{"id":788,"date":"2012-11-24T11:57:30","date_gmt":"2012-11-24T19:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/haymanquarterly.com\/blogs\/?page_id=788"},"modified":"2012-12-08T15:55:59","modified_gmt":"2012-12-08T23:55:59","slug":"the-hmq-gamemaker-competitions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/haymanquarterly.com\/blogs\/the-hmq-gamemaker-competitions\/","title":{"rendered":"The HMQ GameMaker Competitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello GameMaker Developers!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome to the HayMan Quarterly GameMaker Competitions orientation page.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0These competitions were created to offer more flexibility with existing schedules, giving you, the busy game developer, more opportunity to enter and participate in a game developing contest that is very similar to the GMC Jam<\/a>. \u00a0Although the first competition listed is similar, the HMQ GameMaker Competitions as a whole is quite different. \u00a0Allow me to explain further.<\/p>\n

\"WIPThe HayMan Quarterly WIP Competition<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The WIP Competition is the first of the competitions. \u00a0It is much like the GMC Jam, but instead of 72 hours, this is a 48 hour competition. \u00a0Like the Jam, you must develop a game, made specifically for the competition, from start to finish. \u00a0Unlike the GMC Jam, the game is judged not only on it’s playability and style, but also and mostly<\/strong><\/em> on it’s potential<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0This opens the doors more widely for beginning developers, giving them a fighting chance to compete with developers of a higher skill level. \u00a0It also challenges the higher skilled developer to think outside the box and create a game focusing more on gameplay instead of wowwing the judges with graphical effects and polish. \u00a0Of course, effects and polish are important, and will play a role in judging, but the main focus<\/strong><\/span> for the judges is the game’s potential.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A WIP competition will be held every first and third weekend of every month. \u00a0It might seem like a lot, but here’s the catch. \u00a0The competition is limited to only ten entries<\/strong>.<\/span> \u00a0Developers interested in entering will sign up in the HayMan Forums’ WIP Sign-up<\/a><\/strong><\/span> forum. \u00a0(If there are less than six entrants, the competition will be postponed to the next scheduled competition time, until there are ten entrants. \u00a0Previous entrants are automatically entered into the competition.) \u00a0A week before the competition starts, ten developers will be chosen from the list by a random process and be given the opportunity to compete. \u00a0Like the GMC Jam, each of these contestants will create a DevLog to promote their game on the HayMan forums. \u00a0Contestants may begin creating their post before the competition starts, but cannot begin working on a game until the competition actually begins. \u00a0Several minutes before the competition begins, a theme and handicap will be revealed, and then the competition will begin.<\/p>\n

You will have 48 hours to brainstorm an idea, work out a game design, and implement the design into a playable proof-of-concept for the judges to score and review. \u00a0Winners will be announced soon afterwards and contestants can then claim their prizes. \u00a0And that’s the end of the WIP competition.<\/p>\n

But the competition doesn’t have to end there. \u00a0Keep reading.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The HayMan Quarterly Big Game Event<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"HMQBGE<\/p>\n

This is the continuation of your WIP entry. \u00a0The idea behind this competition is to take the WIP you began in the previously mentioned competition and continue to develop it into a complete, polished, and presented game. \u00a0The rules state that you must continue with the theme, but the handicap may be dropped. \u00a0The hope is that dropping the handicap will allow you more freedom in developing your game to completion.
\nThe Big Game Event is scheduled for two times a year; at the end of March and the end of September. \u00a0It is the contestant’s choice which Big Game Event they will enter, but can be no later the the second consecutive contest. \u00a0This sounds confusing, so let me explain.<\/p>\n

For example, it’s the first competition of the year — the first weekend of January. \u00a0The WIP contestants of this competition, after the competition is over, can choose to enter their game into The Big Game Event in the upcoming March competition — or wait, using more time for game development, and enter in September. \u00a0Contestants can not enter this WIP into the Big Game Event of the following March. \u00a0In other words, you have up to a whole year to finish the game you started for the WIP competition, if you choose, depending on when you entered the WIP competition.<\/p>\n

