No More Photo Contest

[conniefrere]

  I will do the same, maybe a nice little story with some pics.

[PlaymoMan]

It's a shame that the Photo Contest is not going to be held anymore. Although I didn't upload any photos, I though it was fun voting and seeing all the pictures that different members took. Thank you to everybody who organized it, and all the effort you put in.

[Pirateclick]

I came late but I would have participated every month... It's a pity is not gonna be a photo contest anymore. Sorry for the people who was spending a lot of time making it possible...

[Tricornejock]

Hello ,

I organize with help of other moderators a photo-contest since years,  since years on our own forum and years long on the PP. I wish just share my little experience.

Time ago, I here give my opinion about a new idea of futur photo contest inside Playmofriend. I told you... do it very simple, with a very simple rules. It don´t mean no rules, it mean simple rules so that everyone can understand and follow. And yes, unfortunately when the decision are in the hands of people, it is often like no rule. Everyone feel that he/she can decide and a lot of people are disappointed, because the organizers can take only 1 decision... A forum is not a democratic tools, it just have to be fair.

About a thematic I told you: give a user a possibility to stay free in the creation. What I see months ago show me a thematic that I don´t fell at all to be creative and take a part to the game. Sure a theme like „Color“ or „Fun“ can sound very easy for the organizers but it is a start of stress for all competitors. One theme all four months is sure the maximum you can ask. For some users it can sound boring but it is simplyer and keep a motivation high.

The community of forum is like a big band of friends, a band of friends with no competition. Take a part at the contest can be unterstand like a contrary, who will be the first... Only few peole are able to understand a spirit of game of contest. "Take a part" is a game, "be the first" is only a result of game.

When I take a look by the section of contest, I can tell you that I do not understand. To much discussion, to much opened topics. The thread with the photos is loosed anywhere and for me the "game" started first with... where is the topic... where is the email adress... and I don´t speak from users started to use a forum.... like a blackout in the labyrinth...

I played before a lot of time on PlayForo because it was simply to find it. For example I took a look to the maximum size of the photo, if the theme is free, ok it was easy. Every months the same rules, at the same place.

It was just my opinion, I hope that it will help you and I wish to see the contest on PF. I send a lot of power and motivation after a small break to the organizers to start again

Regards,
TJ

[bonniebeth]

I do agree with you, that a forum can't and shouldn't be run like a democracy. I think that was our biggest mistake here. If we had been assigning themes, we would have made it a free theme every other month or every third month at least, which would probably have helped. Plus the "rules" would have been MUCH simpler without the confusing extra votes.

I still don't think the themes were too complicated however... remember the organizers were also competitors, plus the themes were voted in by all competitors. "Color" might have been slightly complex, but I think we got more entries for that one that we ever had, and they were quite creative. But if we do re-start the contest, we have heard the request, and the first contest will be a free theme, and we will make sure to do frequent free themes. And no voting. Been there, done that, and it didn't work. Maybe we can just let people send suggestions if they like.

[Rhalius]

Might be nice to just start funny topics in the photography section to encourage everyone to post pictures of a similar nature in that thread without any kind of contest.

I'll make sure to kick off some topics for that in the weeks to come. 

[bonniebeth]

That's a good idea, too! I really like that. Just throw a funny theme/subject out there and let us post at will.

[Rasputin]

The best way to promote and get involvement is to make a prize. Perhaps a fi?ure for the bi-monthly contest funded by increasing the registration fee or similar. People like winning something tangible not just a pat on the back. 

Geobras Facebook site gives stuff away and people want to win a free set. It's technically not free as you have to earn it.

 not that 2 cents get you anything anymore so that is my $2

[Luis]

i don't think that a physical prize is necessarily an incentive to get more entries - playclicks does not offer prizes and there's always many pics every month (i think the fact you are the recognized as the winner is the best prize) - organizing the funding to support that idea might be a little complicated too (who'd buy and ship the prizes?)

if we compare the number of people to the number of people on other fan forums they obviously outnumber us - plus all the complicated rules thing and the lack of free theme that Tricornejock has talked about

one other thing was hasn't been mentioned here - when the contest was still being run, the winning pictures never appeared in the main page...i've seen the March ones since last year only

anyway, the photo contest was a good experiment after all - if eventually the contest is re-opened then we'll know what works and what doesn't

[bonniebeth]

Having the pics go up on the main page was just something special we did for the first month, since the theme was friendship.

As to complicated rules, we took great care simplifying them, and got even less support.