Sonic Hacking Contest 2020 RESULTS

Discussion in 'Discussion & Q&A' started by Spanner, Nov 2, 2020.

  1. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    [​IMG]

    Once again the Sonic Hacking Contest comes to a close for another year. Here are the results!

    Judged

    Retro
    1st – Pantufa the cat: Extended Edition by VAdaPEGA
    2nd – Return of Shadow by JoenickROS
    3rd – Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – Anniversary Edition by SophieDude

    3D
    1st – Sonic 06 Greenflower Zone by Knuxfan24
    2nd – Dash Adventure 2 by AeroIncarnated
    3rd – Sonic 06 Legacy of Solaris by JotaroPowered

    2D PC
    1st – Sonic Megamix Mania by MegamixManiaTeam
    2nd – Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Mania by AChickMcNuggie
    Joint 3rd – AMY MANIA 2020 by Troopsushi and CodenameGamma & Unnamed Mania Mod by Cyber1204

    Overall
    1st – Pantufa The Cat: Extended Edition by VAdaPEGA
    Joint 2nd – Sonic Megamix Mania – 2020 Demo by MegamixManiaTeam & Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Mania By AChickMcNuggie

    Community

    Retro
    1st – Pantufa the Cat Extended Edition by VAdaPEGA
    2nd – Return of Shadow by JoenickROS
    3rd – Sonic the Hegdehog 2 – Anniversary By SophieDude

    3D
    1st – Dash Adventure 2 by AeroIncarnated
    2nd – Sonic 06 Legacy of Solaris By JotaroPowered
    3rd – Sonic 06 – Greenflower Zone By Knuxfan24

    2D PC
    1st – Sonic Megamix Mania By MegamixManiaTeam
    2nd – Amy Mania 2020 by Troopsushi & CodenameGamma
    3rd – Unnamed Mania Mod By Cyber1204

    Overall
    1st – Sonic Megamix Mania By MegamixManiaTeam
    2nd – Pantufa the Cat: Extended Edition by VAdaPEGA
    3rd – Amy Mania 2020 by Troopsushi & CodenameGamma


    Sonicu the Cubehog by C.A.L.D.M_2001 – Most WTF (Retro, Community)
    Knuckles Emerald Hunt Mania by BlueStreakMod – Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone (2D PC, Judging)
    Motobug in Sonic Mania by PaisanoJay – Most Entertaining (2D PC, Judging)
    Sonic 2: Return to Westside Island by D.A. Garden – Best Level Design (Retro, Community)

    Sonic Forces Re-imagined Demo by brandonj
    Best Level Design (3D, Judging)
    Most Potential (3D, Community)
    Best Level Design (3D, Community

    Sonic Heroes Extended Multiplayer Edition by DonutStopGaming
    Best Multiplayer Entry (3D, Judging)
    Best Multiplayer Entry (3D, Community)

    Amy Mania by Troopsushi & CodenameGamma
    Most Improved (2D PC, Judged)
    Most Improved (2D PC, Community)

    Unnamed Mania Mod By Cyber1204
    Most WTF (2D PC, Community)
    Most WTF (2D PC, Judging)

    Pantufa the Cat – Extended Edition by VADAPega
    Best Visual (Retro, Judging)
    Best Visual (Retro, Community)
    Best Level Design (Retro, Judging)
    Most Improved (Retro, Judging)
    Most Improved (Retro, Community)

    Return of Shadow By JoenickROS
    Best Audio (Retro, Judged)
    Most Entertaining (Retro, Judged)

    Sonic Megamix Mania By MegamixManiaTeam
    Best Visual (2D PC, Community)
    Best Audio (2D PC, Community)
    Best Visual (2D PC, Judged)
    Best Audio (2D PC, Judged)
    Best Level Design (2D PC, Judged)
    Best Team Entry (2D PC, Judged)
    Best Level Design (2D PC, Community)
    Most Entertaining (2D PC, Community)
    Best Team Entry (2D PC, Community)
    Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone (2D PC, Community)
    Most Potential (2D PC, Community)
    Best Voted by Media Panel (2D PC)

    Sonic 1 Point & Click Edition by NatThePorcupine
    Best Technical (Retro, Judged)
    Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As a Backbone (Retro, Judged)
    Best Technical (Retro, Community)
    Most Entertaining (Retro, Community)
    Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone (Retro, Community)

