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Competitions 2023
Post Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:41 pm
Last edited by Maxim on Thu Jan 11, 2024 8:53 am; edited 1 time in total
We will celebrate SMS Power’s 26th Anniversary in March 2023 and run the usual competition!
People have been particularly prolific in the homebrew space in recent years, and we hope that some of you will want to engage in working on entries for the competition.

Ultra-short rules:

The same as every year :)
Please read below for details.

Slightly longer rules:

Deadline is 27th March 2023. You may choose to interpret that in any reasonable way. We expect people to submit patches/fixes in the following days, but try to get your entry submitted by the end of March 27.

There are three main competitions: coding, hacks and music.

Coding competition

Write something that runs on a Sega 8-bit home system which isn't a hack. A game, a demo, a tool!
(See our Homebrew section for an idea of past work done by the community.)

Hacks competition

Make a hack of a game for a Sega 8-bit home system.
(See our Hacks section for an idea of past work done by the community.).
System conversion hacks (such as GG2SMS, MSX2SG hacks are not valid for the competition). Please post them through regular non-competition means.

Music competition

Make some music that either uses the sound chip(s) from an Sega 8-bit home system, or is an arrangement of music from commercial software for that system.
(See our Music section for an idea of past work done by the community.)

Rules / The small print

* Entries should be either made for this competition, or substantially different to any earlier release. This means you can’t take something you released before and enter it with minimal or no changes; it also means you shouldn’t release it yourself elsewhere before the deadline.
* If you have a project that don't clearly fit in the Coding/Hacks/Music criteria and you think would be a good fit in the competition, please message us and we may work something out together (e.g. enter the project in Coding competition if that seems reasonable).
* Super-offensive or overly illegal content will get your entry rejected. Be nice.
* Coding entries must be in a format that works with a wide variety of emulators, i.e. raw ROM image or disk images. Tape images and wacky custom formats are no good unless you are genuinely making something related to those formats.
* Hack entries must be either in a format like for coding entries, or in the form of an IPS or BPS patch. You must give details of the original file(s) your hack is based on.
* Music entries can be in any format you like, provided it's VGM or MP3. You are welcome to also provide the same music in some other format alongside it.

How to enter

E-mail: competition AT smspower.org
PLEASE BE EXTRA CAREFUL TO SUBMIT ALL INFORMATION. Every year it takes us a long time to sort through entries for which we can't associate a real name to a forum people, can't tell the proper entry name, etc.

E-mail subject:

Coding Competition 2023 Entry: XXXXXXX

Music Competition 2023 Entry: XXXXXXX

Hacks Competition 2023 Entry: XXXXXXX


Form to copy and fill in your e-mail:

* Forum user name:
XXXXX

* Competition type:
* (Coding/Music/Hacks)
XXXXX

* Title of your entry:
* (please provide a clear, official title we are going to use everywhere, not just "here's my rom.sms")
XXXXX

* Description:
* (we will copy whatever in your e-mail looks like a description to the corresponding pages)
XXXXX
XXXXX

* Files:
* (list of files links, or filenames attached to the e-mail. Please ZIP everything so we can preserve your build timesamp)
XXXXX
XXXXX

* Sources:
* (no/yes/link)
XXXXX


Please do make sure to:
* Attach the file(s) preferably, however our gmail account will filter .ZIP files (even renamed) if they contains executables or batch files. If you have them, upload your file to Google Drive / Drop Box / etc. and send us a link.
* Mention the word "competition" in your subject line
* If it's a hack, specify in the description which game/version/CRC.
* If it's a music, specify in the description if it's an original track or a cover (specify which game, which track).
* Including screenshots will be helpful. Please make lossless screenshot (e.g. 256x192 resolution, no filter, PNG format).
* Including cover art makes you 20% more awesome :)
* Including sources (for both music and code) makes you 256% more awesome. :)
* If you have multiple entries, please send multiple e-mails.

You should receive an automatic response when it is received.

After the entries are revealed
* If you want to update your entry, please post your update to the forum thread along with attachments.
* You may also directly edit the Wiki page of your entry and add the new files if you have Wiki writing access (you can request it). Otherwise someone will update the Wiki with your latest attachment.
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Post Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 9:36 pm
Hurrah!!
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Post Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2023 5:01 pm
Unless a miracle, I don't think I can produce anything presentable this year. Also I prefer to focus on my existing projects, "Deathtrap Dungeon" and the "GAW -> Zelda" hack. I still have in a corner of my head "Nyle/Lyne in Sokoban Land" which I would like to develop even if the excellent SKBN which now exists on Master System has made this project much less coherent. In any case, I will test and vote with pleasure on the projects presented this year. Good luck friends ! :)
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Working hard
Post Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2023 9:36 pm
Almost done, two months more to polish the game ;)
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Post Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 10:00 am
@Maxim you can explain to competitors how is the rule to evaluate the votes? In past year Bock claimed that was used an algorithm. How the calculations or formulas are made?
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Post Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 4:17 pm
Our algorithm is very complex and technical:

1. We look at all the votes and compute averages
2. We throw away ones that look like dodgy patterns
3. We check if that affects the results significantly

Generally there isn't much silly voting but we make sure to check for it.
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Post Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 6:48 pm
Quote
1. We look at all the votes and compute averages

Very very fair and objective;

Quote
2. We throw away ones that look like dodgy patterns

Odd and subjective but understood.