No one may enter the Big Game Event without previously entering a WIP competition. \u00a0So this will limit the number of entries into this competition as well. \u00a0The Big Game Event is not limited to winners<\/em> of the WIP competitions. \u00a0Anyone who has started a game in a previous WIP competition is allowed to participate. \u00a0However, there is no obligation to participate in The Big Game Event. \u00a0This is a separate competition.<\/p>\n

Each entrant will be given their own page on the HayMan Quarterly website to transfer and continue their DevLogs and create a one-page presentation\/promo package. \u00a0At the end of the competition, a panel of judges will evaluate the games, along with the Devlogs and Promo pages, and choose a winner. \u00a0There will be a point system to determine the prizes for the winners, with regard to the amount of time they had to finish their game. \u00a0A winning entry using less amount of time, will gain more points and receive more value in their prizes.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0The winners can then claim their prizes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Big Picture<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

So, there will be two WIP competitions a month. \u00a0That’s twelve competitions for every 6 months. \u00a0If each competition meets capacity, that’s up to 60 contestants for The Big Game Event, assuming everyone that entered a WIP competition continues with their game, which seems unlikely. \u00a0With a competition happening twice a month, competitors will have more opportunities to find time within their ‘real-life’ schedules to participate.<\/p>\n

The Big Game Event gives contestants web exposure by granting them a webpage on the HayMan Quarterly site. \u00a0This page is only for the game that is made for the competition, but contestants may include links to their own websites and such. \u00a0It’s a valuable space to promote your HMQ Competition game and your own game development company (through banners and links). \u00a0After the competition, this page will be locked and free editing will be prevented (some exceptions may apply). \u00a0This page will remain on the HayMan Quarterly website forever.<\/p>\n

Both competition’s prizes will be comprised of community and sponsored prizes. \u00a0HayMan Quarterly will additionally offer official prizes to the Big Game Event. \u00a0Sponsors are encouraged to offer quality prizes to the Big Game Event in return for visibility and recognition (free advertising on HayMan Quarterly).<\/p>\n

All games resulting from these competitions remain the property of the author\/developer. \u00a0HayMan Quarterly reserves the right to display and\/or feature any games entered into any of the HMQ competitions.<\/p>\n

\"HMQ<\/p>\n

Official Rules<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Whip out a WIP! \u00a0And WIP it good!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The HayMan Quarterly (HMQ) WIP Competition is the prelude and entry to the HMQ Big Game Event Competition.<\/p>\n

These competitions are designed to promote the emergence of new ideas, games, game mechanics, special effects, engines, etc., in the WIP Competition, and to promote completion of those games with polish and promotion in the Big Game Event Competition.<\/p>\n

WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

These competitions are inspired by the GMC Jam<\/a>. \u00a0The GMC Jam is\u00a0a quarterly competition for game developers, using the GameMaker software available from YoyoGames<\/a>. \u00a0Thank you GMC and all of it’s Jam-loving community members for inspiring these competitions!!<\/p>\n

The HMQ WIP Competition is a 48 hour cram session of ideas and gameplay mashed into a working, playable WIP to be reviewed and critiqued by a panel of judges.\u00a0 The winner will be automatically entered into the HMQ Big Game Event Competition.\u00a0 Entries are limited to 10 entrants to facilitate speedy judging and winner announcements. The HMQ WIP competition will be held twice a month with only new entrants each competition. \u00a0If you entered into a previous WIP competition and want to join a new competition, you will have to wait until after the Big Game Event competition. \u00a0Entries are required to follow a theme.\u00a0 First, second, and third place winners of each HMQ WIP competition will have the option to be a judge for the next competition.\u00a0 The competition judges will decide on the theme and handicap of the competition in which they are judging.<\/p>\n

The HMQ \u00a0Big Game Event Competition is a competition that is held twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall.\u00a0 This is the final judgment of the COMPLETED<\/em><\/strong><\/span> WIP that was started in the HMQ WIP competition.\u00a0 Entries will be judged by a larger panel of judges this time.\u00a0 The Big Game Event judges will be voted for by the competition contestants.\u00a0 Not anyone can sign up to be considered as a judge. \u00a0Judge applicants are limited to those who participated in a previous HMQ WIP competition or are considered valued and loyal HMQ Competitions supporters.<\/p>\n

WHEN IS IT?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The HMQ WIP Competition:<\/strong><\/p>\n