Planet Exploration Contest - Contest Error?

[Azurian]

Greetings everyone, now like many of you, we been proud supporters of Star Trek Online since these forums been put up and gave it our all, such as posting these stories for the Planet Exploration Contest, in hopes to get a shot in the STO Beta. But today, I feel that the Cryptic Staff mislead us with the contest itself.

Those who read the contest rules saw this:

Contest Start Date

January 15, 2009, 12:01:00 A.M., Eastern Time.

Contest End Date

January 29, 2009 12:01:00 A.M, Eastern Time.

Meaning the contest really ended at the begginning of today, not at the end. And yet everyone of us saw this on the Star Trek Online website:

EARTHDATE 2009.01.29
Last Day For Contest Submissions!Posted by Awen

Just a gentle reminder that if you haven't already submitted your contest entry for the Planet Exploration Contest, today is the last day to get that in. Good luck to everyone who has entered to win!

Stay tuned for the winner announcement next week!

I honestly don't know if this was a simple lack of communication between the webmaster and the staff, or this was done intentionally. Either way, saying it's over today and mislead the STO fanbase that they got til the end of the day to submit their stories for the contest, when it's already over, is misleading. And I'm hoping that the STO staff would kindly explain this situation.

It would honorable of the Cryptic Staff to extend the Planet Exploration Context a little bit longer.

[47Wasps]

There was alot of issues and changes in the Planet Exploration Contest,but I think Cryptic did all they could to fix the errors.
I think its not fair for us to ask for the time to be extended.
And I also think that by the next contest, the bugs with the rules should and will be worked out.

[Azurian]

Well normally I would agree that they should at least accept those who submitted today (Jan 29th), since the website mislead us.

However, since we don't know how fast they will respond to this ordeal, they should extend the contest another day or so to compensate for this error.

[Silverspar]

There were several errors int he contest. First they had it in the contest rules that an entry had to be less than 700 words. thy changed that recently to les sthan 500 words, which forced myself and my GF to resubmit our entries, since my entry clocked in at like 665 words originally. I wasn not happy, needless to say, and I barely caught the ninja change done to the contest entry page a couple of days ago.

[Kinneas]

Thats cool for the people who just heard about it in the last day or two.

Many sites did not have the info up until a few days ago and anyone who was working late last night must have been happy for the extension.

I sure hope in the end, Awen got WAY more than 300.

I followed a lot of the conversations last week and have to say I am a bit disappointed in the number of excuses we saw (from crew who could enter) as to why they couldn't complete it or wouldn't send one in.

If it were Starfleet you were talking to and not Awen (who IS Starfleet now afterall), you would not be getting ships for quite some time.

Short notices, changes of mission specs, last minute changes, snags, etc.,are issues you are going to have to face out there all the time. Excuses do not matter and they are not going to matter to your fleet mates. You either 'have the stones' to get it done' (- Awen ) or you do not.

The Academy heads were/are probably watching too. "NO SOUP FOR YOU!" (-soup nazi)

I'm particularly fond of the folks who found out that they could not enter outside the U.S. and had already started a submission and sent it in anyway. I guess to me 'THAT is Starfleet'.

Anyway. Does it not fit how the Academy has tested people in the past? :) Has the game 'already' started to some degree? :)

How about a lot more "AYE, AYE! CAN DO!", no matter how the situation changes or what empire you will serve.

GOOD LUCK to all who entered!!! : salute :

[Azurian]

There were several errors int he contest. First they had it in the contest rules that an entry had to be less than 700 words. thy changed that recently to les sthan 500 words, which forced myself and my GF to resubmit our entries, since my entry clocked in at like 665 words originally. I wasn not happy, needless to say, and I barely caught the ninja change done to the contest entry page a couple of days ago.

Not exactly what I was pointing out, Silver. :p

The rules already stated that the Cryptic staff could adjusting the requirements, so them shortening the entries from 700 to 500 was okay. But what I'm pointing out is that they didn't have a consensus on the actual ending of the contest. Did it really end at 12:01AM EST as per the contest rules? Or did it really end at the end of Jan 29th as per the website's "Last Day" announcement?

