The last one didn't get as many submissions as I was hoping and I did everything I could to try and get more submissions. I waited a month before starting a new competition, I let this one go on for 2 months and I also gave it a decent cash prize.

Should I continue hosting Minecraft competitions?
What you participate if I did?
Do you have any ideas on how I could get more participants?
What should the theme of the next one be?

EDIT: I decided to go ahead and make another Minecraft competition. It'll be another 'Create Anything' competition and the thread can be found here:
https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=91920

I think Minecraft competitions are valuable to the site, but the issue is that now, the interest in the server seems to have died down.

I'm not sure how active the server is, but when I talk to people, the first thing people are talking about isn't the server. It's not even the second or third or fourth thing.

This leads me to believe one of a few things...

One, people are no longer interested in the server, whether it's because it doesn't appeal to them, or because everyone else has already done everything.

Two, people don't know the server exists. I know, this seems odd, but while we have easy links to most everything else on the site, we don't really have a link to the Minecraft server (map, or otherwise) on the index page. There is one on the VGR page, but not everyone uses the VGR. I certainly don't. The only time I ever use the VGR is to get to the Minecraft server map.

Three, the people who do use the server, just don't feel the desire to compete. This could be for a multitude of reasons, be it because they perceive tough competition (some people don't want to put in 20+ hours of work just to come in fourth and get nothing) or because they simply don't care about winning, but I find this reason rather unlikely compared to the first two.

All told, I think the reason you aren't getting submissions, is a sheer lack of interest in the server, which was cool for a while, but now lacks the lasting appeal most communities have. It boils down to "What is the Vizzed Minecraft community" and "How is this more fun than another community I could invest time in?"

There just doesn't seem to be that same pull to the Vizzed server. Maybe there's more to it, that's just my guess.

-----

As to answer your questions...

Yes, competitions should still be held, but the reason for inactivity needs to be addressed first, to figure out why people just aren't interested. I would suggest a site wide poll/survey.

I wouldn't participate in any competitions, regardless, because I flat out don't have time, I barely can get on Vizzed as it is, Minecraft is a luxury I cannot afford time to right now. I might pop in here and there, but I'm sporadic at best.

I would suggest exposing the server more on main pages, and offering more incentive to use the server. I'm not sure what you could do, but any fad fades, and it's possible Minecraft is just a fad to Vizzed members, and the server is just a novelty to them. Otherwise, I'd recommend the survey I posited before, and getting anonymous answers as to why no one competes.

If there's a next one, the theme should be "New Beginnings". This is the new year, and as such, it's a chance, not just for new server members, but for the server as a whole. It can be a chance to revitalize the server, and give it more life.

You should continue with them David. I mean minecraft in a way have their own differences from other games. And to be honest they are fun to see. Even though I am no minecraft gamer. It would be a shame not to have them anymore. Since we have already gotten used to them on the streaming months of the competition. So please don't remove them. Keep on going with the competition. And I am sure the minecraft gamers and fans would feel the same way as well. I would be sad too if you were to remove them. I have gotten to enjoy them more and see they are actually fun in a weird way.

First of all, I do think Minecraft competitions should still be held. Any kind of competition brings activity to the site, and since it's Minecraft, instead of cash prizes you could offer something valuable in the game. I ignore if you already tried this, but it could be worth the shot.

As for myself, I've never tried Minecraft, nor I have the time to attempt trying. I'm simply not interested in the game's concept, and I'm also not willing to invest any extra free time into a game that can potentially absorb me, which would only add another burden to my real life.

legacyme3 : If Minecraft ends being one of the main forums instead of having this rented one, then it will be easier to notice for everyone. Of course, it should also have links added somewhere else, probably like the Chat Room, which is also going through a tough time activity wise despite having links almost everywhere.

I think the competitions should still go on, but its not that people aren't interested in them, it's just that there isn't anybody on the server anymore, so instead of doing everything you can to promote the competitions, more promotion just for the server itself could be used.

I had some problems with not being able to get on the server and then my name, but I would definitely participate when I have a chance.

I see no reason to stop but don't offer cash rewards.

And maybe take time away from one to look at the server and see what changes could be made to bring people back on a more regular basis.

Davideo7 : I think the participation, or lack there of, was due to the holiday season.
It seemed to coincide with the lack of activity on the site, similarly due to the holidays.

The competitions were fun.
Unfortunately, I was unable to complete my submission for the "build anything" competition because I dreamt a bit too big for the amount of time I was able to spend building. ^^;

I would certainly try to make time for another competition if you started one.
I'd have to get back to you on ideas for a competition....

legacyme3 : Actually I added a link to the Minecraft Server page to the index page of the site about a week or so ago. I agree though, that may have been one of the reasons the MC server didn't get much exposure. However, I do mention the MC competitions quite often in the announcements but the problem is, not everyone reads announcements.

It's pretty rare that anyone invests more than 10 hours into a minecraft submission and I'm pretty sure everyone who has invested more than 10 hours, they've walked away with a top 3 prize.

For whatever reason the MC server has had some good activity over the past few days. I've seen an average of 5 users on it all day today.

