[Ldraw-content] Forwarding thoughts about the MOTM/SOTM contest

[Timothy Gould]

Hi Willy,

It's hard to say where that belongs. Zach sent me that suggestion a
little while back in reference to the little raytracing challenges I
have run. I've attached my response to him then here.

Tim
----
While I think this is a good idea I fear that the general interest
just wouldn't be there. The Lego CAD community is small enough and
those that can actually render beyond the basic settings is even
smaller. Organising such an event in an ad hoc manner via lugnet might
be plausible although I fear the entry pool would be tiny but
organising it through ldraw.org would almost certainly be more effort
than the results would warrant.

It would be nice if it was otherwise but I simply feel it wouldn't
work. As it is I'm happy to run these challenges occassionally since
they are fairly light work for me but I think anything more formal
would be impossible. I appreciate your enthusiasm and wish more people
shared it but we are are a niche in a niche in a niche.




On 10/16/06, LDraw <ldraw at holly-wood.it> wrote:
> hi,
>
> I'll forward the following email. if you feel this belongs more to the
> steerco please let me know.
>
> w.
>
>
>
>
>  >----Messaggio originale----
> Da: zach.best at gmail.com
> Data: 16-ott-2006 7.05 PM
> A: <WILLY.TSCHAGER at tin.it>
> Ogg: Re: LDraw.org MOTM/SOTM Relaunch
>
>
> Hi,
>
> Thank you for restarting the MOTM/SOTM.  I am excited to take part in
> the challenges.
>
> I would like to propose a change to MOTM/SOTM.
>
> As it stands, the challenges are very unfocused. A person can basically
> use any model they have built in ages past.  Scenes are a little
> different, but many times old works can be used.  There is also a
> discrepancy in who "wins."  Are we supposed to judge each separately?
> Well we want our favorite entry to win, but how do you decide between
> clever (bonsai tree) vs. technical (starship) vs. cool (???)?  It seems
> so mish-mash.
>
> The change I would like to propose is to have a monthly theme for each
> MOTM/SOTM.  The themes can be really simple and ambiguous (see the
> Internet Ray Tracing Contest irtc.org for ideas).
>
> I think this would help the MOTM/SOTM for the following reasons:
> (1) Focus.  Part of the MOTM/SOTM is to give other LDRAW users ideas.
> We want to share knowledge.  When you have a 50,000 piece starship
> sitting next to a 500 piece vignette, the reader loses focus.  They
> can't compare how the builder of the starship created his radar dishes
> to how the vignette builder posed the minifig.  If the challenges were
> themed, a reader could do exactly that.  There would be a bigger reason
> to compare what has been entered and thereby expand the reader's
> knowledge of Lego and LDRAW.
> (2) Interest. While I can't speak for everyone, a
> 'submit-whatever-you-want' contest is not interesting.  This directly
> correlates with focus.  An unfocused challenge will not draw the
> interest that the MOTM/SOTM has the potential to draw. If the monthly
> challenge has a theme, I believe the interest in those challenges will
> increase.  First is the creativity factor.  A theme will force people to
> draw upon the theme in a creative manner.  You don't want your entry to
> look like everyone elses.  The use of the brain in this manner leads to
> a more fun experience.  Second is the technical factor. You were playing
> with Legos the other day and came up with a creative way to use certain
> parts.  If people are closely examining your entry because it is similar
> enough to their own that they might find ways to improve upon it, this
> technical expertise will become more apparent.  Less experienced
> modelers will be able to get better ideas in a easier swallowed form
> than the current MOTM/SOTM, and more experienced modelers will enjoy the
> competition and new ideas that are brought.
> (3) Community Strength. Finally, I will come up on my last factor.
> LDRAW is a very powerful tool and can be a fun past time. The first
> place people go to look is most likely ldraw.org, and there people will
> want examples.  What better way to give examples than themed challenges.
>   Sure, people can kind of do that anyway with the current MOTM/SOTM,
> but in that case they are wading through lots of randomness.  Look at
> how IRTC.org works, they only show you the top entries when you click on
> the bi-monthly contest, but if you want you can see all of them. Finally
> it gives people something to look forward to.  It is not very exciting
> to look forward to "just submitting another model."  It is exciting to
> look forward to seeing the new theme and then coming up with a new
> model/scene for that theme.  Which is my final point, the draw of a
> themed contest is greater than an unthemed contest.  More people will be
> interested, leads to a better contest, leads to more enthusiasm in
> LDRAW, circle on ad infinitum.
>
> Thank you for your time and consideration. You may forward this to
> whomever you feel should read it.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Zach Best
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