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We have some options - what do you want to do?

Kevin Hawkins · 2003-07-23T14:59:10

After thinking about this contest and all the feedback that I have received, I have determined that we, collectively as a group here, have a few options. Option 1: We start the contest with the arena executable (almost) as-is with a few defect fixes. Advantages: The contest starts within the next 2 weeks. The core of the arena works well. It's just the presentation that needs work. Disadvantages: The arena executable may not work properly for everyone. The defects everyone has been seeing with the download, for the most part, will remain until a later date. Everyone accepts the interface as-is. Option 2: I rewrite parts of the arena executable to allow for some of these other features that have been mentioned. Advantages: The arena executable will (hopefully) work well on everyone's machine. All defects have been fixed due to a redesign. Some of the features that have been requested are implemented, or at the minimum, easily added due to the redesign. Disadvantages: The contest will not start anytime soon. It could be another 2 months or more (keep in mind I only worked on this for about 3-5 hours per week for 2 months.. that trend would have to continue). Potential for new defects due to redesign. Option 3: We start a contest without prizes (for fun) using the current arena executable - a sort of trial run. During the lifetime of this contest, the arena executable and the interface is redesigned and reimplemented to fix defects and include improvements/features based on feedback. Advantages: We have a contest. We get immediate feedback on: the arena executable, the arena interface, and the contest format. Everyone gets a chance to give their input to make a better product (product being the contest). The first official contest would be (in theory) better due to a low defect yield and a reworked/rehashed/reimplemented arena with improvements. Everyone tests the current arena for the contest, as well as the new arena for feedback. Disadvantages: We do not have prizes. The real contest does not start for another couple of months - at least until this first one is over and the new arena version is ready. If anyone has any other advantages/disadvantages for each of these, I'd like to see them. Basically, I realized that my attempt at quickly developing the arena executable might not result in the best and most fair contest possible. And given that I cannot stand having people use my software if it is buggy, I would rather improve it if that is what everyone would rather have. Another reason is that this is a completely new contest for GameDev.net, and while I do not expect to get it right this first time, I would like to make it as good as possible. I leave this up to you, however. If Option 2 or 3 are decided, then just remember that I will not be working on this fulltime, and I will not be spending a couple hours every night trying to complete it. I have a life that I want to keep, a book that I need to get busy on, and everyday work. However, I would spend a few hours per week, and I would be willing to make this contest better if that is the consensus I received from those interested in participating. Also, feature creep will be kept at a minimum. If a new version is to be created, it will have a defined set of improvements, and only those improvements will be included. Anything else will have to wait until after the "official" contest. ***EDIT: To clarify a point made in a reply below, these features have already been determined for the next version of the arena executable. While people may request many features, some extraneous at this point, I already have a list of improvements and fixes. So by saying that feature creep will be kept at a minimum, I mean that my list of improvements is already defined for the next version, and new requests during that version's development will not be implemented. Anyway, as always, provide comments, suggestions, ideas, your name and credit card number, etc. and let me know as a collective whole what you want to do based on the advantages and disadvantages of each option. *** This post has been edited. Please review it for any changes since your last visit. ***

GameDev: Arena Contests

Started by khawk July 16, 2003 09:12 AM

76 comments, last by khawk 20 years, 11 months ago

Dragon88

246

July 17, 2003 12:56 PM

Kevin, when are u going to finallize this? It looks like the majority of the populous likes #3. Let''s get the show on the road, plz get the bot generator out there and give us a link to it and the documentation.

(Stolen from Programmer One)
UNIX is an operating system, OS/2 is half an operating system, Windows is a shell, and DOS is a boot partition virus

Xgkkp

122

July 17, 2003 01:47 PM

quote: Original post by cowsarenotevil
3, but I''d like either a personal tag, or maybe Moderator for a Day (or longer if the winner behaves )

Hey I think a prize of an official Gamedev.net forums personal tag is a great idea!

khawk

3,752

Author

July 17, 2003 01:56 PM

quote: Original post by Dragon88
Kevin, when are u going to finallize this? It looks like the majority of the populous likes #3. Let''s get the show on the road, plz get the bot generator out there and give us a link to it and the documentation.

