[Hiraghm]

I haven't done the challenge in over a year and a half. Mostly because I've started a new job with odd hours and just don't have the time to spare. However, I do intend to try some challenges in the future, if I can reclaim some of my time.

I think the idea of the newbie/normal categories should remain (maybe call them "amateur" and "pro" or "newbie" and "experienced") I like the idea of simpler competitions lasting a month (I don't think the value of the prizes is the real incentive to participate, though), and I like the idea of competitions with a "story arc"; that is, as someone said, building on earlier contests.

It might help you if you formally defined various categories of 3d art for yourself before proposing future competitions. I think that would help keep the competitions from becoming repetative. Then, when you have a good idea for a competition, but it's the same category as this month, you can just file it away for a couple months.

What would really encourage me would be for the winning entires, in addition to any reward, to appear on the home page of the website. Say, if a lightwave entry won, it would go on the simplylightwave site. Maybe that could be a reward for 2nd and 3rd place too. I don't recall if there's a gallery for previous winners, but there should be. At the very least, I'd like to see a thumbnail of the winners on the home page(s) with links to the actual images.

Just my opinion.