Co-operation Competition Winners!
There is no doubt that this was the fiercest competition YoYo has ever witnessed. With 279 entries (and some big names throwing their hats into the ring) the judging was always going to be difficult. After about a month of constantly playing games (poor me), I finally had a shortlist of nearly 50 genuinely great titles, which was presented to the judges for their consideration. Another month of careful deliberation later we finally decided on our three favourites.
One surprise is that there were no previous competition winners in the top three this time around, believe us we had no intention of being swayed one way or the other on this, it just goes to show how much everybody upped their game for the competition. Another surprise was that two of the winners were sequels, again, no intent – just great games.
So, here they are:
1st Place, [$1000] : ByteAlity Tower Defense by Erik Leppen
ByteAlity Tower Defense
From the creator of the awesome Bridging The Gap comes this beautifully deep tower defense game – boasting the most addicting gameplay of any entry in the competition. With 120 levels, and a huge arsenal of towers, ByteAlity Tower Defense will keep you playing for months, possibly forever.
Sure the graphics are simple, but the game is still well presented, and the sound is awesome.
Just when you think you’ve drained the last drop of enjoyment from it’s vast carcass you’ll notice the level editor, and so it begins again. All, quite remarkably, squeezed into a 4MB file.
2nd Place, [$500] : Visit 2 by Rotten_tater
Visit 2
Claiming second prize, it’s the welcome return of an honourably mentioned game from our Ancient Civilisation competition. Simple puzzles made mind-bending through ingenuity. Never before have we had so much fun playing a game in which the puzzles are so difficult.
As a package Visit 2 delivers, with the visuals and sound working to create a compelling atmosphere that will keep you playing just to see where you’ll end up next (be sure to play until you see the lava caves). The co-operative elements of the game were as strong here as in any other game in the competition, adding more depth to the puzzles than seen in the original Visit. Charming.
3rd Place, [$250] : Jumper Three by YoMamasMama
Jumper Three
Another welcome return made by one of Game Maker’s best loved heroes. Ogmo is back and he’s got some friends to play (co-operate) with. A classic platform adventure in which progress is challenging, not infuriating. Achieved by awarding coin rewards for taking the tougher routes through a level. Given the range of abilities possesed by Ogmo’s new friends the quality of the level design was mind-blowing.
The new “retro” style graphics were well implemented, the music was both fitting and engaging, and the interface was excellent. In the opinion of the panel this is a big step up for the series, and well worthy of a prize in this competition.
Congratulations to the winners – the money is in the post -, in fact, congratulations all round. Once again our commiserations to the runners up, and thanks for taking part, it was a great competition.
Runners-Up (in no particular order)
Techno-drone: Alliance – A unique challenge, an excellent update to the series.
Kuroshiro – A really interesting puzzle platformer, excellent use of the theme.
Eggs with Legs – Nice graphical style, great gameplay, but no sound.
Karoshi factory – Co-op theme expertly incorporated to spice up this epic series.
Lost snowmen – Probably the best looking game in the competition.
Red n Blue - Good looking, well planned platformer – too short!
Agalag – A great concept makes this one of the most original games on YYG.
The Eyeballs – Well rounded platformer, with a good story.
Wootman – Great game in 2-player, although furiously hard – awesome retro graphics.
A Square Shaped Adventure – Good polish, interesting co-op dynamic.
Timewave – An excellent little game, brilliant use of the theme.
Best of the Rest
Hans in Space, Crimson Steel, Evodom , Ant, Telefunguses, Gravity – The early years, Spinthing, Cubix Escape, Duo, Dungeon Chaos, Pyke and Zook, Blockilitate, The Lovers, BlocKing, Wave Shock, Light Fighter, Warptron, Block Trouble, Battle High: Team Up.
- Jim
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65 Responses to “Co-operation Competition Winners!”
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October 2nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
The best of the rest don’t even get to be staff picks? I think some of them deserve atleast that.
Hey, mine is one of them! Wish me luck on the next!
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:55 pm
[...] Free games by yoyojim [...]
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Well done everyone. At least I got into ‘Best of the Rest” with my EvoDom!
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
[...] Full details can be found on the YoYo Games blog. [...]
