July Jabberwocky Challenge - CANCELED

[fastbilly1]

I just rolled them into my Summer Games:
8. Steel Battalion - oXbox
9. Top Gun - NES
10. Ghosts n Goblins - NES

Steel Battalion is the only one that may not be considered insanely difficult, but that is only by people who have not played it past the first stage. Top Gun and GNG are well known for difficulty.

I am in favor of save states as bookmarks, not checkpoints.

[alienjesus]

I would be up for this, but I'm not sure about the timing - I already struggle to beat my 10 summer games

[Exhuminator]

So if this clashes with anything it's only Summer Game Challenge

Two thoughts on that:

1.) The summer challenge at least lasts from June, July, August, meaning that you could still use June and August for your summer games list. And also whatever time is left in July after you finish your July Jabberwocky Challenge games.

2.) You could use your July Jabberwocky Challenge picks to also count as some of your Summer Game Challenge picks. You'd just have to pick three classics that are at least somewhat challenging. Like say Super Mario Bros. 2 Japan for instance.

The only issue I see is that difficulty can be subjective, even among games that are supposed to be well known for their challenge.

Yes I knew that deciding what was challenging, and what was not, would be the hardest part of this concept. I don't want to run off potential players because they think they aren't good enough at hard old games to take part. But at the same time, I'd like to encourage timid players to try harder games and seriously test their mettle. You only git gud by trying, dying, and evolving your skill after all. Nobody was awesome at hardcore gaming since birth, it takes practice, practice, and determination. But the sense of accomplishment is so gratifying once you do beat that hard game.

- Do we need to set a standard?
- If so, how would it be done?
- What happens if someone brings up a game they want to play and someone else pops in to say it's too easy to count? Is that ignored or discussed?

I will address all of these questions when I respond to Dsh's post.

Unfortunately I am a wimp, so I wouldn't be participating, but it does sound interesting. Difficulty is a little subjective though, so I'm not quite sure how you would judge whether a game was difficult enough for the challenge or not.

I don't think you're a wimp, I've seen you tackle some hardcore games. I think you'd be a perfect candidate to step up to the plate. I mean who's to say that even I would be able to beat the three games I pick in July? I might fail miserably, but it will be a lot of fun to try. As for judging a game's difficulty...

I think there could be like a "council of elders" of 3 people perhaps that could decide whether your three games are acceptable or not before you start them.

This is a brilliant idea. So how to pick the judges fairly? There's two options:

1.) Anyone who wants to be a judge needs to respond and say so during a set time period. Then I'll create a poll with each name as a voting option. The poll will let people vote up to three times. The three names that get the most votes are the judges. This council of judges can be re-voted every year. These people will decide if your list of games is suitably difficult or not.

2.) I can be a judge, and I'll pick two other judges to work with me. I know enough about the members of the forum to have a good idea who'll make a good judge for this sort of criteria. As a matter of fact, I'd pick Dsh and Sarge. If Sarge didn't want to do it, I'd pick Dsh and MrPopo. Those are my first picks. Those folks know hardcore gaming, and they know individual members well enough to know if that person's picks coincide well with their own level of gaming skill.

So it's up to community responses to decide if we go with option #1 or option #2.

Could this also apply to hard modes of games that, on default, aren't that bad? Doom on Nightmare level and the like could be a fun addition...

This question will be up to the panel of judges to decide.

Judges will also make the call on savestate usage.

[Sarge]

I like this idea. Y'all know I like to challenge myself from time to time, anyway, so this should be right up my alley.

Not that I'm volunteering for this or anything... but maybe it's time I invested time in beating Contra: Hard Corps.

[Exhuminator]

maybe it's time I invested time in beating Contra: Hard Corps

USA version!

[Sarge]

Of course! I'm sure the Japanese version is too easy.

[laurenhiya21]

Unfortunately I am a wimp, so I wouldn't be participating, but it does sound interesting. Difficulty is a little subjective though, so I'm not quite sure how you would judge whether a game was difficult enough for the challenge or not.

I don't think you're a wimp, I've seen you tackle some hardcore games. I think you'd be a perfect candidate to step up to the plate. I mean who's to say that even I would be able to beat the three games I pick in July? I might fail miserably, but it will be a lot of fun to try.

Haha well I'm glad you think so. I purposefully avoid most difficult games since I can easily get rather frustrated (like Kirby Super Star), so I still think I'm a bit of a wimp

In any case, it would be a little more difficult for me to beat 3 difficult games in July just because I won't be around for about a week or two of it. I could still attempt it for the later portion of July anyway, but I would have to play assuming that I probably can't get that neato certificate

[Exhuminator]

In any case, it would be a little more difficult for me to beat 3 difficult games in July just because I won't be around for about a week or two of it. I could still attempt it for the later portion of July anyway, but I would have to play assuming that I probably can't get that neato certificate

The key there may be to pick three short yet difficult games. I'm sure judges and fellow participants can offer suggestions.

--



If you would like to take part in the July Jabberwocky Challenge, please reply to this thread saying as such. If we can get at least 10 participants, we'll call it a thing that's happening. I plan to participate myself*, so that means we need at least 9 more challengers.

Also if you reply, please state whether you want to vote on the three judges, or if you're okay with me picking the three judges directly.

Thanks!

*Yes judges can also participate, but they must follow the same rules as everyone else.

[Ack]

You should get alternate judges for if a judge wants to participate. That way it's guaranteed fair.

[Exhuminator]

You should get alternate judges for if a judge wants to participate. That way it's guaranteed fair.

The only thing judges judge, is if a game is considered "challenging" or not. That's it. If your chosen game receives at least two yes votes from the three judges, it's golden.

Now, as for judges picking their own games...

If a judge picks out their own game, their vote doesn't count towards their own pick. Rather it still has to be deemed challenging by the other two judges. In the case of a stalemate (one judge says the game is challenging, but the other doesn't), then ACK gets to decide if the judge's game is challenging or not. Middle finger up, it's challenging. Middle finger down, tough luck.

Fair enough?