(Stolen from Programmer One)
UNIX is an operating system, OS/2 is half an operating system, Windows is a shell, and DOS is a boot partition virus

Um, this isn''t my fulltime job.

I still need to finish the documentation, but I will release the bot generator and interface soon. Also, I''m wanting to get the exe as stable as possible. I think it''s just about there, though, so we can start moving on.

Right now I think we''ll do something like option 3, but I haven''t determined exactly how we''ll work it out. Plus, I''m going out of town this weekend, so next week is looking to be when the goods will be released.

Admin for GameDev.net.

superpig

1,826

July 18, 2003 07:05 AM

quote: Original post by Khawk
Um, this isn''t my fulltime job.

*coughs and points at the people who said ''get some other people to help out coding it*

Superpig
- saving pigs from untimely fates, and when he''s not doing that, runs The Binary Refinery.
Enginuity1 | Enginuity2 | Enginuity3

Richard "Superpig" Fine - saving pigs from untimely fates - Microsoft DirectX MVP 2006/2007/2008/2009
"Shaders are not meant to do everything. Of course you can try to use it for everything, but it's like playing football using cabbage." - MickeyMouse

khawk

3,752

Author

July 18, 2003 07:38 AM

quote: Original post by superpig
quote: Original post by Khawk
Um, this isn''t my fulltime job.

*coughs and points at the people who said ''get some other people to help out coding it*

Superpig
- saving pigs from untimely fates, and when he''s not doing that, runs The Binary Refinery.
Enginuity1 | Enginuity2 | Enginuity3

Heh, at this point it would take longer for that group to get organized and working together on this than it would to start and run the contest. And also, there is no guarantee in virtual groups that the tasks will be completed both on time and with good quality. Then there''s the whole management aspect, the code ownership aspect, legalities, coordination, and so on.. the drawbacks just outweigh the benefits for this.

Admin for GameDev.net.

superpig

1,826

July 18, 2003 11:22 AM

quote: Original post by Khawk
Heh, at this point it would take longer for that group to get organized and working together on this than it would to start and run the contest. And also, there is no guarantee in virtual groups that the tasks will be completed both on time and with good quality. Then there''s the whole management aspect, the code ownership aspect, legalities, coordination, and so on.. the drawbacks just outweigh the benefits for this.

True for most teams, but if you''re hand-picking people from the massive user base this site has to offer, you can be assured that you''ve got people who know what they''re doing...

Though this was all, of course, merely a ploy to try and get someone using Enginuity for something relevant. Oh well.

Superpig
- saving pigs from untimely fates, and when he''s not doing that, runs The Binary Refinery.
Enginuity1 | Enginuity2 | Enginuity3

Origin

145

July 18, 2003 12:05 PM

Why not create a Known Issues page including solutions found by testers like:

- changing the texture size
- downsizing models
- going into compabibility mode under XP

...and then go with option #1?

bjmumblingmiles

122

July 20, 2003 07:02 PM

Option 3! I also like the comment on the first page by someone who said to just release the specs and API and let us go nuts on our own until a contest is ready. Thats the option I would pick if it were an option

Brian J
DL Vacuum - A media file organizer I made | Mumbling Miles - A band I was the guitarist/vocalist for

Brian J

cow_in_the_well

624

July 20, 2003 08:12 PM

How about #2, or #3, and do 4e4

^___^

The GD:Arena binary crashes on my comp so #1 would suck

- Thomas

[edited by - cow_in_the_well on July 20, 2003 9:13:48 PM]

- Thomas Cowellwebsite | journal | engine video

Russell

118

July 23, 2003 11:35 AM

3

I think it would be a very good idea to let people play with everything and break stuff for a while so that we can have a legitimate contest later for prizes. No point in having prizes if there''s a (reasonable) chance someone will get screwed because of a bug.

I''m for something soon, and I''d like a "no pressure" period to play around.

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We have some options - what do you want to do?

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🎉 Celebrating 25 Years of GameDev.net! 🎉

We have some options - what do you want to do?

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