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
@nikechure: I think they’re still staff picking games from the comp. None of the winners even have the banners for their places.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
That’s right. I just put the staff picks out. The winners’ banners sadly won’t be ready until next week.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I came so close to finishing my game and trying to make it interesting and challenging but ran into many flaws and errors to make my game work properly so I could enter I to the competition… it was going to be called “SUPPORT” in which you must literally, and physically support your friend with the power of physics until you no longer can support them, it is challenging and balancing and supporting and has to do with supporting a friend which is what cooperation with a friend is about, a aspect of cooperation is support, so I thought the title would even work perfectly for the game, but oh… well It doesn’t work now what a shame…
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
@yoyojim: Out of curiosity, is it possible for us now to upload a new update to our games and still keep the staff pick (and not mess up anything else)?
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Just out of curiosity, how can the prize-money be in the post? Do you have my mailing address somehow?
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
@YMM “in the post” is a nice way of saying “payment is imminent”…just leave your bank details here and I ‘ll send you some money
(joke) Seriously, Jim will be in touch with the winners for paypal/bank info in the next few days. Congrats to all of the winners AND everyone who participated.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Ah, wasn’t familiar with that turn of phrase and took it literally.
Thanks
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
oops, yep, sorry YMM, I’ll email tomorrow.
As for updating your games, please do, your staff picks are safe.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Thanks for the answer jim. And congrats to all. =D
This was the best competition we’ve had so far IMO.
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
This was the false competition we’ve had so far IMO ))
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Woot, none of the judges liked my game, that’s sad
!
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Yeah, me too. Oh well, congrats.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I knew this game’d get noticed, great! =D
And congrads, this game earned it!
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
^err, i meant byteality tower defense*
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I wasn’t talking about the judging, who won etc. (though I’m also not saying I disagreed). I’m talking about the games that were entered overall.
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:00 am
Congrats to all those concerned!
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:34 am
Especially after being on the front page for a while, and currently, I was hoping for at least a staff pick, but alas…I can see that I was up against some really stiff competition, though, so congrats to all who proved superior, especially those whose games are buried in the later pages rating-wise.
p.s. I promise to update my competition 2 game…sometime.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 am
Wow hey, thanks for the runner-up! Was pretty worried that it wouldn’t stand a chance due to the lack of sound.
Do the games get placed on the front page again as with the last competition?
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:04 am
Hmph.. This resulst show that games chooses by random. Winners follow to theme of competition secondary. Minimum of cooperation and non-casual. So on the next comp wait for 500 trash games and in the sum on the site will not 80% trash… about 95% trash games will, because professional developers not want to make games with such results…
And I amaze why there is less angry post. Russian comunity of GM in the shock. We think that this is big Joke… But in any case Lost Snowmens public on popular sites)))
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:05 am
Congrats to the winners and thanks for my staff pick =). I’d also like to know whether the games will be placed on the home page as with the previous competition.
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:16 am
And I forget… This is worst competition of three one… In this time there is small count of good games. The previous comp was more intresting and more realy good games.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
In following competition we can forget about a theme and casual gameplay =)
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 am
We all know that the last one in the Runners-Up list is the best
Concrats everyone!
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Yah, maybe just should skip theme and rules in the future, because:
* Winner had nothing to do with co-op.
* Wasn’t casual.
* Completely unoriginal, that’s what saddens me most.
But I guess I’m glad that at least judges just didn’t pick top high-rated games this time :/. Also I’m happy that Jumper 3 got a prize place, it was the only one I hoped to win.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
Same with ancient ants… that had nothing to do with ancient civilizations.
Tower defense games are so unoriginal, too. I agree.
So the gameplay apparently made up for the lack of theme, originality, and graphics? (they said the graphics were simple)
However I am glad that Karoshi factory and lost snowmen didn’t get a prize. Neither were very good.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:57 am
I hope that this is big Joke, and real resulst come soon… In other case I think that Yo-Yo games dont need in professional games. Only competition with real prizes can give stimulus to make realy good games.
This is not because I wasnt win.. Because there is games more better than that… for exammple Karoshi Factory, Capla, WDMB and…. and…. errrr… and not anyone…
“Best Of the Rest” make me shock too. More from that games with few comments, small ratings, without rewiew, with few play times and bad gamplay…
I repeat that a hope that this is big joke…
P.S. In English language is small count of worlds to say all emotions)))
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 am
Hey.
