For 2010...

[MZA]

Ahhh December is here and with that brings those ever so busy holidays. As you well know or in case you do not know, December is treated as a break period for AbD as the holidays can be stressful, intense, busy, and distracting for just about everyone so it is hard to keep up with the regular goings-on at AbD so we usually take it easy, relax, and shut down most events, games, and contests during the month of December.

This is the most opportune time to state what we will or can do in December as well as bring up what all is in store for 2010.

The Apprentice Program will continue for December as long as people can afford to devote attention to it but we know with the holidays looming that it will be difficult to do lessons or get a great deal accomplished so no pressure, have fun with it.

All games and contests have always been suspended for December simply because most people are off working their butts off trying to get holiday shopping finished as well as receive in family, friends, etc. This December is no different.

Core and Premade Designers work at their leisure but I'm going to request that all avatar requests be made by the 15th so our core designers may finish in enough time before the Christmas holidays becomes too overwhelming.

Avatar Raffle will be left up to the coordinator, aura, to decide.

GAN, Points, and Board Auctions are done for the year so congrats and good work for all those involved in setting up the auctions.

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So that leaves what is coming for 2010 and oh boy do I ever have some changes coming so let Me get started.

Games will be on a monthly rotation instead of bi-weekly and the start/end times for the games will change (listed below).

The following games will be added or changed:

• Magical Carousel - The games of MC will change as well as its rotation. The rotation will consist of 2 different contests per month on a bi-weekly cycle then each month the contests will change up to the next two contests in the rotation. There will be 6 contests in the rotation and those will be listed below.
• Eternal Darkness - A new theme related game where each month an image will be presented and darker themes like either Gor, Goth, Grunge, or Vamp will be used for designing. This will be similar to Theme Game, but more specialized to allow those not used to this type of design style to stretch their skills and imagination.

The following games will be removed or relocated:

• Before & After - Interest has been waning plus popular opinion does not seem to support this game so I will be removing it altogether.
• Theme Game - Interest has been waning and we cannot support it as a full time game though popular opinion wishes to keep it. I will be adding this to the Magical Carousel rotation.
• Blend It - Interest has been waning and we cannot support it as a full time game though popular opinion wishes to keep it. I will be adding this to the Magical Carousel rotation.
• Image Tennis - Interest has been waning plus popular opinion does not seem to support this game but I will not be removing this game. I will be changing this to A Portrait Darkly and it will basically be Image Tennis for the Goth folks in order to allow designers to share design ideas in order to help bolster darker themed design skills and the end result being a more dark portrait avatar.

The new Magical Carousel roster will look like this for 2010 at least:

• Blend It - It has not been removed but will appear less frequent in this rotation.
• Designer/Apprentice Royale - This was discussed and is a community participation game similar to a Battle Royale (wrestling term). All designers that wish to enter shall enter a ring (the contest) and throw down. Banners, signs, logos and the such will be created and techniques explained so others can learn and grow from each other (probably based on an idea, theme, or more real world terms), and peers will decide who is pushed out of the ring. The MC Coordinator will have veto rights if he/she feels there is favoritism or foul play occurring. This game may have to be tweaked if A, there is favoritism out of control, or B, there are not participants to to throw down and be peers for this to work well. It can be fun to let our peers decide our own fates. The last one standing will get bonus but all participating will receive points and just have a venue to learn from each other. There will be two difference contests, one for experienced designers of any level and one strictly for the fun of the apprentices.
• Fade To Black (or whatever name is chosen here) - A new Goth game difference that A Portrait Darkly or Eternal Darkness. As one can tell, the game is there by name only and no other details have been fleshed (no pun intended) out yet as to how to implement it. This is a work in progress for December.
• Mirror Image - As discussed, this new game will be tested out here part time as part of the MC rotation and will consist of taking a finished avatar and then each participant will try to recreate the avatar as a mirror image of the original.
• Theme Game - It has not been removed but will appear less frequent in this rotation.
• Very Petite (VP) - A new and separate game especially for VPs and giving practice and competition in designing them. In the past it was incorporated with PPP but now it will stand on its own. We all are weak in designing them on a regular and we all could use some work and practice at it. Details and rules will be hashed out over December.

In order to space the games out more evenly now that all the regular games are montly, here is the new end dates effective for January of 2010.

• Paint a Perfect Picture (PPP) - Ending on 5th of every month
• Color Me Beautiful (CMB) - Ending on 10th of every month
• Magical Carousel - Ending on 15th and 30th/31st of every month
• Eternal Darkness - Ending on 20th of every month

That's about it for the games and contests for now.

A new change that I think will be for the better will be a bit of a surprise. I am going to dissolve the Commissions and Sales forum. Outside of Christmas, this area is almost completely dead and needs to be revamped in a major way. I will be replacing C&S with a new section for Guest Designers boards. This area will allow individuals apply for a guest designer board very similar as our core designer request boards except they will only be temporary for no more than 3 months. After 3 months, the designer has the option to either apply as a core designer or close the design board.

I am doing this for a few reasons. This will give others the ability to operate as our distinguished core designers operate and get a feel of what it is like to take requests at AbD and perhaps use it as a platform to build a following. Points will be lower by default as it is not about the points but about the overall experience. Details on requirement criteria will be finalized by 2010. Those wishing to showcase some of their hard work and efforts may use the Gift board to do so instead of C&S. Instead of charging a commission or selling off goods like a marketplace, we are going to encourage the same enthusiasm but for all those that wish to enjoy what you have created. There will be a separate section on the Gift board for those First Come, First Serve moments. If one still wish to be compensated for their efforts then they can sign up as a guest designer.

Finally, I would like to address something that has gone a bit overlooked in a while and that is inflation. Our points bank has gotten inflated by users over time without a whole lot having been spent compared to the amount earned. So to account for inflation, I will be increasing the points for almost all aspects including the following, but not limited to:

• Coordinator jobs - Double what is earn now (varied)
• Core Designers - 5K per avatar
• Premade Designers - 3K per avatar
• Guest Designers - 2K per avatar
• Avatar Raffle - 5K for each entrant

I will be finalizing the rest of the details through December and into January so hopefully we can have some more fun with the new changes and try to start fresh for 2010. If there are any questions, clarifications, or potential problems then please PM Me ASAP so it can be discussed. Otherwise, Happy Holidays everybody until then!