Industry Elites Added As Judges for Webcomic Contest

[boybokeh]

Why do I get the feeling there's gonna be backlash and closet resentment towards the winner?

Hopefully peeps will have a better attitude than "What? THAT douche won? My comic was waaayz awesomerest." That said, it wouldn't surprise me if that was the eventual reaction to the winner.

 

[MaTT2011]

None of this over-analyzing is necessary now.

True. Perhaps the Escapist staff are perusing this very thread in an attempt to further evaluate the maturity, art and humor level of the contestants. Could it be possible that posts here will become tie-breakers? Ponder that. (Yeah, I know. Not likely.)

I think it's fair to assume that our behavior is very much being evaluated; a potential employee of such a place as The Escapist needs to represent the website accordingly with their behavior at all times. Then again that goes for any job anywhere so better to play it safe and be on ones best behavior.

But ultimately what really matters is the quality of the submissions, good behavior is just a plus and unless a contestant does something REALLY stupid they shouldn't be at too much of a risk for disqualification from forum postings.

 

[titankore]

I would only be upset if both the writing and the style sucked and I don't mean compared to mine I mean just horrible. I've seen some really good artists here and if they won I wouldn't resent them cause they have talent.

There was this time that I made a comic for a contest and worked really hard and lost to a little girl that did stick figures. Her mom was the main judge so I felt cheated. Thankfully no one here is directly related to the judges.

 

[toadking07]

I think what a lot of people don't realize is that a successful webcomic gets updated consistently. While great art is fantastic, it's really all about getting comics done in a timely fashion having constant fresh content... ...Just a way to look at it for those that are worried about their art being too simple or not as good as some of the more elaborate submissions.

thank you for reinstating my faith in my chances! Hadn't really thought of it like that.

I would hope this is bullshit though. I mean if a contest clearly states winners will have to submit two comics every week, then people should submit something of which they KNOW they can deliver what is asked of them. I doubt that the judges would say "well, this one looks awesome, we better not give them the job, let's take this shitty-looking one instead because it's easier to draw."

Eh, some people had 4 weeks to get their stuff in, and more than a few probably put more effort into their comics for this contest then they'd normally be able to give normally every week. I'm sure the escapist judges are looking at it really hard and going to pick a good balance.

Something in the middle of the drawn well, is funny consistently, and can be continue for several weeks.

 

[titankore]

Something in the middle of the drawn well, is funny consistently, and can be continue for several weeks.

Woot I feel much better about my chances!!! I chose my style based on being able to do 2 or more comics a week, yeah I read the rules about 500 times before I started cause I really didn't wanna lose on a technicality.

 

[The Wooster]

I have to win. I have a gpu and four processors to support!

 

[toadking07]

funny pictures

Let's break it down.

 

[folmerkelly]

Eh, some people had 4 weeks to get their stuff in, and more than a few probably put more effort into their comics for this contest then they'd normally be able to give normally every week. I'm sure the escapist judges are looking at it really hard and going to pick a good balance.

Something in the middle of the drawn well, is funny consistently, and can be continue for several weeks.

Ok look I see what you guys are saying, but you're making it sound like any entry that has great art will be discarded on principle here! I mean yeah I'm sure there'll be a balance between good art and good writing, but if in the end there are two choices left that are equally funny but one has good art and the other has bad art, do you REALLY think they're going to take the one with bad art, on the strength of it being easier to deliver two of them a week?

And how does the effort thing factor in at all? EVERYONE had four weeks to do this, how could the judges magically know which entries put in more effort than they usually would? If someone submits their work, then that's what they say they'll bring to the table. The Escapist has no reason to assume they'll deliver anything else than what they came up with.

So I'm hoping they'd be going for something at the top of well drawn, well written, and consistent, and whatever else they want to see in a comic. Not the middle.

 

[isjusterin]

Hmmm... I had all month but I purposely did character-sketch and style work for the first two weeks so that I could simulate what the schedule would be like (because I am nothing if not practical/stupid). But my thought was that I have to make sure I can actually do the style in that amount of time and sustain that. If what I produced in that amount of time/effort isn't up to snuff, then having worked harder on the strips for an increased chance of winning would have mattered because I would burn myself out in the first week if I actually won. So... I wanted to make sure what I put in = the quality I would be able to sustain if I won (knocks wood).

 

[Coelasquid]

This is what I'll be doing, I already run a twice a week webcomic as it is (nothing too special) so if I don't win, the comics I did specifically for this contest will just go into my normal rotation. Actually, it would give me a couple weeks off haha.

I think what a lot of people don't realize is that a successful webcomic gets updated consistently. While great art is fantastic, it's really all about getting comics done in a timely fashion having constant fresh content. Sometimes overdoing the art isn't a sustainable approach, it's really not effective use of time to do detailed drawings with accurate lighting/shading etc. Perhaps, the judges will make note of that and having a very art heavy submission could be a negative thing. Since this contest is about being able to create quality content, in a timely manner, those that have simplified their art while making it look good, might have an advantage over more detailed art. Just a way to look at it for those that are worried about their art being too simple or not as good as some of the more elaborate submissions.

Eh, people work at different paces. The comics I draw are pretty art-heavy, but that's how I work. Back in my OCT days I did something in the neighbourhood of 107 pages in eight months on top of school and a job, and the last place I worked had quotas of 15 seconds of traditional animation per person per day. Keeping on task is the biggest part of the battle and all that.

 

[titankore]

Well some styles can both look equally good but one can look more labor intensive then the other. Like the gay Captain America/ Iron man comic earlier, because of all the lines and detailing it looks like it would take a long time to make.

