Matt's Engine Contest! - [Cash AND Software Prizes!]

[matthewpull]

**PLEASE READ FULL POST BEFORE SUBMITTING / COMMENTING!**

**DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ENTRY AS A COMMENT, ONLY COMMENT TO ASK A QUESTION / DISCUSS THIS CONTEST**

OK, I would like to have a game engine for a project I am working on, and the best way to get this seems to be via a contest. So here it is. (I'm sorry it's so long, but it is).

**_Introduction_**

This contest is about producing an ENTIRE ENGINE, not just a couple of features. This is why the deadline is so far away, and may be extended further if need be. The engine selected by an exclusive and anonymous body will be used in games by me and my team, and you will also receive a free lifetime copy of anything made with it (for as long as you keep in contact with us). The more features you can pack in the better, but remember to make the engine fast.

**_Deadline_**

The current deadline is: 30th May (can be pushed back - let me know if required)

**_Rules_**

1) MUST have all of the features with a * by them - your entry WILL be ignored if these are left off without an explanation given

2) Extra points for all additional features

3) Extra extra points for features not on the list

4) The engine must be as fast as possible, easily capable of handing 250+ people on a world without lag (on a good spec server)

5) If using content from other people, permission must be gained by YOU and evidence of this given with your application

6) By entering you agree to these rules and that the judges' word is final

7) If your engine is one of the top 3, you will surrender control of it and it and it's source will become the property of my team

8) If your engine is not on the top 3, you will get to keep all control of it and it's source

9) You MUST include the source code AND a compiled version of the engine

10) The source should be commented where content from other people is used (see rule 5)

11) You agree not to distribute your license code after activating it, or otherwise break Microsoft licensing agreements

12) MUST be written in one of the following languages: C/C#/VB.NET/LUA/VB6/C++ (C++ is not recommended, C# is preferred)

13) MUST work on Windows PC, with MANY extra points for a server working native on Linux and / or a client running on Mac or Linux

14) Don't copy someone else's entry or work to be entered by them and call it your own or enter it yourself

15) By happy and try to win some awesome prizes!

**_Prizes_**

First place - $50 AND Visual Studio 2012 Ultimate license key

Second place - $30 AND Visual Studio 2012 Premium license key

Third place - $15 AND Visual Studio 2012 Professional license key

Fourth place - Windows 8 Pro license key

Fifth place - Windows 8 license key

Sixth place - Office 2013 Professional Plus license key

Seventh place - A choice of Word 2013, Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013 or Publisher 2013 - You pick first

Eighth place - A choice of Word 2013, Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013 or Publisher 2013 - You pick second

Nineth place - A choice of Word 2013, Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013 or Publisher 2013 - You pick third

Tenth place - Word 2013, Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013 or Publisher 2013 - Leftover from above

Other notable entries - A prize at the discretion of the judging team

(Please note that cash prizes may be withdrawn in the unlikely event that even the top 3 entries are not up to satisfactory quality and are not featured enough for what we need to produce our game)

**_Features_** (include as many as possible)

*1) Access levels with changeable permissions from admin panel or server

2) Beta users and regular users allowed it from times controlled by the server

*3) License code system, allowing for the server to generate batches of codes that set player switch A and B (for example) to true and that are removed from a list once activated - every code should be able to set different player switches on as required (i.e. expansion regions with one key activating one region and another activating all regions)

*4) Event system should be the old Eclipse one, not Deathbeams new one, but with another couple of pages of commands (like RPG Maker VX / Ace amount)

5) The ability for a map to stream music to the client live (e.g. for a live event) from a Flash Media Server or other system

*6) Multiple characters, like Eclipse Reborn

7) Developer client, with admin panel and news (only members with an ADMIN status should be able to connect)

8) Beta client, with ability to set time on server panel for beta and standard client to be online (like a game launch time - developer client should always be on - only members with BETA status should be able to connect) - OR FEATURE 2 (same client but login is checked for beta access)

9) A global day / night system working in real GMT time, influencing brightness of maps (i.e. maps get darker after a certain time set by the server)

10) Tiles which give off light, like in Eclipse Reborn

11) Housing system where a map can be customised by the player, and each player sees a different map (their own instance / house) and can invite a player to view their own private house

12) A guild system, which the server panel can set a price and min. level to join and a separate one to create a guild (guild menu should have various things like promote, demote etc.)

