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EXGFX Contest 2020 - Discussion and Rules

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ExGFX

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Hello there! It’s me, Anorakun, and I’ll be your host. As usual, your main goal in the contest is the same as previous years: draw beautiful graphics according to the theme given by the contest. But there’s a twist this year: instead of foreground or backgrounds, you must draw some sprites. With that said, let’s go to the rules.

THEME

This time, we want you to draw some sprites based on SPACE. In the galaxy lies many mysteries and intriguing lifeforms. Humans fighting against alien spaceships, pacific creatures, there’s so much to learn about the universe. This theme has tons of potential and creativity that can be explored all around, so go crazy.

GENERAL RULES

The goal of this contest is to take an existing sprite and give it new graphics based on the theme detailed above. You can draw graphics for either vanilla SMW sprites, or for any custom sprite currently approved in the SMW Central sprites section. Graphics drawn must be your own original work; that is, you can’t edit or rip any pre-existing graphics, either in-game or from anywhere online. You can submit two sprites if you desire, one vanilla and one custom.

YOU CAN:

-Use ExAnimation;
- Choose any boss sprite you want (vanilla or custom), except for the following vanilla sprites: Bowser, Ludwig, Morton, Roy, Iggy or Larry. This is because they are hardcoded and restricted to mode 7.
- Change the palette row that a custom sprites uses, by changing the .cfg or .asm files;
- Use any tools or programs to make your graphics, as long they're submitted in ExGFX (.bin) format;
- Edit any colors that aren’t marked with an X. Check this image for reference.

YOU CANNOT:

- Edit any vanilla or custom sprite. The pixel art must be original and made from scratch.
- Create a .bps patch. That will not be necessary, since the sample level is easy to insert;
- Edit the ASM or cfg of a custom sprite to change its behaviour;
- Rip sprites from commercial games, nor custom sprites hosted on The Spriters Resources, Mario Fan Games Galaxy, or any other website;
- Edit or submit overworld sprites, since they’re not the main focus of the contest. Also, they’re more simple by nature.
- Work with a partner.
- Put your name in the submission. Your submission must be anonymous!
- Use any kind of ASM to enhance the visuals of your vanilla / custom sprites. For example, using color math or any kind of trick like that manipulates colors is strictly forbidden.
- Create graphics for custom sprites that are not already approved in the Sprites Section. Sprites in the waiting section don’t count.

SUBMISSIONS

You must send all the entries to me by PM. You must host your entries either on Dropbox, MediaFire, Google Drive or any external hosting site of your desire and send the link to me. Then, I’ll send everything to the judges. The reason for that is simple: people may peek into other users’ filebins, so we don’t want to spoil all the fun of the contest.

The ZIP File must contain:
- Sample level (If you choose to make two sprites instead, you can make a second sample level);
- Custom palette and palmask (if you’re not using vanilla colors);
- EXGFX file (.bin);
If you’re using a custom sprite, you must also include:
- A .txt with the name and link of the custom sprite you’re replacing;
- All the ASM files that the sprite uses;
- .A cfg file;

JUDGING

Now, presenting the judges of this contest: Teyla, Eevee, Deeke, TheMorganah.

Scoring will be given under the following categories:

OVERALL DESIGN : 30 POINTS

- Does it look good?
- How well do the sprites animate? Is the animation fluid enough?
- Do the graphics convey their meaning well? For example, if you draw Spiny graphics, does it look like a spiky enemy while adhering to the theme of the contest?

CREATIVITY: 20

- Does the sprite have any kind of spin or something unique?
- Does it adhere to the theme?

Total: 50 points

PENALTIES

You’ll receive a penalty, if:

- You fail to include the ExGFX, sample level, and/or palette for the sprite. For custom sprites, this extends to the .asm, .cfg, and other files needed to make the sprite work properly. -2 points for each file you forget to include;
- Edit any colours on palettes 0-7. -2 points for each forbidden color edited;
- You identify yourself. That includes posting your sprites in your filebin or your name in any of the archives you include in the ZIP file. -2 points for failing to keep the entry anonymous;
- You submit a ROM (.sfc, .smc, etc.) or any other copyrighted file as part of your submission. DISQUALIFICATION + SITE WARNING
- Your entry is plagiarized, such as through ripping graphics from an external source, claiming somebody else’s work as your own (whether they know or not), and so on. We don’t tolerate that kind of behaviour. DISQUALIFICATION

PRIZES

The top 3 participants will be rewarded with a trophy for each category. It’s possible to rack up 2 trophies if both of your vanilla and custom sprites are winners! The top 3 participants for each category will also be allowed to pick a game from our list of codes.

Other participants will be rewarded with a participation trophy.

DEADLINE

Starting now, you have until January 17 of 2021 to send a PM to me with your entries.

Time left:




At the end of the contest, we’ll show every sprite made so far. Have fun!

Also, feel free to discuss and ask your doubts or questions in this thread, as well!
Originally posted by Anorakun in the "you cannot" list
- Edit the ASM or cfg of a custom sprite to change its behaviour;

Does that mean all edits that don't affect behavior are allowed? I'm thinking about tilemap edits, or gfx routine edits. Those edits would let you change the size of a sprite, how many frames an animation has, its animation rate...
It would be a lot of fun, but I can think of a couple reasons why this wouldn't be allowed. It means more creative liberty, but only to those who know how to use it. You could make the argument that those who don't know how to modify the sprite's asm file would be at a disadvantage.
Originally posted by Eminus
Originally posted by Anorakun in the "you cannot" list
- Edit the ASM or cfg of a custom sprite to change its behaviour;

Does that mean all edits that don't affect behavior are allowed? I'm thinking about tilemap edits, or gfx routine edits. Those edits would let you change the size of a sprite, how many frames an animation has, its animation rate...
It would be a lot of fun, but I can think of a couple reasons why this wouldn't be allowed. It means more creative liberty, but only to those who know how to use it. You could make the argument that those who don't know how to modify the sprite's asm file would be at a disadvantage.


