PDRC #3.99 - Official Rules

[Kojote]

Sponsors:

http://superfighter.com/ - http://www.go64.de - http://www.mindcandydvd.com/ - http://www.pdroms.de

Thanks to the contributions in particular to Brandon Cobb, Enno Conners and Dan Wright!

Competition running time: 24th January 2008 to 2nd March 2008
Deadline: Sunday, 9th March 2008 @ 23:59, in YOUR timezone!
Systems allowed: Atari 2600, Coleco Vision, Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, Game Gear, Genesis/Megadrive, GP2x, Intellivision, Master System, Neo Geo Pocket, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo DS, PC Engine, Playstation Portable (PSP), Wonderswan, Wonderswan Color + NEW: Neo Geo CD
Topic: Create any kind of childproof game (no pr0n, racisms, extraordinary violence and adult humour, ...) by using maximum four colors only on screen at once per scene (this could be a level, menu, etc) (also applies for dual screen systems - 2 screens count as one unit). Black, white, grey do count as color! You can choose your four colors freely. If your game features music and/or sound fx is up to you.

Send your entries to shahzad . sahaib @ web . de - A manual confirmation will be sent within 2 days maximum

Tips:
[*]While dithering is okay, other technics such as blurring or anti-alias will end in having more than 4 colors, which will lead into disqualification. The deal is really to have maximum four colors on screen at once!
[*]Try to get inspiration (don't plain copy things) from old Amstrad CPC, Spectrum or IBM-DOS CGA/Monochrome games. You'll see there are astonishing things possible. 4 colors are enough!

We reserve the right to modify the rules at any time, to make them more clear! If you have questions, please use the webboard!

Disallowed:
Scripting languages such as LUA, Fenix*, Python, etc which do not compile into a stand alone binary or executable. bBasic, GLBasic and similar programs which do compile into a binary are not affected. * If you use GP2x Fenix in conjunction with Orkie's "cramfsldr" you are allowed to parcitipate, details here: http://pdroms.de/news/8744/

Copyright:
[*]You must own all RIGHTS to your submission, this includes sound, graphics, code, simply everything! The use of copyrighted names and characteres should be avoided, unless you have an official permission, which should be forwarded along with your entry. We reserve the right to refuse or disqualify entries, which break any rule(s)!!! Keep in mind you OWN ALL RIGHTS to your production, this means you are also fully reliable for it. By submitting your production you declare that you did not break any copyright.
[*]In case of REMAKES OF VERY OLD GAMES (+18y), which do not seem to have a copyright holder anymore and which are not distributed commercially anymore, we can make an exception, but you must be still able to proof that you tried to get in touch with the responsible copyrightholders.
[*]Ports are okay, if you follow the the attatched license or asked for permission (please provide a proof for the last case)

Entries:
[*]Submit as many entries as you like but you are only eligable for one prize.
[*]Don't spread your entry to the public before the official results!
[*]Your submission should have not been released before! (it must be new!)
[*]You grant PDRoms and its staff members the right to spread your entry freely (we won't make money with it).
[*]Entry should run on real hardware if possible (definatly prefered)
[*]Write a README with information about your game, this text will be used to present your entry, also add a screenshot!
[*]Entries can be updated by sending an updated archive ANYTIME before the deadline.
[*]Package each submission in ONE compressed file archive and send it to shahzad.sahaib(at)web.de - each entry will be CONFIRMED after max. 2 days)
[*]PSP only - Entry should be 1.5 and 3.x compatible
[*]NDS only - Submit .nds .sc.nds and .ds.gba
[*]Neo Geo CD only - Submit your entry with all necessary files to easily test/play on an emulator of choice

Judging:
[*]Entries of well emulated systems will be tested on emulators, the rest on real hardware (GP2x, PSP and Nintendo DS).
[*]Judges can submit entries, but they won't be scored.
[*]In case of equal scoring, the submission with the faster/earlier submission date, will be ranked higher - while other submissions will slip one below.
[*]In case of a group winning a prize, you have to share the prize under all team-members.

