Have you looked into creating a D-Mod, but can't really seem to get the ball rolling? Are you a seasoned D-Mod developer, but motivation is lacking? Are you Tal, but you need a pedestal in order to shine the teeming masses with your glory?
Well, here's a carrot-on-a-stick that might help.
For this D-Mod Contest, you must create a D-Mod where failure plays a large role. Most D-Mods focus on Dink completing one or more tasks. "Go save this duck." "Go get the cheese." "Escape the dungeon!" And, lo-and-behold, the player does what they're told.
But what happens if failure is an option... or a requirement?
View the comments for more information.
The Rules
Deadline: All entries must arrive at dwalma@gmail.com or be uploaded via the Upload Form before September 25th, 2006.
Eligibility: Non-staff members can participate. Staff members may participate in the contest, but they will not be able to vote or view the other entries before the rest of the community. Dan Walma cannot participate, because he'd just keep all of the prizes for himself.
Voting: Voting will be conducted by eligible staff members during the two weeks following the deadline.
Prize: Three prizes will be awarded, and they will be announced in the coming weeks. The 1st place winner will have his or her choice among the available prizes, and then the 2nd place winnner, and the 3rd place winner gets whatever is left.
If a group effort was involved in the creation of a winning D-Mod, only one prize will be awarded.
If a group or a person submits more than one D-Mod, they will only be awarded one prize, with the resulting prizes given to the other contestants.
Specifications: These requirements must be followed in order to be eligible for the contest:
The D-Mod shall give the player a clear goal to achieve. This goal must be the focus of the D-Mod, and cannot be a subquest.
The D-Mod shall prevent the player from achieving this goal, or make it possible to fail to achieve this goal.
When the player fails to achieve the goal, the D-Mod shall tell, show, or explain the consequences of this failure.
It is recommended that you create a typical RPG/Adventure-style D-Mod for the contest.
Size: There are not any size limitations, either in map screens or file size.
Cancellation: Prizes will only be awarded if two authors / groups submit D-Mods for the contest. Also, Dan Walma can cancel the contest at any time he pleases for any reason he chooses. In the unlikely event of the Death of Dan, it is doubtful someone else will foot the bill for prizes, so the contest will likely be cancelled.
Misc: If you have any questions, or think some of my rules are a bit silly, please post a comment or a message on the board.
Previously released D-Mods are not eligible, nor major parts of their map and/or story. For example, Sharp couldn't take Milder 3, make Milder fail at doing... whatever he tries to do, and submit it for the contest. However, if you wanted to have something like a SOB scorpion as an enemy (or character) that is allowed.
The point of the failure theme was to make it so people couldn't just submit a D-Mod they've been working on for months. So if have been working on a D-Mod for a while that fits in the rules, please start a new one.
You can submit more than one entry. But beware: you may end up 'splitting the vote', and allowing another D-Mod to win.
Example
If Dink must save a village from some zombies:
a) The village could be overrun by zombies because Dink took too long punching innocent barrels.
b) Zombie Milder could kill the zombies before Dink had a chance, and Zombie Milder becomes a better adventurer than Dink.
c) The zombies could just lumber away, with the threat slowly eliminated.
d) One or more of the above could be possibilities (in addition to Dink killing all the zombies).
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