WinCustomize Forums
are we having the gui champs this year?
just seems odd ive heard nothing about them yet, and they are held every two years.....
They should have been last year. Since they weren´t, i think they are dead.
Looking at the whole situation of the GUI department and apps of SD it seems quite logical.
Who should drive and care for it ?
The last GUI Champs had terrible numbers as far as attracting a lot of traffic, and to be honest it's difficult to get people to participate even in simple contests. We have like 3 entries for the CFX contest so honestly I don't see many contests in the future at all.
That's such a shame...the GUI Champs always seemed to bring out the absolute best of the best. 
People will lose interest after awhile and then some only enter if the prizes are significant. 
Suggestions that I think could make the contest work.
To make sure there could be a contest post it and ask who would like to enter. If there is 6 or more than I believe it's worth doing.
Something I have believed to hurt the contest was screen shots and the comments that followed. It always appeared that some received more positive feedback and stopped others. Don't post any screen shots and anyone that entered won't pull out I would guess.
I'm not sure prizes are the main factor and you mean SD couldn't couldn't throw in one OD sub for a year. I think it's a task that would make the skinners even better then they are. I'm not up to it but I can think of at least 10 people that anyone of them could win.
If there is a contest as far as not posting SS or links it may be another thought to do it but only a day or two before the contest ending date.
There are great themes being made now from WB skins but with several entries at one time we would all have suoper looking desktops for quite a long time.
So these are my thoughts and if the first step isn't taken to see who would be interested then it has to be my feeling there is some other reason on the part of SD.
Well I can think of two things that might be of concern, time and available manpower. Some folks might take exception that a contest was being held when other things needed to be worked on.
As prizes go, most folks want more than just an OD or WC subscriptions. Some of the early GUI's had very significant prizes.
Just my feelings on the subject.
Honestly, 6 people would want it, but no guarantees that any of them would actually enter. You are talking about a contest that requires many hours of web development work, months needed to get people to donate prizes (which most don't want to do anymore because of the economy), and a ton of advertising work.
I'm not trying to sound like a pessimist here, but the return on investment is very poor. I'd personally prefer putting those resources towards things that would benefit members on a more direct and daily basis.
I entered the last GUI Champs and was really looking forward to the next one (that never came). I think the big turnoff for most people was the prizes being offered, most people were just not interested in those type prizes, and especially not anything associated with deviantArt (at least for me). I think strictly cash prizes or WC/OD subscriptions only would have been more enticing.
I believe Island Dog has posted on the lack of corporate (not SD) interest in making significant prizes available. They are blaming the economy. Dunning them isn't a pleasant task, and a GUI contest requires a helluva lot of work to make happen. It's not as easy as saying, "Hey, here's a contest - send all your stuff". If only it were.
Lightstar, these were the prizes:
Kitty I have had the same question for a while. Thank you for bringing it up! 
ID you know for years I entered nearly every contest there was, I have uploaded 2 summer style cursors since the start of thee contest ,not putting them in was primarilly for the reason of wanting other skinners to enter.
I agree whole heartedly as a matter of fact my daughter is still using PlasticFantastic on her PC.:)
DaveBax I agree with you on several points .
TO: Spencer
I would be glad to do either:
guarantee my entry I loved the GUIC
or
Take my self out to help in any other fashion
Noteably I think the options for exposure are higher this year than in years past with social exposure like Facebook etc....
A good example my wife and myself have WC as a friend consequently the other day a Facebook friend of my wife's asked her "what was skinning and what did I do?"
(this person does not know me or her persnally)
She explained then I sent out DL links for the free version of CFX to peak thier interest I found out that now thier whole circle of friends is running CFX.
I offer what ever I can to help as I believe GUIC's are very important (as I do audio/video) I would even be willing to donate a prize dealing with PC's or Audio/Video electronics
ex...spaekers...video card...etc...
Harley 
Well I guess I didn't think it all out, becoming clear to me now. Didn't realize that a prize was worth more than the honor of winning. Making just a couple regular WB's myself I'm well aware of the work that is needed to make one totally perfect as I don't think I will live long enough to ever get to that point. So I listed a few things and the people that have been involved much longer have made me aware of the other situations needed. So I'm quite again and thanks for pointing them out.
Yep, I knew the prizes Doc, but except for the cash and OD/WC subscriptions, nothing on that list was of the slightest interest to me personally. I know it is tough work running a contest, but as they are not going to do GUI Champs any more...
I wouldn't say it will never happen, just saying it's unlikely it will happen anytime soon. I'm always open to new ideas, but as I said, contests just don't seem to appeal as much as they used to.
Harley, from the heart: You represent the best there is in the Community.
I entered the last GUIC just to be a part of it. I actually forgot about prizes until Doc's reply.
While prizes are great, I would do it again even if there wasn't any.
oh, thats sad, i never knew that, i hope the champs comes back cause i love them.
but seriously, i think cash is the best insentive, people can buy whatever they want with it. and its also universal.
im on the same feeling as harley, id be willing to help to make it happen.
Cash is hardest to come by. It is easier for companies to donate products or services than give up cash. With the economy being in the dumps and no signs of it getting better, everyone is being tighter.
Not to mention that products and services if done right can be good PR. By done right I mean a product that's a bit above the norm. For example instead of a sub for one year make it two years with a greater than average discount on future purchases during that time period. Also good PR. Maybe even bring back certain items for ODNT or for a limited time include an app that normally doesn't come with it. Just sayin'.
And an even sadder fact is, that skinning, as a whole, is a dieing art wether we like it or not.
I've had a finger on the skinning-pulse for over a decade and I fear it's going to flatline within a few years.
The past years -every- single skinnable application have seen a serious decrease in submissions, and not just here in WinC.
There are only a small handfull of applications that still are, relatively active.
Setting up competitions simply isn't enough to bring in 'new blood' anymore.
And seriously, when is the last time we've seen a new skinnable application, that could drag artists away from existing applications?
It's been years!!
We'll just simply have to make due with what we've got, and hope for the best.
idea for you Spence....
you guys are so into the twitter and facebook thing, why not advertise a comp through that? didnt you say recently that this kind of social network
brings in new blood, new customers ect? its out there...you guys just have to set it up.
Your quote Spence:
*sigh*
You don't have to participate on Facebook if you don't like it. The fact is we have thousands and thousands of "fans" on our Facebook pages and people use FB now to get info and things of that sort.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
