ok. I think this is getting way out of hand. The bottom line is (as Brad has so clearly pointed out) when things are judged, people will disagree. We're all entitled to our opinion but let's leave it at that instead of promoting other skins and attacking those that won. I didn't create a thing so I don't really have a leg to stand on to say that one skin should have won over another. Besides, even if I would have competed what does all the complaining gain? I don't know about any others, but I'd love to see this competition again (and maybe we could lobby to bring back Pixtudio to compete) and I don't want them to say "to heck with it" because of so much whining. Hey, I might not agree with the results but I say Congrats to the winners, all the best . . . and MAYBE I might download those two skins and really take a look at them to see why the judges picked them in the first place.

Ah....you can always tell when a GUI Olympics/Championship is on.

Guaranteed there will be a host of armchair critics and did-not-win complainants asserting the incompetence of the Judging.

Go for it, guys....have an opinion it's a [mostly] free world, afterall.

Fortunately there are those who simply appreciate the whole shebang that is a skinning contest... for the generosity of the organisers' time...the generosity of the Judges' efforts [particularly considering the quality of the submissions]...the generosity of those companies/entities providing the prizes..and last but not by any means the least....the efforts of the skinners who entered.

The contest was/is a catalyst for outstanding quality contributions to the public purse that is the skins themselves.

The GUI Championship/s do NOT deserve to be 'demonized' as corporate advertising/profiteering, but instead should be lauded/appreciated for what they are...an opportunity for the 'recipients' of these skins to actually give something to their makers.

And, [yes, I know...starting a sentence with a conjunction], as Frogboy mentioned....there is always the opportunity for ANYONE who feels the contest can be handled better by THEM to traipse off and do just that...with theirs.

Gee...if it's not a Stardock-organised contest maybe even I could enter.....

I am going to say this....

I appreciate the time, and hard work that the artists put into their skins. We can all have different opinions of who "should have won" all day long, but it's best to respect the judges decision and move on.

This entire contest has brought up so many new pieces of work it's amazing. I really didn't expect to see this much participation, especially in the Iconpackage category. Now I have enough icons to last me through to next year.

Hopefully some of these artists will stay and create more skins for ALL of us to enjoy. I understand people have some valid points, but I also see some bitterness here also.

Once again I appreciate the work and the contributions that were made for this contest and I hope we will see more of it in the future.

FrogboyNovember 1, 2006 23:30:02Reply #31 LightStar, the judges don't read the comments. and I'm not a judge (unless one of the judges isn't able to vote). I have my opinion tastes and opinions.

Why don't the judges read these comments? It would make mor sense if they did. Surely someone who cares reads them?

Surely someone who cares reads them?

Yes...at least one person who cares DID read them all...

...little shortarse guy wearing headphones.....

Zoomba and Frogboy,

While I do not agree entirely with your comments, I respect them and the good intent of the GUI Competition in general. I just realy feel that the judges in these type of events should have a thorough working knowledge of SkinStudio, WB5 and an excellent knowledge of judging graphics quality, etc. before they should be considered qualified to be a judge. Or at least someone with these qualifications should go over each submission before they are allowed to be placed in the competition. Had that been done, all this discussion might have been avoided. As far as categories being vague, I feel that each category should clearly define its intent is all. The 'Most Usable' category for instance, what does that mean exactly? It should be more clearly defined, as should all the categories, with specific definitions of what makes up the judging requirements of that category.

As far as the 'WAREZ' issue, I really hope something is done about it and shame on those that support it in any way.

The GUIC is a learning process I think, it takes a lot of input to make it truly successful I believe, so please bear with all of us commenters.   

Thanks Jafo...  

Just so everyone knows also, I did not enter the competition at all, so I have nothing to gain by commenting other than trying to improve it for next year. At least that is my intent.

JafoNovember 2, 2006 09:17:03Reply #55 Surely someone who cares reads them? Yes...at least one person who cares DID read them all... ...little shortarse guy wearing headphones.....

Lightstar...

Actually...the number one most important criteria for being a Judge [in anything] is impartiality.

Absolutely ANY standard of experience/expertise can be used as a judging tool.....PROVIDED that same tool is used equally and fairly with ALL.

Artwork/skins/whatever can be judged by anyone at all, and in any way, as long as it is in no way self-serving.

OK...I must add....since the works are graphical in nature it'd be wise for the judges to actually be sighted....

 @ Pakistani , pretty simple my friend turn on font smoothing in Windows XP and the fonts will look fine, I used calibri which is designed for maximum useability and requires font smoothing turned on. If your having an all programs issue then you must have a non english system in which case i ALSO took the time to make a non-english substyle which has a link listed in my VECTRA thread. If you are on an english system perhaps your system isnt applying the wb installed fonts and u may need to self install them.

