Current Contest

The There is No Reason to be Bored This Summer Tournament

That's right, folks, I'm here to keep you busy this summer so you don't just sit around on your butt for three months [also it'll keep you from forgetting about me, because if things go right, I'll be working two jobs this summer]. Interested? I bet you are. A big thanks to X-Tenshi for plugging this contest.

Here's how this is going to work. Since I can't guarantee I'll be able to have an FTP program at my disposal this summer, this will be an email-based contest. What that means is, if you're interested in joining, just shoot me an email and I'll add you to a list of participants. Then, every two weeks I'll send out an email to everyone on the list with the theme for those two weeks. Every email means a new theme, but participants are not required to work with every theme. There will be eight emails, meaning eight themes, and you can do as many as all eight or as few as just one. The first theme will be sent out 11 May. Don't despair if you come across the contest in the middle of June! You can join at any time, and you'll have the option of receiving previous themes in order to catch up.

So what is it exactly that I'm looking for? Whatever you feel like sending me. Basically each theme will be a subgenre of anime [like mecha] or a specific series [like Chobits]. I'll leave it up to you to decide what you should send. If you're inspired to write a fanfiction, go for it. If you'd rather send me a bunch of avatars, then send me a bunch of avatars. I'm not tying you down to one type of entry, but I am encouraging everyone to mix it up--try not to just stick to avatars or layouts; make a wallpaper once in awhile! Here's a short list of the kind of things I'm sort of expecting, but don't let it limit you!

  • Avatars
  • Layouts--table, div, CSS, or IFrame
  • Wallpapers--any resolution will do
  • Fanfiction
  • Desktop Icon Sets
  • Fanart
If you'd like to work on something not on this list, by all means, go for it! These are just some ideas. If you submit a layout, I would prefer a link rather than a .zip file, and if you submit fanfiction, I would prefer a .doc file.

I'll bet you're wondering about sending this to me. Well, you have two options: You can send me whatever you've worked on for each theme as you finish them, or you can wait until the very end and send them all to me at once. I'll warn you now: I won't really be able to get a good look at graphics until the end unless we replace the monitor for the downstairs computer [it's the only one with internet in the summer], so while I'll be able to get a general idea, the details will remain fuzzy unless I can find the time to get to the library and use their computers instead.

Now, how will your work be evaluated? Any and all layouts will be critiqued against the usual rubric [if you're not familiar with it, a copy can be found here]. Avatars and desktop icon sets will be scored on a scale of one to five according to my personal preference, while wallpapers, fanfiction, and fanart will be scored on a scale of one to ten. Any other submissions will either be scored against a rubric created specifically for it or simply on a scale [one to five or one to ten, depending on what I see as necessary], but it will be discussed between us at the time of submission.

Are there any rules? Not particularly, but use your discretion. I'll say this: I'm not easily offended, and I'm the primary judge. At the end of the tournament, I'll send out a final email and ask you if you think I should open a poll to the visitors. Don't think about this now, wait until the end of the tournament. Then, if at the end you want to see what other people think of your work, we can open a poll, but if you think someone might be offended by your work, we'll keep it between me and my participants. So, during the summer, just focus on what you're making--live for the moment and don't worry about later--and at the end of it all, we'll get serious.

Let's talk about prizes, okay?

As first place winner, you are entitled to the following: five graphics of your choice [avatars, link buttons, wallpapers, PNGs, or desktop icon sets] that may also be substituted for a layout and two additional graphics, a chance to become an affiliate of Kokunkokun [if you meet the requirements] or a link exchange, a personalized first place award, and a permanent link on the winners' page.
As second place winner, you are entitled to the following: three graphics of your choice [see above] that may be substituted for a layout, a chance to become an affiliate of Kokunkokun [if you meet the requirements] or a link exchange, a personalized second place award, and a permanent link on the winners' page.
As third place winner, you are entitled to the following: one graphic of your choice [see above], a chance to become an affiliate of Kokunkokun [if you meet the requirements] or link exchange, a personalized third place award, and a permanent link on the winners' page.

Winners will be decided by some simple addition: I'll add up the points you score for each submission, and in the event of a poll, I'll also add a point for each vote you receive.

So let's review: This tournament will run all summer. After signing up, there will be eight emails every two weeks starting 11 May. You can join at any time, and by joining you're not obligated to complete every theme, but you will receive every email and a list of past themes in case you miss an email or join late. You can submit anything that reflects each theme, and submit as many things as you'd like for each theme. Winners will be decided by adding up all points earned through scoring, which will vary by entry type. If participants agree, there will be a poll in which visitors will vote, and each vote will equal one point which will be added to the overall score of the participants.

Finally, the deadline for any and all submissions is 6 September--the first Saturday of that month--so don't feel that you have to complete each theme before the next one is sent to you. Also, I know that a lot of people go away during the summer for vacation, which is why I'm not making all the themes mandatory, so don't feel pressured. It's about having fun and expanding and improving your designing skills!

There is no banner for this tournament, but if you have a site and you join, please help spread the word in some way! A simple text link will do, but if you're feeling inspired, feel free to make your own banner.

Okay, that's everything! If you have questions or want to join, please email me at kokunkokun@gmail.com.

For anyone wondering, here are the themes so far:

  1. Week one: D.N.Angel
  2. Week two: meccha
  3. Week three: Sailor Moon
  4. Week four: seasonal