Feedback: Avatar Contests

[Maxie Zeus]

Okay, now that we've got the AniGen split out of the way (and are waiting for things to get fully sorted out), let's talk about Avatar Contests.

They were a big part of AniGen, and about the only reason they didn't become a regular feature was that they might have interfered with the Caption Contest and Fresh Question. Well, those are now on AniTainment, so now is the time to ask: Do we want these things to be a regular feature, or do we want to keep them as occasional things only? Here are the options, as I see them:

1. Hold a regularly scheduled, biweekly Avatar Contest, to replace the Fresh Question. Each contest would start on a Monday and run for eleven days, until the Thursday of the following week. Thursday night it would be locked, and the three-day weekend would be taken up with voting. Results would be announced on Monday, along with a new Avatar Contest.

2. Hold a regularly scheduled Avatar Contest, but only do it once a month, for 10 days. For seven days the contest would run, and then there would be a three day voting period. The rest of month there would be no contests.

3. Hold Avatar Contests only for holidays or major events (like the "Spiderman" opening.)

Thoughts, other suggestions?

I will leave this open for discussion for a few days or a week, to get other suggestions, and then I'll put up a poll detailing the various options so we can get some numbers to go with the feedback.

[Failure]

Leaving the avatar contest for special occasions would be my ideal choice. Some months it may be difficult to come up with a theme to rally around on, and in those times, it's best to leave it be, rather than to force something. Besides, scarcity makes things more valuable. I'd hate for the avy contests to become "played out."

[Naraht]

OK...I'd like to say....long contests bug me..

I'm quick to jump on the bandwagon...then slowly get tired of the avatar..

I'd like a Contest announced on monday a month, run through Friday, then voting over the weekend. The next monday the winners are announced...maybe with a poll for the next contest..it would be a Bi-Monthly thing, every 1st & 3rd week, a contest..

That's just me thinking..>=D

[Deltamon]

I also think the contests should be during holidays or special ocassions.


...Not like I've ever participated, tho. I keep forgetting to submit (like on the V-Day contest :( :o :( ). Who knows, though, I might join someday.

BTW, any chance of doing a 'most ****ed up Avatar' contest? Wait, no, just undid what I said before with this. Of course, mebbe I said it 'cause I got at least one pic to submit to a contest like this (hint-its my current 'tar).

[TuffyCatt]

I like the idea of having them monthly, just because that way we can do holiday contests on the appropriate months and then on the months without major holidays we can do some of the different, kind of random contests that are often suggested on the avatar thread. Some of the ideas that people have had for contests have been really good ones, and I'd hate to pass them over just because they don't have to do with a holiday or a special event.

Anyway, that's just my personal preference. I really don't like the idea of having the contests biweekly, though...that's just a little too often.

[The Dark Knight]

Having biweekly contests seems like way too much. I may seem fun at first but I don't think I could keep up with all those changing avatars, and I don't think many would like to participate in an avatar contest twice a month. I'd say having them monthly is a good idea, so my vote goes to choice number 2.

[Bird Boy]

Hmm....I'd like to have it on special occasions, but if there's a LONG stretch and everybody wants it..I say we go for it...

but..only let them go for 1 week maximum. I was itching to change my valentines day avatar a couple times.. :yakko:

-BB

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Bird Boy
Hmm....I'd like to have it on special occasions, but if there's a LONG stretch and everybody wants it..I say we go for it...

but..only let them go for 1 week maximum. I was itching to change my valentines day avatar a couple times.. :yakko:

-BB

yeah...10 days is too long....I get ansy...

[optimal321]

Once a month sounds good to me. Or maybe if there are two special occasions in one month we can just stick a couple of weeks in between.

[Zebi]

Originally posted by TuffyCatt
I like the idea of having them monthly, just because that way we can do holiday contests on the appropriate months and then on the months without major holidays we can do some of the different, kind of random contests that are often suggested on the avatar thread. Some of the ideas that people have had for contests have been really good ones, and I'd hate to pass them over just because they don't have to do with a holiday or a special event.


My thoughts exactly! :D Bi-weekly just seems to be a little too often, and having them only for holidays/special occasions would make it too long between contests. Like TuffyCatt said, you can either use a holiday theme for months on which major holidays fall, and on other months, use themes suggested by the posters.