I pride myself on making complete, fully skinned as bug free as i can get them themes, always fully beta tested before release. If you are having a problem with the taskbar post a screenshot and i assure you if its not something you are doing wrong and can be fixed..it will be.   

I have been saying there are no loser in the Gui Champs 2006
Only because I feel that all the skinners have very high talent in creativity.
What we have been offered by the skinners are simply premium quality.

What do I have on the table?

Take it or leave it

The IconPackagers are so hard to make and take a lot of times.
Each and everyone of them have enough icons that replaced most of windows XP Icon
and may be used as well in VISTA.

The Windowblinds skins were all as best can be - Quality Released!

What can Stardock do.

Each one of the participants of the Gui Champs 2006 in the category of IconPackager and Windowblinds get one free full OD Suite 2007 regardless of how many entries they had. Stardock gets to include their work in their sofwares, examples, and all... Remember all work done using Stardock softwares are in Stardock's advantage. The more beautiful skins are being done, the more in demand stardock softwares will be.

I believe this would help keep the next Gui Champs at least as good as the 2006 Gui Champs. Everyone is trully a winner


Everyone would have a happy face

Take it or leave it

this is the most stupid crap i have ever had to read...who cares who wins? its not like you are restricted to download any of them...we are all winners cause we get to download these high quality skins (1st OR last place) at our own free will, with absolutely NO restrictions

I didn't even bother reading all the comments. I just want to say thankyou to all that worked so hard for this event. You all deserve medals. Congrats to all the winners and the judges for all the time spent on trying to judge what must be extremely hard.
Its almost impossible to pick a winner from such a huge collection of the finest.

A tidbit:that forum have deleted some "evidences" before Stardock Cop., taking any action. It seems they have eye on this thread after leaking. To get the matter worst,some renowned skinners from China have been gadding around there and have their eyes shut about this.

To make Stardock Corp., more profitable and reliable from this competition is forfend those who againhst the rule.

We are looking into the issue.  To avoid problems of further evidence vanishing, I can't say any more on the issue.

Test.

Wow, looks like all hell is breaking loose over the visual styles. I'm not going to say anything positive or negative about anything going on here. I only felt obligated to throw a little something up here since it seems as though everyone and their brother got a shot in of some kind in this post (and I hate feeling left out). Besides, how does that saying go? something about beating a dead horse? Hmm...

Anyway, if it's this bad over the most usable skin, I can't wait until we get the results for Best Overall. If I were you Z, I would start lobbying for some extra bandwidth so the site doesn't crash when the results for that one hit *gets the popcorn ready*   

I'm Z.

You meant Zoomba, right?


I know it's confusing. I've even had people email me about the news, 'cause Zoomba's been signing it "Z". I even had one person accuse me of the contest being rigged, thinking I work for Stardock and Zoomba's posting my news.
Hilarious.....until I start getting spam.

ThemeX is a non-business and non-commercial Internet forum, the only purpose is for the fans who like UI and modification OS that provides a space to communicate with each others. However, unfortunately there were some posts that related on the cracks of Stardock, which supplied by some members of forum, but the individual personal piracy activity cannot be verified by us; and meanwhile one of our criterias is NO ANY CRACK AND PIRACY INFORMATION ALLOW TO POST IN THE FORUM. Hence, we just cleaned all relative information and be sure to improved our supervision and control forces; we will delete those things when we just find it in the future. Finally, We all regret about this event that made you in deep trouble.

By the way, thanks Celine Chuang pay a lot of atttention on our site; thanks a lot about his warning and supervision. However A few forum members' behaviours cannot represent our position and attitude, please DO NOT consider we support piracy and try to attack our forum. ThemeX is opened for everyone, non-registered user is only not to allow to download and post, which means you can see anything in the forum. Perhaps our works are not the best in the competition, but they are all harvest of us! You cannot negate our effort and results. We join the game is to communicate internationally and not for the alleged benefits. We expect that do not influence the opinions for other Chinese finalists and their works about this misunderstanding; it is our problem and no business with them. There is no such a private region that only for piracy software in ThemeX. We will supply an ID and co-operate with Stardock if they want to check it out in detailed, any time. ([email protected])

ThemeX crews - 11.03.2006

well honestly...I was shocked with the result..I was excited downloading the gold, silver and bronze skins but I was very disappointed with them, except Acrylic which is sooo great but unfortunately got only a bronze medal. But anyways, I still believe the judges saw better things in these skins that they thought fit to become winners, and we should all respect that. Congrats again to all the winners. You all nailed the judges nods!

