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Contests :: Digital Artists Competition: Halloween
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Digital Artists Competition: Halloween!

It's that time of year again: Time to put on a mask, run around scaring people, and (hopefully) score some sort of treat in the process. This competition is all about artists using their skills to create imagery in the spirit of Halloween. Create something scary, mysterious, creepy, or even just a traditional Halloween image. The choice really is yours, and all avenues for image creation are open to you!

But this contest is about a lot more than just your final image. It's about the art, the process, the inspiration, and about showing the community how you get to the end result. That's why all contestants will be responsible for keeping up a contest thread that covers how the work is progressing. Think of it like an ongoing production blog that you'll be maintaining throughout the course of the competition.

And what's at stake? Everything. No, seriously! The winner will be awarded a one-year Golden Ticket at 3D Buzz, allowing them to request FREE copies of ALL products 3D Buzz sells in the store from now through the next YEAR! Want access to all of that juicy Member Sponsor content? Done! Wishing you could afford XNA Xtreme? We'll send you the whole set! Trying to learn Houdini? Just request all of the Technical Director's Series! Or do you just feel intellectually inadequate without everything we sell sitting on your shelf?* Then just ask for EVERYTHING. We'll send it to you. And we'll cover the shipping.

* Don't worry, we understand if that's the case. It's natural. Really.
Official Contest Overview

Rules and Regulations

To enter, you ONLY need the following:

  • A plan to create a digital image with a theme pertaining in some way to Halloween. This can be something scary, something traditional, something creepy… have fun with the idea! And you don't have to have the image right away, of course. You'll be creating the final image throughout the course of the competition. You can create your image through any digital means, and that doesn't necessarily mean that it MUST be from a 3D application. Besides, you're going to have to post it on 3D Buzz anyway, so in the end, whatever you create will be digital. So use your imagination and don't limit your own creativity!

  • Your final image must be completed by the deadline and must conform to the following: The image must be a JPG at a size of 1024x768, or up to the maximum resolution their software version will allow, up to 1024x768. We may request a larger version of the winning image or of the top 10 (provided there is one available) so don't feel like you have to limit the creation of your art to that size. Only the final needs to be that size when you turn it in. This size requirement is to prevent the exclusion of those using educational versions of various software packages.

  • Final entries must be completed by 11:59:59 PM CST on October 31, 2008

  • No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.
 

Judging Process

All entries will be judged in the following manner:

  • Initial Judging: The first round of judging will be based upon public opinion. We will create a web page that contains the final images from all eligible contestants. This means that only those contestants who have followed all of the rules will have their work appear on the page.

    Each 3D Buzz user may then access this page and vote on THREE (3) images that they think are the best. Using this data, we will generate a list of Top 10 entries.

    Note: In the event of a tie, the 3D Buzz staff will cast a deciding vote.

  • Final Judging: Once the Top 10 entries are decided upon and announced, the 3D Buzz staff will select a winner and two runners-up. These winners will be announced on the following Nightly Hour Radio Show.
 

Judging Criteria

Each of the Top 10 finalists will be judged using the following criteria:

  • Attention to Artistic Style and Quality in the Final Image. We're not limiting entrants to 3D works or digital paintings, but are instead encouraging all artists to join. There is no such thing as a "better" form of art. We'll be looking at how each artist handles their medium and how the quality of their work is reflected in their choice of style. For instance, a stylized piece isn't going to be better or worse than a realistic piece so long as the artist can clearly convey the purpose of their style. Remember that, in the end, it's more about how well you're able to execute your stylistic choices than it is about how you choose to choose to create your image.

    On that note, however, we should mention that we are NOT judging these images based on how much time you spend on them. Is it possible that someone could put together a painting in a couple of days that looks better than the render that took you weeks to produce? Yep. That's life.

  • Originality. Okay, we all know that if it's scary and if it has anything to do with Halloween, then it's probably been done to death. We don't really mind if you're just dying to make a killer render of Michael Myers, just make sure you do a really good job. Generally though, we prefer more original takes on imagery. Still, don't let this scare you into thinking that you've got to create something that no one's ever seen before. For instance, just because you can't think of a compeltely original image doesn't rule out a shot of Michael Myers fighting Giger's Alien with an axe. I mean, I haven't really seen THAT before.

  • Quality of Work In Progress Update Posts. This is just as important as every other part of the judging. We want to see your progress detailed as you go along and we want others to learn from you as well as help you through the development process by providing comments and criticisms.
 

Prizes

Okay, honor and bragging rights are always cool, but let's face it: Competitions are all about the prizes. In this contest, you're competing to get your hands on a one-year 3D Buzz Golden Ticket, providing you access to every product we sell in the 3D Buzz store at your request. But that's just for the grand prize winner. Here's a breakdown of what all 3 final winners can expect.

