GUIC 2008 – Lets Talk Details

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 by Zoomba | Discussion: OS Customization

The 2008 GUI Championships, the latest iteration of the world’s largest GUI customization competition, is quickly approaching.  This fall skinners from all over the globe will compete in one of three main events for their shot at hardware, software and cash prizes totaling near $10,000!

For the last few months we’ve been letting out little teasers here and there about what we’re going to be doing with this year’s event.  Today, I’m happy to reveal some of the contest details to everyone, so skinners can begin to prepare their masterpieces early.  In 2006, there were complaints that there wasn’t enough warning on the contest, so this year we’re giving you all months to prepare!

Events

In 2006, there were three main categories; WindowBlinds skins, Icon Packages, and Wallpapers.  This year, we have dropped the Wallpaper event and will instead be replaced by Animated Wallpapers (Dreams).  Here is the official event list for the 2008 GUIC:

  1. WindowBlinds Skins
    1. Most Original
    2. Most Usable
    3. Best Overall
  2. IconPackager Sets
    1. Most Original
    2. Most Usable
    3. Best Overall
  3. Animated Wallpapers (.Dreams)
    1. Most Original
    2. Most Usable
    3. Best Overall

We’re still debating a “User’s Choice” event, but haven’t decided how we’d handle it yet.  But the above covers the major categories and what the base events are.  Should be more than enough to get people started.

Timeline

The 2008 GUI Champs will officially kick off on October 12th.  Starting on that date, we will launch the new contest site and begin accepting submissions. The contest will run up to the end of December.  This gives everyone a 3 month lead before we even start accepting skins, to just over 5 months total before the competition closes.

A specific event schedule will be posted closer to the start of the competition.

Rules

The rules from 2006 are undergoing review and will likely see significant changes.  However, there are a few rules that will remain the same and that you should know before the contest starts:

  1. All submitted work must be 100% original
    You must be the sole author of the art used in the submission.  No working with other skinners, no reusing elements from other skins (either your own, or others) or art.
  2. Work submitted to the 2008 GUIC must be new.
    The GUIC must be the first place you submit a skin to.  Skins that are posted on other sites prior to being submitted to the GUIC will be disqualified.  Note that this does not mean you can’t post some preview shots of your work in progress, just that you may not make available for download a working skin (in any stage of development)
  3. Entries must not use logos, characters, or other imagery that is copyrighted/trademarked
    No Windows logos, no Apple logos.  No modifications or interpretations of cartoon characters, mascots, movies, games, television shows etc.  We expect all designs and work to be completely original.  So no making your ideal Windows Vista skin, or a Dragon Ball Z icon set.

Prizes

We’re still in talks with potential sponsors, but we’ve lined up at least one hardware vendor and have several software makers interested in being a part of the event.  We are currently working toward the goal of having at least $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. 

Once the sponsors are finalized, expect a big post listing them all out, and what the prizes will be.  I’m really excited so far based on the initial response I received from the companies I’ve contacted.

(Note: If your company would like to be a sponsor for the 2008 GUI Champs, please email me at mikec AT stardock DOT com).


Hopefully now you have a much better idea of what we have planned for this year’s event.  A lot of details are still to be worked out, and as we have major news (i.e. sponsors, the new site) you better believe I’ll be posting about it.

If you have any questions about the 2008 GUIC, post them below and I’ll answer what I can.

Get those skins started!

First Previous Page 1 of 8 Next Last
unclerob
Reply #1 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 1:31 PM
do you guys have a website dedicated to this contest yet similar to the 2006 gui champs website?
Zoomba
Reply #2 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 1:31 PM
The 2008 site is currently still being designed/developed.  We'll post about it more as it nears completion.
Philly0381
Reply #3 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 1:33 PM
Yes, let the festivities begin!   

Just think, prizes for all the winners and new skins for all the community to enjoy, does it get any better than that.     
Zoomba
Reply #4 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 1:39 PM

I'm really hoping for some great skins again this year.  2006 got us some of the best icons any of us have ever seen.

PurrBall
Reply #5 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 1:41 PM
I guess I should pick up work on that skin I started last November
ZubaZ
Reply #6 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 1:51 PM
ZubaZ starts planning his "Flaming Aero Through a Window Over a Mac Vista" Dream 
cplair
Reply #7 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:00 PM
OMG!

If this is anything close to resembling the 2006 GUIC's, it's going to be off the friggin hook!

  Let the games begin!!  

vStyler
Reply #8 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:13 PM
Let the games begin!!


Coool ur jets there Ceasar   

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

Was that $10,000 ..? Sorry the bold got in the way    
messiah1
Reply #9 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:25 PM
Damn. Us lowly dock skinners left out again.
sAARGe
Reply #10 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:31 PM
u said recently ... we'll add 2 more categories ......   
Zoomba
Reply #11 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:35 PM

Damn. Us lowly dock skinners left out again.

It's an issue of skinning the major (i.e. most popular) Windows UI elements.  Hence the skin, the icons and the background being the main events.  It's the same reason there isn't a Xion, CursorFX or Firefox event.

vStyler
Reply #12 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:43 PM
Damn. Us lowly dock skinners left out again.


Your an Olympian in my book   
tigerlady
Reply #13 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:44 PM
I'm disappointed that you chose Dreams as one of the categories. Most of us have not "downgraded" to Vista and that leaves us out in the cold. I would've preferred to see CursorFX or Widgets.
LightStar
Reply #14 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:45 PM
Should WB skins be for XP or Vista or both, or can separate OS skins be submitted?
messiah1
Reply #15 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:47 PM
It's an issue of skinning the major (i.e. most popular) Windows UI elements. Hence the skin, the icons and the background being the main events
*Take no offense to this* So you're saying that object dock isn't as popular as WB, IP or animated wallpapers? I'm sure it's not possible to find out but I'd like to know the number of users with WB installed versus ObjectDock. Maybe an OD category in a GUIC would bring some attention to the "unpopular" Windows UI element. I can sort of understand why SD wouldn't want to have tons of categories but I think OD and CursorFX are pretty popular. My 2 bananas...
Libardo
Reply #16 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 3:05 PM
wow I hope finish some skins for this amazing contest. Thank you for this information  
ZubaZ
Reply #17 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 3:08 PM
I can sort of understand why SD wouldn't want to have tons of categories but I think OD and CursorFX are pretty popular.
Managing something as big as this is huge.  HUGE!!  And its not like they have a staff to lean on. 

It could be a good time to work on that WB skin you've been dreaming of.  What was it called?  "Mechanical Banana"  
ALMonty
Reply #18 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 3:46 PM
I agree with Tigerlady and MR. Messiah. Dreams are only for Vista users there are a lot of XP users that are going to be left out of this category. I think OD and CursorFX is more popular that most other programs. Especially since CurFX is new this year and has just been updated with new stuff.
messiah1
Reply #19 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 3:54 PM
It could be a good time to work on that WB skin you've been dreaming of. What was it called? "Mechanical Banana"


It's a good thing you live in that puny little state over there...what's it called again...oh yeah, Texico.
Zoomba
Reply #20 Tuesday, July 8, 2008 4:01 PM
I'm disappointed that you chose Dreams as one of the categories. Most of us have not "downgraded" to Vista and that leaves us out in the cold. I would've preferred to see CursorFX or Widgets.


There are still the icons and windowblinds events.  XP users are far from excluded from this competition.

And the exclusion of other skinning apps from the competition does not mean they're UNpopular.  We had to pick and choose what would have the biggest pull, attract the most skinners and users to the competition.  There are only so many people working on this event (Myself mainly with folks like ID & Jafo lending a hand) so we couldn't include everything.


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