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

[Timothy Gould]

I do agree that the MOTM could do with some tweaking. Personally I
won't enter it because it doesn't make any sense to me. I quite like
SOTM as it is presently run since judging a complete picture is
arbitrary anyway and it can really be boiled down to what you like
best.

As I expressed in my private response to Zach my worry is that by
making either more precise we limit entrants from what is already a
very small pool. That said if we keep the categories broad enough (eg.
castle models, models under 100 pieces) then people might have stuff
already done that they can submit.

It's a difficult question though.

Tim

On 10/16/06, Orion Pobursky <orion at ldraw.org> wrote:
> LDraw 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
>
> Some very good points.  We should probably discuss this further.  I've
> been somewhat unsatisfied with the format contests for some time now.  I
> did a little of tweaking when I issued the MOTM rule change a year and a
> half ago but this was more to shift the focus of the MOTM contest from
> the rendering technique back to the models themselves.  I don't know,
> maybe a theme based challenge is the way to go.  Thoughts?
>
> Also, based on past precedence, we, meaning the website admins, have
> complete control over the format, rules, etc. of the MOTM/SOTM contest
> so SteerCo involvement is not required.
>
> -Orion
>
> --
> We don't stop playing because we grow old;
> we grow old because we stop playing
> -George Bernard Shaw
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