1999 IF Art Show Rules (Spring)
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1999 IF Art Show (Juried)
(or How to Build a Better Mouse Trap)
> You have entered a hushed art gallery with high white walls and
subdued lighting, except for the bright spotlights aimed at various
pedestals around the room. At first the displays look like ordinary
sculpture, but then you notice the intriguing "Flash Gordon" ray gun
in the center. You glimpse lights flashing, hear rustling and discover
even more unusual forms: a Cubist futuristic booth and what appears to
be an outdoor setting complete with storm clouds rolling over wind
tossed trees. It is only when you spot the burly man in the flannel shirt
chopping wood that you fully realize this is sculpture unlike any you
have imagined before.
These 3-dimensional displays are IF sculptures, modeled with text.
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Purpose:
To explore the 3-dimensionality * of Interactive-Fiction.
(Without the framework of plot/puzzles.)
Mike Beryln, Michael Gentry, Marnie Parker, Mike Roberts,
Dan Shiovitz and Lucian Smith.
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This is a juried IF "art" show. Juried shows are judged BEFORE the
entries are shown to the public. Only the top four places are
awarded. All other entries are not ranked, but are put on display.
Best of Show
Best of Still Lifes (Objects)
Best of Landscapes (Scenery/Rooms)
Best of Portraits (NPCs)
Tentatively called the "Malyons".**
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Rules:
1. No graphics, sound files or ASCII art.
2. All entries must be original works. However, they may taken from an
unreleased works in progress.
3. They must be anonymous for the judges' vote. Immediately
afterwards, they may be recompiled to replace your pseudonym with real
name or handle, unless you want to remain anonymous for the show.
4. "Playable" in less than 45 minutes. Shorter is usually better.
5. Your exploration can be of:
an object (or objects, max 3)
scenery ("rooms", max 3)
NPC (max 1)
Only one of the three. See next post (page) for guidelines for each.
You will need to specify which category you are entering, either by
zipping a text file with your piece or specifying in the introduction
or help.
6. Essentially plotless and puzzleless.
Introduction - Allowed for those who need more structure. But only to
"set the stage" and/or provide the player with some motivation to explore.
Scoring - A "task achieved" scoring method may also be included, to
give players an idea of when they have explored as much as possible.
Absolutely no "brain twister" puzzles. No end goal other than
exploration.
If players need to figure out how to: manipulate an object, move from
place to place, what to ask a NPC, you should guide them to an
action/topic by prompting them with subtle (not too subtle) hints in
descriptions and/or responses.
Stumping the player is not the goal. Encouraging exploration is.
7. How you achieve a convincing portrayal of your choice, how you
accomplish the illusion that what you are modeling with text descriptions
and IF programming is 3-dimensional, is actually/fantastically "real", is
up to you.
Every available technique is allowed: daemons, timers, built-in library
actions, author created actions and dialogue (the latter, NPC only).
8. All entries will be displayed on my web page for a two week "Art Show".
9. The deadline is midnight Friday, April 30th EDT (Eastern Daylight
Savings Time -- four am Saturday, May 1st GMT).
Since I am also a judge and would recognize some email addresses, I
cannot receive your entries.
Upload your completed entry to gmd.de, incoming/if-archive/if-artshow.
Volker Blasius will create this special directory a week or two before
the deadline. Your entry will seem disappear after you upload it. This is
to guarantee its anonymity and restrict its availability until after the
judges vote.
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Comments:
I am sure there are loopholes, but loopholes are fun too.
I, personally, hope experienced IF writers enter because I think this
is a different, freeing approach to writing IF.
But newbies and those who feel they will never write a full-blown game
because of the necessity of having to create a plot and/or puzzles,
are especially encouraged to enter. To help us all explore the IF medium.
ComputorEdge Magazine has donated a prize, a Wireless PC Keyboard. Donations
for 3 additional prizes will be gleefully and gratefully accepted.
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* Interactivity, simulation or virtual reality capability,
tangibility, both descriptive and responsive depth, realistically
communicated kinetic/auditory/visual/etc. (re)actions/sensations/cues.
The IF medium.
** May not be totally appropriate because of the association in IF
programming with the word, "animate" (life = NPC).
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Thank you to all the judges for agreeing to participate.
To Volker Blasius for finding a method to keep entries anonymous AND
private. Also for volunteering to be the "ct" for this Art Show.
To Lucian Smith for his suggestions on how to improve these rules
and guide lines.
And a special thanks to Adam J. Thornton for his tireless editing
and listening "ear". Also to LucFrench for his valuable input in
helping to realize this idea.
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