There's definitely the snowball effect with the MC server. The more people who use it, the more people who will join it. Users tend to not stay on it long if they're the only 1 on. This comes down to the MC staff and I think it's their responsibility to be on as much as possible and to help me keep the server fun. Over the past few months, the MC staff have barely used it and some of the MC staff have literally gone weeks or months without even using this. This could be partially my fault with not enforcing the MC staff quota and could also be due to the MC server being down for a few days on 2 different occasions due to server migrations over the past 3 months.

Thanks for all that feedback.


Eniitan : The MC submissions in the stream was a lot of fun but probably a 1 time thing. The reason is because I made it a requirement that your submission has to be in the form of a video in the last competition and a lot of users didn't like that because they either didn't know how to do it or didn't have the software to do it. Usually users are able to submit their submission in the form of screenshots or a video.


EX Palen : Any ideas on what could be offered in the game? Most of the things can be purchased with MViz (which can be purchased with Viz).


zanderlex : I could do another competition where the winner is based on who spent the most time on the server. I did that about a year ago and while I think it did help, there was a lot of controversy with doing that.


Vanelan : How about another 'Build Anything' competition? Anyone who started to build something for the last one could continue their build for the new one.


geeogree : I feel like the cash prizes do draw in more participation though. Maybe I'll just offer a smaller cash prize but with an optional big Viz prize.

Davideo7 : Well, in order for something like that to work there would need to be something in place to make sure that the users are actually doing something instead of just being idle.

zanderlex : The system is smart enough to not credit them if they're idling. If they stop doing anything for more than 5 minutes, they no longer get credit, even if they're just chatting.

Davideo7 : All right, then that should be fine, but there should probably be a minimum amount of time spent on in order to place, so that one person doesn't end up spending like 20 minutes and ends up getting a top spot.

zanderlex : well, the mc admins all have to spend about 20 hours on the server minimum so anyone else would have to beat that amount. That's less than an hour a day and could be done easily.

Davideo7 : I actually like that more than a building competition. I could actually win a time spent on the server style competition. Not that I have any desire to actually win it but I could push people into spending more time by being really active

geeogree : The problem is, a lot of the MC Admins haven't come close to that number over the past few months and even some have acquired 0 hours in a single month over the past few months.

If enough users like the idea of doing a competition like that again then I could definitely look into doing one again. I'd still doing a season build competition on top of it though since the time competition could only last a month due to how the logging system works.

Well, I don't know what Minecraft offers, since I've never played it. However, you do offer big Viz prizes for netplay tournaments, for example, so probably just giving out a huge MViz prize could do. That way, they wouldn't need as many hours to compete due to already having a good budget, and hopefully they will be willing to tackle more ambitious constructions, or probably share their MViz with somebody else, like the Viz Generosity thread.

Other people may know better what can be offered as prize. Of course, it has to be something that attracts the user's attention, and while cash prizes are a big incentive, people are willing to go overboard far easily just to get some cash. With a smaller but still succulent prize, users wouldn't try as hard, which in turn would make the competition more balanced for everybody, and that will draw in more competitors.

EX Palen : we mostly use creative, where everything is free.

Some things to help out I with the situation:
1. Cash prizes are good. We love them, they are what draw in people. Without the cash prizes, some of us wouldn't even think about competing.
2. Don't compete yourself. You win every time, being completely honest, it's because people want to vote yours good because you're the owner. You make good structures, but it helps that you run everything. With you winning every one, people know the prize is lower, and isn't a big enough draw.
3. Have broad topics, something you already do, so you can't really improve here, but I wouldn't recommend making narrow topics.

And yes, I would participate, as I do currently. I love the competitions and I wouldn't like for you to stop them.

Davideo7 : Aww....what will happen to it then? I do hope some people come up with some ideas to keep it alive.

Barathemos : I don't think it's true that people vote my submissions high only because I'm the owner. To be honest, I usually invest the most time into my submissions than anyone (except for the Christmas competition, I didn't invest the most time into my submission compared to others).

Another benefit of me competing is that it means that if someone wants to earn a cash prize, they really have to earn it. If I put up a cash prize and barely anyone puts time into their submissions then it lets me not have to pay out the top prize if I can take first place by investing more time into my submission.

I love competing in these and it'd be no fun for me if I couldn't compete. I love using the server as much as anyone else and I feel like by competing myself, I push others to have to do more.


Eniitan : Usually I create a thread in the Vizzed Lodge forum that allows anyone access to that forum to vote on the submissions from the Minecraft competitions.

Davideo7 : Maybe...this time around I could actually plan it out better so I might be able to finish this time. ^^;
Still A LOT of work to go on what I plan to do. ^^;

Some kinda reward for time spent on the server might actually be beneficial to traffic.
I'm not sure if you can give Viz or CP rewards for that kinda thing, but it might help get more people playing again if you can.

Barathemos : IIRC, Darkpower508 came in a REALLY close 2nd in the Summer "build anything" competition...but that Zelda map was just too good.

I decided to go ahead and make another Minecraft competition. It'll be another 'Create Anything' competition and the thread can be found here:
https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=91920


Vanelan : Maybe try teaming up with someone if you think it'll be too big of a task?

I've thought about automating CP and Viz rewards for time spent on the server. Most likely the CP would only be for MC Staff but the Viz could be for all users.

Davideo7 : I tried to team up with my brother in the other competition, but he got bored of the monotony of building to that scale. ^^;

I think it would be great if we automatically got Viz for being on.... I would like CP as well, but can't have it all I guess.