Quote
3. We check if that affects the results significantly

This part is very subjective and, particularly, and i think that can determine not for Item 1 but personal perspectives. Almost like a popular election filtred by a commision.
Thanks for all information.
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Post Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 6:57 pm
Maybe this year I’ll publish the vote adjustments to make it clearer. I think last year there were none.
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Post Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2023 4:23 pm
I think the current system works well and I don't see any reason to not just use the same system again
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 1:48 pm
Really looking forward to seeing what everyone has come up with.

Maxim,
when do you think we'll start to see some of the guys show off there games? Can't be long now can it?
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 3:58 pm
It could be fair/smart to not show anything before the 27 march...
To not "demotive" other people to participate ^^
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 6:31 pm
We usually post anonymised topics before the deadline so submitters can see it’s received and others can be motivated to join the field. However I guess certain names can be demotivating :)
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 11:53 pm
The problem is about "how each member understand the competition". In my opinion all members are winners if was made a sms game, independent of final results. But i noted that some persons dont just want participate but win. The event is more for see new ideas.
For example, im super excited about if willbriton will submitt one qbasic gorillas for our SMS. I dont think feasible that it can win the competition but it will give fun enough for me.
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Post Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 11:47 am
eruiz00 wrote
Almost done, two months more to polish the game ;)


Woo , need to watch your work. ;-)
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Post Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:18 pm
segarule wrote
The problem is about "how each member understand the competition". In my opinion all members are winners if was made a sms game, independent of final results. But i noted that some persons dont just want participate but win. The event is more for see new ideas.


I don't see any problem, actually. I think we must accept that some people love to enter just to feel part of something and some people feel better if they enter with a complete and polished entry that will likely guarantee their victory. No shame, please. Let's enjoy what we get ❤️
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Post Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 5:50 pm
Quote
I think we must accept that some people love to enter just to feel part of something and some people feel better if they enter with a complete and polished entry that will likely guarantee their victory.

I agree. But so why some would be demotived in know that certain name submitted some entry in competition? Even worst why somebody ask to friend to vote an hight score in their entry and give a low score in an opponent? This is something that dont would must happen.
Like i said all are winners.
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Post Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 11:29 pm
segarule wrote
I dont think feasible that it can win the competition

Well that's just like a red rag to a bull... 😂

EDIT: <--- woop - 2^8 posts!
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Post Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 10:46 am
Quote
Well that's just like a red rag to a bull... 😂

Sometimes the bull win and kill the torero.😂
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2023 7:16 pm
ichigobankai wrote
It could be fair/smart to not show anything before the 27 march...
To not "demotive" other people to participate ^^


Very impress to see your job to.

I Thinks 2023 was "Un Grand Cru Classé".
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:39 am
I sent an e-mail to the competition address, and got no automatic response.
I did check to make sure I spelled the e-mail correctly.
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:28 pm
The spam filter had caught it, I have rescued it. Thanks for the submission.
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:42 pm
I'm also having the same issue of not receiving a confirmation email.
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 10:50 pm
Same deal, thanks for the heads up. I’ll be checking the spam box regularly for while I guess.
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:28 am
Hi, I sent a submission a couple of days ago but haven't received a response either.
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:51 am
@Maxim I guess it's faster if you rename the spam folder in 'competition entries' ;)
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:06 pm
How frustrating I should probably stop using gmail anyway… I sent some manual acks now.
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:28 pm
... but so nice to see so many new people entering this year! :)
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 6:05 pm
sverx wrote
... but so nice to see so many new people entering this year! :)
... but so bad to see old members not entering in competition with games. ;)
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Post Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:00 pm
sverx wrote
... but so nice to see so many new people entering this year! :)


I submitted my first ever entry for the coding competition on 20/3/23-looking forward to seeing other peoples entries :-)
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 11:19 am
sverx wrote
... but so nice to see so many new people entering this year! :)

Is there somewhere where the entries are being posted already? I couldn't find anything.

Last year I wrote a game in 3 days in assembly and this year I've been working on it for best part of 3 months (in C!) so not sure whether that's a good sign or a bad one...

It will come down to the wire again (debating whether to start work on splash screen and / or cover art or forget it and start paying off my sleep debt) but I have to say I'm very excited about it (despite segarule's gloomy prediction hahaha!). My partner and I have been testing it on the Retcon and it's really really fun, like laugh out loud party game fun.

Disclaimer: there WILL be bugs.
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:25 pm
willbritton wrote
Disclaimer: there WILL be bugs.


Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology:
“There is always one more bug.”
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 1:29 pm
Last edited by segarule on Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:03 pm; edited 1 time in total
Quote
Is there somewhere where the entries are being posted already? I couldn't find anything.

Tradition: Maxim create a new thread like as "Competitions 2023". There the submissions will appear in subtopics with title codified until the deadline. So the users will can acess the submissions and hear/test it. The users can point some errors or suggestions and the competitors can fix/add features. After all, the votation starts until certain date.

Quote
(despite segarule's gloomy prediction hahaha!).

Hahaha. Who knows?! The bull can win because i dont know which submissions will came and the quality.
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 1:37 pm
haroldoop wrote
willbritton wrote
Disclaimer: there WILL be bugs.
Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology:
“There is always one more bug.”


A few days ago I said to a colleague that even if you find and fix one bug in your code you can't affirm that there's one bug less than before.
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 1:39 pm
segarule wrote
sverx wrote
... but so nice to see so many new people entering this year! :)
... but so bad to see old members not entering in competition with games. ;)

long story, but I'm way better at creating tools than using them

but, let's hope one day...
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:08 pm
I didn’t post anonymised entries this year because some suggested it was discouraging.
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:57 pm
Last edited by willbritton on Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
Ah okay, I totally misunderstood that point above.
Never one to stir the pot, but personally I think it's more motivating to see other people submitting entries than discouraging. Perhaps - I guess a suggestion for next year? - it would be if people could see which entries were first time entries, that might encourage more people to give it a go?
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:48 pm
Hi, I have also submitted my first ever entry to the competition this year but I have also not received a confirmation email
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 6:09 pm
Hi guys,

Although I believe a day has been chosen for the deadline for submissions do we know when you games will be made available for review yet please? Keen to get playing what you've all been working on!

Cheers,
Oli
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Post Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:46 pm
I will be posting entries through the day of the 27th. Entries received later will be posted later :)

I’m likely to set up voting straight away but let it run for quite a long time as I will be on holiday.
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 7:56 am
Maxim wrote
I didn’t post anonymised entries this year because some suggested it was discouraging.

Oh, I’ve always seen those as a nice build-up to the competition that stir excitement.

However, I’m very pleased to see how many new members are getting into SMS development and submitted entries. I really do hope this enthusiasm carries on. The community has really gotten a lot more lively, which I think is absolutely fantastic, and something I'd never have dreamed of just a few years ago.

segarule wrote
... but so bad to see old members not entering in competition with games. ;)

I actually considered doing a small game for this year's competition, as I've had an idea for one that would fit on a Sega card floating around in my head for quite some time now, but I pride myself in actually finishing my projects, however long they may take, and I don't want to get sidetracked and end up with a dozen unfinished ones that eventually all get nowhere. I’m afraid there won’t be anything new from me until after I’ve finished my mermaid game, which is still far from completion and only progressing very slowly due to real life (mostly work) leaving me precious little time to spend on my hobbies.
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 11:11 am
Kagesan wrote
Maxim wrote
I didn’t post anonymised entries this year because some suggested it was discouraging.

Oh, I’ve always seen those as a nice build-up to the competition that stir excitement.

I agree with this. It also acts as a nice "ah, my competition entry has been received" sort of validation. How about restoring that tradition next year?
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 6:50 pm
Quick question: I made an original tune that is used for a game that is soon to be submitted to the Coding Competition. Am I allowed to submit the music of said game to the Music Competition?
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 7:23 pm
Yes, that’s OK.
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 2:10 am
Maxim wrote
Yes, that’s OK.


Got it. Thank you!
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 7:42 am
Maxim wrote
I will be posting entries through the day of the 27th. Entries received later will be posted later :)

I’m likely to set up voting straight away but let it run for quite a long time as I will be on holiday.



Thanks Maxim, perfect.
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 10:40 am
Is It possible to send my entry today at night?
Thanks
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 12:05 pm
Yes - deadline is 27th March 2023 "Anywhere on Earth".
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 5:48 pm
I have posted everything in the mailbox now. Please let me know if something is missing or wrong!

You may also join our Discord where we have a channel for the competitions:

https://discord.gg/Myf2bBGzf6
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 6:45 pm
Ummm...

I am deeply thinking on submitting the game, but I think it is not fihished yet. Simply, has turned into a more complex thing than it was and it is live for me.

So.... in march we will have to enjoy all the people releases, which is a very nice thing!! Congratulations for all the submitters, you have my votes and my time to play and hear the submissions!!
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:38 pm
eruiz00 wrote
Ummm...

I am deeply thinking on submitting the game, but I think it is not fihished yet. Simply, has turned into a more complex thing than it was and it is live for me.

So.... in march we will have to enjoy all the people releases, which is a very nice thing!! Congratulations for all the submitters, you have my votes and my time to play and hear the submissions!!

You still have some time left to submit. Deadline is Midnight UTC+12. So you still have almost 16 hours left.

After submission, you can still update your entry during the voting period.
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