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stormystudio

THE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX 4 CONTEST IS LIVE

A GAMESALAD GAME DESIGN CONTEST FOR ORIGINAL THINKERS

01/01/2012 - 31/01/2012

THEME: END OF THE WORLD

• The idea of the contest is to produce a great and original game using the GameSalad software.

• Please run a development thread in the 'Think Outside The Box' section of the forum. So that we all benefit from your project and see how it grows from a collection of rough ideas into a thing of indie gaming beauty.

• Check Out the rules, judging criteria and amazing prize list over at http://www.stormystudio.com/totb4.html

• The best chance of winning will come from combining a truly original game idea with perfect playable gameplay.

• All games entered must be produced by an individual (including all artwork).

• The games must be based in some way on the contests theme. (End of the World)

• Not essential but it would be cool if games could be made landscape in a format suitable for playing on the GS Arcade once finished.

WHY 'END OF THE WORLD' AS THE THEME?
There was some great discussion on what the theme should be.

The thinking behind 'End of The World' is due to the contest starting at the beginning of 2012. The year that the Mayan people believed will be the end of the World.

The theme hopefully allows for a large scope of original game ideas…be it puzzle games, runners, planet spinning, space rocket, climate disasters, mystery, love, politics, racing…basically anything..as long as its some how connected to 'The end of the world'.

Some people were hoping for 'no artwork' or 'black and white' as the theme. I decided that either one alone would mean that anyone could enter a game already started and so remove the whole point of having a theme. Your welcome to go down the black and white route as this can look very cool. There is only a small number of points available for use of audio and graphics which will hopefully mean you concentrate on original game ideas and solid gameplay.

... good luck...

AppSurge

Awesome!

stormystudio

:-)

LeonardDeveloper

I've started brainstorming already!!!!!!!!! Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stormystudio

Good to hear Leonard (Jack)....

Sorry to al those expecting an email announcement....its now 25 minutes into the new year and my email is still refusing to send...

ozboybrian

I've got an idea already lol.

So unless I don't understand properly, we have to do 100% this, in as, although i'm developing the game I can't hire a graphics artist or go 50/50 on the project with a Graphics artist?

stormystudio

Yes you have to do it all yourself... it's the only way to keep it fair and all that jazz.

Happy New Year... and good night...

stormystudio

Finally managed to send the proper email to all the official TOTB4 email subscribers...

Good luck guys and gals coming up with your ideas...hope your hang overs (if you have one) are bearable...

Happy New Year...this year is going to be awesome...make sure you have a good one... cheers Jon (aka stormy)

ozboybrian

Happy New Year Stormy, thanks for the challenge! I've already started on my art :D I should start a thread right now....

Is there rules on ideas to? Like if someone does a Nuklear bomb blowing up game (which i'm not doing) does that mean if you thread it first no one else can?

Edit - Sorry, i'm on the web page looking at rules now.

We can buy music though right?

JamieOneil

Oh yes!!!
Im on it;D

iCliff

AWESOME! Gotta get started!

Oh and i got the email about half an hour ago :)

Braydon_SFX

Wow, I can't wait to see what people come up with.
I want to join this, however, I don't know if I'll have the time.
I am trying to complete my first app and release it very soon. If I'll just stop tweaking it to death. :-)

Good luck everyone!

TheMoonwalls

I have a question too - the game has to be on GS Arcade? What if my game will be too big for it?

TheMoonwalls

BTW, I will join the contest (I like the theme very much), but my game will be unplayable in Arcade, because I want to use accelerometer.

MotherHoose

well, @stormystudio, the name/focus of the contest is Think Outside the Box!
and think you have put us in the narrowest of sci-fi boxes! ;)
for over 100 years this has been a recurrent theme … and hackneyed to pieces!
I can think of 10+ scenarios and only one sorta original.

and of course my mind keeps churning on:

Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice. 
      —  Robert Frost 

Unfortunately, all my boxed ideas involve conflict with other humans … and I have enough of that in Life to not want in games!

I will sleep on this theme …
and perhaps I will awake with a unboxed brainstorm!

MH

Mr_Rinoy

I wasn't quite sure about the rules. Can multiple apps be submitted?

osucowboy18

Hate to break it to you stormy but I never got the email :( No worries though, I've already got an idea, and depending on weather I can get through testing one of our new apps, I'll be sure to join! No promises though :)

Happy New Year!

- Alex

stormystudio

@Moonwalls - No it does not have to be submitted to the GS Arcade (just nice to do it for those games that can be)...
@MR.Rinoy - I'd personally only submit none game and put your best effort into it...so only one game submission please...(Also the judges might moan if they have to judge more than one entry per competitor).
@OSUCowboy18 - hope you join, sorry about the email...let me know if it ever turns up....

@Motherhoose - I'm pretty sure there is loads of scope for originality....perhaps a game where you play as a dog that has to search the park and find his love one (another dog) and they get it on...before the world goes BOOM!!! (or BARK!)

AppSurge

@stormystudio - When I submit my game, do I need to give you the project file or anything? Or just a link to a YouTube trailer?

Just pulled an all-nighter getting most of the gameplay and main graphics done :) Love the theme!

Thanks,
Henry Abrams

theCodeMonsters

I knew in my heart that the theme would be apocalyptic. I think I'm going to enter in this contest this year given the theme and considering I wanted to make a game with this sort of theme. THANKS AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

LeonardDeveloper

@stormystudio
Do we have to create the soundtracks ourselves.... I have apple logic studio but ill have to learn how to use it a lot better thank i know....
So are aloud use purchased soundtracks or do they have to be custom built (By ourselves)

DeepBlueApps.com

Great theme and I'm looking forward to judging you guys and seeing what you make from it.

Best of luck to all that enter,

Darren.

FREE GS Templates
FREE GS Tools
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Hapiapps

Would it be alright if I made an image that was in one of spriteattack's tutorials. I am making it myself, just wondering.

LeonardDeveloper

@hapiapps i would say so... Its only following a tutorial.... Its still best to check with @stormystudio

stormystudio

@LeonardDeveloper - sorry but yes you have to do your own sound.. so please either learn some music software (GarageBand is pretty intuitive and surprisingly powerful), or record yourself singing or playing an instrument to record some music track. It could be fun...especially making your own sound effects.

@Hapiapps - Why not follow the tutorial, learn from it and make a slightly different looking sprite...just so you can pleased that its all your own work.

LeonardDeveloper

@stormystudio
Thats ok! I have logic studio... and know the basics so i should be able to achieve something good!

jobonoobdude

Well well, you finally get around to TOTB4, AFTER the break is almost over :)
O well, guess another month of sleepless nights wont hurt me more than it did LAST TIME ;)
good luck to you all
(BTW, love the theme)

TheMoonwalls

One question - end date is 31/01/2012, so the game have to be on AppStore this day?

stormystudio

@Moonwalls....that is the end date... the game does not have to be on the app store (as there is no way to know how long the approval process might take and perhaps your are only making a game for GS Arcade, or it might not be 100% finished etc etc).

Please submit your final game entries (A youtube video showing the game, plus < 100 words on why your game is 'outside the box') to this thread before the deadline, if everyone can also send me an email with a link to the youtube video and 100 word description before the deadline it will allow an alternative option incase people are struggling to login to the forum at the time, and allow me to make sure all entries were within the deadline.

Thanks and good luck... can't wait to see what everyone comes up with...

JadarStudios

Whoa! Can't wait to get started!

CookieNinja

It is hard only having a month. I am sort of new though, so does this go on every year once, or what?