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

[LDraw]

I like the idea of the 100 pieces or a theme-bound contest. we could 
alternate them. also a rotation challenge or using at least two given 
pieces could work.

w.




Timothy Gould schrieb:
> 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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