Contest Ideas?

I'm looking to try and pick up a few more prototype codes on Kickstarter in the next few days, with the intent to give them away to forum users here who can't contribute directly to the Kickstarter themselves for whatever reason. I want to have contests that are not too "exclusive" and would thus allow the broadest range of contestants.

My basic rules for all the contests will be:

• Only one entry per person (across all contests -- so choose carefully which one you enter!)
• Must be able to connect to the Castle Story IRC Chat
• Must have a valid e-mail address

Beyond that, throw your suggestions at me!

How about a fanart competition?

To not favor people who are good at drawing the winner could be based on humor rather than drawing skill.

So maybe a small comic (1 to say, 10 frames)? Wouldn't matter if it was drawn in MS Paint with yellow blobs with yellow lines for arms and legs to represent bricktrons, or scribbled out in pencil on lined paper and scanned in, as long as it's legible and funny. Is that more or less your suggestion?

Odd, I was thinking the same thing (half of the reason for my thread about why people couldn't buy castle story, I'll probably choose one to give it to)

Either that or a youtube something...

I'd love to see suggestions as well.

Doesn't have to be a comic, but yes that is what i'm suggesting.

Anyone else? I've just kicked for another $45 on a new account, so I currently have two extra codes; that means two contests.

"tell why you want the prototype code" contest with subjective picking of winners

Hmmm, I think I'll refine that a bit. I'll have people submit their reasons via e-mail to me, then post all the reasons I received on the forum and let everyone vote

I'll have to implement a few rules to help prevent cheating and popularity contests (thus effectively distilling the responses down to which reason people actually like best).

Okay, it looks like I will wind up with two, possibly three codes... so my contests will be:

NOTE: The contests aren't starting yet, please don't submit anything yet!

1) The CS Humor contest
Draw a scene or comic about Castle Story -- doesn't matter if it's done in Photoshop, or Maya, or MS Paint, or was scribbled on lined paper with a crayon and scanned in. As long as we can tell what's what and any text is legible, it's fair game. Please keep it PG-13 though! (I'm giving guidelines to this one, so that the slowpokes can get their ideas and artwork started)

2) The "Best Reason" contest
Explain why you deserve the code the most! Serious or humorous or a little of both. Again, PG-13! Please don't post your response to this thread, I will explain how to make your submissions when I start the contest.

3) The Lottery
A simple random drawing

Think about which one you'd like to enter, if you're going to try for either of the first two maybe start brushing up for them... but for now please keep your ideas to yourselves

EDIT: I took the plunge, and will now have the third code to give away!

this is why I made my post!

Idea stealer

Okay... so reading the dev diary #5... it seems I will have one extra code to give away. Can someone help me come up with a fourth contest idea?

Also, just so you're aware (if you're considering entering), at least some of the codes I'm giving away will be credited at the $15 tier. I've asked Sauropod exactly how each name will be credited for the $45 tier (whether one or both will be credited at $25), but I think at the moment I may just take each of the contest winners and then do a random drawing between them to see who gets a "$15" package or who gets a "$25" package.

This WILL NOT AFFECT whether you get the prototype -- all four contest winners will receive the prototype... it will just affect how you're credited on Credit Island. And hey, when it comes down to it you didn't pay anything, so if you win just be happy you're on Credit Island

Oh you would so have a challenger.

Hmmm, I probably won't do that, as I think it would be hard for most contestants to do this without having the game on hand (and they obviously won't, as I will be starting and ending the contest before it's released!), so it would end up restricting the pool to those who have mad video editing skills and or 3D modeling/animation skills. If I can't come up with anything else, I may consider it.

It's a great idea on the principle of seeing what the community can come up with given the limited resources we have... but for deciding who will get a free prototype code, I'm not so sure that's as good of an idea.

Thanks, and keep the suggestions rolling!

EDIT: Jourei, that was your plan all along, wasn't it? Have a contest that only 2-3 people could enter, so you could enter and have a ~33% chance of winning?

I have a question :O When/how will we know when the contests start and when/how do we sign up for them?

I dont know if you have already got an idea for the fourt contest, but...
What about a story about the game? I mean, the game's name is Castle story, so it would have sense that the contest is about writing that story. Yeah, write a story of a game you haven't played, let your imagination fly...
So yeah, Writing contest.

I will be starting a new thread... Soon™...

Hmmm, I like this idea. One humor-based image/drawing contest, one short writing contest, one long writing contest, and a random drawing. I know there are two writing contests, but I feel they employ different skills (one is pleading/hyperbole/etc, the other is creative storytelling), and the other two are completely separate.

Any other contest ideas, before I lock 'em down?

I like the idea of a story telling contest :O

How about a death battle??

no?

Awwww

My contests have already been announced