Here's a few comments then I'll do some answers:
In response to deeelare. In an earlier post I said I was creating a web site and when that was finished I'll start a new thread. In the meantime, vent your frustrations (not anger or sarcasm) here. I worked on the site overnight and submitted it to the committee for approval. I haven't heard from them yet because I'm in a different time zone. I'm now filling in the finer details but the site will be finished in the couple of days as promised. Then and only then, I'll open a new thread, and we can all be happy little Vegemites!
------------
In response to Storknest and Jadebullet. It may not answer your concerns but it's the best I can offer at present.
With a just over three months to build the route, it's possible that some competitors will not complete theirs on time. Thus they would be unsuitable for the DLS. Also, it seems to me that building is one thing and getting things fine-tuned for DLS approval is another.
Under the circumstances, having the judges, or the community vote on the routes by actually running them would be almost impossible. Trainz has far too many incompatible versions with far too many incompatible assets to make it viable. I love the idea, but what a nightmare it would be.
------------------------
To everyone. For a competition to take place there must be competitors, and all competitors must know what the goals and objectives are. That's what the web site is all about. After you read the contents, everyone will be on a level playing field.
Once the site is opened and you register, you will be told where the first station will be (literally speaking). That means you can start before the 15th if you want to, but if we don't get a minimum of ten (10) competitors, the competition will be null and void and your work will be in vain. We can't ask sponsors to offer prizes if only one person enters, so as a sponsor, ten is an arbertory figure I came up with.
Regarding progress. As can be seen by the comments passed about the first competition in this series, silence is not golden. People want to see what's going on and that's fair enough. Maybe all the competitors lost interest and even the judges don't know. Rightly or wrongly, I've decided to put the competitors on notice. We can't charge an entry fee, so the only way to ensure that people keep slogging away is to offer an incentive. Our incentive requires the competitors to submit weekly progress reports by way of a screenshot which will generate bonus points to their final score. Those bonus points are enough to win or lose, so any competitor who fails to submit a screenshot is guaranteed not to win.
The content of the weekly screenshots won't be judged, so nobody will be under pressure to be at a certain point by a certain time. This will help someone who is stuck on a particular aspect of the project.
-----------------
In response to titaniclover. Thanks for your comments. It's up to 8 baseboards (Two to Eight). Provided tou have a port (small or large) with animated or non- animated activity (cranes, people, cargo, cargo sheds etc) and provided my suggestion of a mainline/branchline hub is generally accepted, what goes on the remainder of your baseboads is up to you. One person has suggested a heavy industrial scene, another a city scene. The branchline doesn't have to be the focal point. In fact it can go 200 metres from the mainline to the port if you wish. Read the Theme, the Rules and the Guidelines for suggstions. The web site contains a lot of material.
Don't get bogged down here. The port can be a river or lake port on the top of a mountain serviced by 2 foot gauge trains carting produce and/or passengers from the mainline hub. It's your imagination that will be judged, not mine.
-------------------
In response to LGBMATT and already answered by IC. By all means make it a family affair but only one person can register and your group will be seen by the committee and judges as one competitor.
-------------------
Great to see a postive approach developing girls and guys.
In response to deeelare. In an earlier post I said I was creating a web site and when that was finished I'll start a new thread. In the meantime, vent your frustrations (not anger or sarcasm) here. I worked on the site overnight and submitted it to the committee for approval. I haven't heard from them yet because I'm in a different time zone. I'm now filling in the finer details but the site will be finished in the couple of days as promised. Then and only then, I'll open a new thread, and we can all be happy little Vegemites!
------------
In response to Storknest and Jadebullet. It may not answer your concerns but it's the best I can offer at present.
With a just over three months to build the route, it's possible that some competitors will not complete theirs on time. Thus they would be unsuitable for the DLS. Also, it seems to me that building is one thing and getting things fine-tuned for DLS approval is another.
Under the circumstances, having the judges, or the community vote on the routes by actually running them would be almost impossible. Trainz has far too many incompatible versions with far too many incompatible assets to make it viable. I love the idea, but what a nightmare it would be.
------------------------
To everyone. For a competition to take place there must be competitors, and all competitors must know what the goals and objectives are. That's what the web site is all about. After you read the contents, everyone will be on a level playing field.
Once the site is opened and you register, you will be told where the first station will be (literally speaking). That means you can start before the 15th if you want to, but if we don't get a minimum of ten (10) competitors, the competition will be null and void and your work will be in vain. We can't ask sponsors to offer prizes if only one person enters, so as a sponsor, ten is an arbertory figure I came up with.
Regarding progress. As can be seen by the comments passed about the first competition in this series, silence is not golden. People want to see what's going on and that's fair enough. Maybe all the competitors lost interest and even the judges don't know. Rightly or wrongly, I've decided to put the competitors on notice. We can't charge an entry fee, so the only way to ensure that people keep slogging away is to offer an incentive. Our incentive requires the competitors to submit weekly progress reports by way of a screenshot which will generate bonus points to their final score. Those bonus points are enough to win or lose, so any competitor who fails to submit a screenshot is guaranteed not to win.
The content of the weekly screenshots won't be judged, so nobody will be under pressure to be at a certain point by a certain time. This will help someone who is stuck on a particular aspect of the project.
-----------------
In response to titaniclover. Thanks for your comments. It's up to 8 baseboards (Two to Eight). Provided tou have a port (small or large) with animated or non- animated activity (cranes, people, cargo, cargo sheds etc) and provided my suggestion of a mainline/branchline hub is generally accepted, what goes on the remainder of your baseboads is up to you. One person has suggested a heavy industrial scene, another a city scene. The branchline doesn't have to be the focal point. In fact it can go 200 metres from the mainline to the port if you wish. Read the Theme, the Rules and the Guidelines for suggstions. The web site contains a lot of material.
Don't get bogged down here. The port can be a river or lake port on the top of a mountain serviced by 2 foot gauge trains carting produce and/or passengers from the mainline hub. It's your imagination that will be judged, not mine.
-------------------
In response to LGBMATT and already answered by IC. By all means make it a family affair but only one person can register and your group will be seen by the committee and judges as one competitor.
-------------------
Great to see a postive approach developing girls and guys.
The first post in this thread says the contest starts on the 15th of Dec and end in April of 2010. This post says that no entries after Jan 1st 2010. If no entries are accepted after 1-1-2010, why is the contest ending in April. Personally, I would like to see someone post the rules and then lock the thread to get rid of all the BULL. Can't you people read? The first post says that any version of trainz can be used and the second post ask what versions can be used.
I've made two significant posts in the past 24 hours answering every one of your concerns. For the sake of repeating myself for the third time, please read my posts, use this thread to vent frustrations, not anger, and please wait until the rules are published within the next 48 hours. I have spent the better part of 24 hours in the past 24 hours trying to get this thread into order and create a new web site that contains more than everything you will need to know. I'm also trying to close a few gaps, one of which you mentioned so I will speak to it.
