Modder's Challenge Ideas

Hi there folks, haven't announced the winner yet, but will hopefully do it tonight or tommorow.

Want to hear some ideas for new Modder's Challenge competitions, if you can come up with a challenge for the modders to overcome, then if i like it, i'll probably use it.

Bear in mind, the modder's challenge is a theoretical competition. You're not expected to actually come up with a working solution.

Also curious as to what you'd like to see as prizes for this competition in future: I was thinking things like LCD screens, Dremels, etc? Or would hardware be more down your street?

Feedback on the compy is also appreciated. Just a final warning: I'm not promising anything here.

-Dave

Howzabout "lights galore"? LEDs and CC's? Or how about the best paint jobs?

You cant really do paint jobs. It's a theoretical compitition. How about somthing like a custom bezel. Or possibly the best air cooled system. Or the smallest system or the largest...

most hidden computer maybe

like a computer built into something else

most futuristic, most practical, most ridiculous, most vintage or primative, most liquid cooled, most advanced gamer, best server, best htpc, company themed (dangerden, thirmaltake, zalman, ect.. with there permission of course), most portable, smallest most cooled, starter case series (mod would build off a proprietary case like defyant's HP), best use of a.... (pick and item and turn it into a mod)

well, for prizes, i think hardware is more down everyone's street. the only problem i see with that is maybe a prize wont be compatible with hardware someone already has... for instance if i won a pci-e video card, its useless because im still running off an agp card. maybe sound cards, hard drives, optical drives, fans, cases, heatsinks, or even packages for a big event. packages meaning cpu+motherboard, or motherboard and ram/video card.

as for challenges themselves... god, the sky's the limit. maybe a weight restriction, or a size restriction, or a budget. maybe something that you dont even have to create keeping in mind that it has to be possible... like a really good watercooling setup that is very elaborate, but probably not possible, and is judged on creativity or soundness of theory. there are a lot of things that could happen, and probably will eventually.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

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maybe something that you dont even have to create keeping in mind that it has to be possible...

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Remember we don't expect anyone to come up with a working solution. We have a nice prize lined up for the next competition, one that should appeal to everyone, so we're trying to come up with a suitable challenge at the mo. We've been kicking around some ideas but we want to see what you come up with.

Thanks, keep the ideas rolling.

-Dave

Is the next prize a conroe?!?! :p

...ha, I wish ;)

How bout... most likely to survive an explosion or impact or something on the lines of that? I was thinking about those black box's they use in airplanes and for some reason it just hit me as a cool idea for a modders challenge.

EDIT:
Ha, or just the opposite? The most fragile... which could also mean the most theft proof. Think of those safes with glass in them, when they crack the safe snaps shut and you can not access it anymore.

Some elaborate theft proof system would be a cool modders challenge. It would be a TRUE challenge that would require lots of thought I think.

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How bout... most likely to survive an explosion or impact or something on the lines of that? I was thinking about those black box's they use in airplanes and for some reason it just hit me as a cool idea for a modders challenge.

EDIT:
Ha, or just the opposite? The most fragile... which could also mean the most theft proof. Think of those safes with glass in them, when they crack the safe snaps shut and you can not access it anymore.

Some elaborate theft proof system would be a cool modders challenge. It would be a TRUE challenge that would require lots of thought I think.

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I like this idea very much! How to make the case invincible...the ultimate hardware protection? Great idea.

-Dave

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Originally Posted by DaveW

I like this idea very much! How to make the case invincible...the ultimate hardware protection? Great idea.

-Dave

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Sweet I was really into this concept like 2 years ago and I came up with loads of case ideas. I got this one in the bag.

we'll just see about that. an invincible pc is definitely something that would interest me 100%... and once i get going, things become envloped by dark body radiation.

ha, I am a genious :D

I have an idea not so much along the lines of PCs, but it is modding, and could actually be done for pretty cheap.

Pumpkin Carving Contest. I'm not sure how this will play out outside the U.S. though.

HA! That is a good idea! It can be a "Halloween" edition modders challenge! The best part is.. it is something that is easy to do and VERY cheap!

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Originally Posted by simon275

Sweet I was really into this concept like 2 years ago and I came up with loads of case ideas. I got this one in the bag.

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I used to "ruggedize" high end workstations for the military (think O2 or Octane that can be dropped from a plane), so does my "professional" status exclude me?

Very, very intriguing ideas, guys. Thanks for the feedback.

One thing I'd like to ask/mention: the prize for the upcoming contest is really awesome, but it is pretty large, which means that it cannot be shipped outside of the continental US - all of the shipping for this stuff comes right out of my pocket, and as I only volunteer my time here, shipping something of this nature overseas gets crazy expensive very quickly. Do you see this as a major detractor? Would any of you be willing to pay for the shipping if the prize itself was free?

I'm not asking to force this on you, I'm just genuinely curious. In another thread we've got a discussion about the finances of the site going, which explains some of the plans we have going for the future, incuding ways of generating a bit of cash which can help ship things across the world, but for the time being, would any of you guys across the pond be willing to pay for shipping if it was something that you were interested in?

how about right next to the border? as you see, im in vancouver, so its really not that far, or does crossing the border add a large amount of money into the equation?

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Originally Posted by Slug Toy

how about right next to the border? as you see, im in vancouver, so its really not that far, or does crossing the border add a large amount of money into the equation?

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A very, very surprising amount. I hate that we can't do anything for our Canadian and Mexican friends at this point, but just shipping something, be it five miles or five hundred miles, across any international border, creates a huge shipping expense.