Official judges so far:
ZodTTD (homebrew coder on iPhone, GP2x and GBA) - http://www.zodttd.com
relei (gamer fellow) - http://forum.gp2x.de/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=871

Our judge(s) is/are professional enough to weight the power of each system, if you use a stronger allowed system, it doesn't not mean it will be automatically better for your final ranking. Higher scores for own creations/creativity, small filesize and source code release for the public along with your entry submission.

Prizes: (more to come, maybe)
#1 - One brandnew GBA Micro console (without games) + One Mindcandy DVD (selectable between Volume 1 OR 2)
#2 - One copy of "Beggar Prince" (Megadrive/Genesis) + One Mindcandy DVD (selectable between Volume 1 OR 2)
#3 - One Mindcandy DVD (selectable between Volume 1 OR 2)
#4 - One "Digital Memories" DVD
#5 - One "Digital Memories" DVD

"Beggar Prince" is sponsored by Superfighter Team Videogame Production. - Beggar Prince is a role-playing adventure game for the Sega Genesis - Megadrive. Weighing in at a massive 32 megabits, this highly detailed and enthralling game follows the adventures of an outcasted prince as he experiences his world for the first time, albeit as a penniless pauper. - http://superfighter.com/

The "Digital Memories" DVD's are sponsored by Enno Conners of CWS Verlag, Germany. They also publish one of the last commercial C64 magazines on earth called GO64! Information about the DVD can be found here http://www.go64.de/shop/product_info.ph ... ories.html

The "Mindcandy" DVD's are sponsored by Dan Wright of Fusecon, USA. Get more information about this great piece of Demoscene DVD at http://www.fusecon.com/products/mindcandy/

The brandnew GBA Micro console without games is sponsored by Kojote/PDroms.

Disclaimer:
All trademarks mentioned are property of their respective owners. This competition is not sponsored nor endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Gamepark Holdings, Bandai, NEC, Sony, Mattel or Coleco Industries. The submitted entries might not have approved/commercial quality and don't present official licensed products.

Changes: (are highlighted)
27.01.2008 - Topic: Create any kind of childproof game (no pr0n, racisms, extraordinary violence and adult humour, ...) by using maximum four colors only on screen at once per scene (this could be a level, menu, etc) (also applies for dual screen systems - 2 screens count as one unit). Black, white, grey do count as color! You can choose your four colors freely.
29.01.2008 - Changed the "Fusecon" banner into a "Mindcandy DVD" one, as this is the product which is actually sponsored. Fusecon is just the company behind it.
29.01.2008 - Added Neo Geo CD to the list of allowed systems, due to request.
11.02.2008 - Added If your game features music and/or sound fx is up to you. to clearify people who were unsure if their entry can have sound or not.
11.02.2008 - Updated "Disallowed" Section: Scripting languages such as LUA, Fenix*, Python, etc which do not compile into a stand alone binary or executable. bBasic, GLBasic and similar programs which do compile into a binary are not affected. * If you use GP2x Fenix in conjunction with Orkie's "cramfsldr" you are allowed to parcitipate, details here: http://pdroms.de/news/8744/
24.02.2008 - Extended deadline, before 2nd March now 9th March, due to request - viewtopic.php?f=59&t=420

[minishlink]

So, can I put my game PongClassicDS - port of Pong - in that competition, there's also a copyright on Pong...

I don't understand that:
COMPILED BINARIES
It's mean i must submit .bin or i can submit .nds ?

Thanks.

[Maple]

If one wanted to donate a couple bucks towards the prize, how might one do so? (Or is cash frowned upon around here?) Paypal or ChipIn would work for me.

[Kojote]

So, can I put my game PongClassicDS - port of Pong - in that competition, there's also a copyright on Pong...

I don't understand that:
COMPILED BINARIES
It's mean i must submit .bin or i can submit .nds ?

Thanks.

Hi minishlink!

PongClassicDS would violate the rules three times. You are using a copyrighted name, the game is still beeing distributed in a commerical way and you have already released it before.

By compiled binary we mean the file, which is executable for your platform. That way it would have been a .nds file.
Hope that helps

Regards
Kojote

[Kojote]

If one wanted to donate a couple bucks towards the prize, how might one do so? (Or is cash frowned upon around here?) Paypal or ChipIn would work for me.

Hi Maple!

