The theme has been announced, now I am waiting on submissions until the submission date. You may still register to join if you wish, up until the submission date.

This contest's theme is: Explosive Weapons
Anything that goes boom eventually, such as rockets, bombs, grenade launchers, mines, or nukes. To narrow things down, your weapon must be either in the weapons tab or the bombs tab (shields if you want to make dual-wieldable weapons). You need only make one weapon, but you're free to make as many as you want, if you think people will like it. Additionally, for this contest I will ask that nobody uses Lua. General knowledge of it is rather patchy at the moment.
Some Thematic Guidelines: Explosive weapons should have at least some delay between firing or launching and exploding, and, well, explode. Usually this happens with chemical explosion sounds, with lots of fire, smoke, and particles. There are other types of explosions, however, from other types of explosives. If your explosive explodes into fire, smoke and particles, you're set. If not, you will have to justify it as an explosive somehow. See below that voters will decide their vote not only on what they like but also on what fits the theme.

Main Rules
Breaking these equates to an automatic disqualification.
1. No base.rte edits. You must submit a single .rte with no outside dependencies (aside from the basegame .rte's). This means you may reference Base.rte or whichever other basegame .rte, but you cannot reference, say, AAL.rte.
Clarification: Base.rte edits are mods that you must overwrite files in base.rte or any other basegame .rte to work. Meaning, all mods must be independent .rte's that will function without the user modifying anything in their cortex command folder, aside from activities if you make an activities file. Activities are optional.
Clarification: This does not exclude code that has been copied from basegame .rte's and changed to suit your needs. As long as your mod functions independently in its own .rte, you may copy code from any basegame .rte.

2. Absolutely no edits of others' work. Note that I am trusting you here. If it turns out you did copy, your prize will be officially revoked. But, more importantly, your reputation would be ruined. A mod contest is not worth your reputation.

3. Exeption to rule 2. You may use other's sprites and sounds if I get a PM from the original owner giving express permission to you. Before submission day.

4. Exception to rules 2 and 3. The above do not apply to sprites or sounds gotten from outside this site. As long as you're not breaking copyright law it's ok. Game sounds and sprites are ok as well, since they would be fan mods.

5. No submissions of previous mods will be accepted. Previous mods are defined as mods that have been announced or exhibited in Mod Making as well as formally released in Mod Releases.
Clarification: Mods submitted for the contest should be made after the start date. To keep things as fair as possible, time for all contestants should be the same.

Submission Rules
To enter this contest, send me a pm. The start date is listed below, when I will post the theme and begin accepting mod submissions. You may still register after the start date, but be warned you will not be allotted extra time. Weigh this carefully if you want to enter. You can also register any time before the start date.

If you need to drop out for any reason, simply send me a PM. What happens to your mod, if you submitted it, is up to you. You may release it or keep it, your choice. I will delete the copy I have of it. As we wish to keep voting as impartial as possible, mods will be anonymous until the announcement of winners.

After joining, any time up to the submission date (below) you may send me a PM with your mod, a presentation picture, and a description/introduction (limit 100 words). Only one submission will be accepted, so make sure it's ready for release before you send it. Your first submission is final.
When the submission cutoff date is reached, I will open a new topic and upload all the mods and presentations for voter review.

Compatibility. As much as possible, try to make your mod compatible with both Mac and Windows.
For Mac compatibility, the main factor is using / above \. If you accidentally use a \, your mod will not work on macs. Also of concern is the difference in file structure between Windows and Mac, if you plan to reference sounds, code, or sprites directly from the basegame .rtes.
For Windows compatibility, the main concern is file references. The Mac and Windows basegame .rtes have had their contents reorganized and guns renamed, so there may not be a Base.rte/Effects/BlueTiny.bmp on the Mac. It might've been changed to Base.rte/Effects/Glows/BlueTiny.bmp. The easiest way to avoid this is to copy all resources you want to use from basegame .rtes into your mod and reference them from your .rte.

In case you're wondering, you need to register ahead of time for two reasons. One, so I know if I need to deal with more than one poll (polls are currently limited to 10 options), and also so that I can see how popular the mod contest is.

If any rules need clarification, please post here. I will be happy to work something out that will make this contest run as smoothly as possible.
UPDATE: The rules have now been finalized. If you have something you think needs to be changed, it will have to wait until next contest.

Voter Rules
If you would vote, download all the mods and try them out. Voting will end at the voting cutoff date, then I will hand out the prizes. The method of voting is still up in the air, but it is very likely to be a poll or a series of polls.

Prizes
Upon completion of the voting, winners in each place will receive a commemorative image. Each image contains the dates of this mod contest and the entrant's name. The demos below are horrible quality. When received by the winners, they will be crystal clear.



As well as all the bragging rights that go with each place. Additionally, their mods will be uploaded to the hall of fame topic.
The 1st place winner will also be able to choose the theme of the next contest.

