Here are some immediate responses on my part: On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 11:17 AM, David Artman <david.artman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > ==IGDC & The General Public== I am in favor of recruiting as many judging participants as we can. Neophytes who understand the nature of the competition -- new designs, not best of the year -- should have little problem with dashed expectations. > ==IGDC & Continuous Improvement== I like both the idea of a feedback period and a lock-down judging period. Which I guess we've always had. (Duh. Sorry.) > ==IGDC & Open v Theme== I am not in favor of the merit-badge approach, if it means thinking up something nice to say about every entry. I've done that myself for Cub Scout Pinewood Derbies, but for the IGDC it would make the awards kind of meaningless, IMO. But if you want to truly acknowledge different kinds of efforts -- most beautiful layout, best beginner effort, etc. -- I like the idea, but I think the field is *way* to small to do that. It's great for novels, motion pictures, and computer games, but when there are only about 6-12 entries to consider, there aren't enough to justify an automatic award each year. Instead, I propose only having Best Themed Game and Best Overall Game awarded, with the option of Special Awards in any of the proposed areas if the judges deem one worthy of it. There could even be more than one Special Awards in a particular area -- if two entries one year both have very innovative mechanics, go ahead and award both. The judging would be quite simple -- the judges give just one score/rank/whatever for each game, they are tallied, and the highest-scoring themed game, and the highest overall, get the two awards. About Special Awards, I need to check out the Game Chef, but my thoughts in the meantime are: judges could nominate any game for any category, and any game that gets X% of nominations gets an award; or submit the nominees to the judges for a second round of voting. Or, and perhaps better, have a jury of experienced iceheads give out the Special Awards. If there are to be to be two awards (themed and general) at a single annual IGDC, I propose that people be allowed to enter 2 games -- one themed, one general. > ==Selection, Name, and Timing of Icehouse Awards== I am in favor of a "dry run" Pyramid Awards effort this year, if the Looneys are in favor of it, in preparation for a 20th-anniversary event in 2011. I am willing to help coordinate such an event, though I wouldn't want to be the only one. As far as names go, Apex Awards seems an obvious choice. Obvious enough that I googled the term, and found that it's used a lot already: - for "Publication Excellence" - for "innovative garments and accessories" using Polartec - as the name of a company in Cincinnati that manufactures trophies - for "success, innovation, leadership, and determination [in] Colorado’s technology industry" - for "excellence in professional development, community service, and cultural awareness" among the APIA (Asian Pacific Islander Americans in Southern California) - for "Achieving Professional EXcellence in education administration" And that's just the first page. So, a lot of other people also use the name. I still like it. If such a thing does happen, who is the sponsoring organization? Icehousegames.org? Looney Labs? Both? Someone/thing else? Bryan