Minecraft Forums

Quote from Nose_Job_For_a_Cowboy

He just became one pretty much today. I assumed he was a new member, my mistake.

As of this morning actually, I was quite surprised.

Quote from Nose_Job_For_a_Cowboy

Also, I was planning on a redstone competition, just haven't had the time. I made a thread out of curiosity and there seemed to be a lot of interest in it. The problem is I always find 5+ hobbies to pursue at the same time x_x

I would be more than willing to help you with a red stone competition. I really love these contests and seeing as these forums have such a large user base I think if we got the ball rolling it could work out. I've gotten enough entries to finish out this one and like I said I've already committed MS points to the next one.

Quote from tjmastercrafter

I would be more than willing to help you with a red stone competition. I really love these contests and seeing as these forums have such a large user base I think if we got the ball rolling it could work out. I've gotten enough entries to finish out this one and like I said I've already committed MS points to the next one.

That could work, depending on your level of redstone knowledge. My primary goal was to forge a redstone competition where the hierarchy of the top creations actually made sense. (This was after my bouts of furious anger, sequential to watching Michinima's top 5 redstone/piston creation videos. They literally know absolutely nothing about redstone.) I do know of one other guy I would really like to have as a judge, but I'm pretty sure he would rather enter the contest. It would be preferable to have judges from several different genres of redstone engineering. My own redstone knowledge is primarily imbedded in computer science and Boolean logic. (Fancy words that mean I build computers and specific-purpose hardware.) The person I mentioned earlier builds interactive electronics with intuitive GUIs. (That means he builds redstone games. :P) I just want to make the contest as fair and unbiased as possible.

Quote from Nose_Job_For_a_Cowboy

That could work, depending on your level of redstone knowledge. My primary goal was to forge a redstone competition where the hierarchy of the top creations actually made sense. (This was after my bouts of furious anger, sequential to watching Michinima's top 5 redstone/piston creation videos. They literally know absolutely nothing about redstone.) I do know of one other guy I would really like to have as a judge, but I'm pretty sure he would rather enter the contest. It would be preferable to have judges from several different genres of redstone engineering. My own redstone knowledge is primarily embedded in computer science and Boolean logic. (Fancy words that mean I build computers and specific-purpose hardware.) The person I mentioned earlier builds interactive electronics with intuitive GUIs. (That means he builds redstone games. ) I just want to make the contest as fair and unbiased as possible.

While my redstone logic doesn't extend much past the Xbox 360 It isn't something to scauff at. I have worked with all your simple logic gates and the more advanced ones. I'm always trying to find new ways to incorporate restone into my builds (ie. XOR switch for castle gate, removing delay from retractable lighting, combination locks, etc). I've grown up around video games and programming so Minecraft just seemed like a natural fit. The old ball n' chain is currently attending school for her electrical engineering degree and she literally comes home and freaks out because I'm building in Minecraft, what she learned today in class. Gotta love that.

Quote from ubergine

Thing is, most people like to make redstone machines that actually do something. Your redstone stuff - that I've seen - seems more like esoteric data crunching things that don't open a door in a nifty way. For it to be a competition, the parameters have to be in a realm that's of interest to more people than just yourself. Given how you put everyone else's redstone down and harp on negatives, entering a competition RUN by you sounds like about as much fun as one run by Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory.

What would make competitions more practical in general for Xbox would be legit map sharing. Then we might be able to have comps for best survival and creative categories. I only build in survival on pure survival maps, so any castle I made would probably be pretty lame compared to what Somone could make in creative in a fraction of the time.

There's pics of a couple "castle-ish" things in my signature-link thread, but I haven't really built what I'd call a castle yet (one in link was started by other player and just finished by me so I don't count it.)

I don't get how someone could even make that comparison. Any survival-based redstone device can't be judged against a Turing-complete machine. That's like comparing a wooden box with a door to a huge elegant castle. I never understood how anyone could call me an elitist when users here make fun of worlds with terrible building architecture all the time. You can't say that a bland skyscraper is just as good as a detailed mansion, so why should I say that a 2x2 piston door is on the same level as a redstone interpretation of Snake? If someone likes to build survival-based machines, they're not into redstone engineering, and shouldn't be entering in the competition in the first place. That would be like me entering the contest of the thread we're posting in now, knowing nothing about castles or structural architecture. I am absolutely horrible when it comes to building beautiful structures, but I wouldn't complain to the OP that my oddly shaped cobblestone box should be ranked higher because it's a different genre of building.

