[mtmckinley]

Hey, guys,

A very valid concern was brought to our attention. As the prizes have been now, the Grand Prize is only awarded to the Normal category.

The thinking was to give those in the Newbie category something to strive for. However, to award EDUCATIONAL material to people who, for the most part, have a pretty good understanding of the program already seemed to defeat the learning purpose these challenges are meant for.

Therefore, we're suggesting this solution:

TWO Grand Prizes, one for each category!

Before I get into what these GPs are going to be, I want to reiterate that Grand Prizes will still only be awarded if enough people contribute final entries. If only 1 or 2 people are entering the challenge, it doesn't breed a good environment for competition and instead of the grand prize, regular prizes (points) will be awarded as usual. The only real change is now a minimum number of entries will be enforced for both grand prizes.

SO, that said, here's how the prizes will break down:

Normal Grand Prize:

A book (any art subject book, whether educational or reference or whatever) and a choice of a tshirt or mug. (At the moment, tshirts and mugs are only available with SM logo. Feel free to opt out of the mug/tshirt prize.)

Newbie Grand Prize:

1 educational LW book of their choice and 14 points

Hopefully, these arrangements will allow the winners to appreciate their prizes more! Let me know what you think.

Also, do current competitors in the Aug/Sept challenge want this prize situation to occur for them when this challenge ends at the end of the week? Let me know here! If not, this will take affect in the next challenge.

EDIT:

What has happend in the past has been a seperate winner for the Grand Prize. For example, a Grand Prize winner is chosen, and then the next runner-up is given the Normal prize followed by the Newbie prize. With the addition of 2 grand prizes, instead of having 3 or 4 winners, there will only be the 2. If the Grand Prize is awarded, there will not be a 2nd place Normal or Newbie winner.

So, for example, let's say there is a Normal Grand Prize, but not enough for the Newbie Grand Prize. The awarding will go as:

Normal Winner - name - Grand Prize!
Newbie Winner - name

In the above example, the Normal winner recieved the Normal Grand Prize while the Newbie winner recieves points.

Any further questions, feel free to ask.

[mtmckinley]

If we decide to implement the prize change now, for the current challenge, it'd go like this:

Normal - requires 8 finished valid entries (no change)
Newbie - requires 5 finished valid entries

As usual, if the set number is not met, points will still be awarded to the winner. Just there won't be a Grand Prize winner for that category.

If anyone wants to change to Newbie from Normal or vice versa, feel free to ask. There's usually no problem going from Newbie to Normal, but the other way around will depend on the ruling of a mod. If the request is rejected, it means the mod feels the person can compete as a Normal entry and would have an unfair advantage as a Newbie.

[ozwolf]

I think this is a great idea! and i would like to see this implemented for the aug/sept challenge.

[bullet_evader]

sounds great to me!!! i think it should be starting with this challenge!!

[DigiMatt]

Great idea!! I think it should wait until the next challenge though, just my thoughts.

//Matt

[Fallenswordsman]

Darn - I was holding out for a months supply of M&Ms for the grand prize.

[Zeeman]

Either way, its a good idea, see if u can put it in this month...

Fallen: lol. That would be SWEET!!!!

EDIT:
On second thought... maybe next month would be better

[Yuko]

cool mike, fine for me

[kumar]

nice idea there mike,,, so a noob also gets something,,,

hehe however the m&m thing is very interesting.... oh ya want to suggest a pic below the avatar to say noob or norm winner... thought i saw that or i am dreaming...