The GUI Olympics begins MONDAY

from WinCustomize Forums

This Monday, the GUI Olympics 2004 will begin. It's a contest to see who can create the world's best visual styles, icons, and Winamp 5 skins.  Sponsors include Stardock, Nullsoft, ATI, nVidia, and others.  Microsoft is also providing prizes to the contest.  In total, over $10,000 (closer to $15,000) in cash and prizes will be given out including ATI video cards, an Xbox, tons of software and probably some surprises.

You will be able to enter skins individually or as part of a team.  The top teams will get a big bonus prize.  Anyone can form a team and there are no restrictions on the size of team (though obviously the bigger the team, the bigger the split in the prize money). You could have a Team MyfavoriteWebsite or a Team "l33t". It's up to whoever starts the team (on Monday there will be a mechanism on www.guiolympics.com to create your own team).

The rules are fairly straight forward. You have to enter submissions that are NEW. They can't be things that already exist.  They also have to be in WindowBlinds visual style format. But if you've ever made a .msstyles visual style, it's pretty easy to make a WindowBlinds one and SkinStudio can convert a .msstyles file to WindowBlinds visual style format. And then from there add the missing features to make it competitive.

The contest begins on March 1 but JUDGING won't begin until April 5 so you'll have over a month to actually put together your stuff. And judging goes on during the entire month so you may potentially have nearly 2 months depending on what events you're concentrating on.

Here is the schedule of events:

April 5: Most minimalist visual style, Most creative Winamp skin, Most original icon package
April 8: Best Power user visual style, Most useable Winamp skin
April 12: Most usable visual style, Best power user Winamp skin, Best "themed" (icons go together the best) icon package
April 15: Most creative visual style
April 19: Best themed* visual style*, Best themed* Winamp skin, Best pseudo-OS icon package
April 22: Best Pseudo-OS visual style
April 26: Best overall visual style, Best overall Winamp skin, Best overall icon package
April 27: Top Team/Individual: WindowBlinds, Top Team/Individual: Winamp, Top Team/Individual: Icons
April 29: User's Choice: Best visual style, User's Choice: Best Winamp skin: User's Choice: Best icon package

*themed skin as in the whole skin keeps to a particular theme.

16 Events. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Anyone can enter.

The judges will be admins/employees from Stardock, Neowin, deviantART, and Nullsoft.

So there you have it.  WB visual styles, icon packages, and Winamp 5. For $10k to $15k in cash and prizes spread among 16 main events.


[Message Edited]
50,097 views 191 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ooo Yeah!
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
/me does backflips

Yeah baby! what an exciting time!
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can't make promises either but every skin that gets past moderation (certainly ever WB and icon package) will probably get a GUI Olympics 2004 T-shirt.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just for us slow folks.

The dates above are the deadlines? It kind of reads like that is the dates the announcements will be made.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This sounds great.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

#6 by BakerStreet - 2/27/2004 6:37:52 AM
Just for us slow folks.

The dates above are the deadlines? It kind of reads like that is the dates the announcements will be made.

 

I read it as deadlines.......
 

The contest begins on March 1 but JUDGING won't begin until April 5





Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
this is really great
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Let the party, ah Contest begin. )



Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If Microsoft is a sponsor and providing prizes then why would you use Winamp 5 as the media player?
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sponsors include Stardock, Nullsoft, ATI, nVidia, and others. Microsoft is also providing prizes to the contest.

Doesn't say MS is a sponsor, just providing prizes. Nullsoft is listed as a sponsor.





Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
woot!
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
TSF : Time for skinning Winamp 5.

Powered by SkinBrowser!
[Message Edited]
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
nah...

Besides we're too busy to do anything for fun. Too many clients. And when we do have free time we'll be doing the skins for the World Wildlife Fund and the Humane Society. We've spoken to both organizations and Microsoft and everyone's onboard. I think those things are a little more important than a contest.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's a good argument.



Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think those things are a little more important than a contest.

Oh, hush.....oodles of Skinners out there would/will jump at the chance to get some fame and/or fortune with a contest.

It's OK for the established artists to be off doing 'their thing', but our newer brethren will be enjoying themselves muchly....

I will be busy, too....doing neither....

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm not saying people shouldn't be doing this. I'm saying if we had free time we would be working on the charity skins we pledged to do - not participating in a contest. To me charity is more important. That was a personal statement on my part. Doesn't apply to anyone else.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think artists should participate in this worthy competition.

There... happy? -)
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
<- This should be a semicolon. If its not, then it didnt work.

I'm hoping to enter a WB skin into this, and maybe something else.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The GUI Olympics is about the best things in the skinning community.  It's not primarily about the money. The GUI Olympics is going to get an immense amount of coverage. Artists like getting their work out there.  The skins in this contest are likely to get more exposure than any set of skins released in this time.  We will be able to see who relaly are the best skinners out there.

 

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I was going to ignore your comment but you saying “We will be able to see who really are the best skinners out there” is like throwing down a gauntlet considering the only reason you posted your comment was probably because I said I thought charity was more important then entering a contest. Otherwise why would you have bothered to say what you said out of the blue?

Your competition isn’t the gauge of who really are the best skinners out there. Because to be quite honest the best skinners are too busy earning a living to be worried about “getting the gold.” It will only show who the best skinners are who decided to enter your contest.

I think artists should enter this. Competition breeds creativity and something like this is a healthy, creative outlet. I think artists getting a chance to show their “stuff” and having a chance to compete strengthens the artistic community by fueling the desire to exceed expectations instead of rushing to release work just to garner a few comments and downloads.

As far as the far too bold statement “The skins in this contest are likely to get more exposure than any set of skins released in this time.” Let’s just lump that with the word – hype. When you get almost a 11 million downloads like Sven did with MMD3 at Winamp then come talk to me about “more exposure”. Or the fact that the featured skins at WindowsMedia.com get viewed by 13 million visitors a month – every month.

I’ll certainly be paying attention to the talent that’s going to be entering – can always use new blood.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think Frogboy just assumes that the best skinners would want to be in on it. I don't think that was meant as a slight, Jesh.

P.S. not everyone with a lot of talent is 'working' )

[Message Edited]