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Twelve Entries!  That's pretty great for a CYS contest.  

Check out the Riddles & Puzzles Voting thread for info on how/where to cast your vote for the winner.

Thanks to all who entered, as well as all who gave it their best effort.  I know 10 Days wasn't a lot of time.

Considering how successful this contest was, I'm sure we'll be running another fairly soon.  
(Almost certainly with a longer deadline, and maybe even some advance notice.)

Riddles & Puzzles 2016

How to Enter:

You just need to publish the story on CYS by Feb 29.

Add the tag "contest entry" to your story, and mention in the description that it was made for Riddles & Puzzles 2016.

Definitions:

A riddle is any sort of verbal conundrum.  The player doesn't even have to solve it themselves- it just has to be a part of the story.

A puzzle is anything where the way forward is more complicated than "click one of these choices."

Prizes:

$25 Amazon gift card:

Awarded to the Overall Winner of the contest, as selected by the judges pool.

Top 5 Home Page Placement:

# of winners dependent upon number of entries.  Anywhere from 3 to 6 stories will be added to the rotation of Top 5 stories on the home page for a period of at least one month, possibly longer.  (in simple or advanced depending on their type.)  
Stories will be selected in the order of the following list.  (If a story is already selected, the spot goes to the next on the list.  For example, if Best Riddle was won by the Overall Winner, the third spot goes to Judges Runner-up)

Overall Winner
Spectator Winner
Best Riddle/Puzzle 
Judges Runner-up
Spectators Runner-up
Riddle/Puzzle Runner-up
Judges Honorable Mention
Spectators Honorable Mention
Riddle/Puzzle Honorable Mention

------------

Contest Deadline: February 29

Yes, it's a short time frame.  The idea is to be long enough to write something decent without being so long most people lose interest.

If this one goes well, there may be others in future.

Contest Theme:  Riddles & Puzzles

Your storygame may be of any genre.  The only requirement is that it noticeably features at least one riddle or puzzle.

It may be more story or more game, whichever you like.  Riddles fit nicely into stories, while puzzles lend themselves to gameplay quite well.

-------------

1)  Contest Time Frame:  Entries must be published on CYS by 11:59pm February 29.  

2) Judging:  Anyone who submits a story for the contest automatically enters the judges pool. Anyone else who wants to participate in judging may do so as a member of the spectator's pool.

Depending on the number of entries received, judges/spectators may be required to rank all stories (other than their own, in the case of judges) or to only rank a set number of stories.

In the event that the spectators pool and the judges pool elect different winners, the judges pool will be considered the overall winner of the contest.  The spectators winner will receive a separate prize.

3) Participation Bonus:  Anyone participating in the contest is encouraged to create a Writing Workshop thread for their story.  Updates on the progress of the story, requests for motivation from judges/spectators, etc. are encouraged.   

Any story with a WW thread with more than 5 posts by the author will receive a point bonus. (Not judging points, CYS points.)

=D CONTES--... 10 days? o.O

...

...

... Goddammit. 

*headdesks* ... *peers up from desk* Is there any chance that the prize will be featuring the winner?

Depends if the winner is feature-worthy. XD

I have an idea, even a pretty good idea, I just--even my quiz took me a month. Trials of being a working adult.

Knowing my track record, there is just no way, but ... sure, what the hell? I'll try.

Edit: So, I have a basic plot line--and I really do mean basic, don't expect anything ridiculously convoluted like my usual stuff, people--a beginning, a climax, and reason for the puzzles / riddles, and a basic idea of what I'm trying to do. I've written a good chunk of the first page and--hey, look at that. It's going to be the third game in my pre-existing series. xD Because context!

I'm glad to see this, but yeesh, 10 days is going to be tight. Whether I enter or not is really going to depend on whether I can get the bulk of it written this weekend. It should mean we get some small but higher quality stories either way though, I'll be interested in seeing what the community comes up with now that the pressure's on.

I already have a great idea for a story. \(^o^)/

If this works out, there will be other contests, with differing lengths.

The previous contest had a very long deadline.  Lots of initial interest, but only 4 completed entries.  We'll see if this is different.

Prizes: Depends how many entrants there are.

Wonder how mine will be judged.

The exact judging stipulations will be dependent on how many entries we get.  

