I know it's not polite to ask, especially when others have already asked for it, but when will the contest details (mainly the timelines) be announced?  Looking at the schedule for Gamefest 2008, which will be held the week of July 21, starting from today, taking into account the time to judge entries, that would give us less than 4 months to develop our contets submissions....seems like we're getting a little less time than last years competition?

As we always say to to all those other folk who ask.... things like this are NEVER announced first here...

The best advice we can give right now is to get coding.... the smart folk started coding the day after the last competition ended ;-) [disclaimer - I am not a 'smart folk']

 

 

Have the rules even been presented yet?

Harald Maassen:

Have the rules even been presented yet?

Nothing yet. When something is announced it will be available on the DBP site: http://dreambuildplay.com/main/default.aspx.

What I was going to suggest to the powers that be is to maybe have a history section so that other can download and play previous years' entries. Some of last year's entries were very polished even though they did not win, so it would be a pity to no have them showcased somewhere.

Fine idea... i have escalated to the powers that be for you... though of course results are never promised ;-)

Nick Gravelyn:

Harald Maassen:

Have the rules even been presented yet?

Nothing yet. When something is announced it will be available on the DBP site: http://dreambuildplay.com/main/default.aspx.

Sooooo... how are people already coding?

Well, you open up XNA Game Studio, start a project, then start writing code. :)

I think everyone is just assuming the main contest will be like last year, anything goes.

If they want a thousand games on the community service by the end of the year maybe we will have to write three games, submit them and also review games as well, as part of the competition. I'm not certain its that important anymore, seems like we will already get the prize anyway. Unless it fits in with what I want to do I'm not certain I will enter.

I really doubt the DBP competition is going to be tied in to the community service. It wouldn't make sense.

Machaira:

Well, you open up XNA Game Studio, start a project, then start writing code. :)

I think everyone is just assuming the main contest will be like last year, anything goes.

I hope everyone is in for a terrible surprise then, if only for the amusement factor!

Personally, I really doubt that there will be any major surprises with the contest rules. I have trouble seeing how it would be in MS's best interests - changing the rules drastically would probably make a lot of people unhappy, and significantly reduce both the quality and numbers of people participating in their contest. 

At least that's my take on the situation, I could of course be wrong.