Why is contest interest so low?

**Erik Leppen** · #1 05-14-2006, 07:55 AM

In the last few months, interest in the contest has dropped significantly. Reason could be their unofficialness, but I can't remember other unofficial contest having so few participants. People who don't join contests (anymore), can you please give a possible reason why you don't join contests? And to everyone, do you have suggestions to improve? Or general ideas? I just want to investigate why so few people join lately.

Pcw · #2 05-14-2006, 08:32 AM

I never really go for these contests but I guess I can say something.

People have other things that come before the computer and simulations like school, work, and personal life issues.

I'd suggest maybe twisting up the objective more and give it a spot on the home page.

medusa548 · #3 05-14-2006, 10:23 AM

I don't participate either because I don't know how to practice NoLimits correctly in order to make good rides. But on ^'s post, even with School and all, there's still a month to complete the ride. So, I think the reason is that maybe more people do not join because their confidence in their skills may not be high. And the only way to become better is to practice. And with an instruction manual that does not tell you what to practice, it's hard.

I play the trumpet and I know how to practice it: there's exercise books and techniques that can be followed. Sure there's the question thread, but there are no exercises to practice. Unless I'm unaware of them. That's what I think about it.

**Erik Leppen** · #4 05-14-2006, 11:14 AM

Why does that imply a decrease in interest? I only see that as a reason for interest to be low, but not as a reason for interest to drop (even further).

I would like to know why people who used to join now don't join anymore.

Emann · #5 05-14-2006, 11:18 AM

Maybe the people who used to join only joined for the official contests because they had a chance at the season pass prize.

sfft_2108 · #6 05-14-2006, 11:32 AM

The prize wasn't even a big deal to me. Though, I only joined 1 contest I think.

Matt M · #7 05-14-2006, 12:06 PM

I haven't really enjoyed the rules very much because when I finished say a hyper coaster the rules would end being to make a hyper coaster that month. I have less free time from school now also. A major turn off for me was the partner contest, I really didn't like that one.

Nightmare500 · #8 05-16-2006, 07:26 AM

I think you should make more challenging contests. I would love seeing something where you gave us a template with a mountain, islands, etc, and tell us a challenge to go with it (like telling us that we have to stop at 3 of the 5 islands, then give bonus points for visiting more then the required amount). I think the simplicity of the contests turns people away, and without a prize to pull them back in, they don't see the point of doing it. If you just did something like a $10 gift card, I bet it would bring in a lot more people.

pipesdrums · #9 05-16-2006, 01:35 PM

Lately I have barely been able to work on my tracks, so finding time to complete an entire track within a month just isn't feasible for me.

I tried to do the last one with the Arrow/Vekoma coaster, but completly ran out of time.

To be honest, I think alot of people are just losing interestin ThrillNetwork's Speedzone. Just look at the main speedzone page, the last time a staff member gave an update was by Kyle L back in January. The last time the contest winners circle list thing was updated was when I won (still havn't recieved my prize...) over half a year ago.

Maybe Speedzone contests should get its own little spot on the front page? Right now is feels like Speedzone is shoved into the corner of the site and is slowly being forgotten about.

Cephas · #10 05-18-2006, 09:29 PM

No prize means I don't enter.

dcs221 · #11 05-18-2006, 09:45 PM

Yeah, I enjoyed the official contests with the season pass prize...It was a huge incentive to enter. That's the reason why I haven't entered since last year. WWS has a contest with a $50 prize, and I'm in that. Also, prizes make competitions more competitive.

**Andrew Polcyn** · #12 05-18-2006, 10:06 PM

^So maybe we should start charging for Speedzone?

I don'ty know about the rest of you, but prizes cost money...perhaps Speedzone should be a pay-site then?

I never knew any of your NL designs could be worth that much

, I thought we all did this for FUN and friendly competition.

I guess I was wrong.

Katie · #13 05-18-2006, 11:03 PM

Unfortunetly this year due to the new Six Flags changes we aren't getting a season pass as a prize this year. I however am working on an alternative for SZ. Please bare with us, keep entering our contests, you will get better and will be in great shape for our official contest.

sfft_2108 · #14 05-18-2006, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Polcyn

^So maybe we should start charging for Speedzone?

I don'ty know about the rest of you, but prizes cost money...perhaps Speedzone should be a pay-site then?

I never knew any of your NL designs could be worth that much

, I thought we all did this for FUN and friendly competition.

I guess I was wrong.

I could careless for a prize like i said earlier. Its just a nice reward to get one if you win. Its not the main reason why I join the contest.

dcs221 · #15 05-18-2006, 11:26 PM

"I never knew any of your NL designs could be worth that much

, I thought we all did this for FUN and friendly competition."

That's true, but I have much much more fun when designing my own coasters with my own criteria, hence why I haven't entered any contests without prizes. No, I'm not in it just for the money or prize. Like most, I'm competitive and I like competing, and I also like to do my best and show others what I can do. However, incentives make me more interested in entering a contest instead of finishing my own designs which, like I said, I generally enjoy doing more (and are still competitive, just in a slightly different way).