I don't plan having cash prizes, specially because of the falling dollar, the money prize would get less and less by itself. But thanks for asking this.

Regards
Kojote

[sparr]

Wanted to post a comment on the speculated rules... if there is to be a 4-color limit, the rules should definitely put some restrictions on dithering, otherwise it's not such a useful limitation.

[Kojote]

Wanted to post a comment on the speculated rules... if there is to be a 4-color limit, the rules should definitely put some restrictions on dithering, otherwise it's not such a useful limitation.

Don't worry on that The rules will be "clear" - The thing why I pre-announced the compo, is that everyone hears about it in time. This one is a rather SHORT compo, so I want to be no the secure side

[daaa57150]

Hi,

"Only COMPILED BINARIES (one file games)", does that mean no external resources, like images and music? I always externalize to the maximum.

[minishlink]

So, can I put my game PongClassicDS - port of Pong - in that competition, there's also a copyright on Pong...

I don't understand that:
COMPILED BINARIES
It's mean i must submit .bin or i can submit .nds ?

Thanks.

Hi minishlink!

PongClassicDS would violate the rules three times. You are using a copyrighted name, the game is still beeing distributed in a commerical way and you have already released it before.

By compiled binary we mean the file, which is executable for your platform. That way it would have been a .nds file.
Hope that helps

Regards
Kojote

Hi Kojote !

It's very sad (is it possible to say that in english ? ><)

"the game is still beeing distributed in a commerical way"
I don't distributed in a commercial way ! o_o

Thanks to you

Cheers,
Minishlink

[Kojote]

Yes, YOU don't publish it commercially - but many companies are having the right to sell it on a commercial base. This means you would make their buissiness bad, because yours is free.

Just don't take it too serious, but I want to avoid any kind of problems. Not only for PDRoms, but also for you

I am sure you already heared about "The Tetris Company" - They are indeed going for everyone for example who use the name "Tetris" even in their homebrew/freeware games.

[Kojote]

Hi,

"Only COMPILED BINARIES (one file games)", does that mean no external resources, like images and music? I always externalize to the maximum.

Well you can work how you want, but the final result has to be in one executable file. It's still up to you to release any update version after the competition result in the way you prefer.

"One file games" will help us making the judging process easier and it's looking slick if there is just one executable file, rather better than taking care of 20 files which need to be in the correct folder etc. The chance of getting a wrong install is almost zero with one file, so it's definatly prefered.

[Kojote]

Hi,

"Only COMPILED BINARIES (one file games)", does that mean no external resources, like images and music? I always externalize to the maximum.

Well you can work how you want, but the final result has to be in one executable file. It's still up to you to release any update version after the competition result in the way you prefer.

"One file games" will help us making the judging process easier and it's looking slick if there is just one executable file, rather better than taking care of 20 files which need to be in the correct folder etc. The chance of getting a wrong install is almost zero with one file, so it's definatly prefered.

In the official rules the rules are modified fromt he pre-rules, work as you want good luck!

[rov]

gp32 entry are not allowed ?!

[Kojote]

There is a GP32 coding compo running here: http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?showtopic=40053

Please parcitipate there Thanks

I don't want to f*ck up other's compos, it's already bad enough I collide with Evildragon's GLBasic coding compo

[WiDDY]

"No adult humour" - as if anybody'd come up with something that offending!

"4 colours per screen" - if I get it right, that means if I create a game with different rooms the player can enter, I could use a new 4 colour palette for each room (as long as it shares colours with the player and enemy graphics)? I'm not going to do it, but others might be interested...

[*]In case of REMAKES OF VERY OLD GAMES (+18y), which do not seem to have a copyright holder anymore and which are not distributed commercially anymore, we can make an exception, but you must be still able to proof that you tried to get in touch with the responsible copyrightholders.

I'm thinking of doing some kind of remake of an even older game (25 years), and both the development studio and the publisher still exists, but I'm definitely not going to contact them, sorry, sleeping dogs and stuff. I'd rather change the name, graphics and features, and just leave the core gameplay elements intact. Both companies are quite some "big names", but not in the video games business - in fact, I think they only did one real game, the one I'll remake. They probably don't even remember it, although it was so original and unique everyone else will do!

WiDDY.