IntroComp - Release 3
Jacqueline A. Lott
long that your vision has begun to blur. You were certain that the
image would appear a third time, but after so much waiting, you are
beginning to lose hope of ever seeing it again. Sad, really. In the
past you'd just watched the image come and go, but this time you know
what to do. If only it would reappear!
Then, unexpectedly, you watch as the colors in the sphere begin to
shift and transform, coalescing into something familiar...
IntroComp
An Interactive Fiction Competition
(First time players should continue reading)
Organized by Jacqueline A. Lott
Sponsored by Eileen Mullin & XYZZYnews
Concept conceived by Neil deMause
Release 3
A wave of relief washes over you. The time has come yet again! Later
than expected, perhaps, but that's of little consequence to you at
present. You know what you must do!
What should you, the writer and programmer, do now?
> CODE THE BEGINNING BITS OF THE BEST IF GAME *EVER*
Sounds like a plan.
That's right. It's time for the third annual IntroComp. Delayed
slightly, but here again nonetheless.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT PREVIOUSLY
The requirements of IntroComp are deceptively simple: All entrants
must submit the beginning of a new, never before seen work of IF. This
can be as short or as long as the author likes, so long as it is 1) a
working, playable game and 2) interactive fiction. The deadline for
completing your intro is July 18, 2004 at 12 noon Eastern Standard
Time.
JUDGING RULES
Anyone may vote on as many or as few entries as they like, on the
usual 1-10 scale (10 being the best). However, they are asked to judge
games with one thought in mind, and one alone: "How much do I want to
play more of this entry?"
We also ask that judges please refrain from posting reviews of the
IntroComp games during the judging period, so as not to taint the
voting process.
PRIZE RULES
Of course there will be prizes! What prizes, precisely, will be
announced at a later date. They will be awarded as in the regular
IFComp: first-place winner gets first pick, second-place winner gets
second pick, etc., with one important catch: authors don't get their
prizes until they've finished a completed version of their entry. They
have one year (until July 18, 2005) to do so; if they fail to do this,
the prize in question will be donated to the following year's
IntroComp, and they go home empty-handed.
DEADLINE
All introductions should be submitted on or before July 18, 2004 at 12
noon Eastern Standard Time. Intent to enter should be submitted by
July 10, 2004. All intents to enter and submissions themselves should
be sent to: jacq at allthingsjacq dotcom.
Watch r.a.i-f, as well as at the IntroComp page on the XYZZYnews Web
site (http://www.xyzzynews.com/introcomp/) for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions(1):
(1) for very small values of "frequently"
SO HOW LONG/SHORT SHOULD
AN INTROCOMP ENTRY BE?
There are no strict length requirements. If you want to enter a
complete game, or merely an opening screen or just a title, there's
nothing technically stopping you - though given the voting rules, this
may not be the best strategy.
WHAT'S TO STOP ME FROM JUST ADDING
"AND THEN THEY ALL DIED -- THE END"
TO MY ENTRY AND THEN CLAIMING
MY PRIZE? BWAHAHAHA!
Nothing... except the ridicule and ostracization of your peers. Also,
keep in mind that you have to send me your address in order to get
your prize, and you'd be surprised how easily it is to acquire smelly,
rotten salmon here in Alaska.
WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
We're working on it. Expect some cash, some IF-related goodies, and
some random stuff.
CAN I SUBMIT A SECTION FROM THE MIDDLE OF MY
GAME INSTEAD OF THE BEGINNING?
No, that would be ExcerptComp.
HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM PROLOGUECOMP?
It's an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THING.
CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC?
PrologueComp was just for intro text that appears before the start of
the game. IntroComp is for the actual beginnings of games - think
TextFire, only serious. Not that mere prologues will be turned away,
but you may want to think twice about submitting one, since it'll be
competing with stuff people can actually play.
WHEN I FINISH WRITING MY GAME,
CAN I SUBMIT IT TO IFCOMP?
No go, my friend. It would run afoul of the spirit of IFComp's "no
prior release" rule. You may be allowed to enter it in other
minicomps, though - ask your local minicomp dealer.
BUT I STILL WANT TO KNOW MORE!