Which makes a big difference to those who submitted after 12:01AM. If their entries are still eligable, or they ended up in the trash can and their creator's worked hard for nothing?

Thats cool for the people who just heard about it in the last day or two.

Many sites did not have the info up until a few days ago and anyone who was working late last night must have been happy for the extension.

Well I hope Awen's extension was legal. Else there surely going to be hundreds or thousands of heartbroken STO fans who missed out, because of a misunderstanding with the time.

Short notices, changes of mission specs, last minute changes, snags, etc.,are issues you are going to have to face out there all the time. Excuses do not matter and they are not going to matter to your fleet mates. You either 'have the stones' to get it done' (- Awen ) or you do not.

Ah, but Captains are told of changes to their mission, else how are they supposed to stay within parameters if they don't know that the parameters have changed?

[Kinneas]

Vigilance?

[Paulo999]

lol well im british and i still sent one in.. wont win but was still a fun to write.

[naynayz]

Greetings everyone, now like many of you, we been proud supporters of Star Trek Online since these forums been put up and gave it our all, such as posting these stories for the Planet Exploration Contest, in hopes to get a shot in the STO Beta. But today, I feel that the Cryptic Staff mislead us with the contest itself.

Those who read the contest rules saw this:



Meaning the contest really ended at the begginning of today, not at the end. And yet everyone of us saw this on the Star Trek Online website:



I honestly don't know if this was a simple lack of communication between the webmaster and the staff, or this was done intentionally. Either way, saying it's over today and mislead the STO fanbase that they got til the end of the day to submit their stories for the contest, when it's already over, is misleading. And I'm hoping that the STO staff would kindly explain this situation.

It would honorable of the Cryptic Staff to extend the Planet Exploration Context a little bit longer.

I think that there was sufficient time to submit a 5 paragraph submission. I can see them considering it either way. I hope that I get chosen :) *just like everyone else* lol But I found out about it a day or so after it launched on the site and submitted it per guidelines at 500. I never saw 700 so I would say they did an adequate job of correcting the error. They also added provisions for resubmitting. They want content, so give it to them. If it isn't chosen for whatever reason, it isn't like they would think less of your story if it was a little longer. Not as long as it is a good story.

[Azurian]

Of course it was plenty of time, I myself made the plot revolving around the Typhon Expanse within a few days. Even gave meaning behind the Ships Registery and the Stardate.


But once again, Cryptic said two different things. Was 12:01AM the real deadline according to the rules, or is it 12:59.59 PM according to the "Last Day" update?

[AaronH]

If it were Starfleet you were talking to and not Awen (who IS Starfleet now afterall), you would not be getting ships for quite some time.

Short notices, changes of mission specs, last minute changes, snags, etc.,are issues you are going to have to face out there all the time. Excuses do not matter and they are not going to matter to your fleet mates. You either 'have the stones' to get it done' (- Awen ) or you do not.

This was just something fun I did in my spare time, you make it sound like a job. :P

No, seriously, I just sat down and starting writing something short, and when I got done I was way over the limit. The night before I finally had some time and willingness to focus on it so I went back and did some editing but when it got down to time I was like, "you know, I have had fun, no need to sweat it," and went to sleep. When I woke up the next morning and saw they were still accepting entries, I almost didn't even bother. But then I had to do laundry, so I figured as something quick I would give it the once over again, got it down to 500 words and sent it in.

I just have to ask each of you: Is it really that big of a deal? Aside from the prestige of winning was the prize really that great?

[startrekrpg.com]

I really enjoy the request for more time because the contest was extended 24 hours. Interesting... "I need more time because it's not fair I have more time. I'm not sure what to do with it." Just write it and send it in, or don't write it and send it in. When they notify you 'after' the contest closes that you have 24 more hours, then you'd assume you know that you have 24 more hours. Not to mention the fact that you've already passed the deadline and haven't submitted anything. That means that you're no worse for wear if you're so 'confused' about the new deadline. Just write the thing or don't. I for one probably wouldn't even accept your entry at all now. You just spent 20 minutes whining about it. I only spent 5 minutes writing my entry.