RESULTS:
Spoiler : 5th :
Our Last Masquerade by dehughes.
Well, this simply still feels incomplete. Your accident resulting in no music didn't help. Doesn't mean it's bad, just can't compete in its current state. Once it looks as it's actually supposed to it should be an interesting read though. It was also very difficult to spot that much theme relevance at the moment.
Well, this simply still feels incomplete. Your accident resulting in no music didn't help. Doesn't mean it's bad, just can't compete in its current state. Once it looks as it's actually supposed to it should be an interesting read though. It was also very difficult to spot that much theme relevance at the moment.
Spoiler : 4th :
Stalin's Organ by Rtaos Grimm
You know, this one was pretty hard to place. Quality-wise, this case is pretty far up. If this was purely about quality this could've probably gotten at least 2nd place. But I just don't see enough theme relevance at the moment to give this a higher placement. Even conveying it via the setting doesn't quite work. Firstly because none of the characters are in much despair because of it, so that's just not the message it sends. The other problem is that it's set in our past, so instead of thinking "Damn.... there's no hope left in the world" I think "Damn... things sure were bad back then. Good thing they're different now."
Still sure this case will have many fans though.
You know, this one was pretty hard to place. Quality-wise, this case is pretty far up. If this was purely about quality this could've probably gotten at least 2nd place. But I just don't see enough theme relevance at the moment to give this a higher placement. Even conveying it via the setting doesn't quite work. Firstly because none of the characters are in much despair because of it, so that's just not the message it sends. The other problem is that it's set in our past, so instead of thinking "Damn.... there's no hope left in the world" I think "Damn... things sure were bad back then. Good thing they're different now."
Still sure this case will have many fans though.
Spoiler : 3rd :
Rebirth by Despair by enigma and Swagmawampyr
This was a pretty close race with second place. If it had just a little more theme relevance it could've made it. But... it goes from carefree to has horror elements, then mystery... only in one scene in the middle and the very end do we get a peak in despair and it's over fairly quickly. Before that it's kind of there, but the focus isn't quite on it, so it can't fully compete with the extreme theme relevance of who's in second. Which is a shame because otherwise this case is really solid so far.
This was a pretty close race with second place. If it had just a little more theme relevance it could've made it. But... it goes from carefree to has horror elements, then mystery... only in one scene in the middle and the very end do we get a peak in despair and it's over fairly quickly. Before that it's kind of there, but the focus isn't quite on it, so it can't fully compete with the extreme theme relevance of who's in second. Which is a shame because otherwise this case is really solid so far.
Spoiler : 2nd :
Turnabout Dilemma by Whirlwind and Evolina
This case made it this far for being probably the most concentrated theme relevance there is. It fits the description of despair I wrote in the OP the most. Like a precision shot of despair especially tailored for this competition. It also felt really polished. Felt like the work of a perfectionist, not that long but what's there is thought through extremely well.
This case made it this far for being probably the most concentrated theme relevance there is. It fits the description of despair I wrote in the OP the most. Like a precision shot of despair especially tailored for this competition. It also felt really polished. Felt like the work of a perfectionist, not that long but what's there is thought through extremely well.
Spoiler : 1st :
Gates of Sacrifice by ZetaAzuel and kwando
You know, on paper this case had a lot going against it. Game-breaking bugs, for one. Really pointless and random character inclusion, for two. Theme relevance-wise, it was fairly good though. And quality-wise... these bugs really didn't take much away from enjoyment. I have to weigh hours of fun vs. instances of annoyance. Heck, multiple smaller cases could fit into the parts that are fully functional, so scale-wise those didn't leave much of an impact. And so despite those issues... I still felt like it would be wrong to substract that many points for it. The fact it's still first despite all those things I had to consider against it should say something about how much I value the good parts of this case.
Congratulations, this is The Most Despair-Inducing Turnabout in the History of AAO.
There goes our chance for a collab. ;P
You know, on paper this case had a lot going against it. Game-breaking bugs, for one. Really pointless and random character inclusion, for two. Theme relevance-wise, it was fairly good though. And quality-wise... these bugs really didn't take much away from enjoyment. I have to weigh hours of fun vs. instances of annoyance. Heck, multiple smaller cases could fit into the parts that are fully functional, so scale-wise those didn't leave much of an impact. And so despite those issues... I still felt like it would be wrong to substract that many points for it. The fact it's still first despite all those things I had to consider against it should say something about how much I value the good parts of this case.
Congratulations, this is The Most Despair-Inducing Turnabout in the History of AAO.
There goes our chance for a collab. ;P