With behavior I meant the way a sprite interacts with the player. Changing a koopa speed or making a goomba resistant to spin jumps is a behaviour change.

Since the focus is to showcase animation and graphics. Although, I'm not opposed in tilemap change, but yeah, I fear that it may create an unfair advantage. I tried to make this contest the most accessible possible.


Hi! First of all, I'd like to thank you for organizing this contest #smrpg{<3}.

I was wondering if we're allowed to submit graphics for sprites that spawn other sprites in addition to the spawning sprite. An example of this would be the coin game cloud, which spawns the smiling/falling coins. Would this be okay to submit as one entry? Thanks!
Originally posted by quietmason
Hi! First of all, I'd like to thank you for organizing this contest #smrpg{<3}.

I was wondering if we're allowed to submit graphics for sprites that spawn other sprites in addition to the spawning sprite. An example of this would be the coin game cloud, which spawns the smiling/falling coins. Would this be okay to submit as one entry? Thanks!


Sure. I would even encourage to do so. If a sprite throws a projectile or spawn another one, it would be nice to change it.


So I have to make JUST the Sprites?
Originally posted by Anorakun
instead of foreground or backgrounds, you must draw some sprites


Damn, if it was a FG and BG contest a would enter, but it's a sprite one (Im not really that confident with my sprites yet)

Good look to anyone who enters this event.
Made you look. Now Breath Manualy.

Originally posted by BootaNoBijuu
So I have to make JUST the Sprites?


Yes. The image only or should I say, the bin files. You don't need to code or anything. Just draw a nice graphic, made from scratch. For a vanilla sprite or a custom one.

Next contest, it will be foreground / background, as usual. I wanted to try something different and see what happens.


Sorry for the second question, but how that fuction this thing; It has a limit of sprites that I can Change? I can change the Palette of Mario (Palette 8)? How about use these programs? How many ExGFX can I make?
Originally posted by BootaNoBijuu
Sorry for the second question, but how that fuction this thing; It has a limit of sprites that I can Change? I can change the Palette of Mario (Palette 8)? How about use these programs? How many ExGFX can I make?


Well, you can draw two different sprites: one vanilla and the other one being custom. If your sprite uses two different graphic slots like pitchin chucks or Eeries, that shall still count as one sprite.

Tweaker is allowed. But STEAR would be similar to change tilemap, but for vanilla sprites, instead of custom, so no, STEAR is not allowed. But Tweaker is okay, as long you mention in the txt included with the submission.


The theme for this year's EXGFX Contest is out of this world! Certainly lots of possibilities with what could be made as entries. Good luck to those participating, and to the judges as well!
What is a Lunar Magic, and can I eat it?
What counts as bosses? Are the Chucks, Bosses? Are enemies that take >1 htis to defeat. Is Porcupuffpers bosses?

Ignore that I write Capital Letters in middle of sentences, It looks nicer.
Ninja Boy or Chuggaconny.

Lexend is the world's fastest to read font and I am the only one who uses it.

good luck everyone. I do not have motivation to attempt drawing sprites from scratch, but I certainly will follow this contest with interest.
Originally posted by M. Yusuf Suleman
What counts as bosses? Are the Chucks, Bosses? Are enemies that take >1 htis to defeat. Is Porcupuffpers bosses?

Ignore that I write Capital Letters in middle of sentences, It looks nicer.


No. Chucks are standard enemies. Bosses are Wendy, Lemmy and Reznor, for example. Porcupuffer is jut a tougher enemy like the Chuck.


Here's an idea I got, if there is ever another contest like this: have a list, or maybe a few to choose from, of sprites to draw gfx for. I think this could come as a complement to the contest having a theme. The more restrictions you set, the easier for people to get ideas, the more likely they are to participate and make the contest more interesting. This idea was partly inspired by 24HoSMW #11 where participants were given lists of sprites to make a level with. I think looking back at older contests to see what made them great is a good idea when trying something new like this. This is just like a regular exgfx contest, but instead of drawing foregrounds or backgrounds, you draw a sprite. The reason why I think this won't work so well is because "a sprite" is so much more vast in what it could mean. The workload of the participant, how the entry will be judged, and therefore whether an entry will win ; all those elements depend too much on which sprite is picked. By curating sprites yourself, you would save participants the trouble of choosing (the sprite section is BIG) and successfully bring the focus to gfx more.

I'm really happy you had the initiative to start this contest, it's pretty much a dream come true! But I could see this blossom into something more interesting and engaging in the future
I'll save it for the future, perhaps. I didn't thought that way when I organized this contest. A bit late to change rules, but anyway, I appreciate your feedback, Eminus.


Sprite GFX are quite the challenge. I can draw some sprite GFX, but I'm not that great at drawing more sprite GFX. I can do this with thwomps or thwimps just fine. For others, not sure, but there is a chance.
Anyone here wants more time? Like two extra weeks to draw the sprites? What do you think? I may extend the deadline if there's enough feedback asking to do so.

Just a reminder. Don't forget that the entries should be send by PM to me. You should link the zip, and it should be in a file hosting site like Google Drive, Dropbox and any site you prefer. 7 days left. If anyone wants a bigger deadline, just tell me in the comments.


The deadline was expanded until the second week of January, so you have tons of time to draw funny sprites. 17th of January is the last day to send your entries.


Just reminding you that you have only TWO DAYS left to deliver the entries. #smrpg{:3}


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ExGFX

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