I'd say the two main things to focus on for this contest are overall story quality and the riddle/puzzle. 

A riddle is any sort of verbal conundrum.  The player doesn't even have to solve it themselves- it just has to be a part of the story.

A puzzle is anything where the way forward is more complicated than "click one of these choices."

How do I submit an entry, if I can finish it in time?

You just need to publish the story on CYS by Feb 29.

Add the tag "contest entry" to your story, and mention in the description that it was made for Riddles & Puzzles 2016.

Can the story already be pre-written?

No, that's kinda unfair to the people playing it as a ten day challenge.

Awh, this looks like fun! Unfortunately I'm going to be really busy for the next few days so I don't know if I'll have time to write anything. We'll see. ^_^

What is a "Spectator Winner?"

spectators = ppl who aren't judges / didn't participate in contest but still want to vote. 

Oh, okay. How is the voting done by the way? Do people rate the games or put them in order of games they liked best to games they liked least?

Ranked in order I think.  Depends on how many there end up being.

:D I'm doing it! Mine will probably suck but what the hell? I'll give it a try.

Aw heck, why not?  I'll do one because I have never done a writing contest before, and this probably would get some more critiques on my writing skills.

I would like to enter, but I'll be rather busy this week. Also I haven't written a story on here before so I'm rather inexperienced. I guess it's not a good idea so maybe next time.

Does the riddle have to be verbal?

No. 

Are we going to have quite a long time frame to be able to judge/rank these storygames? It sounds like there's a lot of entrants, and it will take even longer to complete them considering they are mostly going to be puzzle-heavy. I'll probably be quite busy after submitting this as well.

What time-zone is this specific to?

Est 

A quick question to clarify, does the game have to be set so the player has to face at least one riddle or puzzle, irrespective of their choices? Or is it sufficient that the riddle/puzzle be a major part of the story, e.g. you have to solve it to reach the epilogue of the story?

It says in the description post "The only requirement is that it noticeably features at least one riddle or puzzle."

I guess that probably means a riddle or puzzle should be present in most major branches/playthroughs. If it's a puzzle it has to be solved by the player but a riddle doesn't necessarily have to be, as long as it's featured in the story.

I know it's a pedantic question, but I won't be penalised if I write my story in British English instead of American English, right?

I can be almost 100% certain that you won't, because I'm pretty sure some of the featured storygames aren't in US English. Price of Freedom is one example, I think.

Only just saw this now. 

Sadly no time to write somthing for it :(

Ah if it was just that time I'd go for it, I just have zero free time right now

I have entured my storee.  It is called The Awesume.

Nobody will like it.  I tried to warn you.

Ain't be so pessymistik.  They will think it be the most besterlyest evur.

Mine is done! It is called riddle-master

It probably sucks but its my first one, so watcha gonna do? Hope you like!

My puzzle game, The Poem, is finished and published. Just a warning, if  you don't have time to give the riddle your full concentration, you'd best not even try. But for anyone else, I  encourage you to try as much as you want.

Completed my entry. You can find it here > http://chooseyourstory.com/story/The_Ancient_Cookie.aspx

Walkthrough for The Ancient Cookie is found here > http://chooseyourstory.com/forums/writing-workshop/message/18891

*cracks knuckles* let's see what I can do in four days...

The color's giving me a headache.

It reminds me of http://www.reddit.com/r/ooer

... Is not important in comparison to the writing, riddles, and what it will actually be judged on, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Lol. I didn't miss it and I didn't bleed, but I will concede that it looks better now that it's been changed.

My story is getting close to being ready, Chapter 1 is all done except for programming a few variables and items for the puzzle at the end. Chapter 2 is still under construction, but once again it should not take too long once I get the hang of the variables and items. Even so, I'll probably end up actually publishing within 24 hours of the deadline, just so I can proof-read my story at least once. I have the link to the sneak preview on my Writing Workshop thread if you wish to read what I've done so far, but I'd appreciate it if you wait until it's actually published before rating the game or commenting on the game page.

Yes, there will be a master list of entries.

Also, I'm asking that all authors provide a link to a walkthrough.  

In order for entries to be fairly rated, judges need to be able to finish the game in the time allotted for judging.

No spoilers: give people a chance to try the riddles on their own. Walkthroughs should be a separate forum post (or hosted elsewhere if you like) and clearly marked.

