First RAD of 2009

[Grogyan]

Many of the judges last time wanted to send out a seperate message about each individual Age that was entered.

Sorry Bob, even I looked over that lift as well, as I couldn't hear it, so I thought it was just a pole, having stood looking at it for about a minute.
I only found the exterior and realized it was a lift after using flymode, and I did like your texturing.

[GPNMilano]

I noticed that it was a lift, but I just couldn't figure out how to get onto said lift.

[boblishman]

I noticed that it was a lift, but I just couldn't figure out how to get onto said lift.

err... I don't remember you being a judge ? (or Grogyan) .

This is what I meant. If you are going to JUDGE a contest, then at least do the job properly. .. not set aside two hours over Thanksgiving weekend when you don't really have the time ... ... that's just RUDE (I suggest you read the relevant "explanations" for the marking ... which are even more insulting than the marks themselves!)

[Lontahv]

Meh... what do you expect when you get a bunch of completely new judges.

I'm glad I had a chance to be a contestant this time 'round but I do have to admit all the judges were rather like "huh, wuzzis score do? I'll just close my eyes and press a button on my num-pad. ".

I don't think a complete switch was a good idea. If Grogyan had kept one or two old judges the old ones could've taught the new ones (Chogon was the only person that could be a judge last time who was a judge before--this was unfair IMO it made me feel like: "No, no, you can't judge. Chogon iz suupa so we don't want heem to followz teh ruels"). Also, I don't think there was enough communication between the judges last time. I've found the best judging happens when the judges discuss their views on the ages and then submit their scores. This helps to keep the scoring scale consistent.

Note: the judges were not actually lolcats

[boblishman]

it made me feel like: "No, no, you can't judge. Chogon iz suupa so we don't want heem to followz teh ruels")....

Well, that is exactly what happened .

(I would also point out that the appauling way the last RAD judging was done means that at least one other (regular entrant, talented and well respected Age creating contibutor) will also not enter any more RAD competitons. November's RAD contest was my first ... and my last.)

Tip to potential entrants of future contests:

Show Spoiler

[biting sarcasm]

a) Make sure that you make your Age so simple that a sight-impaired five year old with bad hand-eye co-ordination can find everything in your Age within 2 minutes without actually looking.

b) Do not include confusing objects like walls, doors, or indeed anything that obscures the view of anything else in your Age.

c) Do not assume that (all) the judges will be bothered to "play" your Age and try to "discover" or "explore" anything. After all, remember, they be simple folk with no experience of game-play or design, let alone Age creation.)

[/biting sarcasm]

[Grogyan]

yes, I wasn't a judge, and I am apparently not very good at organizing the contests too well.
I want to be a judge, or have another go at age building as a contestant only, so if someone wants to take the reigns, be my guest, its hard enough to be in an unsuitable time zone.

Else I need constant feedback from anyone that feels that something is not right.

I am still trying to find time to finish my shell from the first contest, only a couple of weeks ago did I have a few hours free, with which I designed a shipping crate, and I will be several to model and texture.

[boblishman]

Else I need constant feedback from anyone that feels that something is not right.

... which is precisely what I have been doing ...

[GPNMilano]

On another note:

For this RAD i'd like to be a judge rather than a contestant. (I'd suggest for Bob to do the same, as this way he show how he views the scorings to go, and others can take a cue from him if they prefer for future versions)

[boblishman]

I am flattered that you think I would be capable of being a judge. Thank you.

However, because I believe that if you're going to volunteer to be a judge, that you must have the TIME to judge properly I am afraid I can't offer my services.

Both my (bad) health and my personal circumstances mean that I am never sure when I am going to be around (and also why my Age creation / forum posts tend to appear in "bursts" ... with "dry" patches in between), and I refuse to disrespect the hard work put in by the entrants should I not be 100% "fit for purpose" during judging.

Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to judge an Age creation contest, but I respect the entrants hard work too much when I cannot say for certain that I would be ABLE to judge properly, at the allotted time.

(Having said that, I would be MORE than happy to act as a "sounding board" to any (or all) of the judges - should they want any assistance with the next competiton ... health/circumstances permitting ... all they need to do is pm me ... )

Knowing how much time and effort goes into Age creation, I think it's just cruel to judge someone's work by "squeezing it in" over a "busy weekend".
If you're going to volunteer to be a judge, then please, please please take the job seriously.

The entrants will have gone through hours/days/weeks of brain-screwing/head-aching AGONY to create their entries. Running around in an entrants Age for 10 minutes (with one eye on a Turkey dinner) is not exactly a respectfully equivilant amount of effort on a judges part.

That's the thing about competitions. They fail or succeed not on the entries, but the standard of the judging.

If it's common knowledge that the judging is pathetic, hurried and uncaring, then the competition itself has no standing/respect or meaning, and the prize (or prestige) becomes worthless (with lots of people saying "well, the judges didn't have a clue").

Yes, competitions are supposed to be fun too, but if all you're really after are a set of new ages to play in, then just open a "Creators Library" where creators can submit their ages for people to enjoy (or not as the case may be) ... and not a competition. The "fun" in a competition is seeing if your work is as good, better or worse than the other entrants.

However, if the judging is a pile of horsesh*t, then there is NO fun in it.

[Grogyan]

well with GPNMilano and myself already pre registered, I hope that the next contest will be handled better.

Just in case anyone is wondering, I'm thinking on moving the next to maybe April, to give everyone a break