Meet the judges

from Stardock Forums
The official judges for the GUI Olympics are:

On WindowBlinds skins: 1) Voodoo from Neowin 2) Jark from deviantART 3) Kris from Stardock 4) Angie from Stardock 5) Paul from Stardock

On Winamp skins: 1) Steve from Nullsoft 2) Jonathan from Nullsoft 3) Jark from deviantART 4) Voodoo from Neowin 5) Kris from Stardock

On Icon packages 1) Paul from Stardock 2) Pat from Stardock 3) Kris from Stardock 4) Angie from Stardock 5) Jark from deviantART 6) Voodoo from Neowin

These judges are experts in their area. No specific criteria other than the description of the event was used in their judging (i.e. each performed their judging based on their own way of doing it).

Obviously with so many incredibly good entries, there will be disagreement (even amongst judges) over who is the best and such. On many of the events, the difference between 1st and 5th is just a few points which is incredibly close.

Few contests have such a concentration of knowledgeable experts judging the events. In some instances, when the top skins have been narrowed to just a handful, the skins are used over a period of time to determine which has a benefit over another.

The entries this year have been outstanding making judging particularly difficult. The 2002 GUI Olympics had a great number of terrific entries but usually a few stood out above the others in a given event. Or to put it another way, it wasn't usually that close. This time around, with so many incredible entries, it's been very tight.

We're about half-way done with this year's contest. At the end of the judged events, WinCustomize subscribers will be able to judge for themselves in the User's choice awards where we've saved some extra goodies for those winning entries.

And coming up: The all important BEST OVERALL SKINS/ICONS!

Stay tuned!

2,820 views 19 replies
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Too few for 180 total submitions so far, and it's an International Competition wich has the name "Olympics" only this word should make you re-consider some things before starting up, let's hope the next time will be better (and remember to NOT add Winamp on the contest cause we, the WA Modern Skins creators are whinners cause we see things from the real viewpoint and from the effort/time we spent for our creations). Good luck.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have been totally impressed with the organization and process of this competition. I liked the fact that there weren't too many judges . . . a whole lot less confusion!!! The only thing I have to poo-poo about is that I would have LOVED to see the judges submissions . . . of course I understand that wouldn't work so well when you'd be judging your own work against someone else! :) Great job and I can't wait until the next one. Maybe by then I'll be able to compete! Blessings in the highest sense of the word!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hopefully next time there won't be a Winamp segment. What a bunch of crybabies. And elitists at that. Yeh, I'm sure it takes more time to create a Winamp skin than it takes to create 120+ icons at 8 different resolutions. I bet a modern WindowBlinds skin is more difficult than a typical Winamp skin in this contest. The organizers should let the Winamp community fade into oblivion along with the player.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great the wincustomize user choice awards will allow DigitalCHET to get the award he deserves!
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nice to met you all, looking forward to the best overall results!
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
nice to meet You. "than it takes to create 120+ icons at 8 different resolutions" takes a lot of time if You want to create something really good. Notice also that we (iconists) work on each resolution not just scaling and leaving it unchanged. Regards Milo
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It took me an hour just to perfect one icon, and I don't mean at all the resolutions and levels, I mean the very first icon
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
At that rate, my entry will be done in time for the next gui contest
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
perhaps next time there can be one or two awards for each category (windowblinds, iconpackager, etc) based upon popular choice of some fashion. I only suggest that so if peeps lose by both official judging and popular vote, they really have no based for complaints, so long as the popular vote is solid and not open to 'cheating'. Also I think it's a good idea that some non Stardock categories are part of this. I imagine it brings in more attention and makes it easier to get more sponsors, though I'm just assuming there.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
MS Media Player is also very popular for skinning on that front.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
^ Good idea! ^
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"Wow, talk about lack of respect for other designers. You all make me sick." and that from you,brother rabbit?! as you have no respect for coders in any way.... very crazy... btw: i don't know anybody YOU don't make sick...so do yourself and all the others a favor and just go ahead.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
...wow...a lot has been happening here...i've just read through all those comments... ...well...i guess the WA skinners are just more outspoken than most of the other skinners out there...hehe...we all have our own opinions... ...i'm a winamp skinner/coder...but i'd still like to see the winamp part of the contest in the next GUI Olympics (when is the next one?), its a great motivation for skinners to put their work out there (at least for me it is)... ...it has been months since i've last made a WA skin...this was a great oppurtunity to get back to skinning/coding again (coding really sucks btw :P)...to be in competition with such great skinners/coders is a great experience... ...hope all these arguements will come to an end soon..."can't we all just get along?" ...mabuhay mga pinoy! :) ...and btw...hello to all the judges!