Creature Concept Rules

[Talos]

(Rules updated 2008-09-24)

This month we want to see the community contribute with a creative and interesting creature that fits the Mortal Online universe. As inspiration we have added some new Concept Art. The winning creature will be included in the Mortal Online world.

The contest is both about visualizing the creature and having great ideas, so drawing skills is not a definite must. If necessary our own creature artist stands ready to give it a final retouch. However, presentation is important so do your best

General rules:

To be able to compete in the Creature Concept Challenge you have to meet the following criteria:

1. Collaboration is allowed, meaning 2 or more people can work together on a concept/description. However, the creature and its description may only be posted once and there will only be one (1) winner: the poster.
2. You must submit a concept picture of a creature created by YOU. The picture may be a scanned drawing, a digital painting, a rendered 3D model, a photo manipulation, a photo of a clay model etc. Combining different media is allowed, meaning you are allowed to digitally paint on the photo of your clay model made from a drawing, and so on. Everything you use must be created by you, meaning it's not ok to use photos, textures or images you haven't made yourself. If you submit a picture containing material not made by you, you will be disqualified. (You must also be able to show us all sources used for the concept if you win the contest.)
3. "Classical" creatures (such as Minotaurs, Griffons, Nagas etc) or modifications to them are ok. "Unique or key concepts" ripped from other games, books or movies are not. (You can't for instance submit a Predator, or a Tauren.)
4. The creature may be an animal, monster or.. well, creature.
5. A short description of the creature/animal/monster must be included.
6. Only one concept is allowed per user, but it is allowed to update the actual picture and description until the deadline of the contest.
7. Pictures published for this contest should be max 800 pixel in width and 500 pixels in height and file size less than 97.7 KB (Compressed JPEG). Remember to keep the, high resolution, original picture that we will publish if you win.
8. Create a thread here: Mortal Online Forums > Community > Mortal Online Creature Concept Contest
9. Name the thread your "Nickname Entry". In my case: "Talos Entry".
10. Use the guide below to upload your image. Do not upload the image on another site or you will not be able to compete in this contest.
11. You are not allowed to use your concept in any other contest.
12. You agree to that Star Vault have unlimited rights to use the creature/animal/monster, it's description and everything uploaded to this contest in any way we like, including but not limited to Mortal Online.
13. We have the rights to choose any or neither one of the concepts submitted in this challenge as winner(s).
14. We have the rights to delete any submission we don't see appropriate for this challenge, the Mortal Online forums or the game Mortal Online.
15. We have the rights to change the concept how we see fit for Mortal Online.
16. The Star Vault team chooses the winner that will be announced on the 16th of October.
17. Deadline for submission is the 15th of October, GMT+1 13:00.
18. Have fun, be creative and remember to be nice to each other’s contributions.

Guide to upload the concept (click)

The reward for this challenge:

First prize:
The winning creature will be included in the Mortal Online world. Winner (the poster) will get free access to the beta of Mortal Online.

Prizes 2-5
Will get free access to the beta of Mortal Online.


Forum rules:

Do not create any new threads if you are not in the contest, these threads will be deleted.
We want it to be easy to rate the contenders, but you are allowed to give comments to the contributors.

[Landor]

Well this sounds like fun. To bad that i may not be able to take part in it. Due to the fact as I don't have that much time to myself or with friends as I would like. So I probably won't take part, but if I do find time I will.

But good luck to everyone that enters.

[BlackOrc]

Are you accepting Spore creature creator submissions?

Just joking. Hehe.

[Lachrymose]

i don't know if i have the artistic talent to make anything, but i look forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with.

[Heliopios]

Originally Posted by Talos

1. Pictures published for this contest should be max 800 pixel in width and 500 pixels in height and file size less than 97.7 KB (Compressed JPEG). Remember to keep the, high resolution, original picture that we will publish if you win.

I was going to bother with making something until I read this.

[Markus Lovdell]

Originally Posted by Heliopios

I was going to bother with making something until I read this.

Why is that ?

You can make the picture 10 times bigger when you create it. When you post it for us and the others to judge it/see it here just follow the rules.

If you win we will publish Your Concept in Higher resolution since it is the 10 times bigger working copy you will have to send us.




This "Vica Caducus" screen is: 914 x 573 pixels. 112 KiloByte. You can almost post a picture this big. Isn't that enough for us to judge ?

