Graphic Design Contests

**Mr.Mouse** · 02-21-2008, 10:52 AM

To celebrate the 5 year anniversary of the Xentax Game Research Forum this year, we are organizing a graphic contest! The idea is to create a new header for the forum that will serve as fronts from then on! Winner takes $125, second $50 and third $25! Any entry will be considered for rotation at the site, regardless of prize! If you think are up to it, then here’s the requirements:

Entries should be in PNG or JPG format, with source files depending on art program
Dimensions Width x Height = 1024 (max) x 150 pixels
Games, Gaming and/or Game Research themes are obligatory
XeNTaX logo/text should preferably retain the XNTX capitalization
The text “Game Research Forum” must be sufficiently legible

Conditions:

Points are awarded by forum visitors and the board of the Xentax Foundation
Xentax Foundation has the final verdict, because the winning entry must fit the overall aim, purpose and layout of the site if it is to to be used. This verdict cannot be contested.
If not enough entries are submitted, the contest will be forfeit. There will be a reward solely for the best entry up to that time ($50).

Deadline: March 15th 2008
Submit you entries to info[at]xentax[dot]com

I hope you artists will consider entering the contest!

**Ninjax** · 02-21-2008, 11:12 AM

Just a few questions, should we make a new logo, or should we keep the one on the site? Also, what should we put in the banner?

**Mr.Mouse** · 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninjax

Just a few questions, should we make a new logo, or should we keep the one on the site? Also, what should we put in the banner?

- You have a large degree of freedom, the original logo does not need to be kept at all. The only thing that is important is that the words "XeNTaX" and "Game Research Forum" should be sufficiently legible. How, that can be your own idea.

- The header can contain anything you image, it is your artistic design, but as the requirements state, it should have a Game, Game Research and/or Gaming theme and fit the site purpose.

So, a bit about the site background then to help you out with the theme. We create(d) tools for game modding, general extractors such as MultiEx Commander, Dragon Unpacker and Game Extractor, but also game specific tools. People drop in at the Game Research Forum to request help with figuring out a specific game file format, mostly game resource archive formats (GRAFs). This is then investigated and in a lot of instances custom tools are created for the requestee.
The purpose is to support modding of people's favourite games. We also have the Game File Format Central, which is a Mediawiki driven site that lists 1000+ known game file formats (mostly GRAFs). People drop in here to add their information. That's basically it. Hope it is enough to go on.

[EDIT]Our site was/is down due to maintenance at our host. Don't worry, it'll be up soon if you need to check it out for the contest.

**kilza** · 02-21-2008, 02:49 PM

Here is my entry: (I will email them to you if you want)

I have included two variations of the header. Please give me feedback/suggestions for the header.

**Mr.Mouse** · 02-21-2008, 03:12 PM

Hi! I greatly appreciate that you're going to enter the contest !

It's also neat that you recreate the buttons that are on the site now, but this is not necessarily a requirement. Just so you know.

One comment I can make here is that the final 'x' in Xentax is not capitalized (but should be).

What I'm missing from the banner/header, is a gamez and/or gaming feel, like a gamesy Xentax logo, or characters from games showing, or other game elements taken from PC or console games etc.

Also, I'm not too sure you should be showing what you're creating here, as it is a contest after all, and anyone else can 'steal' or 'borrow' certain elements. But perhaps that is the usual way you do contests here? I'd prefer you'd send a final entry per email. We'll put them all up at once after the deadline.

Does this info help?

**kilza** · 02-21-2008, 04:55 PM

Yes it does help thank you, I will edit my entry.

**andrei155** · 02-21-2008, 04:58 PM

Unfortunately for you

, All contest participants must post their entries in the designated forums, to keep things fail

.

I'll also be entering.

**andrei155** · 02-21-2008, 05:02 PM

Question:
Does it have to follow the color scheme you already have on the website?

**Mr.Mouse** · 02-21-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrei155

Question:
Does it have to follow the color scheme you already have on the website?

Not necessarily.

**andrei155** · 06:05 PM

Heres my first entry:

I hope you like it =]

**kilza** · 09:33 PM

Here is another modification to my entry:

OR

**Joshy D** · 02-21-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

If not enough entries are submitted, the contest will be forfeit. There will be a reward solely for the best entry up to that time ($50).

How many entries are enough? I will hopefully enter asap.

**kilza** · 02-21-2008, 07:31 PM

I have a question. Can I make multiple entries? because you said that there is three places paid for this contest.

**Mr.Mouse** · 02-21-2008, 11:52 PM

You can enter with multiple banners, if you win a prize, it will be for the best only.

At the moment we're looking at +/- 10 entries needed for the contest, give or take some.

After 15th of March all will be put to a vote at the target forum. Should you make place 1 and 2 in points, and the Foundation agrees that the banners are suitable to the site content, the next person in line will get the second prize.

I like those entries, Kilza and Andrei,