I will never participate in anything verge related again.

And one final note: chiding words from anonymous posters are hardly damning or scarring.

The first two anonymous posts were mine. I'm sorry but I was feeling too lazy to make an account. The third is not.

I do appreciate that you're trying to find good judges, though, and I can understand if there are other things going on in your life that may prevent you from judging. But honestly, I doubt anybody's life is so busy that they can't/don't set aside some time here and there for doing random crap like playing games made in less than 100 hours and writting a bit about them.

Also, I was not aware that people asked for this competition. I generally am called upon by hawk, read through the rules, and don't pay attention again until scores come out.

For the record I really don't give a fuck. I appreciate your high quality standards and applaud your efforts McGrue. Kudos and take as long as you need.

... then for the competition after that I think a premade map should be supplied.

it should have an extremely limited size and be like an enclosed base. The contestants may not add any extras maps that the player can play in (though they could use some for cutscenes).

Preferable the given map would be hi-techish (but not necessarily from the future). So for instance it could exist now and could be a 24 (the series) type base where you have to control agents in the field or deal with traitors (like that evil Nina). Protect the president and make sure your daughter isn't being kidnapped.

Or it could be a space station lost in space with an alien on board.

Or a deep mining rig on lost planet.

Or a war vechical in a world war on a distant planet that occured before the earth was created.

Or under the sea, in a dream, at the top of a big futuristic tower that controls a planet, a ancient crypt that you've become stuck inside of and turns out to have very advanced technology. . . etc etc I'm sure contestants could come up with plenty of their own ideas.

Basically it depends how each contestant populates the map and adds scripted events - like what happens when you look at one of the terminals for instance.

The only problem with this idea is that the map needs to pre-built. I'd suggest stealing tiles from commerical games and then having a talented volunteer create the map.

and after that tragedy.

Specifically, that game must end with the main character shouting 'NOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!!' and then dying.

The events leading up to this are the competition. Shakespeare always said something about comedy and tragedy being tied I'm sure that would prove to be the case here too.

Those requirements seem to be both interesting and maleable to creative interpretation at the same time :)

Hmmm I'd really prefer it if they were called Cosmonauts too, but I guess they're allowed to have they're own name (until I can somehow impose the word Cosmonaunt on unwilling people of China anyway)

Anywhoo while I'm having my 3-day day dream during work time - I thought of something else that would be very nice.

I'm under the impression some one here hand coded these message boards? Or at least customized them from something open source?

Well it would be nice if each member underneath the post count had a 'badge' count. And each time they entered a contest they would be given a badge. Of course you don't have to use the word badge it could easily be the word 'potatoe' and I'm sure people would want them just as much.

Anyway the man with the most potatoes would be the man who had everyones respect and longing, slightly-envious-yet-still-loving stares.

Maybe a winner would be given two badges - I don't know it's all about the taking part I guess.

Yes... Really... I mean, it's been a fair month. It doesn't take that long to judge. I know we said take your time, but this is a little out hand, in my opinion. If you take the time to decide you'll hold a contest, you should take the minimal time to play through all the entries. Please? ;___;

That's a secret!