[OFFICIAL] Contest Info & Rules

[HBGames Staff]

We are a general game making website specialising in RPGs. Over the years we have built up a userbase with an expertise in RPG Maker and this contest is designed to highlight the great work our members can achieve, with rewards for both good game design and creation, and giving support and a helping hand to those who need it.

Deadline: 28th February 23:59 GMT
PM your files to Amy if you haven't publicly posted them before then.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is simple:

• Create a game using an RPG Maker.

That is all.

We're giving you the freedom to show your creativity and quick thinking - but there are some guidelines you should stick to:

• Your "game" should be reasonably finished.
• The game should be made for this contest and this contest alone (although you can then use it after the contest however you wish).
• Games can be made as a team, but due to the nature of the prizes, it is up to you to dish them out amongst you and this may be difficult. There is no cash alternative.
• Games must be made in a legally owned form of either: RPG Maker 95, 2000, 2003, XP, VX, or VXAce. Demo and lite editions are fine.
• Because games will need to be judged, you should aim to have them less than 5 hours in length, although this is not a necessity (but will affect how much of your game is actually seen).
• Extra points will not be awarded for work that isn't your own - so adding a super battle system but not tinkering with it won't give you a better steading.
• Regretfully, all games should be in the English language, but your knowledge of English will not be judged.

While there is no official theme as sorts, the contest is called "January Blues" - you'd do well to implement this in your game in an imaginative way (however you wish to interpret it). Bonus points will be awarded for your creativity and imagination - not necessarily requiring the title though.

There will be an additional copy of RPG Maker VX Ace for the person who puts the most effort into helping out along the way ("Community Champion"), especially helping other people with support and critique.

It doesn't matter where this help goes, as long as it's here and in public; we'll be watching :shades:

This contest has been sponsored by the great guys at RPG Maker.

● RPG Maker VX Ace on Steam
● A HBGames.org Sponsorship
● 100 Project Points

● A selection of games from the Humble Indie Bundle
● A HBGames.org Sponsorship
● 75 Project Points

● A HBGames.org Sponsorship
● 50 Project Points

● RPG Maker VX Ace on Steam
● A HBGames.org Sponsorship
● 75 Support Points
Please note this prize rank may be withdrawn if there is low participation.



Depending on how successful the contest is, more prizes may be announced later (some quite exciting ones planned but will only be given if we get enough interest).

Thank you to Injury who has donated prizes to the prize pool, an Glitchfinder who donated some prizes in an earlier contest (these will probably be used later on though, as we don't have many entrants).




Inspiration

As a companion to this contest we created a special RPG Maker edition of the HBGames.org eZine, a bumper edition with tons of content, tutorials, interviews, etc. You can read all issues of the eZine here: viewforum.php?f=202

 

[HBGames Staff]

If you have any questions about the contest please ask them in this thread.

 

[Sailerius]

Sounds awesome. I'm really busy prepping for a major milestone for VSA but I'd love to make something short if I have the time. I'll try to set aside a weekend for it sometime before it ends.

 

[moga]

I just registered to try submitting for this XD'

So, just to clarify- we can't use RPGMaker 2000-3 unofficial translation versions of these programs to make our games?

 

[Sailerius]

I just registered to try submitting for this XD'

So, just to clarify- we can't use RPGMaker 2000-3 unofficial translation versions of these programs to make our games?

Those are illegal, so no.

 

[Jason]

I just registered to try submitting for this XD'

I hate when people do this, it annoyed me (And Tuna even more!) during the Construct 2 competition... just random people signing up for the contest, and then afterwards they leave, so it's obvious their whole intention was to sign up solely for the contest and not to be a member of the community.

I'm not saying you will too, but either way it annoys me.

 

[Ellie]

I just registered to try submitting for this XD'

So, just to clarify- we can't use RPGMaker 2000-3 unofficial translation versions of these programs to make our games?

General rule of thumb:

Not that there's any way of us knowing, to be fair.

 

[Ellie]

I just registered to try submitting for this XD'

I hate when people do this, it annoyed me (And Tuna even more!) during the Construct 2 competition... just random people signing up for the contest, and then afterwards they leave, so it's obvious their whole intention was to sign up solely for the contest and not to be a member of the community.

