Sonic the Hedgehog Hacking Contest 2010

Discussion in 'Discussion and Q&A Archive' started by Ayla, Dec 15, 2009.

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  1. Ayla

    Ayla Sonic Hacking Contest Founder & Commentator Member

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    Despite the controversy over the winner of the last contest, I felt that it went rather swimmingly. I momentarily considered stopping at lucky number seven, as I do after every contest, but then decided I should continue on as usual.


    This year will be very different from the others, however, and that is why everything I write here was not created from the templates used when I made the topic for contests 3 - 7.


    So here I am with Contest 8, which I'm considering just naming them after the contest year from here on out to lessen confusion. My ultimate goal with this contest is expansion of ideas -- to make the whole process more engaging for fans of games, hacks, and hackers.


    A little known fact about the second contest is that there were two second contests. Originally, the hacking contest was going to be semi-annual (ie held twice a year), and the rules for it had been written up but never executed.


    I read through it, finding the rules while looking at past contests for reasons I'll get into later. There were some ambitious and fascinating ideas in it that I had long forgotten and that I intend fully to include in this contest -- many of which were trophies and player feedback.


    I present to you the 8th contest, one that I, without a doubt, cannot pull off alone. I'll need the help of all who are interested in being part of what I'm tentatively calling the "Hacking Contest Team".


    I want feedback to my ideas here, and hopefully we can work together to make this contest more fun to not only the hackers that put their all in providing quality, new Sonic games, but to the fans of the contest itself.


    That goal is to take a plethora of hacks and determine which hack excels in which areas and determine the best hack of the year.


    Without any additional fanfair, I present to you the rules and features of The 8th Annual / Sonic the Hedgehog Hacking Contest 2010.


    FEATURES


    I found the original second contest rules while gathering information for the contest's homepage. The Sonic the Hedgehog Hacking Contest will now have its own website, courtesy of the staff at SSRG.


    Questions or comments can be left at any time on our chat room located on retro's IRC server. The channel name is #hackingcontest. Contact via email will be the same as the email provided for submitting hacks.


    CATEGORIES


    The first and the original second contest were divided into categories. These categories are being brought back as the number of hacks entered has proven that this system can now functionally work. You may enter your hack in as many categories as you would like, but they must be specified in the entry form. The entry form will be much different this time and I'll provide you with that in the RULES section.


    Basically, this is sort of like saying "What trophies are you shooting for?" Here are the categories. The categories will be used accordingly to make things more fair for "proof-of-concept" hacks as opposed to "team hacks" and "solo efforts"


    On to the Categories...


    All of these categories fall under two main categories:


    Group Entry


    3+ people working on the hack


    Solo Effort


    One or two people working on the hack.


    If I find out someone is claiming a solo hack and it's not one, their hack will be disqualified from the contest.


    You'll have to select one of these two as well as the ones below:


    Tech


    This category is for any hack that has a technical proof-of-concept. If you enter this category, please specify what the proof-of-concept is and where it's located.


    Special Stage


    This category is for any hack that has altered special stages. Sonic 1, 2, 3K, CD, custom, etc. will be accepted in this category. Please tell me what kind of special stage will be altered and how to access it.


    3D Hack


    Dude's entry is what made me realize this was suddenly necessary. I can't compare a 2D hack to a 3D hack and it will have its own separate category and now trophy, which I'll get to later.


    This will all be easily integrated into the new entry form. If your hack does not fall into any of these categories, just put "N/A" on the form. Feedback on this new system will be GREATLY appreciated.


    TROPHIES


    Hidden Palace Trophy - Grand prize / 1st place trophy. This trophy is given to the overall best game. How this is determined is discussed in the Judging section.