[catmorbid]

Hey, this sounds like lot of fun! Too bad my artistic skills suck, but I'll be sure to compensate that by writing a five-page essay on the critter ;p

[Jake]

Certainly a cool idea to have this contest.
Good luck to all the applicants!

I'd enter, but my drawing ability is limited to making hand-shaped turkeys.

[realnaste]

Originally Posted by Jake

(...) hand-shaped turkeys.

I want those in MO! Draw!

[Gisel]

Originally Posted by BlackOrc

Are you accepting Spore creature creator submissions?

Just joking. Hehe.

Lol agree

[Somarl]

OMG what an amazing idea, shame i am an untalented git. And lol @ Blackorc, you beat me to it, i was going to suggest spore also, however i wasnt joking seriously you can use it for a rough guide cant ya? Just jazz it up and make it a little less cuddly.

[Somarl]

Ok i give up, i just spent half an hour on Spore and made about 3 different creature kinds and they all look so cuddly that you would drop your axe and hug them rather than hack their head off and take their loot. Damn why doesnt someone make a more "evil" version of that editor, i would spend my life on it I am out of the comp

[Wonderboy2402]

This sounds like alot of fun! I like making weird realistic creatures.

I do have a question, you say we can submit a creature concept image, but it must be "painted." Could i submit a black and white pencil sketch? Honestly, I can sketch very well but when i try to render i really ruin my art.

Also, can we submit more then one entry?

[Heliopios]

Originally Posted by Markus Lovdell

Why is that ?

You can make the picture 10 times bigger when you create it. When you post it for us and the others to judge it/see it here just follow the rules.

If you win we will publish Your Concept in Higher resolution since it is the 10 times bigger working copy you will have to send us.

I have no issue with the small file size, it's just that a Compressed JPEG spells death for any decent quality picture.

[Archaaz]

Alas, no artistic talent here (or not much), but a truly marvelous idea. I, too, look forward to seeing everyone's ingenuity.

[Lachrymose]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy2402

Also, can we submit more then one entry?

it says right up there in the rules only one entry per person. what i would suggest is posting a few of them in the fanart thread and seeing which one people like the most, then using that one for the contest.

[realnaste]

Originally Posted by Heliopios

I have no issue with the small file size, it's just that a Compressed JPEG spells death for any decent quality picture.

You're saying, that you don't want to post a concept art in bad quality?

[Arxon Havenloft]

Originally Posted by realnaste

You're saying, that you don't want to post a concept art in bad quality?

No, he's saying that he wants us to believe that he has the talent and just doesn't want to do it.

[Markus Lovdell]

Originally Posted by Heliopios

I have no issue with the small file size, it's just that a Compressed JPEG spells death for any decent quality picture.

disagree... whole internet is jpeg compressed more or less

I am webmaster for www.mortalonline.com. And every picture that we've publish is compressed by me. Think our pictures is low quality ?

[Saviour]

GL to the participants to bad I don't have enough imagination or the artistic skill to make a monster D:

[Faust124]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy2402

I do have a question, you say we can submit a creature concept image, but it must be "painted." Could i submit a black and white pencil sketch? Honestly, I can sketch very well but when i try to render i really ruin my art.

I wanna know too if we can sketch it cause i already got a sketch ready and scanned it onto the computer. Oh, and if possible can someone tell me where we upload our pics?

[Grumpy]

I think they meant painted as in drawn/painted/sketched to avoid having people make photo manipulations and models etc. But then, a contest shouldn't have rules for interpretation - so could any of the devs or moderators for this contest enlighten us what painted exactly means?

[Lachrymose]

Originally Posted by Talos

Create a thread here: Mortal Online Forums > Community > Mortal Online Creature Concept Contest

i'm not able to post a thread here, it's telling me i don't have permission to create a new thread. either i'm doing it wrong or the Mortal Online Creature Concept Contest section needs its permissions changed.

[Rathius]

Originally Posted by Lachrymose

i'm not able to post a thread here, it's telling me i don't have permission to create a new thread. either i'm doing it wrong or the Mortal Online Creature Concept Contest section needs its permissions changed.

I confirm this report.

[Faust124]

Originally Posted by Rathius

I confirm this report.

i also confirm this problem

[Talos]

Sorry for that, it should work now Good luck.

[Shoku]

Hey! This is right up my alley!

[Raze]

Can two people collaborate on one entry?

[Talos]

Rules updated!
Most important clarifications are in (1) and (2).

Originally Posted by BlackOrc

Are you accepting Spore creature creator submissions?