1st and 2nd runners-up will receive the following:

The first and second runners up will each receive a $250 Gift Certificate to the 3D Buzz Store!

Grand Prize Winner:

A one-year 3D Buzz Golden Ticket.

Complete Rules & Regulations

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Eligibility

Entrants of any age are eligible to participate. Contestants who are minors, however, must have a parent/legal guardian submit written authorization. Employees and agents of 3D Buzz, Inc. (collectively "Contest Sponsors"), and members of their immediate families (parents, children, siblings, spouses) and/or persons living in the same households as such persons, whether related or not, are ineligible to enter the Contest and cannot win prizes. This contest is governed by the laws of the United States of America and of the State of Tennessee. This contest is void where prohibited. Contestants are responsible for compliance with applicable laws in jurisdictions where they reside.

Contest Rules

Contestants must create a digital image based on the current theme for the contest (in this case, the holiday Halloween). The adherence to theme is an important factor for contest entry. Images that are unanimously agreed by the 3D Buzz staff to fall outside the realm of the given theme will be immediately disqualified.

Contestants are allowed to make use of any and all tools to create their image. Furthermore, contestants are not limited entering works of a 3D nature. Any digital image is eligible for entry, be it a 3D render, digital painting, digital photo, or otherwise digitally manufactured or processed image.

All Submissions, must be in JPEG format at a resolution no greater than 1024x768, or the maximum that the contestants software will produce, up to that value. These values can be reversed for vertically oriented images.

Throughout the duration of the contest, Contestants will be required to create a simple work-in-progress thread on the 3D Buzz web site, which will be part of the contest registration process outlined below. During the contest, this thread must be updated with a minimum of ten (10) posts that each includes a brief overview of the current progress of the image, and at least one screen shot image per post. Screenshots included in these posts can be of any size up to 1024x768. These posts are subject to the moderation rules of the 3D Buzz website and may not contain foul language or remarks that may be considered obscene, racist, hateful, or otherwise objectionable. The quality and informative nature of these updates will play a factor in the judging process.

The closing date for submissions is October 31, 2008. Winners will be announced on the 3D Buzz web site.

Registration

Registration requires that Contestants are registered members of the 3D Buzz web site, which is a free service and requires no purchase.

To compete in the contest, Contestants must create a forum thread on the 3D Buzz web site within the DIGITAL ARTISTS COMPETITION FORUM. The thread must contain a subject line consisting of the official name of the Contest (DAC - Halloween) and the full and real name of the Contestant. For instance, if a Contestant's name was "Jane Doe" then the title of her thread would be "DAC: Halloween - Jane Doe." This naming convention is in place to simplify forum searches. No other words in the thread subject line are allowed.

Example of valid thread name - "DAC: Halloween - Jane Doe"

Contestants must finish the Contest with a total of at least ten (10) update posts within this forum, each containing an overview of current progress at the time of the post and each containing at least one screenshot of your work in progress.

Contestant Plagiarism

While contestants are required to produce regular work-in-progress forum posts regarding the process of their image's construction, we understand that certain contestants may be enticed to use this information to create works based upon other contestants' ideas. This is considered cheating. The work-in-progress posts are required in order to encourage interactivity digital art community, and are not intended for any other purpose.

If any Contestant feels that one of their peers has stolen their ideas to such a degree that their entry has been compromised or damaged, then they are to contact Zak Parrish by email or 3D Buzz PM and outline their claim privately. Under no circumstances should such claims be made in public via the 3D Buzz forum system and doing so may result in disqualification and other consequences pertaining to the 3D Buzz website www.3dbuzz.com including, but not limited to restriction of access to the website itself. 3D Buzz will investigate these claims and will satisfy, to its sole satisfaction, their extent and validity. This investigation may require that either or both parties provide certain information regarding the creation of their images. In such cases, failure to cooperate may result in disqualification. The decisions from this investigation will be considered final, and 3D Buzz reserves the right to disqualify either or both parties.

You Agree

By entering the Contest you agree to comply with all the rules and all decisions of the judges and agree to indemnify and hold harmless 3D Buzz, Inc. and other sponsors from any damages, liability or third party claim related to the Contest.