    Wood Zone Trophy - 2nd place trophy


    Dust Hill Trophy - 3rd place trophy


    Genocide City Trophy – This award goes to the hardest level


    Lava Reef Trophy – this goes to the longest level hack (based on time taken to beat)


    Green Hill Trophy – this goes to the level or game that plays most like a Sonic level or game


    Labyrinth Trophy – most confusing level


    1337!!! Trophy – worst Sonic hack


    1000101 Trophy – best technical hack / winner of Tech Category


    Windy Valley Trophy – best original art hack


    Toxic Caves Trophy - best reused art hack


    Shadow Trophy – best Hentai-based / pr0n hack


    Vector Trophy - most humourous hack


    WTF?! Trophy – most unique hack


    Christmas Present Trophy - sleeper hit hack. The best hack that no one saw coming.


    Piano Trophy - best music to a hack


    The Super Duper Amazing Level Trophy - best level layout hack


    Eosian Sphere Trophy - best new object


    Knuckles Trophy - best new playable character


    Fang Trophy - best new enemy


    Metropolis Trophy - best new boss


    Mushroom Hill Trophy - best new miniboss (if applicable)


    Spindash Trophy - best new ability


    Eureka! Trophy - most innovative game play feature


    Crystal Meth Trophy - most addictive hack


    Casinopolis Trophy - most entertaining / fun hack


    Hang Castle Trophy - most disturbing hack


    Rusty Ruin Trophy - Best 3D Hack / 3D category winner


    The Bar Admin Trophy - most improved hack from last year


    Sonic and Friends Trophy - best splash screen in a hack


    Robotnik's Revenge Trophy - best new concept based on existing concepts (boss attack, time attack, things that were added to a game that exist in other sonic games)


    Rick Roll Trophy - worst Sonic hack with stolen content


    JUDGING


    The highest score in music, tech, level and object layout, art, and creativity will be the winner of the Hidden Palace Trophy. All ratings are subjective to the judges in charge and may not reflect your opinion.


    RULES


    Entry form is as follows:


    ================================================================================


    =


    Sonic the Hedgehog - Hacking Contest Template


    Created by Julia Voets after Jon Moran & Damian Grove (Saxman)©1999-2002, 2009


    VERSION - 2.00


    ================================================================================


    =


    AUTHOR


    DATE


    FILE VERSION


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    NAME OF HACK


    GAME OF ORIGIN


    EMULATOR COMPATIBILITY <gens, fusion>


    MAIN CATEGORY <group, solo>


    CATEGORIES ENTERED <tech, 3d, special stage, N/A>


    FILE


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    DESCRIPTION OF HACK


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    TOOLS USED


    DISASSEMBLY USED (if any)


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    WHAT DID YOU CHANGE?


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    SPECIAL THANKS TO


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    EMAIL


    If you link to your hack in this topic, I probably won't see it. Don't be a moron. If you'd like, I'll take a link to your hack through e-mail and PM.


    1) You will have until 12:00 AM MST July 31st, 2010 to get all of your hacks in to me. I'm not making the mistake of having it due right as school is starting again. That delayed results last time -__-


    2) Hacks must be e-mailed as either ROMs or savestates (kega or gens format only).


    3) There are no limits on editors.


    4) New Trophies may be added or removed during the contest


    5) Entries may be sent in for any console, though you'll have to tell us what it is.


    6) You may reach me at ilovet3hc0ckjulia.clarfet@gmail.compenisesRfun (get rid of filler) for questions and for sending hacks. You may also ask me questions in this thread.


    7) No late hacks will be accepted -- end of story. Updated, already entered hacks are taken all the way until I finish playing through each hack once. I will let you know when that happens in topic.


    8) Simple palette hacks are not allowed.


    9) Rules may change at any time. Check back often. They've already changed twice in the first twenty minutes.


    10) I need judges, promoters, website designer, art designers, etc. to pull off this contest. I want this to be the biggest and most successful contest to date, but I can't do it without the fans and the hackers. Hit me up if you'd like to help!!


    I'd love to see your feedback, ideas, opinions, etc. This can be the best contest ever with all of us working together, but I desperately need HELP to pull it off. If you'd like to be part of the team, let me know.


    Ready, Set... Procrastinate!!


