Doppelganger Screenshot Contest (NA) - Discussion Thread

[NephHalp]

Good insight and points, Chrysomallos.

A lot of the Saint's Wake entries I had problems with were those using decor as their prop instead of NPCs or Monsters. There were actually quite a few good seasonal entries that I feel, as I've said, should have been allowed in.

At this point, I'm seriously debating the course of action to take. A petition would likely fall on deaf ears, but might get some honorable mentions something as a reward for their efforts...

Honourable mentions I feel would be the safest way to help. I actually would be surprised if they gave any official word regarding the selection process. Should they even imply mistakes in selection it'll just create a PR nightmare. I know I'll be watching the selection in their next contest very closely, that'll show whether or not they've learned or if contests will simply be a joke in the future.

[Selkie]

Honourable mentions I feel would be the safest way to help. I actually would be surprised if they gave any official word regarding the selection process. Should they even imply mistakes in selection it'll just create a PR nightmare. I know I'll be watching the selection in their next contest very closely, that'll show whether or not they've learned or if contests will simply be a joke in the future.

Agreed. Honorable mentions or a consolation of some sort would be very safe routes to take regarding this. Otherwise I shall be doing the same in the next contest.

[Chrysomallos]

At this point, I'm seriously debating the course of action to take. A petition would likely fall on deaf ears, but might get some honorable mentions something as a reward for their efforts...

As "butthurt" as a many others would view us, I am completely down for that jam. Even if we just requested the judge's thoughts on each piece, and the factors they took into account to make those decisions, we could at least then remain sound that us refuting said decisions was justified (...though saying it sounds horrifically righteous), and point out the flaws on the means instead of just the ends.

I know this won't eliminate complaints, though. There's always going to be one ridiculous voice unless everyone's given cake. The only way they could do that is if they a) rewarded everyone, or b) rewarded those that followed the specifically detailed rules. However, if they did follow b, it would be fair who won, as... not everyone followed the rules, heh.

[Oriens]

Although I don't think that having anything Halloween themed was a requirement, it's extremely strange to me that the selection of winners includes:
> five Cactuar impersonators
> three Tonberry impersonators
> six Sylph impersonators

and a myriad of people who slapped on their Culinarian, Alchemist, Goldsmith, etc gear which they have, by default, at 50 for all crafters, and these people won but a lot of more creative people, who put together far more complex costumes with much better composition, were excluded. I, personally, did one of the Saint's Wake NPCs and you can accuse me of being salty, but the fact that not a single festive NPC was even included leaves me feeling very bitter as though I was disqualified simply for having chosen that NPC. Had I chosen a Cactuar, I would have, apparently, had a guaranteed win.

+999999999999+1

Congrats to those CREATIVE winners, well deserved!

[Winteredsnow]

I'm not sure how something like Could have beaten yours. Were winners chosen out of a hat?

Whoah there... It may not be the best or most creative, but I did put a little work into it.
Please respect that fact instead of calling out the screenshots that you may think is inferior, though it may be your opinion.

[Selkie]

Even if we just requested the judge's thoughts on each piece, and the factors they took into account to make those decisions, we could at least then remain sound that us refuting said decisions was justified (...though saying it sounds horrifically righteous), and point out the flaws on the means instead of just the ends.

I, too, would like to know what they looked for in the winners. More text regarding, "And look and so and so's excellent use of..." would have been appreciated.

[Oriens]

All-in-all, this was a fun contest!

I think the community -especially those participating- takes the outcome very serious and the team should take note for future contests. Perhaps, more detailed rules or categories of entry. I personally looked at ALL of the entries posted before deciding what to do to make sure I didn't copy someone else, so, it was disturbing to see so many "duplicates" chosen as winners. Also, having not a single All Saints Wake themed winner seems strange and should be explained because there ARE creative entries with that theme.

Lastly, the range of the winners is so big I am not sure what the criteria was for selection. It seems like 10 different people picked their 10 and that was it. We have some of people in replica gear doing nothing, others with crazy emotes, others in no gear doing nothing etc.

Which makes me wonder why my photo was selected as I aced the gear AND included some thought on the emote to correlate with the doppelganger emote.

[Selkie]

Lastly, the range of the winners is so big I am not sure what the criteria was for selection. It seems like 10 different people picked their 10 and that was it. We have some of people in replica gear doing nothing, others with crazy emotes, others in no gear doing nothing etc.

That... that could explain it. That would explain why the criteria was so arbitrary and, well, flat out random. Or even if the selectors were told, "You have these X pages to go over. Choose your ten favourites." Interesting idea.

[NephHalp]

That... that could explain it. That would explain why the criteria was so arbitrary and, well, flat out random. Or even if the selectors were told, "You have these X pages to go over. Choose your ten favourites." Interesting idea.

That would make sense. If someone had a section of pages where most images didn't meet the contest criteria they'd have slim pickings for their top 10 or whatever number they needed.

[Sephirah]

That... that could explain it. That would explain why the criteria was so arbitrary and, well, flat out random. Or even if the selectors were told, "You have these X pages to go over. Choose your ten favourites." Interesting idea.

You guys realize the the community team for an MMO is like... 5 people right? They probably all just voted, this was intended to be a fun contest, not intended to be taken so seriously.

Again I'm really sorry to everyone that didn't win, there are quite a few entries I remember seeing that I'm surprised didn't make it, but I think it's a little un-realistic to expect some kind of super in-depth gauntlet of approvals or some kind of contest judging tribunal to be setup for things that in reality have no impact on the game, and even more, a very small percentage of players. (MOST people playing any given MMO, DON'T ever visit the forums)