GUI Championships - Participation..

Want to hear from you..

from WinCustomize Forums

Every two years now for the past 6 years we've done the GUI Championships (formerly GUI Olympics but the US Olympic Committee sent the lawyers after us).

We've tried different types of judging over the years and had different rules.  But one of the bummers has been that Stardock people can't participate since, well, we run the thing so obviously you can't have Stardock people participating.

So this time, we are asking you - users, skinners, and everyone else, under what circumstances, if any, could we let people like Mike Bryant (MikeB), Paul Boyer (Mormegil), and other Stardock artists particpiate?  I think the contest overall would be better served if they could be in it but we would need to not have Stardock involved in the judging then.

Imagine how much better the contest would be with icons from Paul Boyer? Or skins from Mike Bryant? Not to mention other stuff from other Stardock artists.  But we want to do things the way you want them so let us know.

47,986 views 121 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Would it be possible for them to judge areas that they do not participate in? Ex. Paul Boyer judging the Windowblinds competition (taking for granted he doesn't post a Windowblinds skin) & Mike Bryant judging the Icon Packages (again, assuming that he doesn't post an Icon Package). Obviously someone can't judge a category that they participate in. However, I don't think that Stardock employees should be banned for judging a category that they don't compete in. I fully trust all the judges to be objective and un-biased in their decisions, whether they work for Stardock or not.
I can DEFINITELY agree that the competition will be hindered if Mike Bryant, Paul Boyer & others are not allowed to compete.
PLEASE, find a way to let them in the competition!!!!
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think it would be simple enough if the judges were not allowed to know who created a skin until the results were final. This may go against other principles of the event (ex, judges being able to communicate with participants to make sure that everything is installed and working correctly), but I would imagine there could be workarounds (in the same example, have a mediary party involved to help make communication remain anonymous). Having experts judge their own field is important, since they will have a keener eye. As long as they don't know who they are judging, there cannot be any impropriety.
Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Actually that's an excellent idea of having the artist involved be withheld until winners are announced. Although the public at large doesn't have a hand in voting the winners directly, at least the judges can't possibly have a bias towards an artist. It would also allow Stardock employees to enter in as well.
Still I guess would have difficulty if they were voting in a category they have an entry in, but they would just be exempt from judging that particular category.
I had thought an idea would be to have a separate section for Stardock employees. However, just because they work there, doesn't mean they are always going to have better designs than other artists.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I see no problems at all! I believe that everyone that want to go for it should be able to give it a try. GO! GO!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would love to see people like Paul and MikeB involved. I have no problem with it.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
that would also mean that no one else would win...
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
People are going to bitch when they lose to Stardock employees and there is no perfect way to avoid that. The best you can do is have blind judges look at the themes. That just ends up being alot of work on the "intraweb", would have to keep submissions hidden till the judges are done, names and references would have to be removed from skin files before they are seen by the jugdes, people would have to learn to shut up and not share their projects early, judges would need ethics and morals, and the group behind GUI Championships would have to put work into setting all that up.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think that both Beesley and fjord have excellent ideas! Either one of those plans would work well, and allow the 'great skinners of Stardock' to participate.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
For sure we want to see MikeB, Paul, and Martin in the contest ... !! without them -- the GUI-Champs will be like a beautiful cake without sugar .. !!
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Imagine how much better the contest would be with icons from Paul Boyer? Or skins from Mike Bryant? Not to mention other stuff from other Stardock artists.


yes.., but, if they participate, what chances would we have to win ...?

i suggest to creat a section for Elite' skinners, and other for ones that are just starting ...

just my opinion
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Imagine how much better the contest would be with icons from Paul Boyer? Or skins from Mike Bryant? Not to mention other stuff from other Stardock artists.


yes.., but, if they participate, what chances would we have to win ...?

i suggest to creat a section for Elite' skinners, and other for the ones that are just starting ...

just my opinion
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How about special 'celebrity' and 'newcomer' categories when it comes to prices ? I think that would do everyone justice.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Tycus :
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well I have to agree with a few of the comments above, With artists/skinners of that calibur participating there are very few that actually have the skill to "compete" against them..but there are a few most definitely!

I think if they are to compete (which I think would be awesome!) then to be fair I think there should be "Catagories" "Advanced" "Intermediate" and "Beginner" or perhaps just the first 2 catagories...

Sounds like ALOT of work..I dont know if it's even possible, just a thought...
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bring it on.

Allowing Stardockians to enter makes it all the more fun.

what chances would we have to win

Someone said the same thing in a past contest. Please watch your pronouns. You are not speaking for everyone when you say "WE". I am not afraid of MikeB. He's a hack. You should not be afraid either. If your work is good , it is good, if it is bad, it is bad. The participants in the contest don't change that.
Would you rather win a bronze at the real olymipiks (mispelled for legal reasons) or a gold at the special olympics?
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok...My 2 cents. Mike Bryant & Mormegil for starters are hands down in a category all by themselves. This is not to say there aren't other skilled skinners here, but not quite at the same level...plain and simple. So, Double Zero's idea of having different categories should be a consideration, because not many people could really compete with them...some might give them a run for the money though. How about having different categories/levels and allow contestants a choice of which one they want to compete in? This way if they lose they knew what they were up against and there's no whinning or sore losers.

As far as judges...why not pick some members that have been here awhile as judges? And not let anyone know who did what as far as skins/icons or what not.

I would love to volunteer as a judge...as long as I didn't know who did what until it was over.

And are you guys serious!? The Olympimps people really came after you? For what? Did you somehow insult the wannabee steroid drug pimping fake athletes? That is just the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What is important from my point of view is having good skins, so I so no reason why they could not participate. Let them in !
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
sore losers


sore losers will be sore losers no matter what. That character flaw doesn't change based on the level of competition.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The best you can do is have blind judges look at the themes.


*cough* That seems difficult.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
By all means--
Let them in!
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't think that they should be banned from competing soley based on their employment. The main reason is that there is already so much interaction between the top skinning artists that "everyone is a friend of someone".

I think they should decide to either be a judge or a participant, but not both. I think it would cause resentment if you allowed any participant, Stardock employee or not, to judge a category that he/she was not participating in.

Try to get a judging panel that is represenative of the entire skinning community, of the app in question.

Tightly define the rules, and qualifications for winning. Everyone should know exactly what the judges will be looking for in a winning skin. Do everything in your power to avoid changing the rules midway through the contest.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I say go for it.  And as always I can help in any way.

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Come one and come all ... let The Championship begin~!!

If they are an artist - no matter where from, they should be allowed to participate.
As far as judges - that should not matter as much either...

Like NT has said "If your good - your good - no matter what~!"...


Very glad to see WC still doing this and hope it will continue every year.

SGT