[Terminatah]

Monthly is good. Bi-weekly is too much avatar work. Soon our posts would just be the decorations next to our avatars. And special occasions lacks appeal. Who decides what's a special occasion? Silly people.

Monthly week-long contests are sporadic enough so that they don't become overkill and frequent enough so that we have something to look forward to.

-Terminatah

[Maxie Zeus]

Lotta voice in favor of the monthly/special event time frame.

Okay, is there anybody who wants to speak up in favor of something more frequent? I toss out the possibility of making it biweekly, because a lot of times I notice people in the Avatar thread asking when the next one is, and what the theme will be. That makes it sound like there's a pent-up demand for these things that wouldn't be satisfied by having it only once a month.

Remember, all these contests are voluntary, so if they are held frequently there's nothing that says you have to participate. :)

[Mattashell]

I like option #3 Holidays & Special Events. I would like occasional random ones too, but really almost every month has a holiday.

[Calhoun07]

Two contests a month would be overkill, even for those who don't want to submit entries. One contest a month, and preferably open for a shorter term, as was previously suggested, would be quite idea.

[JustJack]

Lets stick to Monthly. I really like participating in the contests, but sometimes I dont enjoy my contest avatars, as much as my personal selections. So, I do REALLY like to look for new avatars to fit contests, but the rest of the month, I wana do my own thing.

Weekly contests? haha...we can hardly ever find good enough contest idea's for each month!

[Failure]

How bout we keep the schedule flexible? Say holidays and major events and also contests in between if a great idea comes up? My problem with the monthly or bi-monthly is that we shouldn't have to think of a reason to do the contest for a certain time. The reasons should come to us. (It's kinda late, am I making sense?)

[Terminatah]

Originally posted by Failure
How bout we keep the schedule flexible? Say holidays and major events and also contests in between if a great idea comes up? My problem with the monthly or bi-monthly is that we shouldn't have to think of a reason to do the contest for a certain time. The reasons should come to us. (It's kinda late, am I making sense?) Yes, but at the same time, we've had some creative contest suggestions that didn't rely on special occasions.

-Terminatah

[Naraht]

Here's my problem with Holiday contests.......who picks the holidays...

I'd rather participate in a 4th of July contest rather than a Chirstmas contest, cause I'm American, but not a Christian......but JH/DG & NF are a couple of our many Canadians here, and wouldn't want to participate in a July 4th contest...

Holidays are relative....

By making it monthly, we could vote on a subject (I'm not saying we can't do holidays, but I think it should be up to a vote) and go with the popular opinion...

though, with the recent poll contrivercies, and poll problems we've had..maybe that's not as hot an idea as I thought. =[

[Failure]

Originally posted by Terminatah
Yes, but at the same time, we've had some creative contest suggestions that didn't rely on special occasions.

-Terminatah

Well, there's where my flexibility idea kicks in. A great idea born is thus a special occasion. I mean, take the Spiderman movie contest that's going to take place for example. Is it really a special occasion? Not really, it's just a movie. Shoot, it'll probably make less $ than Harry Potter, which we didn't have a contest for. But it's the support behind the idea of having Spidey avy's around that date which makes it a special occasion.

[Sir Gatts]

I'll vote for #3. {Hold Avatar Contests only for holidays or major events (like the "Spiderman" opening.)}

[Deltamon]

That reminds me...I have one idea for an avatar contest...

ok, its less of a contest and more of an idea we could all do. A week of Chuck Jones-themed avatars. So far I know of one guy doing it and as soon as I find a Riki-Tikki-Tavi screenshot of either the mongoose or the Cobras, I'll join in too.


Um, that's it. I'll be going now.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Deltamon
That reminds me...I have one idea for an avatar contest...

ok, its less of a contest and more of an idea we could all do. A week of Chuck Jones-themed avatars. So far I know of one guy doing it and as soon as I find a Riki-Tikki-Tavi screenshot of either the mongoose or the Cobras, I'll join in too.


Um, that's it. I'll be going now.

I think we're doing that right now. Spontaneously and simply as a gesture of good-will.

[BLACKHEART]

I think mine wins

[Sir Gatts]

Originally posted by SLIPKNOT
I think mine wins I that Mrs. Green Giant? :D