I have seen survival-based redstone that was impressive, there's just not much room for improvement, it never becomes more impressive. One of my LIVE friends likes to build things like this, but he realized that it really restricts one's ability to increase their skill in redstone. He now has a redstone build that emulates the classic game Battleship. The point I'm trying to make is; why should the contest reward someone who refuses to pursue the knowledge?

Also, there are plenty who are interested in more advanced redstone. I'm not saying all the builds have to be based on computer science, that's why I want to expand into different genres through different judges. Players can enter a beginner's redstone creation, but it won't be rated highly just to be nice. That's not how a contest works. And the only redstone build I think I've put down around here was that sad excuse for a Connect 4 game that was posted awhile back.

Quote from tjmastercrafter

While my redstone logic doesn't extend much past the Xbox 360 It isn't something to scauff at. I have worked with all your simple logic gates and the more advanced ones. I'm always trying to find new ways to incorporate restone into my builds (ie. XOR switch for castle gate, removing delay from retractable lighting, combination locks, etc). I've grown up around video games and programming so Minecraft just seemed like a natural fit. The old ball n' chain is currently attending school for her electrical engineering degree and she literally comes home and freaks out because I'm building in Minecraft, what she learned today in class. Gotta love that.

All logic gates are pretty simple, it gets more complex when you learn how logic works together. For example, using logic gates to make a device that performs addition through ripple carry. This is fairly simple, carry-lookahead is a bit more complex. Square root extraction is just ridiculous, no matter what algorithm you decide to use. You don't really have to look elsewhere to become good with redstone, but expanding into new genres really helps to showcase your abilities. Piston doors/gates and light switches can only be optimized so far. My friend that I mentioned earlier (built the Battleship game) has already designed a combo lock that is pretty much as good as you can get in our current version. It allows for multiple users, features password changing through software, (meaning you don't have to break/place things to make a password) and is extremely compact and secure.

It might be good to have you "on the panel" though. I would like to have at least three, so we can all contradict each other in the genres we actually know something about.

Sadly it is rather hard to really distinguish who has started their competition before the others. I could begin posting next competitions topic along with the current competitions, this would give you a month to build.

MS points are already in place for the next competition so be sure to come back and check it out. I'm trying to come up with a more original topic so as to challenge the participants a little more. I'm really happy with the turn out for this competition (I was expecting NO participants). It will be fun and I can't wait to do the next one.

Quote from vXLuNaRXv

I disagree I think someone who has been working on something for months should win as they have put a lot of effort whatever they are making.

These people are still more than welcome to enter their creations. No particular creation will "loose points" because it was created before the competition just like no creation that was made within the time line of the contest will receive special attention. I am open to any and all competition entries so long as they meet the guidelines.

Only THREE days left to submit your creations so get cracking. I've already made an ongoing blog post with all the current entries.

Quote from vXLuNaRXv

I guess it is better your way since more people can be included. I wasn't going to enter but now I might as well see what I can build in the short time remaining.

Go for it, you never know. As I said I give all entries a chance. And if you don't get it done or don't make the top three there is always the next contest.

I was thinking anything Video Game/Movie themed. For example, replica of a Warthog from Halo or The Barad Dur from Lord of the Rings. Anything iconic about a film or game recreated in Minecraft. Seems like a rather original idea and I would assume most people haven't already made something like this so it might create some fresh entries.

Just received another entry, these things are looking great guys. I can't wait to pit them up against each other. It shall be an battle royal. =). Just a Reminder, entries must be sent to me before March 4th 4:00PM EST. Good luck everyone.

Alright guys/gals this contest is officially closed. For the next week I will reviewing entries and contacting the finalists to visit their world. Next contest will be......Video Game/Movie themed builds. Whether it be a replica of a Warthog from Halo or the Lord of the Rings Barad Dur, anything based off of a move or video game will be accepted. I'll be posting a thread for the next contest shortly.