Design a Weapon Contest - Let the Community Choose!

[SotiCoto]

Originally Posted by dargon

If you're so good, then next time put your money where your mouth is. Remember it's not about the quality of the art, it's the idea. Remember, the winning entry (1st place) was basically just a doodle that said make it look like this, with a neat pattern around the outside that glows and rotates. Till you actually put in an entry and prove that your ideas are better than everyone else, you're just spouting hot air, driving the signal to noise ratio of this thread even lower than it already is.

Might do next time.... might not.

A few factors though:
#1. I'm a roleplayer... not an artist. I value creativity and originality highly, but that doesn't mean I could draw my mind's conjurings to save my life.
#2. I'm a perfectionist. If I can't get it right then it isn't worth doing, and artistically speaking I often can't get it right.
#3. .... Is the output really worth the input? I am lazy. No denying that.

That said... I might do.
I can definitely produce something better than any of those juvenile scribbles... and I didn't think much of the rose themed crap at the bottom either.... Whether the A-Net folks would think so or not? Don't know nor care. (I'm betting a lot of far superior pieces got thrown out by them in favour of some of the drivel they promoted)...

[c_ras]

Well, I got to say congratulations to all those that entered and definitely to all those that one. A lot of the winning designs were extremely good and there is definitely some talented people out there. Although, I don't have any artistic talent, I thought it would be fun to enter anyways so I entered a bow.


My Bow Design

Of course I didn't expect to win, but it was definitely fun. I enjoy how Anet does things like this to allow the community in whole to have a piece of their own creation put into a worldwide game. It definitely gives you that sense of accomplishment when you see a bunch of characters running around with something you created. I can't wait for the emblem contest to come out again, because I have some pretty cool ideas brewing. Again, congratulations to the Design-A-Weapon Contest winners.

- Aldoros of Faydark

[SotiCoto]

Originally Posted by c_ras

Well, I got to say congratulations to all those that entered and definitely to all those that one. A lot of the winning designs were extremely good and there is definitely some talented people out there. Although, I don't have any artistic talent, I thought it would be fun to enter anyways so I entered a bow.


My Bow Design

Of course I didn't expect to win, but it was definitely fun. I enjoy how Anet does things like this to allow the community in whole to have a piece of their own creation put into a worldwide game. It definitely gives you that sense of accomplishment when you see a bunch of characters running around with something you created. I can't wait for the emblem contest to come out again, because I have some pretty cool ideas brewing. Again, congratulations to the Design-A-Weapon Contest winners.

- Aldoros of Faydark

Looks decent enough.
Probably too similar to other bows already out there.... like Rotwing's Recurve Bow.... ('cept with the wing bits further in).... *Shrugs*

[lyra_song]

I guess no one here has ever seen something very simple and just has a mindgasm of ideas spark from it?

I once came up with a new wallpaper because i was staring at the pattern of pits and holes on the sides of an unpainted cinder block wall.

its about [wiki]inspiration[/wiki]....the final aesthetics of the winning design doesnt matter, if it sparks something in the creative minds of Anet's artists.

I can tell you for a fact that some of the best designers i know SUCK at drawing.

[Sir Skullcrasher]

I don't know how to draw either, hopefully the next contest I could win!

[TwinRaven]

Originally Posted by lyra_song

I can tell you for a fact that some of the best designers i know SUCK at drawing.

My wife is a prime example of this... she designs and makes original wedding dresses, makes clothes and quilts, raises card-making and scrap-booking to an art form (seriously), and has a flair for interior design...she is very creative, but can't draw or paint well at all. I'm an art teacher, so I have a bit of an inkling of what drawing proficiency looks like.

Conversely, some of the best, technically proficient artists I know utterly lack imagination and though their work is well drawn, it lacks the breath of inspiration in the extreme. Wow! Look at that wonderfully drawn Seahawks mascot...looks exactly like the ones on the helmet....well done! But weren't you supposed to draw a coastal bird in it's natural environment? Ah, sorry, didn't notice the Space Needle in the background.


Truth is, some people lack the imagination to see what the judges saw....You can tell them the idea is important, not the drawing ability of the artist and they will still cry foul. I am of more than one mind on this:

1. These people entered better drawings, not better ideas and didn't win.

2. These people didn't bother to enter. Seeing drawings that won that aren't technically as well done as they believe they can do, they wish they had.

3. These people do not understand that the competition is about concepts that the GW team can implement, and can be made to fit the GW style.