13) A quest system like Ertzel started in EM, with the possibility of linked quests and links to the event system (e.g. IF QUEST A COMPLETE, THEN SET VARIABLE B TO TRUE)

*14) The option of full screen, without losing quality but simply showing more of a map on the screen at once - small maps should center themselves with a colour set in map properties if they are too small

15) The login system work around a MySQL database, with usernames and passwords to be brought down from a MyBB forum OR Joomla! site (but nothing written to the database) - beta should be got from being in a group set by MyBB OR Joomla!

16) DX8 is strongly preferred

17) A chat system where a player can be privately messaged and if they are online they get told about new messages and can view old ones at any time

*18) The map should fit to the edge of the client, with chat box, menu icons, etc. being semi-transparent / solid above the map

*19) The server and admin panel should have as many options as possible

*20) Graphics files should be encrypted / stored in a way where they can only be opened with the client and another piece of software used to encrypt them (around a code which can later be changed)

_**Entry**_

Personally send me your engine in a zip, with source and compiled client / server though one of the following ways:

1) Online storage, with a link sent to me via PM

2) Emailed or shared though Google Drive with [email protected]

3) Uploaded though Eclipse Filehost (link in menu) and a link sent to me via PM

You may amend your entry by informing me and re-sending the zip with the version number referenced in the title (e.g. entry v2.zip)

You may enter as many times as you wish and entering again (with a different engine) will not decrease the likelihood of the first entry being picked

[Guest]

$50 for all that? You must be kidding.

[TheRexion]

So basically this is your form of underpaying for a hell of a lot of code in the form of a contest and prize in lieu of actual payment… fantastic, hope you get what you want!!1!

[Stach]

Why don't you just hire someone to program what you want?

[aaaron]

Maybe cut down on the number of placements.

Example;

1st Place - $50, VS 2012, Windows 8 Pro, Word

2nd Place - $25, VS whatever, Windows 8, Excel

3rd Place - $10, whatever, whatever

4th Place - whatever, whatever.

That's making each place more worthy.

[JohnPony]

If someone is going to be making this in a language such as C#/C/C++ why in the hell would they use DirectX8, it's outdated?

[matthewpull]

How is Visual Studio being under paid? That's $1000s of software right there.

I might increase the cash prizes later depending on interest.

I tried to hire someone and of someone wants to be hired, I'd still happily pay them for all of the features above.

If you want to recommend an imorovement to the contest, let me know.

Thanks,

–Matt

[Stach]

Good luck finding someone to do this for you. This is stupid imo.

[Exception]

Has it occurred to you that the people who have the most remotest possibility of entering would already have some premium from of Visual Studio? :3

[Vus]

I see that you expect lot of entries…

[Exception]

Wait, this is in the news? We can freely post here now? O_o

[aaaron]

Naw, it got moved.

>contest?

[Naruto]

I can also keygen keys for microsoft products

[Stach]

> I can also keygen keys for microsoft products

Go key gen a windows 8 key then.

[Mal]

I lol'd hardcore. This is definitely not the way you should go about doing a contest, especially for what you're asking. Also, don't ducking offer cracked or generated keys as prizes; wtf?

[matthewpull]

Actually these keys are genuine.

[Mal]

Genuinely generated illegally. No point in lying. There is no way thaT you can afford or legally obtain a license for VS ultimate. You offering a rather pathetic $50 for what is literally a $2,500+ job reflects that fact.

[aaaron]

…or there's BizSpark.

But can you give those away?

[Mal]

No, you cannot give dreamspark or bizspark keys away. That would definitely be breaking their AUP/license agreement.

[aaaron]

True.

[matthewpull]

Believe what you want, the keys are genuine.

[Mal]

Oh, trust me; myself and others will continue to believe in the fact that you're full of shit, and that we're all equally tired of people that are full of shit.

[Synergy]

> Believe what you want, the keys are genuine.

You've only been around Eclipse for what… 4 months, and you've got 80 posts to your name? Don't be surprised if no one believes you.

[matthewpull]

I was prepared to offer what I said I offered, but I do not want to get into a fight with the Eclipse community.

I am sorry for anyone who I may have offended, please forgive me.

Because of this, I would like an admin to close the thread.

If anyone would like to develop an engine with the features I requested, please PM me and I will talk about cash payment.

However, this does not seem possible in this contest anymore.

I am sorry to all involved, I do not want to create poor relationships with members of the community.

Thanks,

–Matt