    Sonic 2 Tailsplosion by GTKoopa
    Most WTF (Retro, Judged)

    Sonic 06 Legacy of Solaris By JotaroPowered
    Most Potential (3D, Judging)
    Most Improved (3D, Judging)
    Most Improved (3D, Community)
    Best Technical (3D, Community)

    Dash Adventure 2 By AeroIncarnated
    Best Team entry (3D, Judging)
    Best Team Entry (3D, Community)
    Best Visual (3D, Community)
    Best Visual (3D, Judging)

    DOOM in Sonic Mania by TheStoneBanana
    Best Technical (2D PC, Judging)
    Best Technical (2D PC, Community)

    Sonic 06 Greenflower By Knuxfan24
    Best Technical (3D, Judged)
    Most Entertaining (3D, Judged)
    Most Entertaining (3D, Community)

    Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Mania By AChickMcNuggie
    Most Potential (2D PC, Judging)

    Ties
    Most Potential (Retro, Judging) – Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Anniversary Edition By SophieDude & Return of Shadow By JoenickROS
    Best Audio (Retro, Community) – Pantufa the Cat by VADAPega & Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Anniversary Edition By SophieDude
    Most Potential (Retro, Community) – Return of Shadow By JoenickROS & Pantufa the Cat by VADAPega
    Best Voted by Media Panel (Retro) – Pantufa the Cat by VADAPega / Sonic Halloween by CamManS5 / Mighty & Ray in Sonic 2 by campbellsonic
    Best Voted by Media Panel (3D) – Sonic Forces Re-imagned Demo Dead Line / Sonic Lost World by AnotherBlob / Bob-omb Battlefield in SADX by Rarefoil

    Not Awarded
    Best Audio (3D, Judged)
    Best Team Entry (Retro, Judged)
    Best Multiplayer (Retro, Judged)
    Best Audio (3D, Judged)
    Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone (3D, Judged)
    Most WTF (3D, Judged)
    Best Multiplayer Entry (2D PC, Judged)
    Best Multiplayer Entry (2D PC, Community)
    Best Team Entry (Community, Retro)
    Best Multiplayer (Community, Retro)
    Most WTF (Community, Retro)
    Best Audio (3D, Community)
    Most WTF (Community, 3D)
    Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone (3D, Judged)
    Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone (3D, Community)

    All entries will be added to the SHC Vault for archival purposes very soon, and it’s good to note that at no point during the week was there any downtime for the website, which is remarkable considering the fact that it used to be an annual occurrence.

    It’s also good to know that with off-site downloads being banned this year and everything going on a separate download server, people were able to download the entries without much trouble. The only downside this year being the Twitter domain problem cropping up during the week, but we have a new domain now for that, which should eliminate this problem once and for all.

    Compared to last year, we did not make many changes. But we also made a mistake by not adding (again) a few trophies that we talked about last year, so sorry to those who submitted character based entries and left home empty handed when they could have had a Best Character trophy. Same goes to bosses. It’s something that skipped our minds until it was too late to do something about it.

    As per every year please fill out the feedback form and tell us what you thought of the contest, and if there’s anything we can particularly look at for next year. There’s a few things that are certainly going to be considered for next year and hopefully we can get a good turnout as a result of those changes being made. This contest isn’t just about 2D entries, it’s also about 3D ones too.

    Also, we want to know what people are looking for in terms of the Contest Week date. If people want October again, we promise not to have it during Halloween, or when a time zone clock change happens which did affect some people in terms of scheduling.

    As for Judges’ Evaluations, we will have them out in the coming days. A few judges have asked for extra time due to circumstances outwith their control and we are willing to give them that.

    Thanks to:
    • All Judges this year for their hard work in ensuring the Contest ran from start to finish.
    • All of the Media Panel for their many streams and videos…
    • SeanieB for providing server hosting and of course Cinossu for the website.
    • redhotsonic for this year’s trailer.
    • Everyone who submitted to the Contest or Expo, no matter if they won trophies or not.
    • And You…for taking part in the Contest Week.
    We will be back for the Sonic Hacking Contest 2021. See you next Contest!
     