May I update the game?
The deal is I’d like to upload new version of WDBM –>> http://www.yoyogames.com/games/show/49783
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Erik Leppen’s BTD has something to do with cooperation. If it didn’t, there would be only one tower…
You could say things like “congratulations” to the winners, but you don’t.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Erik Leppen’s BTD has something to do with cooperation. If it didn’t, there would be only one tower…
You could say things like “congratulations” to the winners, but you don’t.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
“I repeat that a hope that this is big joke…”
Why would this be a big joke? You disagree with the games the judges picked. That’s your right, but it’s their money so they’ll give it to the creators they believe earned it.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
They are not real winners)))
Simply Lucky people…
I dont know which game a need to make… Professional Games will not get the pizes, trash will not too…Ehhh…
This is Hard Question for me.
P.S. Sorry if I am annoying, but I in the root dont agree with judges
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I haven’t play any of the winning games–I guess I’ve got some playing to do! Congrats to Erik!
And to the Russian guy who keeps commenting here, you can’t win ‘em all. The Russian team has already placed in the last two competitions.
It still did take me quite a while to find this text area again. It is only distinguished by a tinnnyyy gray border. Otherwise it is pretty much invisible.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
2desertdweller
But the on the last 2 comp Niderlands, USA and UK teams get prizes too… Or you think that Russian creatures is not people?
Try to Dispute ))))
This is not big joke.
So My congratulations to winners.These are really good games on GM among all that trash that here appears
But is not The Best
2 Judges
That to you next time to choose winners from 500 versions of Scandux XD
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
@ZekeGames – “Same with ancient ants… that had nothing to do with ancient civilizations.”
What? Ancient ants was based in egypt. As far as I know, egypt is classed as a Ancient Civilisation.
@CRYSTALL_m – does it really matter that ‘Lost snowmen’ didn’t win this competition? The makers of the game (redsystem) have gained 1st and 3rd places in the last two competitions. I’ve just played it and I will agree that ‘Lost snowmen’ is a brilliant game but so are the 3 winners. If you look, you’ll see that LS still got a Staff pick and ‘runner-up’.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Ok…
WOW I look on the Staff Pick and so HAPPY… XD
(Who still would give money to me for contemplation of it)
Good Luck to all on the next Comp)))
I did not sad at all. There is more experience for me in the programming of Lost Snowmen)))
The next one will be better)))
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
skinny –
What I meant was simply that dressing up bugs in Egyptian clothing did not make the game “ancient” themed.
Sorry for the confusion.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
“But the on the last 2 comp Niderlands, USA and UK teams get prizes too… Or you think that Russian creatures is not people?”
The competition isn’t about nationalities. It’s about the games being created.
Out of 280 games, only 3 games can be chosen. That leaves everyone else out.
I loved Ancient Ants Adventure. I hated Lost Snowmen. Some games hit the big time, others fall flat. Developers face this problem all the time. It’s real bad when the developer spends millions on the game’s development and the game disappears into anonymity, never coming close to earning back the money spent.
(I was not a judge for the competition.)
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
“loved Ancient Ants Adventure. I hated Lost Snowmen. Some games hit the big time, others fall flat. Developers face this problem all the time. It’s real bad when the developer spends millions on the game’s development and the game disappears into anonymity, never coming close to earning back the money spent.”
Exactly. Ancient ants was so fun (but you know my only gripe) and lost snowmen… wasn’t.
I’m glad the judges didn’t take who made it into *as much* consideration this time around.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:04 pm
2Nailog
It not that case. Lost Snowmen have received the award from the main indie-portal (indiegames.com) and them wishes to license by Miniclip. Ancient Ants have not achieved such success.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
How should that make it achieve success here? It is not Yoyogames fault that another website failed to recognize the various design downfalls of lost snowmen.
October 4th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Yoyogames could not be mistaken? Miniclip it not a social network for children, it is large player of the market.
Read reviews, look estimations. Do not judge on one source.
October 4th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Well, my first ever game has got a Best of the Rest place, so I can’t really complain!