I'm not saying you will too, but either way it annoys me.

Sorry about that. We didn't do a very good job of follow-up events to keep them here after the contest. We'll try and do better this time around; I want to make 2014 a cool year. We and RMXP are ten years old, it should be.

 

[Glitchfinder]

Would anyone be willing to clarify which "selection of games from the Humble Indie Bundle" it is? I'm pretty sure it would matter, especially since the older bundles had Steam keys that gave multiple games at once, and the newer bundles are tied to a Steam account.

 

[Ellie]

To the Moon / Joe Danger 2: The Movie / Papa & Yo / Hoard / Strike Suit Zero / Toki Tori 2 / Reus / Surgeon Simulator 2013 / Shadowgrounds / Trine / Jack Claw Prototype / Shadowgrounds Survivor / Trine 2: Complete Story

(The current Weekly Sale and Humble Bundle).

And then some more will be added to that, the total gear depends how many people enter the contest though.

I thought I had more, but I must've forgot to click "gift" when I bought them. The other I have is Multimedia Fusion 2 which I am saving for a future contest.

 

[kimin07734]

You say to "Create a game using an RPG Maker", but does that mean it needs to have a battle system and such features?

 

[Ellie]

No. It can be anything that could be called a game (which, I guess, is anything at all). It doesn't need to be an RPG, just has to be made in one of the RPG Maker series.

 

[Stardust]

While there is no official theme as sorts, the contest is called "January Blues" - you'd do well to implement this in your game in an imaginative way (however you wish to interpret it). Bonus points will be awarded for your creativity and   - not necessarily requiring the title though.

*twitch*

I may use this as inspiration to start something small, but I'll probably end up helping other people out more than anything. :3 I'd like to have at least a small demo. Even if I don't win, I want to say that I finished something tangible.

Random question! If you're making a sort of demo/intro that you want to extend into a bigger game, would ending your entry for this contest with a "To be continued..." and labeling it as an intro or Part 1 count against you? As long as the section you created is complete as its own game, but the story continues~

 

[StrawberrySmiles]

I have a question!

Would the prize of VX ACE be a key for the product? If so, I might have a better reason to enter.

 

[LiquidMetal91]

Would anyone be willing to clarify which "selection of games from the Humble Indie Bundle" it is? I'm pretty sure it would matter, especially since the older bundles had Steam keys that gave multiple games at once, and the newer bundles are tied to a Steam account.

Humble Indie Bundle X, and if I read what Wyatt wrote correctly its the gift card version. After recieving the link, it will be connected to the steam account connected to your Humble Bundle account (if you have one). Otherwise it will promt you to either make a HumbleBundle account or enter your steam account for linking.

 

[moga]

Well, thanks for clarifying that. ^ ^'

 

[Ellie]

I have a question!

Would the prize of VX ACE be a key for the product? If so, I might have a better reason to enter.

It will be a key to activate it on Steam.

 

[kentona]

I just registered to make this post! I won't be submitting anything, even though I am deluding myself into thinking I can. And then I will leave this community forever (until I get word of another contest or event to share... through my SECRET CONNECTIONS TO HBGAMES)

 

[Byron]

Well that's encouraging.
Honestly, the community here are willing to help. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask.

My games going smoothly. Amy, do I have to submit an official thread?
Or is the one in my personal forum enough?

 

[Glitchfinder]

Well that's encouraging.
Honestly, the community here are willing to help. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask.

My games going smoothly. Amy, do I have to submit an official thread?
Or is the one in my personal forum enough?

You can post your projects, ask for support, talk about the contest, in this board. Or, you can post your projects in the projects boards, ask for support in the RPG Maker support boards, and talk about the contest in your Nan's parlour. It's up to you.

...

If you're looking to win Community Champion, you will be judged for any support you give to contest members wherever you post it. Don't worry, we're watching. We're always watching. Well, watching anything posted publicly. It doesn't matter if it's in this board or any other board, if it's helping a contest member, you'll get credit towards this prize.