  2. Kilo

    Kilo Foxy Fren Exiled

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    Congratulations to everyone who won a trophy (Or a whole bunch) these entries really deserved them!~
     
  3. DeltaWooloo

    DeltaWooloo The noob next door Member

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    Congratulations to everyone who either participated or won a trophy, especially Pantufa the Cat. After 6 years of showcasing the hack, it finally won SHC 2020, which I should be proud of.

    Sadly, I didn't win anything but it doesn't mean I won't give up. Rather than feeling upset about it, it has made me feel determined to try again, work off my mistakes and become a better person!

    I will be back next year to try again and make something unique! See you next year!
     
  4. D.A. Garden

    D.A. Garden Sonic CD's Sound Test Member

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    Congratulations to all of the winners. VAdaPEGA deserves the win for Pantufa the Cat Extended Edition in my opinion, and I'm glad to see VAdaPEGA's work get the recognition I feel it deserves.

    I am also glad to have contributed something this time that was well received by the community. Thanks for voting on my hack for Best Level Design, and it was also very nice to have received this trophy as a result. This just confirms that what I am doing with regards to level layouts is what people want to see.

    Finally, well done and thank you to everyone who contributed to the contest this year, whether you won a trophy or not. I had a great time playing through the various entries, and the quality continues to improve (obviously the quality criteria has a role in that, but I felt that the quality of entries in general is much higher this time around), so I look forward to next year's contest.
     
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  5. nineko

    nineko I am the Holy Cat Member

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    Here is a video of Sonic 2 Anniversary Edition.

    And here is a video of Sonic Visual Maze.

    More to come eventually, now that I work as a substitute teacher I don't have much time to record these. D.A. Garden's hack is next on my list.
     
  6. Ravenfreak

    Ravenfreak Still hacking the 8-bit titles Member

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    Congrats to everyone who won! I still need to get around to playing most of these hacks, I've still only played Return of Shadow and Sonic 2 Frenzy. I'm definitely going to give D.A. Garden's hack a go next, and since I do have forces on my PC I can get around to trying those soon too. I'm going to try my hardest to enter a 8-bit hack next year, I'm glad at least one was entered this year. xD
     
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  7. LuigiXHero

    LuigiXHero Well-Known Member Member

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    Welp would say it was fun but I regret entering this year at all. Since afaik my hack wasn't even streamed.

    Just feels like ever since expo happened it hasn't been as good anymore because it just feels like no one cares about those. Also its obvious genesis sonic hacking is basically dead now. Everyone doing mania or 3d games nowadays.

    Oh well guess I shouldn't have expected that much. Just glad to finally be done with sonic hacking.
     
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  8. D.A. Garden

    D.A. Garden Sonic CD's Sound Test Member

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    Your hack not being streamed wasn't anything personal, I can guarantee it. The Contest Entries are typically streamed first and there were a lot this year. As such, some of the streamers barely even managed to get through all of the Contest Entries, let alone start going through the Expo Entries. The Expo Entries aren't ignored, but they do allow for people to show off something they've been working on that isn't up to the level of a Contest Entry.

    I'd would like to understand how you think that Sonic hacking on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis is dead? The winning trophy awarded from the Judges, and the second place trophy awarded from the community was for a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Entry. The number of Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Contest Entries was 22/41 (over half), and the number of Expo Entries was 17/29 (Again, over half). I would say the opposite is true; Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Entries in general were in abundance this year, and there was plenty to show. Again, so much so that there wasn't enough time to do so.

    If you feel that this turnout is enough to make you retire from Sonic Hacking, then so be it. It's your choice. But blaming the Sonic Hacking Contest for your decision doesn't make any sense when the facts don't back up your reasoning.
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2020
  9. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    Unfortunately streamers only have a finite time to stream entries on the schedule and let's not forget, the community gets to vote on Contest entries, not Expo.

    We are looking at ways to improve streams for next year, including the possibility of having a schedule for entry participants to show their own entry and explain how they made it and so on, but next year isn't here yet.

    Also, we won't tell streamers how to stream for the contest. If they don't play certain entries, that's up to them. Some, if they want to, will stream more entries after the Contest Week.

    We do include the entry information and media panel notes, if people want particular things shown please ensure for next time that it's in those notes.

    As for Mega Drive entries, there's still plenty to go around. But when Mania is the new shiny thing around, with more modding improvements coming, it won't be a surprise when Mania tops overall some day.