Gentlemen... and ladies if present,

Let us not disillude ourselves regarding the notion of the interests of this GUIC. There are clearly benefits to Stardock, any sponsers and the contestants who enter. To read forum posts regarding Stardock employees(?), who are monitoring the events therein, that they "do not have to have these contests take place" or that they "gain nothing by sponsering" is simply a misleading sense of practical business. Stardock and the artists that partake into these ventures are symbiotic. Designing a "great" skin serves a purpose that, I would hope others fail not to take notice, promotes a product far beyond what any simple advertising could even remotely hope to compare with. Meaning that, in the company's wisdom, Stardock understands that in order to move a product such as WindowBlinds, they will undoubtedly require many, many superior graphically-inclined GUI skinners to design for it to showcase and demonstrate the fantatic new innovations behind the software. This contest amounts to a very cost-effective means to advertise what WB5 has to offer. To argue otherwise is a mute point, I am afriad, considering any half-way knowledgible business graduate would likely agree. The skinners gain a small monetary compensation and a name recognition that is likely to push them towards a sort of "graphic stardom". Now that said, let us also re-evaluate what Lightstar mentioned earlier regarding these myriad of graphical "anomalies". If the point of this contest is to promote a product, then sheer wisdom dictates, that any criteria for judgement ought to include the ideals of judging these designs based on the merits of the product. Simply, if WindowBlinds benefits from a new design idea or feature, then a focus of said judging ought to include whether or not these artists make good use of that feature.

Another side note of "wisdom" that I feel many here, Stardock and some forum participants fail to undeniably understand: What Lightstar took precious time to comment on was an ideal based off of experiences in this market (both artistically private and commercially) that rival almost all individuals, including myself. Show some respect please. Agree with him or not, it truly does not matter. He has been actively involved in promoting that proverbial "quest for a better desktop" ever since the launch of Windows XP. More users are familiar with designs that bear his trademark signature and household name than the rest of the lot combined. This isn't fandom speaking for the numbers behind him simply do not lie. So know that when he does have something to say along these lines- it is for good reason. If we wish to speak in terms of someone not benefiting at all here, it is he and everyone here wishing that future contests be held in the fairest, most intelligble manner possible according to what is "good for everyone involved" ought to take note of these concerns raised and make an effective and logical use of them so that all may reap the most they can in rewards.

Business-wise, this contest also represents an investment. And for Stardock professionals to throw in their trivial gripes regarding the extra energy it takes to either listen to their customer base, or anything else asked of them in regards to this product due to lobbying, must simply not want to make money all that bad. And clearly is demonstrating a gross lack of professinalism. If someone does not wish to be part of this or be "here" - then don't. Everyone has a stake in this. I would think everyone would recognize that. As part of the comsumer-base that drives Stardock's ecomonic growth, talking-down experiences and shrugging off legitimately valid points backed by infaliable examples of proof, I think that you, Frogboy would be more conscientious of the points that Lightstar brings to light in regards to the overall benefit this contest, artisans and Stardock have only to bestow.

What we have here represents the inevitable "bottom-line" behind WindowBlinds and the total dollars Stardock requires to take-in to continue it's development. And if all can be interpreted from all of this and my ravings amounts to mere "flames" from forth-coming replies, then I mistakenly over-estimated the ability of all parties concerned, to "listen" and "understand".


Good day.

I couldn't approve Naco520 yclept statement after I had revealed all of ThemeX's misconduct.-They has pilfered Stardock Cop.,'s products from inception of their forum. The "criterias" was changed after they get caught! Above statement is only a pretext!


I had caught them when one of their member put the forum's link on IconPackage competition on Dre-S theme dated to 9/15/2006. Nothing down even the competition is going to end. Fortunately(ironically)I can understand Chinese language or else they are laughing all of skinner-Ha! Ha! We uesd cracks and won the medal Ha! Ha!.


Maugre how ThemeX had handled after revelations. the damage is done,rule is rule.
Stardock Corp., sould kick them out of competition undoubtedly! Everyone is happy about this? Every skinners??

I'm Z. You meant Zoomba, right?

LOL, yeah I was refering to Zoomba. I actually gave the fact that you may have thought I was refering to you some thought after I posted it.

Btw,

You still can find eater eggs in ThemeX.net.


If anyone don't want to pay Stardock Corp., products. Go there! You won't be disappointed!

Guess what? http://bbs.pcpchina.com/ has "free" Argos theme for you.

No disrespect to anybody, but when I saw the results of this I thought it was a purely public vote and somehow it'd been rigged. I was stunned to read that a panel of judges were involved.

I think you can gauge the popularity of a skin by the reaction it gets from the public and if you look at the amount of posts (or lack thereof) next to some of the winning skins here then you can understand some of the bemusement and hostility at the results.

Oh well.