 

[toadking07]

Ok look I see what you guys are saying, but you're making it sound like any entry that has great art will be discarded on principle here! I mean yeah I'm sure there'll be a balance between good art and good writing, but if in the end there are two choices left that are equally funny but one has good art and the other has bad art, do you REALLY think they're going to take the one with bad art, on the strength of it being easier to deliver two of them a week?

And how does the effort thing factor in at all? EVERYONE had four weeks to do this, how could the judges magically know which entries put in more effort than they usually would? If someone submits their work, then that's what they say they'll bring to the table. The Escapist has no reason to assume they'll deliver anything else than what they came up with.

So I'm hoping they'd be going for something at the top of well drawn, well written, and consistent, and whatever else they want to see in a comic. Not the middle.

Eh, I don't think they'll lower the standards and pick a "middle" one over a better one, just that they're probably looking at them with a grain of salt, so to speak.

Also, they also have to think about what they think their readers want to see. An witty and amazingly drawn comic about bears in space would lose to an averagely drawn comic with good gaming humor that appeals to their masses.

Though really our debates here don't matter as only the judges know what they're looking at and who is going to be the winner.

 

[folmerkelly]

Well some styles can both look equally good but one can look more labor intensive then the other. Like the gay Captain America/ Iron man comic earlier, because of all the lines and detailing it looks like it would take a long time to make.

For you maybe. Definitely for me. Some people could knock stuff like that out in an hour. Dude two posts up talking about drawing 15 seconds of trad animation a day for example (that's mad btw), if he or she is a technically good artist, I'm sure they can whip up something crazy in no time at all.

And that's why simplified art should not have an edge in this contest; there's no way to tell how fast an artist works.

Also, they also have to think about what they think their readers want to see. An witty and amazingly drawn comic about bears in space would lose to an averagely drawn comic with good gaming humor that appeals to their masses.

Though really our debates here don't matter as only the judges know what they're looking at and who is going to be the winner.

Fair enough, but damnit these debates are all we have

 

[titankore]

Tonight I ended up selling 6 drawings at an auction for a combined amount of $400, unfortunately for me it was for charity. I usually think my own work is shit but to other people it looks good. What I'm saying is it's hard to get in the mind of the viewer/judge and figure how it speaks to them.

Has anyone here ever made something that you didn't like but other people for some reason thought it was great?

edit: I am not trying to boast sorry if it sounds like that, just read it five minutes after posting and it makes me sound kinda arrogant. Gomen

 

[LACKT]

Such a slow crawl to March 8,wish they post the submissions,most everyone here are getting antsy paranoid speculating on Judge's taste and formulas for the best webcomic.I hope the Escapist staff are enjoying our torture.

 

[titankore]

Such a slow crawl to March 8,wish they post the submissions,most everyone here are getting antsy paranoid speculating on Judge's taste and formulas for the best webcomic.I hope the Escapist staff are enjoying our torture.

You know they are. Chances are they peek in on this thread from time to time and laugh at our constant speculation.

 

[narcolepsyinc]

Hey guys, since you have the rights to your comics, and everyone wants to see the entries, what stops you from posting them yourself?

This is what I'll be doing, I already run a twice a week webcomic as it is (nothing too special) so if I don't win, the comics I did specifically for this contest will just go into my normal rotation. Actually, it would give me a couple weeks off haha.

I think what a lot of people don't realize is that a successful webcomic gets updated consistently. While great art is fantastic, it's really all about getting comics done in a timely fashion having constant fresh content. Sometimes overdoing the art isn't a sustainable approach, it's really not effective use of time to do detailed drawings with accurate lighting/shading etc. Perhaps, the judges will make note of that and having a very art heavy submission could be a negative thing. Since this contest is about being able to create quality content, in a timely manner, those that have simplified their art while making it look good, might have an advantage over more detailed art. Just a way to look at it for those that are worried about their art being too simple or not as good as some of the more elaborate submissions.

I too run a webcomic on my own dime that updates twice a week. If I don't win, I'm going to keep doing that (though I have another job that I use to actually keep the family fed). I hope everyone here who has had that passion ignited will do the same. It's not hard to start a comic. I started out on a blog, putting up three a week and told myself that when I drew 100, I'd buy a domain. Blogs are easy to maintain, typically free and many of them offer unlimited storage so you can put pictures up as often as you want.

As far as updating regularly, I've found that two a week isn't that much to do. I work full time during the week and take most of Sunday to do my drawings. Also, it's always good to have a stockpile that you can draw from if something comes up - like when the artist from Penny Arcade got swine flu.

 

[titankore]

I'm really starting to wonder exactly how many people entered? I mean its mostly me and like 20 other people that comment the most with a few random appearances of others. There is probably a couple that aren't using this forum and a couple who are but didn't actually submit one.

 

[PizzaBagel]

Why do I get the feeling there's gonna be backlash and closet resentment towards the winner?

And while it's being pondered, is there any reason behind all this pointless speculation on the judging? Just curious because belaboring over something you have no sway in is lame.

Here. One quote by Billy Shakespeare that says everything about a comic strip: "Brevity is the soul of wit".

Okay? That's it. None of this over-analyzing is necessary now.

This is an oft misquoted passage of Shakespeare. In its original context 'wit' refers not to humour (as many believe), but instead to intelligence; i.e. those who are concise are frequently the most knowledgeable, whereas those that ramble are trying to conceal a lack of intellectual aptitude.

Not a dig, just an interesting nugget!

 

[Casts a Shadow]

With the very volume of this thread of I very curious about how many entries there are after all.