Well done Erik, rotten_tater & Matt; much deserved.
And CRYSTALL_m, give it a rest. You’ve already cashed in on $1250 anyway. Greedy bugger.
October 4th, 2008 at 10:57 am
2Broxter
This is my first competition)))
Two previous is Redsystem team…
Only for cooperation I was cooperate with RedSystem)))
Usualy I work alone…
It seems to me strange that you consider that Russia cannot win 3-rd times and other countries can… In Russia there are some people which participate in competitions. In this time from all 279 games us were 3…
And as a result 2 from them in any way have not noted been(Even in best of the rest), because judges simply have not noticed. But this 2 games better than half of runners up)))
Sometimes I think that judges special ignore them >:(
Both of them was on the first page (Capla and WDBM)
October 4th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
“It seems to me strange that you consider that Russia cannot win 3-rd times and other countries can…”
It’s not about nationality. YYG did not say, “Russians already placed in the last two competitions, so let’s ignore their entries this time.”
What they did say was more along the lines of, “There are 33 awesome games here. We need to pick the best 3. This will be really hard.”
Who the creators were or where they were from did not factor into the decision.
Stop thinking that you are a victim of some type of prejudice. Lost Snowmen may be a good game. YYG thought the other 3 were better.
October 4th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
This competition is NOT country oriented!
The thing is, they think that it is unlikely that a regular team can beat three competitions. They have no quarrel with russia.
@koschei – This competition is about the opinion of Yoyogames, not the rest of the internet.
October 4th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
[...] I’ll finish this post with a link to YoYo’s results, posted by YoYoJim. Also, quote: [...]
October 4th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Can we please stop the discussion about Lost Snowmen. There were many excellent games in the competition. We choose the ones we liked to play most. Our opinions about the games were rather different. So in the end we voted for them. This is what came out of it. Previous winners or countries or whatever did not play a role in the decisions. The primary factor was addictivity.
Lost Snowmen is a great game. It is wonderful that it wins recognition elsewhere. We liked it a lot as well. But it simply did not win. Opinions differ.
Next competition new chances.
- Mark
October 4th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Yay!!!! Jumper got in the TOP 3!!! W00T! Oh man, I LOVE that game. I also voted for it in the GMC Cage Match 166!!
October 5th, 2008 at 1:36 am
But Iji Pwned it like it does every other game… I really wish that was on YYG.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Tower Defense = Co-operation?
Haven’t tried 2nd and 3rd place, but Byteality is fun.
October 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
WELL!!!!! WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? YOU NOOBS HAVE NOT FINISHED RELEASING BETA VERSION OF GAME MAKER? IT IS HARD TO MAKE GAMES IN FLASH CS3, RELEASE GAMEMAKER FOR MACINTOSH BEFORE YOU LOSE A CUSTOMER!!!
October 7th, 2008 at 9:41 am
RELEASE GAME MAKER FOR MACINTOSH OR ELSE I WILL KEEP SPAMMING!
October 7th, 2008 at 10:43 am
@ s helgason:
Spamming is definitely not going to speed up anything! Game Maker will be out for mac as soon as they have it all done. Do you see YoYoGames spamming all over your blog saying make 300 great games for their site?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Would you rather them release a buggy, unfinished version now?
October 8th, 2008 at 12:52 am
This is the Co-Op Competition 3 Results Post, not the GM-Mac Development post.
October 8th, 2008 at 7:32 am
@s helgason. I won’t give dates, but we’ve made a lot of progress in the last few weeks. We still encounter bugs with Lazarus (the dev environment we’re using on mac) and when we do it messes up our schedule as we can’t predict how long it takes to fix/work round these bugs. The good news is we have 3D support working (mostly) with OpenGL and most 2D games that we try are working well.
@zekegames we will have a buggy, but finished version (beta) out soon
October 8th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Good to hear it, thanks for the update!
October 20th, 2008 at 12:47 am
@Sandy,
would you do us a huge favor?
Please, upload a mac gm-game. any gm game, so we can see it, and get our friends excited.
thanks
November 9th, 2008 at 9:19 am
i didn’t enter because i didn’t have time to finish
March 29th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
[...] http://glog.yoyogames.com/?p=408 [...]
July 19th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
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