Yes. Although I bet it would be in for a heavy remake by us

Originally Posted by Wonderboy2402

I do have a question, you say we can submit a creature concept image, but it must be "painted." Could i submit a black and white pencil sketch?

Yes. You are also allowed to further refine it digitally.

Originally Posted by Wonderboy2402

Also, can we submit more then one entry?

No. Read the rules again.

Originally Posted by Lachrymose

it says right up there in the rules only one entry per person. what i would suggest is posting a few of them in the fanart thread and seeing which one people like the most, then using that one for the contest.

That is ok, but you may only post one concept in the contest.

Originally Posted by Faust124

I wanna know too if we can sketch it cause i already got a sketch ready and scanned it onto the computer. Oh, and if possible can someone tell me where we upload our pics?

Yes, see answer above. You will find the instructions for uploading the picture under the rules.

Originally Posted by Raze

Can two people collaborate on one entry?

Yes, but it's up to you as only the person posting the entry will receive the price.

[Arxon Havenloft]

Originally Posted by Talos

Yes, but it's up to you as only the person posting the entry will receive the price.

I'm pretty sure he means "Prize".

[Gisel]

Can you add the Tentaclor race?

[Arxon Havenloft]

Originally Posted by Gisel

Can you add the Tentaclor race?

Or maybe you can if you win the contest? I'm pretty sure that we would be better off making a concept creation of something that probably already isn't in the game.

[Xtra-Medium]

sounds pretty cool, i have some artistic talent maybe i will try this. i will have to find a scanner to use tho lol

[Joszek]

Question about prizes: could you reconsider that up to 3 winning concept arts will be included in MO world ?

Because imo we already have a winner - if not considering point 11 of rules ... unless f.e. GW concept artist comes here and pwns us all.

edit: err... point 13 answers my question
sry for useless spam : (

[Lachrymose]

Originally Posted by Joszek

Because imo we already have a winner - if not considering point 11 of rules ... unless f.e. GW concept artist comes here and pwns us all.

josek, first off if the entry doesn't comply with the rules, so of course it can't be the winner (good job for discovering that btw). secondly, there are several other entries i'd rank above presage's, simply because i don't really feel like his entry totally fits with the MO universe (it seems a little too much like some sort of alien creature or something out of a sci-fi horror). although it is indeed a fantastic piece of artwork, the judging is based on the idea as well, not just how well done the artwork is. besides, someone may come along later with something that will just blow us all away.

[catmorbid]

Originally Posted by Lachrymose

josek, first off if the entry doesn't comply with the rules, so of course it can't be the winner (good job for discovering that btw). secondly, there are several other entries i'd rank above presage's, simply because i don't really feel like his entry totally fits with the MO universe (it seems a little too much like some sort of alien creature or something out of a sci-fi horror). although it is indeed a fantastic piece of artwork, the judging is based on the idea as well, not just how well done the artwork is. besides, someone may come along later with something that will just blow us all away.

Yeah, there are quite a few people here I'd expect to pull off a great creature concept. But of course, the art side can be the problem with many. But with a bit of creativity and digital painting you can do miracles.

[prepsage]

Just so everyone is aware:
From my understanding - Rule 11 here doesn't really apply.

CA.org's weekly exercises are not contests. No prizes are won, and the artist get nothing more than the satisfaction they created something their peers appreciated.

[ViolentWhisper]

Originally Posted by prepsage

Just so everyone is aware:
From my understanding - Rule 11 here doesn't really apply.

CA.org's weekly exercises are not contests. No prizes are won, and the artist get nothing more than the satisfaction they created something their peers appreciated.

As i said in PM. Your entry is under speculation due it is in the greyzone stumbling half over the rules, not really breaking and not beeing totally "ok" either.

[prepsage]

First of all, thanks again to everyone with positive feedback regarding my submission. However, the assumptions leading to, and after the lock have soured my taste for this contest. Due in part to the vagueness of the rules posted, and the subjective individual interpretations of them, I find it's not worth the time or effort to defend my artwork here. I've already requested removal of my thread from the mods. I wish everyone the best of luck with their submissions.

[Rathius]

I don't think the rules are vague. And they should be absolutely nothing to worry about.

Think about this for a moment, if they do end up using your idea in the game, they can't and shouldn't need to worry about legal implications of it showing up somewhere else.

Make your own work, display it in that thread and that thread only. Easy enough for me follow.