That wasn't exactly a question, that was more of an exclamation. Okay,
I get your point. Maybe you should take a look at the previous years'
winners to get a better idea of what's going on here:
http://www.wurb.com/if/award/9
Dylan O'Donnell
> IntroComp
> An Interactive Fiction Competition
> PRIZE RULES
> Of course there will be prizes! What prizes, precisely, will be
> announced at a later date. They will be awarded as in the regular
> IFComp: first-place winner gets first pick, second-place winner gets
> second pick, etc., with one important catch: authors don't get their
> prizes until they've finished a completed version of their entry. They
> have one year (until July 18, 2005) to do so; if they fail to do this,
> the prize in question will be donated to the following year's
> IntroComp, and they go home empty-handed.
How many prizes from the previous two IntroComps have actually been
claimed, under this rule?
--
: Dylan O'Donnell http://www.spod-central.org/~psmith/ :
: "The sun has gone. It must be brought. You have a rock." :
: -- Dan Schmidt, "For a Change" :
Adam Thornton
Dylan O'Donnell <psm...@spod-central.org> wrote:
>How many prizes from the previous two IntroComps have actually been
>claimed, under this rule?
If my game hadn't been UNFAIRLY and ARBITRARILY ELIMINATED for NOT
BELONGING TO THE TADS/INFORM/HUGO CABAL, its prize would have been.
Feel free to play the COMPLETED AND RELEASED version; get it from
http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=2023
Adam
Jacqueline A. Lott
> How many prizes from the previous two IntroComps have actually been
> claimed, under this rule?
Sadly, none. *However* the comp has nevertheless inspired people to
write some decent pieces of IF - most of them incomplete, mind you
(the notable exception that comes to mind is Adam Thornton's
_Fellowship of the Ring_). I am (ahem) proud to say that I am *still*
working on Waterhouse, and that I will, by God, finish the darn thing
before I die. I won't be able to claim my prize, but I'll have the
satisfaction of knowing I finished. So there.
All light-heartedness aside, I look at IntroComp as a great way to
inspire writers, particularly new writers, to work on a small piece of
IF, to craft the idea without getting bogged down in grandiosity,
and to do it in a venue that will encourage feedback beyond beta
testing. I think that, in this respect, it's a great comp. And hey!
Maybe this year will be the year that someone claims a prize!
- Jacqueline
Fortytwo
Luckily I installed an Atari emulator just a few days ago so that I
could play Pitfall.
I just finished this. Whew! It was tough going for a while, but the
amazing literary imagery at the end made it all worthwhile!
Cool hack!
Jim Fisher
> before I die. I won't be able to claim my prize, but I'll have the
> satisfaction of knowing I finished. So there.
Here, here! Me too.
--
--
Jim (AT) OnyxRing (DOT) com
Visit "An Inform Developer's Guide" or browse the
"ORLibrary" extensions to the standard library at
www.OnyxRing.com
----------------------
Some days you eat the code; some days the code eats you.
Rikard Peterson
> 2) interactive fiction.
According to which definition of IF?
Rexx Magnus
> Jacqueline A. Lott wrote in news:1081117214.573780@prawn:
>
>> 2) interactive fiction.
>
> According to which definition of IF?
>
The selfsame definition that causes people to post here, perhaps?
To email me, visit the site.
Adam Thornton
>Adam Thornton wrote:
>> Feel free to play the COMPLETED AND RELEASED version; get it from
>> http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=2023
>could play Pitfall.
>
>I just finished this. Whew! It was tough going for a while, but the
>amazing literary imagery at the end made it all worthwhile!
And if playing it on an emulator isn't good enough for you,
http://www.packratvg.com/lotr.htm
Standard cartridge is $12.95, clear cartridge $15.95. Wotta bargain!
Adam
Jacqueline A. Lott
> > 2) interactive fiction.
>
> According to which definition of IF?
Well, by the very minimalist of definitions, I would say that it should be
(a) interactive and (b) fiction.
A precise, complete, all-encompasing definition of the term "interactive
fiction" contains subtle differences
according to the person who's defining it, but I think the community as a
whole has a general standard upon which it
can usually agree. There are a variety of well-written articles on this
subject ( http://tinyurl.com/329w3 ). If
at all in doubt, feel free to write me privately to discuss your concerns as
it pertains to IntroComp.
Regards,
Jacqueline