasn't able to play all the hacks all the way through, but me just not being in the Sonic mood, plus me having to go to my relatives' houses for Thanksgiving, kinda kept me from doing so. I'd play these hacks in a heartbeat if these factors were pretty much gone, but I barely scratched the surface for some of them (I ignored most of Chaos Quest and I'm still yet to play the version of Sonic and Ashuro that doesn't have paynt pallette and an easier way to play as Mattel Sonic)

    That being said, holy shit, this was a much better year than 2016. That's not a hard goal to achieve, but I feel this was one of the better annual contests this time around, it almost rivals 2015 in terms of the quality of entries. Sonic 1 Dragon Edition, Metal Sonic Rebooted, and Egg Factory Remastered were all amazing, and the other hacks weren't bad at all. While I kinda wish more entries stood out (Only ones I can think of are the above 3 and Sonic 1: Colors Edition), I then remember that most of the entries in 2016 stood out cause they were fucking abominations that need to be forgotten and the creators slapped in the wrist, and I feel the quality control was an excellent addition.

    Here's to an excellent contest for next year!

    (P.S. damnit campbellsonic I wanted to do wisps in the genesis games, you brilliant bastard you)
     
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  12. Royameadow

    Royameadow Welcome to the modern existence. Member

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    I want to personally thank Morph, Sewer56lol, MainMemory, Dario FF, and Spanner for opening up the discussion over on Retro about the way that all non~ROM hack entries (basically all of the PC Mod material) need to be covered beyond this point, it was an extreme disappointment to view how difficult multiple people had troubles attempting to run most mods that were entered to both the Contest and Expo blocks, especially given that the Heroes Mod Loader, some of MainMemory's SADX and Adventure II (2012) mods, Sonic Redux, and Sonic the Hedgehog Bania: Gold! Edition were the ones that had gotten lesser to even no coverage by the media panel combined when compared to the ROM hacks, and also that the media panel in some cases was flat~out oblivious to how certain entries were meant to be set up because they failed to understand direct instructions and details, or, at least according to MainMemory, they acted as if they didn't even care.
    Now, my Evaluation Form had also addressed this issue, this was something that appears to have infuriated the lot of the PC modding community that were subjected to this scenario and I stand with them just as much, we can't have a media panel or undermanned workforce that does not understand what they are doing with what we provide to them and then shun the developers when they try to help the panel, that could be viewed by some people as a sense of rudeness or a deliberate act on the part of the panel and any relevant parties to undermine the entrants' good work, and that could result in a situation where everybody loses.

    What I at least appreciate though, despite the fact that the PC entries were covered significantly less than the ROM hacks, is that when you put all of the former together, they still had thousands of downloads in their overall total (in terms of my material, Bania GE had gotten over one and a third hundred downloads throughout the Contest Week, compared to other Mania mods; that though is more than satisfactory for me, considering that it was a Promotional Demo and not anywhere close to the final build, so it's good for me to know that there is some demand for my work and that is more than enough to motivate me to continue the project and make more Mashup Mixes for the album that the mod is based on; by comparison to another entry, for example, the SADX Lantern Engine currently has over 2000 installs to its name, hundreds of those likely coming from the Contest Week alone), most of the mods that barely or did not get coverage by the panel this year had ended up becoming Sleeper Entries (especially the Heroes Mod Loader) and shows that there is just as much of an impact with these as the ROM hacks do or better, it's as if the PC mods have become the Modern Underground of Sonic hacking because of how rare and undiscussed some of them are, but also because of how loved and well known they have become over time.
    Due to the current circumstances and evidence that we have at hand over the past five contests, as this has been a factor since the beginning of the media~based contests in 2013, it is clear that there is a powerful demand from the PC modding community that both the media panel and judges alike need to be more well~manned and ready to do actual and thorough testing of each mod and on every possible build of the game(s) that they were intended for before the Contest Week broadcasts begin, this will help the judges give the developers vital information on how to improve their mods for Universal Access and also assure that the media panel is overprepared for any hiccups and/or worries that could come up if they do not do everything as they are instructed; wishfully that, as well as possibly having individual weeks for the Contest and Expo alike (as mentioned by Spanner and Cinossu), will make for better handling of this matter, those extra seven days truly would serve well for the Expo entries and ease the minds and sanity of many in all four parties (entrants, judges, panel, and visitors) and make for better time and dedication into covering everything as optimally as possible.
     
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  13. VAdaPEGA

    VAdaPEGA whom belongs the red cat, complaints appreciated Member

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    @Selbi remind me not to credit/ use a different system for the pause screen so you're allowed to suffer judge it next year (if I decide to uncancel extended, I am discontinuing DX since that tainted my image in a really bad way, don't rush out projects, kids!)
     
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  14. Animemaster

    Animemaster Lets get to work! Member

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    Congrats everyone! maybe i'll enter next year....maybe.
     
  15. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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  16. Darío

    Darío Newcomer Member

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  17. B. Comet

    B. Comet Is fun still infinite? Member

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    Last edited: Dec 10, 2017
  18. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    First of all, don't be a rude cunt.

    Secondly, Dario was asked to post that to remind people to get their evaluation in so they don't miss out when the deadline expires at the end of today. Please do that if you haven't already.

    Thirdly, the results not being added is down to Cinossu not having the time to get them up yet due to increased work commitments, which should be over now, so they'll be up alongside a few other fixes very soon.
     
  19. B. Comet

    B. Comet Is fun still infinite? Member

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    It wasn't my intention to be rude, sorry about that. I also already submitted my evaluation a while ago, I hope it was useful.
     
  20. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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