    The Expo is there if you don't want judged or if you miss the judged deadline. If you want your entry to shine, make sure it's in for the Contest next year.

    Please, keep the feedback coming by the way. We do want to make adjustments next year.
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2020
  10. AURORA☆FIELDS

    AURORA☆FIELDS so uh yes Exiled

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    We're still looking for any feedback you may have - you have a few days to submit it to the feedback form!

    Also sorry about the delays, but the evaluations will be made public within a few days. Just like usual, real life and other contest related stuff sometimes gets in the way.

    That's all, thanks again for everyone who submitted and attended!
     
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  11. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    People have been waiting, and we can now deliver...

    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pEkfwrfCcUnfbwQEXZ0STRM0yv8kmvaK?usp=sharing

    Here are all the Judges' Evaluations for every entry submitted to this year's Sonic Hacking Contest. Come and see what the judges thought of each entry, sorry for the delays.

    Please note that each judge may have different opinions for each entry, and this does not reflect the position of SHC completely.

    Judges are entitled to their own opinion and are not a hivemind. If you disagree with what they said, it's their opinion on an entry.

    As a result of the evaluations now being available, we will extend evaluations for the rest of the week, if anyone has further comments to make having seen these.

    https://forms.gle/2q4pSGecydNPh3R26

    We do have plans next year to shake up judging to ensure better evaluation is possible, especially for the 3D entries, which have been highly requested.

    The 2021 Sonic Hacking Contest and Expo will be announced when we are ready to do so!
     
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  12. TheInvisibleSun

    TheInvisibleSun Visible Member

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    Thanks for the feedback judges, I appreciate it!

    I am a little confused/concerned by the seemingly lack of observation though. There were some comments/critiques that were actually addressed in the entry text itself; this either implies that the entry was unclear, or that the judges didn't read the entry page. Perhaps it's not my place to demand how judges consume and evaluate the work (and admittedly, the game in the end should convey enough info alone), but it would be unfortunate if the latter were true. Although one important personal takeaway for me, is to prioritize conveyance much more. I seriously overestimated what people would naturally notice during gameplay, and I'm a bit dismayed that even a few judges seemed to not know what was going on in either of my entries. Mind you, this was mostly my fault for some elements lacking in clarity (maybe more notes for the judges could've helped, if anything), but it is a little disappointing to see, especially when some reviews imply that the game wasn't quite explored enough to take a look at the different things offered (for example, I'm not confident that all of the judges looked at the special stages in Black and White, despite having a level select code). I'd love to be wrong, though; I do understand that y'all have a lot of entries to get through, and I really don't want to come across as conceited. Maybe my entries weren't worth the trouble for some, given the blatant issues they had. Which is understandable I suppose. Either way, there were still a lot of great critiques and improvement points given, so again, I appreciate it, and all the work you guys do for this every year.
     
  13. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    A statement regarding OrdosAlpha's evaluations and the decision that has been made for him not to be a judge next year.

    We understand people are upset over what has been written by Ordos for this year's Sonic Hacking Contest entry evaluations. What was written is the opinion of Ordos alone, and is not the opinion of every other SHC judge, but in the end reflects on the rest of us and the SHC as a whole.

    Expressing an opinion is one thing, but what was written is unacceptable behaviour. This was not "being blunt", but being derrogatory for no reason. As a result the rest of us are looking at just who will be kept next year and who will be dropped. Ordos will be one of those dropped.

    We will also take the opportunity to look into bringing in new faces for the 3D and Mania judging duties to better help with those entries in the future. It has been made clear that there is a lack of knowledge in regards to these entries, and this needs rectifying in order to judge and evaluate effectively.

    We have tried over the last few years, and especially so this year, to portray this contest in a less amateur way than previous. Earlier contests were held in a more amateur way to those of later years, with the current community mentality of the time being clearly expressed in this. At time has gone on the community has grown up, and the SHC has had to grow up with it.

    It seems that some are still stuck in the past. A lot of the good will we have been building up with the community at large has taken a hit from this, and we can only express our apologies that it has happened, and do better in next year's contest and beyond. We still hope to see you all next year and look forward to seeing what you all submit.

    In regards to what is happening at SSRG as a whole right now, while this may be a knock-on from what is going on here with the evaluations, in no way is the SHC involved or do we condone what has happened or is being said. We have literally no control over that, and is the actions of Ordos alone.