DDREvolved.com

After a 2 year break, it's that time again!

CHEESEMIX 6 - GENERAL RULES

The theme of Cheesemix, if you've just joined us, is cheesy music! What you think of as "cheese" is pretty much left up to your own interpretation, but check out the previous Cheesemixes if you need some inspiration. The more embarrassing your file would be to play with someone else in the room, the better!

This time around, the contest is split into two packs - Entries and Bonus Pack (mirroring the Judged and Non-Judged divisions of previous contests). You are allowed one Entry and up to three Bonus Pack files. Bonus Pack files can be registered and submitted anonymously if you wish, but your Entry must be attributed to you. Collaborations are permitted, and Bonus Pack collaborations will only count as half an entry for each participant provided that both make a significant contribution to the steps (ie, no abusing the system by getting your friend to do Beginner for you so that you can enter twice as many).

All files submitted to the competition must include:

• A music file (mp3 or ogg) of at least passable sound quality (128kbps or higher for MP3 or whatever the equivalent is for OGG). Your Entry cannot be longer than 2:30 in length. Bonus Pack files can be a little longer, but within reason - no epic 10 minute anthems please...
• Banner and background of acceptable quality and size (.png preferred). Your background should be a multiple of 320x240 (640x480 or higher is better in most cases) and your banner should be a multiple of 256x80. Video banners are fine but please include a still banner as well if you use one.
• At least two stepcharts. One of your stepcharts must be Heavy (this will henceforth be known as Wellian's Rule... :P) and the other can be Light, Standard or Challenge. While you are not required to include more than two charts, you are still encouraged to do so as, much like good presentation, it will improve the public's perception of your file.
• A readme file containing the song title and artist, as well as your name for non-anonymous entries. Background info on the charts and graphics, thoughts about the file, etc would be great as well!

Please do not submit files that:

• Are already in a commercial 4-panel dance game (DDR, ITG, etc)
• Have already been entered in a previous DDRExtreme.co.uk / DDREvolved.com competition (list here but I am not sure if it's up to date - when in doubt, ask)
• Include ITG gimmicks (hands, mines, rolls, etc) anywhere but the challenge charts of Bonus Pack files.
• Are unplayably off-sync (e.g. incorrect BPM or other severe technical issues that cannot be easily fixed such as rainbow arrow syndrome). Mild inaccuracies in gap/offset are understandable between different computers or operating environments, and players are encouraged to auto-sync files to their own machine when necessary.
• Are in excessively, unreasonably bad taste (moderately bad taste is quite fine ). If in doubt, please ask.
• Are over 20MB in size for the full zip.

As you might have gathered from the name of the site, the focus of these competitions is generally on DDR. We recommend that your Entry at the very least is aimed at DDR standards - there's a bit more room for experimentation in the Bonus Pack, but keep your files at least theoretically paddable.

When designing your file, bear in mind that the public will most likely be using various different versions of Stepmania - although 3.9 is by far the most common.

Extras such as a video, CD title, lyrics, beginner steps etc. are not required, but they can certainly help improve your file's presentation.

CONTEST STRUCTURE

We'll be doing things a little differently this time around. There are no judges, which means the fate of the competition is up to you!

After all the entries have been released, we will have a first round vote over the next week or two (the exact timing will depend on the number of files received). This will take the form of an approval vote open to all entrants. Simply vote by submitting a list of all the entries that you believe deserve to make it to the final round - you can vote for as few or as many as you like. After this, the finalists will be determined by taking the top 10 best scoring entries.

The final round will be carried out through a ranked vote again open to all entrants, who will assign point values 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 to the ten finalists of their choosing. The highest scoring finalist will be the ultimate winner of Cheesemix 6!

There will be no formal ranking or other event for the Bonus Pack, but participants are encouraged to play the files and post their thoughts and reviews.

Special notes:

• For the first round, if there are one or more ties anywhere from 1st to 10th place, all tied songs will make it through.
• For the final round, ties will be broken by awarding victory to whichever song received the most 12 point scores, then the most 10 point scores, and so on.
• Participants cannot vote for their own entry - however, so that the act of voting does not disadvantage the voter, all first round voters will automatically receive a point for their file simply for sending their vote in. Likewise, all final round voters will automatically receive 12 points for their file just by voting. Be sure to vote!

I think that's pretty much all of it!

REGISTRATION

Reserve the songs you wish to enter by filling out these details and posting in the thread. For anonymous Bonus Pack files, you may PM your registration to me instead. Please do not email the old 'entries' address as I do not have access to it.

Entrant(s):
Contact email:
Favourite boy band:
If you were a type of cheese, what song would you perform at Eurovision?

Song Title:
Song Artist:
Entry or Bonus Pack?
(repeat these last three for each file you want to enter)

Each registrant is limited to three changes of registration. Adding a new entry does not count as a registration change - only modifying an existing one.

Once your file(s) are ready, please upload to Mediafire or your own hosting (no Rapidshare/Megaupload please) and PM me with the link.

All files must be received by the end of Friday 1st October (your local time).