    Ayla / Nayr / Samantha Clarfet
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2009
  2. Animemaster

    Animemaster Lets get to work! Member

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    I don't know much about the contest as stated on retro, but I'm sure i'll learn and if I can help in any way let me know.
     
  3. Ayla

    Ayla Sonic Hacking Contest Founder & Commentator Member

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    The contest has been hosted for years on retro and Simon's board. I'm happy to bring it to the SSRG and to the rest of the Sonic Community this year as Qjimbo and I have been working on a homepage for the contest to put up here =)
     
  4. Qjimbo

    Qjimbo Well-Known Member Member

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    Yeah apologies for the lack of progress on that front, once hacktube is sorted out it's definitely next on my todo list. Anyway, great to see next years contest kicking off. It always brings out some remarkable work from the community.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2009
  5. MrSpade

    MrSpade It's meant to be Mr_Spad3 but y'know... Member

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    A Hacking contest mini-site?, that'd be nice.


    I SHOULD be entering this year, I could've even enterd last year but i'm still under PA at Retro.


    EDIT:


    Fave trophies:

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2009
  6. Shadow Fire

    Shadow Fire Well-Known Member Member

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    Ayla, I volunteer to be a judge. Since certain restraints have not allowed me to continue hacking, I feel like I should be doing something worthwhile around the scene, and what better way than to test the plethora of hacks that are submitted?


    I like to believe that I would hold no bias, and would judge fairly.


    It's up to you, Fräulein Ayla. :)
     
  7. Ayla

    Ayla Sonic Hacking Contest Founder & Commentator Member

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    I'll have to give it some thought, although it would be nice to have an admin from the SSRG considering that two of the admins from retro are judging. Seems fair. I just don't want a falling out like what almost happened last year. "To Shoot an Elephant" by George Orwell accurately sums up the dilemma (to a greater extreme, of course).
     
  8. Qjimbo

    Qjimbo Well-Known Member Member

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    ShadowFire is an easy going guy, I doubt there will be any drama caused by it. I think it's a nice idea personally.
     
  9. Ayla

    Ayla Sonic Hacking Contest Founder & Commentator Member

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    I'll take your word on it, Jim. That leaves Tweaker, ScarredSun, Marc / Cinossu, Shadowfire and myself as judges, bringing the total to five, which has been my ideal number since the beginning. I still need help with plenty of other aspects, so if anyone has any ideas or wants to help, let me know. I've got Dude helping with getting a 3D hacking rating system set up, Oerg helping with something we hadn't implemented last year that's a surprise, SOTI with the podcast and promotion, and the website.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 16, 2009
  10. MegaGWolf

    MegaGWolf Unofficial Official Hack Showcaser Member

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    I wouldn't mind helping out if I can.


    Don't know what I could offer though considering I don't have much experience in this field yet.
     
  11. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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  12. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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  13. DanielHall

    DanielHall Well-Known Member Member

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    Know what we should do? Open a topic with our submissions to the hacking contest.
     
  14. clarisonic1

    clarisonic1 Well-Known Member Member

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    That's a good idea. We should open a topic for our submissions.
     
  15. DanielHall

    DanielHall Well-Known Member Member

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    I did earlier, but got rejected,
     
  16. theocas

    theocas #! Member

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    It didn't just get rejected, Ordos moved it to the trash and closed it. I don't understand what he was thinking, it was an awesome idea.
     
  17. DanielHall

    DanielHall Well-Known Member Member

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  18. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    Make a general hack thread for things that don't need/want a topic right now. Much better than a hacking contest topic. Who will win the Rick Roll trophy this time?
     
  19. DanielHall

    DanielHall Well-Known Member Member

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    Anyone know how to split a hack? :>


    How did sonichackman win it this year anyway?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 7, 2010
  20. MarkeyJester

    MarkeyJester ♡ ! Member

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    Yes, but whether that's something to share or not is another question, responsibility would fit here nicely.

    No one has won anything this year "yet" as far as I know, if you're talking about last year, then he won the Rick Roll trophy for a hack with stolen content.
     
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