You warrant and represent:

  • That you have not cheated or committed any fraud in your participation in the Contest, and have not violated any rules of the Contest as specified in the Contest rules posted on the Digital Artists Competition page;

  • That you are of legal age and have every right to contract in your own name in this matter or that you have obtained the prior written authorization of your parent or legal guardian;

  • That all conduct on the 3D Buzz website pertaining to the Contest, including, but not limited to the update posts completed as part of Contest participation will remain professional at all times and will fall within the moderation rules of the 3D Buzz website (www.3dbuzz.com);

  • That upon request by 3D Buzz you will supply your name, address, email address, and telephone number;

  • That your name, address, and other identification information provided with your entry submission are true and accurate;

  • That your submissions to the Contest are original works created by you for the purposes of entering into this competition;

  • That your image does not contain pornographic, obscene, racist, hateful, or otherwise objectionable content

Judging

Final judging will be carried out by a panel comprised of representatives from 3D Buzz. The decisions of the Panel will be final and binding on all entrants.

All prizes listed herein, unless otherwise specifically noted, are cash prizes in U.S. dollars. All costs, taxes, fees and expenses associated with entry into this Contest and any prizes received shall be the sole responsibility of the entrants and winners. To the extent required by law, sponsors reserve the right to withhold a portion of winnings for applicable taxes.

Judges reserve the right to disqualify any entry which is, in any individual judge's sole discretion, inappropriate. 3D Buzz reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify winners and to chose alternate winners if information contained in the registration thread or the update posts cannot be verified to 3D Buzz's sole satisfaction, if the winner refuses to abide by the contest terms or if the selection of a particular entrant would, in 3D Buzz's sole discretion, harm 3D Buzz or any sponsor's reputation.

General Rules

Entrants agree to accept and abide by the rules of this Contest and agree that any dispute with regard to the conduct of the contest, rule interpretation, or award of prizes, shall be submitted to 3D Buzz, whose decisions shall be binding and final. Entries not satisfying this Official Rules will be automatically

By participating, entrant agrees to release and hold harmless sponsors and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, service agencies, independent contractors, and the officers, directors, employees, investors, agents, and representatives of any of the above organizations from any injury, loss, or damage to person, including death or property, due in-whole or in-part, directly or indirectly, to the acceptance from or use/misuse of a prize or participation in any promotion-related activity.

Sponsors are not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of this offer, in the administration of the contest, or in the announcement of prizes. In the event that sponsors are prevented from continuing with the promotion, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the promotion is severely undermined by any event beyond sponsors' control, including but not limited to fire; flood; epidemic; earthquake; explosion; labor dispute; strike; act of God; public enemy act; satellite or equipment failure; riot or civil disturbance; war (declared or undeclared); terrorist threat or activity; any federal, state, or local governmental law, order, or regulation; order of any court or jurisdiction; or other cause not reasonably within sponsors' control (each a "Force Majeure" event), sponsors will have the right, in their sole discretion, to abbreviate, modify, suspend, cancel, or terminate the promotion without further obligation.

If sponsors, in their sole discretion, elect to abbreviate the promotion as a result of a Force Majeure event, sponsors reserve the right, but not the obligation, to award the prize from among all eligible entries received up to the date of such Force Majeure event. The administrator of the contest is 3D Buzz, Inc.

An entrant's submission of entry constitutes permission for 3D Buzz and, in 3D Buzz's sole discretion, such other Contest Sponsors to use entrant's name, photograph, likeness and other material provided in the entry for any business purpose, including for promotional purposes in any media. Contest sponsors (including, but not limited to, 3D Buzz, Inc., and others who may be added from time to time) have the following rights with respect to contest entries:

The right to place links to the image's download URL on their web sites and on the contest web site.

The right to host the image on their web site(s) and on the contest web site as well as provide copies of the entered images for use on magazine cover discs, download sites, and other web sites of their choosing.

3D Buzz will not knowingly provide any personally identifying information that is not already publicly available, of minors to any third party without the written consent of entrant's parent/legal guardian.

This Contest shall be governed as to all matters, including validity, construction and performance of the Contest General Rules, by and under the Laws of the United States of America and the State of Tennessee and the sole venue for resolving all questions related to the rights of the Entrants and winners in this Contest shall be the courts located in Dickson County, Tennessee, United States of America.

3D Buzz Reserves The Following Rights.

To update and revise the Contest rules and submission dates at the Digital Artists Competition page.

In the event any entry is deemed ineligible, 3D Buzz may award its prizes to alternate entries as it deems suitable.

Physical prizes will be delivered via post from 3D Buzz, Inc headquarters in the United States. Winners may be required to pay customs, duty charges and/or taxes.

All cash prizes will be delivered via PayPal. 3D Buzz is not responsible for any taxes or transfer fees.

Within 60 calendar days of prize announcements, winners must claim their prize and provide 3D Buzz with any required information and correspondence. Failure do so will result in forfeiture of all prizes. Prize announcement will be made on the 3D Buzz web site.

Winner Notification

Winners will be notified through email using the email address supplied at the time of their registration on 3D Buzz. We will also attempt to notify winners via the Personal Messaging (PM) system on the 3D Buzz website.

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