Notes
-You cannot enter two consecutive mod contests if you placed in 1st, to keep things fair and prevent winning dynasties.
-Just in case something happens to me when the submissions day comes around, I will be sending copies of submitted mods to a trusted source for safekeeping. If I'm not able to, that source will open up the poll topic.
-I will not be entering this contest. That would be unfair. I know the theme ahead of time However, next contest when the winner chooses the theme, I will be able to enter.

Dates
Rules finalization date: 10th of May, 2009 -COMPLETED-
Start date: 11th of May, 2009, when I get to posting the theme (likely 6:30 EST) -COMPLETED-
Submission deadline: 25th of May, 2009, 11:59 P.M. GMT
(possible 2 day delay, just in case something comes up temporarily)
Voting cutoff deadline: 1st of June, 2009, 11:59 P.M. GMT
(GMT clock here if you ever need to check)
(Countdown here if you want to be dramatic)

Please be sporting, courteous, and fair in your votes and comments.

Thanks to everyone who posted ideas in the Mod Changer Contest topic.

Post reserved for whatever needs to be added. For right now, I am going to use it to record the number of participating contestants.

Contestants registered:
In order of registration,
1. Grif
2. whitty
3. Geti
4. carriontrooper
5. 411570N3
6. The Mind ~Maybe~
7. Zalo
8. Alenth Eneil
9. Control
10. Miles_T3hR4t
11. adasx10
12. metal chao
13. Flammablezombie
14. piipu
15. Areku
16. Quweman
17. Roon3
18. Azukki
19. Se7en
20. capnbubs
21. lafe
22. Frohman

Submissions recieved (in order of reception, due 25th of May, 2009, 11:59 P.M. GMT):
1. Miles_T3hR4t
2. carriontrooper
3. Se7en
4. Zalo
5. Areku
6. piipu
7. lafe
8. Capnbubs
9. Frohman
10. 411570N3
11. Geti
12. Grif

And you didn't even use the theme suggestion that started the topic that started the recent discussion of contests.

Also, clarify "base.rte edits".
The subjectivity of that could lead to later arguments.

Question, what if it is as big as a cannon, and it shoots one round per mag, but It doesnt explode itself.

I like your idea about the winner not participating in one sense that they host the next one, but i also dont like it because i think that's unfair that because they had a good idea, they cant be in the next contest, but i dont know :/

The "Modify a gun from the basegame and turn it awesome" theme? Really, the theme is up in the air, but cannons seemed like a good place to start.

Clarifying base.rte now.

@The Mind:
Cannons don't have to explode. Think of the various flak cannon variants in the basegame, that's the basic idea. Something that has very few rounds, fires slowly, and has a large effect. I'll clarify this too.

I agree that it wasn't a great theme, and I'm fine with this one, but I'm just pointing out the digression that topic had.

Also you should make pics the modder's responsibility. Maybe you could also have them also write a description. (Maybe limit it to a brief 100 characters)
Presentation is a factor in modding, and if you'll be the one doing the presentation, one could claim that you skewed the results by giving some entries no pics, or bad pics, or whatever.

I know after it's started might not be a good time for changing rules, but you didn't exactly get everything considered and set in stone before starting.
My suggestion doesn't give me an advantage anyway.

Alright, sounds good.

EDIT: You're probably right. I'll push the deadlines ahead a little, remove the theme until then (to prevent early starters) and put a start date. Until that start date, rules and policies are subject to change.

Definately agree, you make your own presentation, preventing complaints

All the rules are good, except for the part about you not being able to enter.
Your mods will be just as good as our mods, and since the community is voting,
it wouldn't be unfair in the slightest.

Tell us the theme so we can get this started.

Tsk tsk, you have to wait like the rest of us for the start date.
That's when I will post up the theme. You are still free to register though.
I will say this, the theme will be centered on HDFirearms, since they're generally easiest to make. That way the newbs will not be too alienated.

It wouldn't be fair for me to join, because I'm picking the theme
Next time maybe, since it's pretty much decided 1st place will be picking the theme.

Good luck guys.

I read the rules and seems very fair and workable so I think this should work out.
I wont be joining myself since I've got a horseload of other stuff to take care of (BW), so I'll stay here and give my vote to the best mod in this contest.

Btw, I think Duh102 might be able to join the next contest when the winner(maybe?) will pick the theme.

in other news, the badges could do with some theming towards the forum colours.. they seem garish, and not very drlff..

I could sprite badges if you want...
Good luck with the contest people, I might join.

I would join, but I'm going to Normandy for a week or two, so I can't maybe next time.

Oh, just though of something for the next competition can two people join as a team? That would open up options for a lot of people.

Depends what the contest is. If it's that vanilla changer contest I'll join.