4. These people are part of the general negativity that seems to have infected these forums...seriously, check out all the other forums regarding GW...This is the largest and most active: it is also the most negative, whiny, bitchy, cranky, snively, fussy, etc. Most of the other websites have a much higher ratio of "Congrats! Well done!" messages, whereas this one seems to have the highest "WTF" ratio...what gives? It used to be a great place to read up on what was going on in game, how people were getting this or that skill, weapon, item etc...Now it seems the popularity of it has caused all the negative folks to just come here for the largest reading audience to its trash-talking, wtf I got banned, you suck and I rule, I could have drawn better, ANet needs to listen to ME, Guildwars is boring, crap-o-la!!! Get over yourselves, people...Instead of pitching your negative crap out into the world so it can flood on back to you in a wave of self-serving hogwallow, why don't you try to forget for a moment that anonymity breeds stupidity and put on your finest thinking cap, discard the negative-nelley thorn-lined underpanties, forget all the wedgies you got in junior high school and think of something positive to say... You can still express yourself, get your ideas out there without the bitchfest. If you don't like something, you can say so in a positive way...i.e. don't like the combined winners? Say, "I hope that the design team is ready for a challenge, because I don't see what they do here...maybe they already have an idea this fits into." instead of the negative bile coming out with the WTF, these all suck comments...sheesh. You want changes? Make more positive statements, people will be more willing to listen.

I'm not for moderators having to step in for any conversation that doesn't remain positive, but a little civility goes a long way. As for why I care so much: I did win! Number 4, the frog scepter...Am I proud of my achievement, sure...do I like hearing criticism about my drawing? Absolutely...some people think it's great, some think it's too cutesy, some just say it's not their favorite, some don't care for animal based designs...all well and good, I can take it...I expect it! But for the combined winners and people taking a lot of nasty crap about their drawings, why diminish their accomplishment? Why cut them down? Why cut the design team down for thinking they can make something of the ideas? Seriously...why not just say congratulations or move along to something else? You don't like it? Fine. Say so without the bile...there is no reason for it and it tends to rub off on others. It's the same mentality that causes mobs to form and riots to start (I'm mad at stuff and I wanna do damage because someone else invited me to). Just dumb.

As for the OP...when you think about it...the community did kinda get to decide. Some decided to make a drawing, put it in an envelope and mail it before the deadline. If the design team wanted to take the time to post their favorite 100 and let people vote for weapons via a poll (with 1 man 1 vote technology in place), we would still have a bunch of people griping and fussing over the designs that won...it seems to be the nature of negative people to rant in the forums where no one knows who they really are and there are few social consequences for their negativity...as long as they follow forum rules, no one will ask them to leave the premises.

I like the idea of the GW community participating in the game IRL, and I also know that the folks at GW have done a lot more for us than a lot of other games out there. Maybe they should have read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" before giving us anything...

[Predatorus Viktus]

Originally Posted by Avoc

Honorable mentions?



Ehm... Nice use of crayons I guess. Maybe I should enter next time >.>

Yeah, this one depressed me the most. All the work myself and others put into creating something nice, and we get beat out by a kindergartner...

I'm not even sure what that is supposed to be!

Predatorus Viktus
"The Father," First Order of Blood Knights

"There is an ancient Repticus saying, that something lasts only as long as the last person remembers it. My people have come to trust memory over history. Memory, like fire, is radiant and immutable. Those who renounce the flame of memory in order to put out the dangerous fire of truth: Beware these men, for they are dangerous themselves... and unwise. There are false histories written on the blood of those who might remember, and on those who seek the truth."

[clawofcrimson]

Nice post twin raven...

Viktus... I want to shoot you... 11 posts FTL... (wish I had permissions for this forum)

[Predatorus Viktus]

Originally Posted by clawofcrimson

Nice post twin raven...

Viktus... I want to shoot you... 11 posts FTL... (wish I had permissions for this forum)

I apologize, Claw. The forum was lagging and I gess I hit "Submit Post" about 10 times too many in my aggravation. LOL I fixed it though.

Predatorus Viktus
"The Father," First Order of Blood Knights

"There is an ancient Repticus saying, that something lasts only as long as the last person remembers it. My people have come to trust memory over history. Memory, like fire, is radiant and immutable. Those who renounce the flame of memory in order to put out the dangerous fire of truth: Beware these men, for they are dangerous themselves... and unwise. There are false histories written on the blood of those who might remember, and on those who seek the truth."

[metal hurlant]

Originally Posted by WildmouseX

someone should have entered a firey and icy draggon bows - that'd be cool.

i didn't made the bows, but i made the staffs