It's 2011...

2011 WORLDWIDE GUI CHAMPIONSHIPS 
It's May. May 2010. February. February 2011. About time for some activity around here. This *IS* the definitive WINDOWS GUI CHAMPIONS site, after all.
I'm just going to set down some guidelines here and expect you people to follow them when you next hold a contest.
You're also going to make me a sandwich, because this theme judging job is hungry.

1.1

Pre-peremptory Nonofficial Unendorsed prototype OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Since this is a BEST OF THE BEST TOP OF THE TIPPY TOP institute, it has been decreed that these rules will be intolerably harsh and thorough to provide a more perfected understanding of what BEST OF THE BEST TIPPY TOP themes are like.

1.2
A "Theme" shall be defined as the combination of no less than 1 shellstyle, 1 icon set, 1 wallpaper, 1 login, 1 bootscreen, and

1.2.1 
possibly modified copies of any remaining unmodified system libraries for windows XP PRO  SP3, Vista Pro SP2, and 7 PRO SP1 in 64-bit and 32-bit variants for WindowBlinds 6 and 7.

1.3
A "Shellstyle" shall be defined as a SkinStudio "Skin" that replaces or modifies every single resource accessible by said studio.The use of default or existing "Windows" theme elements in composition with original artwork is a NO-NO-NO-NO.

1.4
An "Icon set" shall be defined as a set of scaled 48,32,24,12, and 8 pixel square Portable Network Image bitmaps with some level of transparency support that replace or modify ALL icons shipped by default with Windows XP PRO, Vista PRO SP2, or Windows 7 PRO SP1. In the event that an icon shipped with windows is not included in the set that is modified by Stardock tools, a modified copy of the library containing the offending object shall be included in the archive issued as the theme download package in accordance with rule 1.2.1.

1.5
 A "Wallpaper" shall be defined as a pair of images created or scaled for 16:9 and 4:3 standard resolutions aka between 1024x768 and 1300x720 in PNG NON-INTERLACED 24-bit format. The original data should be good quality and DPI and have verified sources.

1.6
A "Login" shall be defined as one English-language LoginStudio login tested for 16:9 and 4:3 resolutions. Some effort to patch or remove logos and other shitty items from the vista+ login executable and replace them with theme elements would be super extra top level elite work.

1.7
A "Bootscreen" shall be defined as one bootscreen type thingy tested for above resolutions, with the moving blit thingy placed for minimal clashing with bootscreen elements. It should be themed and a "border" installed into the pixels around it's location.

1.8
The "Modified Libraries" partially specified in 1.4 will also include the possibility of explorer.exe , etc files that include their own bitmaps and theme elements for various windows dialogs that will clash with your theme. These resources should be edited and then packaged with a script to install them and back up the originals. This is another super extra top level elite type item and is not needed to make a theme, however it is the one thing that can turn a good theme into a perfect one.

3.2.9.e.a.2.
Completely following these guidelines to the point of following the ones I haven't specified like including a cursor theme, a dock theme, and a screensaver will result in your theme being worth enough money that you should contact Stardock to get the requisite libraries to turn your theme into a marketable product(application) then sell the damn thing over the internet.




Your cooperation with the authorities(me) in this matter is greatly appreciated.            Sincerely, The (unofficial) Management.

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Don't take a word written by this chap seriously. The GUI Championships are over. They will never be held again.
Sincerely, The(Official) Management.