tsumea modeller and programmer challenge deadline TONIGHT midnight!

Just a reminder that the tsumea modeller and programmer challenge deadline is tonight, midnight (EST), so be sure to read my post about challenge submissions in an earlier news post on how to submit your entries. For programmers, you may have to host your files somewhere for me to grab (there are plenty of file storage services, or you could use one of your isp host's webspace - however, I will look into making available an ftp service). Once you've hosted your file, shoot me a private message!

For more information on the submission details, please read the post at the following link. If you have any questions, please do fire me an email or make a post here!

Submitted by souri on Wed, 17/12/08 - 1:12 PMPermalink

Well, the deadline for the challenges are over, and it's a bit disappointing. We've had over 70 people subscribed in the modeller challenge group, and 40 people posting updates on their entries, and only 5 completed submissions.

The programmer challenge has only received one entry.

Submitted by paternoster on Wed, 17/12/08 - 8:51 AMPermalink

Yeh you would think there would be more finished entries with 4 months til the deadline. I think it was a good theme and there are some really nice work that artists can use in their portfolio. Thanks for organising the comp Souri, it was good!

Submitted by souri on Thu, 18/12/08 - 12:49 PMPermalink

I think a lot of people have underestimated the real importance of these challenges as a real way into the games industry. Big Ant have hired in the past from the modeller challenge the last time they sponsored, and many others have been approached/hired in all the other challenges also. The exposure and industry feedback from these challenges is priceless. I was at Game Connect last month and spoke to someone there who told me a Brisbane developer approached them after seeing their model entry. We get hundreds or thousands viewing job posts, so I'm puzzled why job seekers aren't pouncing on this opportunity.

It really is disappointing, particularly with the programmer challenge, since THQ Studios Australia were extremely interested in the results. They expressed interest in hiring the winner - in fact, they offered that as part of the main prize (which I preferred not to announce in case something like this would happen). With only one entry, I'm sure you can understand that it's not possible. Unfortunately, I think it'll be a hard sell to convince sponsors to support a programmer challenge in the future.

Submitted by StephenWade on Thu, 18/12/08 - 5:06 PMPermalink

Mmm well i don't know what the job seekers are doing! I don't think I'll ever do games development professionally, my other profession is what's taking up all my time at the moment :S

It really is a shame that so few got on board, and you are right it'll be a very hard sell to get another sponsored programmer challenge. *scratches head*

Submitted by BattleElf on Thu, 18/12/08 - 5:20 PMPermalink

I can't speak for others, but with family responsibilities and work I just didn't have enough time. I had a pretty good feeling that the programmer challenge had potential job offers in mind and I was really interested in getting in an entry and so I'm quite disappointed I couldn't pull it off. The time needed to first assemble a game engine and then doing the a.i. was too much. It would possibly have been different if all we had to concentrate on was the a.i. Though I understand that's probably not all THQ were interested in looking at.

However, please don't let this put anyone off from setting up future challenges as I'm sure others, like myself, will be much better prepared with what we did accomplish for next time ;)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 18/12/08 - 9:19 PMPermalink

Completely agree. Assembling everything for a 3d application is just too time consuming, hard to get motivated for really. A 2d option would have been so much better as well, keeps the engine and art side a lot easier while still having heaps of potential for some awesome AI.

Submitted by squashed_bug on Sat, 20/12/08 - 10:06 AMPermalink

At the beginning of the competition I was a job seeker looking at getting into the game industry. I did see this challenge as a great way to get into the industry and I added details of my entry to my website (which was a fairly important part of my resume). I had a couple of interviews with game companies and they were interested in me explaining my entry. One of these interviews did actually lead to a job offer, which I think my half-baked entry contributed to.

I didn't finish my entry because I lost interest. I did have the time but due to the reasons mentioned below I rathered spending it developing my own game.

The requirments were way too strict and added too much complexity. AI, 3D, 1000+ Units, Real time, Player interaction, c++ and directx. Having to create an entry which obeyed all these rules drained a lot of the fun away rather than providing an exciting challenge. The rules maybe what THQ are looking for in their next employee but seriously a challenge should be for fun not as part of an intensive interview process. The investment of time required to complete an entry was huge which has detered a lot of people from being able to compete. The lack of the discussion about the competition on tsumea made it very easy to lose interest and the motivation needed to complete an entry.

I would like to see the programmer challenge return. For the next challenge rules should be made to reduce complexity ( I really like the concept of the "One Button" challenges out there). To help keep the community involved forcing contestants to keep a developers journal would be good. Three months is a good length for the challenge but maybe it should start at the beginning of the uni semester so exams don't get in the way and an entry should be able to be completed in about a week.

Last but not least, thanks Souri for putting the competition together. I really do appreciate it!