Rules Clarification - New Submissions ONLY

Help make submission moderation easier and faster

from Stardock Forums

One of the key rules to the competition is that items you submit here can not have been previously submitted to other websites, even in modified forms.  This is to level the playing field for everyone competing, everyone has the same amount of time to create something, get it polished and packaged and then uploaded.

We try our best to catch previously posted items, but it's true that sometimes they slip through because it's something we haven't personally seen before.  Please keep in mind however that once it's up on the site, anyone can leave comments, or report an offending entry.  This becomes even more likely if for some reason the submission makes it into the top-ten for judges voting.  If at any point it is brought to our attention that a submission has been posted previously to another site, it will be disqualified. 

And to head off a few common questions:

  1. What constitutes a previously posted work ?
    For WindowBlinds or Icons, it's any usable posting to a website, forum, online gallery etc. of the entirety or part of the submission.  This covers posting portions of an icon pack as downloadable icon files, early versions of a WB or Icon pack etc.  However, you can post screenshots of your work since these can't be downloaded and used as either a skin or a icon set.

    For Wallpapers, it can not have been posted in any form since they're just flat image files

  2. What about a modification or update to some very old work?
    Sorry.  Modifications of your previous work are also not allowed.  It has to be completely new.

  3. Can I post it anywhere else AFTER I submit it to the competition?
    Once it has either been accepted or rejected from the submission queue, you are free to post it anywhere you like.  We do however ask in the case of accepted works, that you make mention that it is a qualifying submission in the GUI Championships 2006, and provide a link to this site.  This works to increase exposure to your submission as well as the contest as a whole.  PLus, the more people who are aware of your entry, the more there are that could vote for it to win.

Again, this is just an attempt to clear up any confusion there may be over what is a new/acceptable submission.  Hopefully this will help some of you as you work on your masterpieces for the competition.

2,049 views 25 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
What if, for instance, I create an iconpack and the "folders" are 100% new. Can I use previously posted stuff to put inside the folders? (Example) Pictures, music CD's, cameras, videos reels, etc.... or does every single icon have to be 100% new.

Just need to know if the things we put inside the folders have to be new also.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Every single icon needs to be new. 

Clarification:

However, the work material can be re-used as long as the icon itself is fundamentally new.  If an objective third party looks at it and says "That's the same as X" that's when there's a problem. 

So to answer your question, they can use bits and pieces as long as the final result is new.

Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Some people will cry to have released something before as been accepted wile saying "As been summited for GUIO" =/
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
What about if it got denied because 1 small reason because the preview image. Would I be able to re submit it with a new preview image.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks for clarification
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Yes, if your submission did not meet some technical requirement, you can resubmit it without penalty.  (Note: this does not apply to works rejected for quality reasons, those should not be resubmitted)
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
what if my submission won't let me update it...should I resubmit
what if aliens abduct me during the submission process
what if Zoomba finally snaps and runs screamin' down the hallway
..hmmm, think I'll sit down at the piano and try to set this to music
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
OK thanks for the reply and no mine wasn't denied for the quality it was denied because the preview image was too small.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Hiya Zoomba,still waiting for a ruling on my entry...did you get my email?IE kept refusing to send it so I used FF and it said it went.  FF wouldnt even show me the forum page but IE would,go figure.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I got an empty email from you.  Please try sending via a normal client to [email protected]
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
okey dokey  
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Any word yet Zoomba?    The file was originally uploaded on the 14th.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Well that sucks about not being posted previously to another website. What's the big deal, it's still a WB skin. No wonder the skins posted so far are mediocre.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

rrawlins-

The reason is that it's not fair to allow someone who has had over a year to work on, revise, post for review, revise again and then submit a skin when others only have from the contest announcement.  This is the best we can do to level the playing field for everyone.  Sure, some people will have work socked away they've been working on privately forever, but those are rare. 

I.R Brainiac -

I sent you an email response several days ago.  Did it not get through?

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
noop,hehe,what did it say?  
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
No wonder the skins posted so far are mediocre.


Strike one!
------------

Noticed somebody got the (cookies) straightened out, on the GUI Champs page. Don't have to log-in everytime. Atleast today, so far. Good deal.

2 hours later, cookies are back to normal. Oh, well.
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
rrawlins, are you nextmario? same logo...

It's too bad nextmario's pico tea doesn't qualify. I suggested he submit it. It's that good. It's the most professional and beautiful WB skin I've used, clean and truly customizable. The skin was submitted to DA as open source in the last month. Why would that be grounds for disqualification?
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
Hey how about Explorerbar icons.. i have several sets ive made and saved psd's of each seperate toolbar icon(s).. could those be mix and matched?, i ask beacause a lot of toolbar icons are similar. some just a rectangle with another inside it.

...or does ever single one need to be remade?.. bear in mind i skin all icons, not just most frequently used or noticed ones.

Sorry to get so specific but i'd hate to be disq. due to a "grey area"

thx in advance.. super job so far.
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
NO Zoomba,I really didnt get it...what did it say?  
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
Hiya Zoomba...I didnt know what else to do so I changed the ss and uploaded it again.Hopefully the confusion with any previous Plasmatron work is gone now.(the wall is a completely new work,no Plasmatron wall has ever been uploaded anywhere and no Plasmatron graphics were used)
Thanks Zoomy...I.R.Brainiac   
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok, I went digging through all my emails last night and I can't find what I sent to you.  I swear I wrote it out too!  You'll get an email about the submission late this morning/this afternoon (I have appointments I have to make this morning before heading into work).
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
OK,hope its good news.Thanks Zoomba.  
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
Can i get some clarification on my question please, need to know before i move on.

thx
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

Toolbar icons in a WindowBlind must also be new.

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
Thx man..