Portable-making contest again?

[mikeyg]

Yes XCVG, the rules stated we needed baterries. When it doesn't have batteries, I don't see it as a portable.

[ShockSlayer]

Laptops are rules out anyways:

If it's a video game console of any type that has been made portable with a screen, batteries, and on-board controls and was constructed in the contest's time period then it should be eligible.
Doesn't really rule out any systems except the ones that cant be run off batteries, aka 360 and ps3. Whose going to be making those in 3 months for a contest anyways?

SS

[Life of Brian]

Yes, these portables will be of the "GameBoy" variety - screen, controls, and battery operated. Any other features are totally optional. For example, to save on space you could just omit speakers and only have a headphone jack. Or, you could include a DC auxiliary jack to bypass the batteries for long gaming sessions. Or, just about anything else you can imagine. As for controls, you could include a 1st player jack to bypass the on-board controls, but the portable really does need to be portable so that means at the bare minimum usable without any external components so it must have a built-in controller.

[ShockSlayer]

Yes, these portables will be of the "GameBoy" variety

You have no idea how true that is.

Also, like last year, i'll be putting whatever progress I feel like telling in this thread, okay everyone?

SS

[bacteria]

SS - why not just make a thread in the N64 section for your excellent system?

I'm going to attempt three systems if I can pull it off, time permitting - my current TurboGrafx, which is taking a lot of work to build (IntoPlay), an N64 (iNto64) and Amstrad GX4000 (IntoSugar) - cool name I thought! Not sure which of the last two listed I will do next, the GX4000 will need a fair bit of board reduction and re-wiring - that worklog will have to go onto my site as there is no-where here or the net I found with even a forum for it! The system wasn't great but had a very good game on it, Navy Seals (fond memories of that game) and Switchblade (as I recall was good, but I don't have it). Will probably only have time to submit two systems though.

[Life of Brian]

Also, like last year, i'll be putting whatever progress I feel like telling in this thread, okay everyone?

I'd rather you put something up in the N64 section, unless other people wanted to participate in a "sneak peek" thread here in F42 where you post a shot or two at a time while building during the contest.

[XCVG]

So. you could TECHNICALLY build a laptop (with shoddy onboard controls and 5-minute battery), but you will be pooh-pooh'ed for it?

In any case, I don't think I'll be in. Going to 5 garage sales and finding nothing isn't too encouraging.

[bacteria]

No, this is a compo for video gaming consoles not laptops; so no XCVG, not even on a "technical" level is a laptop applicable!

[ShockSlayer]

Also, like last year, i'll be putting whatever progress I feel like telling in this thread, okay everyone?

I'd rather you put something up in the N64 section, unless other people wanted to participate in a "sneak peek" thread here in F42 where you post a shot or two at a time while building during the contest.

I don't post up everything I do on it like some people, I guess I'll be doing a sneak peak thing like that, yeah.

SS

[argelfraster]

Also, like last year, i'll be putting whatever progress I feel like telling in this thread, okay everyone?

I'd rather you put something up in the N64 section, unless other people wanted to participate in a "sneak peek" thread here in F42 where you post a shot or two at a time while building during the contest.

I don't post up everything I do on it like some people, I guess I'll be doing a sneak peak thing like that, yeah.

SS

Same

[XCVG]

No, this is a compo for video gaming consoles not laptops; so no XCVG, not even on a "technical" level is a laptop applicable!

Okay, that post was just plain confusing.

[eurddrue]

No, this is a compo for video gaming consoles not laptops; so no XCVG, not even on a "technical" level is a laptop applicable!

I think he means making a 360 or a ps3 laptop

I liked the sneak peek thing we did last year, and I dislike buildlogs, especially the really into detail ones. They make people spend more time on their build log then they spend making the actual portable!

[Life of Brian]

I dislike buildlogs, especially the really into detail ones.

A dagger to my heart, eurddrue; a dagger to my heart.

Like I said, they will be suggested but not required. If it weren't for build logs, how could we share what we've learned? Make it all completely reference stuff and pinouts like the Reference section? Yeah, like that's really taken off... If you're spending more time on your build log than on your portable you're doing it wrong. There's a lot of stuff I don't even bother mentioning in my build logs and they still get lengthy. I at least try to share useful information so others can learn.


I've been writing a rough draft of the contest rules and I can't help but feel that this counter idea is a misstep that only complicates things. I keep thinking of issues that might arise from this setup. Is the main focus of it to shorten the length of time of the contest if enough people enter, or to extend it if enough haven't finished by the deadline? And if either one is the case, why even bother with a deadline? I personally would not like to have a contest that stretches on for months and months, yet on the other hand it would be terribly frustrating for someone making a portable to be not able to enter it if the contest ends before the announced deadline. I see serious issues with it either way.

[Zeturi]

Just make a reasonable due date, like some people say the end of July, and if enough people (say 10) still need time then make an extension. Most of us will take that long, I think.

[neverused]

my vote is for a deadline, but that's just my two cents