Modding competition is it worth a try?

[cliffski]

I need some mods for my last game 'Democracy'. I wondered if a $50 amazon gift voucher would temp would-be modders out of the woodwork...
Here's a first stab at a competition web page:
http://www.positech.co.uk/democracy/modding_dilemmas.html
Any opinions / criticisms? Is this viable? Will I look a total dork when there are no entries? does that even matter if it's an excuse to send out a newsletter and some pres releases? :D
Feedback much appreciated.

[papillon]

The main thing that seems discouraging about it to me is the just one prize thing. If there's only ONE prize for something, I tend to feel like it's not worth my time to enter, I clearly won't win anyway. I don't know how common this feeling is. :)

However, if there are multiple prizes - even if they are completely pointless paper hats or something and only one prize doesn't suck - I don't feel as put off.

And especially if you're planning to use all the entries (that don't totally suck) but only reward one person, that seems a bit mean. I would expect at least that anyone whose submission was good enough for you to use should get their name and website link splashed on your page for them to feel good about.

You may find yourself without entries, though. When I try to run competitions I always end up with fewer entrants than there were prizes to give out. :) Plenty of people LOOKED at the contest... but didn't actually try it.

[luggage]

Must be worth a try - although as Papillion says one prize is a bit off putting. How about a free copy of a game or two for the top 5?

[cliffski]

well I'm guessing most people who enter will be people who already have the game. I could give away copies of my other games I guess. I'm not too bothered about the dorky feeling of having no entries, if it encourages a few people (potential modders following a link) to check out the demo. If you have run a competition before, how did you spread the word?

[papillon]

Just postings on relevant forums pretty much. But then, I've failed at it. :)

[ErikH2000]

My site runs a contest each month. We've had 24 so far, all pretty different from each other. Participation has been a problem in the past when a contest is over-ambitious. I've had to cancel/rework contests before due to low participation, and yeah... it has a lame feeling to it and maybe it's even slightly damaging to the community spirit.

Here's some idea/tips...

Contact individual players by e-mail that you know and ask them what they think of your contest and if they'd like to enter. Try to get people to say they will do it. When posting a forum announcement, begin by asking who plans to enter there too.

I was going to say emphasize how easy it is to submit a contest entry, but you are already doing that. "Democracy is probably the easiest game to mod you have ever seen." Cool.

I agree it would help to have more prizes. One thing I've done with contests is asked other developers to donate full version copies of their games. Actually, I'm happy to donate one copy of DROD as a prize if you can use it.

-Erik

[princec]

I suggest a prize for the top 10 mods submitted.

Cas :)

[cliffski]

argh thats tempting fate, I might only get 5 entries!

[Teq]

have to give the competition time to develop but it sounds like a nice idea