Just so no one (including myself) gets confused with the time zones, would you be able to post something when it's exactly 24 hours before the closing time for entries? Thanks. 

I can try. XD 

For anyone's reference: right now it is 1:37 pm on the 28th. 

Why does timezone matter?

For me, knowing "okay, 2 hours ago it was 1 o'clock there.  It's one o'clock now, so I'm two hours behind."  Is easier than "okay, he's in mountain time zone? So that's. . . I have to go look that up, I have no clue how it relates to my time zone."

EST, right?

Cos i am ahead of everyone it is already the 29th.

Well apparently I have 30 hours.

Shoot. >_<

You have like, 23 hours & 15 minutes or so.

If the deadline wasn't the end of the 29th, I think you'd actually be an hour and 45 minutes late by now.

Thank goodness. I thought I was going to have to pull an all-nighter to finish this thing.

My story, The Dream Thief, is finally published!

Finished.

Disclaimer, it is terrible.

I wish I could (in good conscience) rate it higher than I did, because it was charming in spite of its length.

I'm taking this as a compliment.

It was meant as one. I genuinely enjoyed it.

I genuinely enjoyed your mother's company last night.

Actually, that was my father. It was dark, I know.

Damnable vulpine eyesight! Well, at least I can detect motion and confirm that sex did happen. Huzzah!

...but no matter how dark it was, how do you not notice when - ???

Actually, you know what, I'm not going to finish that thought for the sake of my own sanity.

Ever heard of "Madam Butterfly"? Stranger things have happened.

I just read the synopsis, and it seems rather dull to me.

Should I go see a doctor?

I meant the version where it's a male opera singer that the dude is fooling around with for 20 years. You make the mistake once, that's one thing. Two decades, though?

In some feliforms, the female's vulva is almost indistinguishable from a male's scrotum.

Oh, what's that? Hey, it's what's left of my sanity! It's going.

...It's going.

It's gone.

Ah well, with friends like the two of you, I probably better off without it. XD

*grin* Yes, embrace the madness! EMBRACE IT! :D *hug*

Out of curiosity, who comprises the spectator's pool? Is it everyone who rates/comments the game, or a select panel? Entrants in the contest aren't allowed to be part of the spectator's pool because of the conflict of interest, right?

"2) Judging:  Anyone who submits a story for the contest automatically enters the judges pool. Anyone else who wants to participate in judging may do so as a member of the spectator's pool."

"Depending on the number of entries received, judges/spectators may be required to rank all stories (other than their own, in the case of judges) or to only rank a set number of stories."

You're a participant, so you are judging. You are not judging your own story.

OK, so where do I make my 'judgements', do I post them in this thread, on the contest games, or PM them to Sethaniel? And do I rank them by score or in a numerical order (from favourite to least favourite)? 

I have no idea.

@Sethaniel

Ah! I forgot the tag, but I went back and added it. I submitted my story (Full Moon's Night) around 12:15, does it still qualify?

Ok, thanks. Maybe next time.

Ignore him bilbo. Fords a notorious asshst

You mean I could have been using sarcasm online all these years? A whole new world has just been opened to me.

Riddle/Puzzle 2016 is officially closed.

Any stories currently submitted are accepted for entry. 

The master list and rules for judging will be posted at some point on March 2. 

Cool, I've already written up my rating/comment to each game in a Word Document so I'll transmit it however I need to once I get the instructions.

Sadly, 10 days wasn't enough for my story, I refuse to publish a crappy game. Im excited to see who wins though.

It's ok though, i'll still finish it and publish it still, and my rewards will be you guys liking it. :)

I'm in a similar boat, actually. Congratulations to everyone who finished in time, though!

The Walkthrough for The Dream Thief is up now, I strongly recommend you play the game through and attempt the puzzles/riddles on your own first though. To save you having to search, the link to the actual game is: The Dream Thief

PS I revised my ratings and/or comments after two walkthroughs were published, I worked out the rest on my own so I'm good to share my 'judgements' once that process is opened up. 

I finished this a few days ago, but I just noticed this now.

The Curse of Norgurune

Since this is my first contest, I was wondering, is it normal for entrants to post something in this thread saying 'This is why my story should win', or is that generally not done? 

No. No, that is not normally done, and I would advise against trying it.