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GameDev.net Launches Four Elements Game Contest

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the we-who-many-be-about-to-dev-salute-you dept.

Superpig writes "GameDev.net has just launched their annual Four Elements contest. Participants are given just under six months to make a game based around four elements: this year, it's Emotion, Economics, Emblem, and Europe. Any tools or middleware can be used, provided it's all legal. The prize pool looks a bit thin at the moment, but in past years they've had folks like ATI and SoftImage donating mid-contest, so it'll probably pick up as time goes on."

26 comments

  1. Is boredom an emotion? by pjt33 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If boredom is an emotion then maybe the French Finance Minister should submit his Balance the Budget game.

    1. Re:Is boredom an emotion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe?

  2. Prize Size? by imunfair · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't quite understand the prizes - looking at the previous year: http://www.gamedev.net/community/contest/4e4/

    The top winner didn't get much in the way of prizes. Softimage XSI, yeah I know it's expensive - but if the developer is already making games without it, it's questionable whether he needs it or not. The rest of the prizes are fairly small.

    So does winning this contest gain you a considerable amount of notoriety or am I missing something?

    1. Re:Prize Size? by Aladrin · · Score: 3, Informative

      I think maybe you should take some time to read up on Opportunity Cost

      As for the contest and its prizes...

      I'm a coder and I've followed game development (even though I'm not in the industry, even as a hobby) for quite a few years and I've never heard of this contest. It's pretty safe to say that they only thing you get out of this contest other than some questionable prizes is a really nice line on your resume and bragging rights.

      --
      "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
    2. Re:Prize Size? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey, I want a GDnet+ account. Free webspace + developer journal :) . The other prizes from last year I'm not so sure I would've used (considering I don't know what over half of them actually do) but they would probably be fun to play around with nonetheless.
      On a side note, I think I can say that quite a large amount of game developers have heard of this contest (just look at how many people visit gamedev.net), and even though I don't remeber who created the good games, I remember playing them, so I think this is a pretty good way to get your game distributed. If only last years contest had been during the summer too...

    3. Re:Prize Size? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You did notice the ATI graphics card, right? The actual contest started before their next "top of the line" card was released, so everyone knew it meant they would be getting the next big thing.

      Anyways, the point of the contest is to make agame because you enjoy making games.

  3. Obvious Joke by Usekh · · Score: 0

    It's not the size of the prize that matters, it's what you do with it

  4. More accessible competitions by Richard+Jones · · Score: 3, Informative

    Given the length and open scope of this competition it's probably out of reach of most hobbyist game programmers. For more accessible challenges, see or the gamecompo website or pyweek. Disclaimer: I have previously run LD48 challenges and now run pyweek.

    1. Re:More accessible competitions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most of last year's entries were hobbyist/student jobs. I don't think any single entry had more than three people working on it.

      Besides, why would the contest being long and open make it 'inaccessible?'

    2. Re:More accessible competitions by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Probably because all the pros have signed contracts with non-compete clauses.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    3. Re:More accessible competitions by Richard+Jones · · Score: 1

      Most casual game developers I talk to find it much easier to commit to a shorter timeframe.

  5. Uh Huh by Umbral+Blot · · Score: 1

    I hate to sound snide, but asking a bunch of computer geeks, notoriously out of touch with their feelings, to make a game about/with emotions is asking for trouble.

    --

    Philosophy.
    1. Re:Uh Huh by Chelloveck · · Score: 1
      I hate to sound snide, but asking a bunch of computer geeks, notoriously out of touch with their feelings, to make a game about/with emotions is asking for trouble.

      I guess you've never heard of the emotional romp that is Super Princess Peach.

      --
      Chelloveck
      I give up on debugging. From now on, SIGSEGV is a feature.
    2. Re:Uh Huh by GeekDork · · Score: 1

      OTOH, so is asking most slashdot readers for their opinion on politics. Or emotions.

      --

      Fight hunger. Filet a politician and send him to a 3rd world country of your choice.

    3. Re:Uh Huh by Patrik_AKA_RedX · · Score: 1

      That's already done before. I think the Larry-games captured geek-feelings perfectly.

  6. Windows only - BOO! by 5plicer · · Score: 1

    Rule #10: The entry must be able to run on Microsoft Windows to qualify. In other words, standard Windows executables, Flash, browser-based games, etc. all qualify as long as we can use the entry on our judging machines.

    --
    The bits on the bus go on and off... on and off... on and off...
    1. Re:Windows only - BOO! by Profound · · Score: 2, Informative

      The entry must be able to run on Microsoft Windows != Windows Only

    2. Re:Windows only - BOO! by 5plicer · · Score: 1

      By Windows only, I mean that only MS Windows compatible entries will be accepted. In other words, if you're part of the crowd that can't morally justify running (let alone developing for) Windows, then you can't participate in the contest.

      --
      The bits on the bus go on and off... on and off... on and off...
    3. Re:Windows only - BOO! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is this such a bad thing? This is also a game development contest, if you remember, and only Windows supports DirectX, so it makes sense that they are choosing Windows over, say, Linux or whatever. Also, I didn't realize there were people so biased against Microsoft that they "can't morally justify running ... Windows." LOL

    4. Re:Windows only - BOO! by Watson+Ladd · · Score: 1

      So use Cygwin or MiniGW. Or Java. Cross-Platform development is possible.

      --
      Inventions have long since reached their limit, and I see no hope for further development.-- Frontinus, 1st cent. AD
  7. game genres by lon3st4r · · Score: 1
    this year, it's Emotion, Economics, Emblem, and Europe

    So are we going to see games based on tear-jerker soap operas...?

    cut-scenes from the game: bill disappears (grief).. bill reappears (joy).. oh-no it's his evil twin (despair) .. oh-no it was him (surprise) .. oh-no! they're all dead (mourn).. oh-yes! they survived, what a miracle! (befuddled!)

    needless to say, to win the game, you'll have to introduce the maximum number of twists in the tale.

    * lon3st4r *

    ps: you can send somebody back-packing through europe to score some! ;)

  8. I got an idea by vk38 · · Score: 1

    "Da Vinci Code -- The Game". It has all the required ingredients...

  9. Re:I got an idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now go spend six months developing the game. ^^

  10. a flash of brilliance by SEAL · · Score: 1

    Emotion, Economics, Emblem, and Europe.

    We can cover all of that with an online game to auction off Nazi memorabilia! Of course it'll be illegal in most of Europe but hey that's why America is great. I think for my encore I'm gonna go wander off and report some people to the U.S. secret police for downloading porn.