Since you are so close, Sluggo, I could drive it up and meet you half-way or something, but that is certainly the exception to the rule.

dont kill yourself for me... im just a person. if i were god, that would be something different. i dont really know if i want something really large anyways. im looking for hardware so i can update my old-ass rig. theres a good chance i wont win either.

by the way, with this prize being so large... its got the ideas forming. does it having anything to do with enclosing electronic devices in a metal box while providing a significant quantity of moving air?

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Originally Posted by Slug Toy

dont kill yourself for me... im just a person. if i were god, that would be something different. i dont really know if i want something really large anyways. im looking for hardware so i can update my old-ass rig. theres a good chance i wont win either.

by the way, with this prize being so large... its got the ideas forming. does it having anything to do with enclosing electronic devices in a metal box while providing a significant quantity of moving air?

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I'm not sure what you are alluding to, but whatever the case may be, it is certainly worthy of an entry and the shipping costs involved.

And meeting you halfway is hardly "killing myself for you". You live about two hours north of me. Hell, if you wanted to meet me halfway to get the prize I'd buy you dinner, too.

dinner you say.... dammit, food is my weakness. lets worry about all that if i win then...

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Originally Posted by Rankenphile

I'm not sure what you are alluding to, but whatever the case may be, it is certainly worthy of an entry and the shipping costs involved.

And meeting you halfway is hardly "killing myself for you". You live about two hours north of me. Hell, if you wanted to meet me halfway to get the prize I'd buy you dinner, too.

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Hell for dinner I would drive up from norcal to meet you... hehe


Now I must enter the new contest...

Won't be long guys, once we've tied up some loose ends we'll get the next contest in the bag!

-Dave

I would pay for shipping myself, even though I am in the continental U.S. It isn't a big deal and it is free otherwise.

We need to forbid Crim from joining. Else he's in for a win-it-all challenge hahaha

lol nah, crimson wouldnt join in anyways. Whatever the prize is, I am sure he could build it and then from there make it even better. But this has def. peaked my interest now, I just might participate in this next challenge!

Leatherman... try building Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Leatherface mod... maybe, maybe, a leather chainsaw... Heh.

Leatherman was only a one-time sponsor and will not be sponsoring the next one.

We've been working on having different companies sponsor each contest by donating a prize in exchange for promotion, and so far we've had a pretty good response.

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Leatherman was only a one-time sponsor and will not be sponsoring the next one.

We've been working on having different companies sponsor each contest by donating a prize in exchange for promotion, and so far we've had a pretty good response.

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It's because we're so damn handsome. ;)

-Dave

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Originally Posted by Rankenphile

One thing I'd like to ask/mention: the prize for the upcoming contest is really awesome, but it is pretty large, which means that it cannot be shipped outside of the continental US - all of the shipping for this stuff comes right out of my pocket, and as I only volunteer my time here, shipping something of this nature overseas gets crazy expensive very quickly. Do you see this as a major detractor? Would any of you be willing to pay for the shipping if the prize itself was free?

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Arghh noooooooooooo....

If shipping wans't to much I would pay for it. Or I would go half maybe. How much does this item way what are demensions. Dont tell us what it is I just want to know weight and dimensions so I can get an idea about shipping.

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Originally Posted by simon275

Arghh noooooooooooo....

If shipping wans't to much I would pay for it. Or I would go half maybe. How much does this item way what are demensions. Dont tell us what it is I just want to know weight and dimensions so I can get an idea about shipping.

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I know, I know. It is a pain. I don't have the specific dimensions at the moment, but when the contest goes up I'll be sure to post them.

So are you guys allowed to tell us around what time we should expect the next contest to start? AH! I cant wait much longer! :D

We're working on it. Don't worry!

;)

-Dave

How is this coming along? Kind of drifted into the darkness so I hope you dont mind that I brought it back up. lol I didnt miss it did I?

-SF

No, you haven't missed it. We've just all been REALLY busy. We're trying to sort something out for UK entrants as well.

There is only 3 of us here after all. ;)

(Note to world: that is NOT a hint that we want help. We're doing just fine as we are at the minute thanks.)

-Dave

well youd get help if you asked... im sure someone is feeling generous right now.

I know we'd get help if we asked for it. But, after a few months, I think we've really got to grips with our roles here at TBCS, and any outside help coming in at this point would lead to confusion, delays, etc. etc. etc.

I know if we needed it, half the boards would volunteer. But too many cooks spoil the broth, as we say in Scotland. I'm sure you guys have heard that one before :)

-Dave

Yeah fair enough dave we will let you guys sought yourself out. Looks like I will be running an Australian compeition on my own. And since there is no postage and I am the only entrat I automatically win.

If the prizes arent to big in size and I enter in a compeition can I pay the difference in postage it would cost to ship it out down under. I will porbably send it by ship mail as it is cheapest so I get it in like 3 months :eek: If i win of course.

lol I had a funny dream today of all the "mod gods" getting together and modding some gigantic super computer. Actually I think it was some gigantic server or something. But anyways, it was hilarious.

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Originally Posted by SnowFire

lol I had a funny dream today of all the "mod gods" getting together and modding some gigantic super computer. Actually I think it was some gigantic server or something. But anyways, it was hilarious.

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I'll provide the super computer and the workspace...

Hell I bet you could get sgi or cray, maybe even sun involved and they would host the competition, just for the chance to use the design ideas...