Is it just me or some people here at Renderosity (won't name any) getting truck load of comments and ratings for nothing? I've seen that some people change clouds or colors ands post the same pic again and AGAIN, and get more comments then on the previous one.I just don't get it. Are they inviting their whole family and friends just to vote? That's why i think all of the contests should be anonymous. Please leave some thoughts if you feel same way (or not) :) and happy "true" Brycing.

Just to be clear...are you talking about gallery comments/rankings...or are you talking about contests? You mention both, and they are not the same at all. AgentSmith

I'm talking about both. Contests, rankings, voting and comments.I just wanted to see other opininons in Bryce forum, because this is the best 3d forum where people really pay attention to art and they seem to be really honest about it. Wouldn't be better if contests were posted with no names, and then name would be revealed at the end, after the voting? That way people would pay more attention to actuall work then on the name itself. Just my two cents anyway.

Contests/Challenges; Depending on who manages the contest/challenge, the entries can be made anonymous, yes. But, two things; *We post wip's here in the forum, so it really wouldn't be anonymous, not really. *From 2+ years of counting up Challenge votes, I haven't seen a challenge that was won by friend votes. Sure, I can see by the numbers there ARE a FEW friend votes in there, but they are actually pretty easy to see, and none of them have actually pushed an entry into winning. The way we have the voting method set up (3-2-1), it would be pretty difficult to have friends vote you into a winning place. *by "friend" votes, I don't mean "clone" votes. I can track clone accounts by IP's and ISP's. BUT...if I were to run a straight out Contest, with a big prize, I myself WOULD run it anonymous with no wip's allowed until after the contest was over. I agree with you there. But, like I said, it's all up to whomever is running the event. AgentSmith

If someone were to invite famly and friends in the anonymous version of a contest,to get votes ,then his/her contacts would have already been given the low down on which image it will be.

I guess you're right wildman2. Haven't thought about that. to Agent Smith: What if someone goes through proxy server or using an IP cloner? If you're on the dial up, you get new IP everytime you log in righ? It's been awhile since i used dial up so i'm bit hazy. Forgive me for all these questions, i'm just curious. Thanks

Yeah, some companies have a rotating IP for their users. People can still be tracked through their Internet Service Provider, though...(we have ways, lol) While those facts aren't a secret, Rendo doesn't allow me to eloborate any more on how we can track clone accounts. :o/ AS

One thing I have wondered about with clone voting is how you actually define a clone. My partner and I use the same internet broadband line, our pcs are networked, although we have e-mail addies with two different providers. Would his vote count as a clone of mine? We actually rarely agree on the images, but I have not allowed him to vote because I was not certain.

hmm.. all this talking about IP, Providers, tracking, secret methods, etc... make me fear that you are the REAL Agent Smith... lol

Good question. My wife comes through these parts every so often as well (but we're on dialup, so the issue may be moot). EDIT - the real AS would've had one of his clones reply to my IM by now lol (j/k - take your time - I feel its a busy day in the backrroms today) ;)

Message edited on: 05/28/2004 01:16

I'm sure you have ways A. Smith. :) and i'm on need to know basis so i don't need to know. You see what i mean? Chohole just proved my point about Brycers being honest and true to thier art. Keep it up!

Chohole Do you have separate Renderosity accounts? If just one you only have one vote per image anyway, 3 per day (I think). I think friends and family should be able to vote (if they are members). Honestly, you could beg or pay people (or clone yourself, as one ex-member did)to vote you into the Hot20, but would it help you improve as an artist? And wouldn't anyone rather EARN recognition? By the way, Chohole, you earn all your recognition, you do excellent work.

As long as they are seperate account, chohole, everything will be fine. Yeah, I've been bouncing around like a rubber ball, haven't checked my IM's yet... AS

Why not select a board of judges for contests, that way you could cut out the friends and family business. The choosen few would rotate each month so everybody still has a chance. The run a similair scheme over at image-in-air.

I kind of like the "everyone" votes sort of thing here - the people who vote tend to be known members anyway.

Hmmmm, I'm gonna have to agree with 220volt about Spring contest cuz they have real prizes, I'm very curious how they gonna handle it, it's a lot of money !?! No offence meant :)

Message edited on: 05/28/2004 04:02

I agree to some extent. It looks like there is a bunch of "friends" that always vote for each others colorful postings. I don't mind but sometimes I think "come on, are these comments for real"?

The Spring Contest; It is a community vote, and then, the staff will judge the top 10. This way a member can't "hire" a gangload of friends to sign up and vote them up to #1. Only one entry per person, not per member name. Entries from multiple accounts belonging to the same person will not be accepted. Clone voting' will not be permitted. Monitoring will be in place to prevent/discount multiple votes from the same account/person. AS

Although...some may belong to chat communities, have a truckload of friends sign up as members & vote them to the top ten which gets them to the judges voting. I've watched some great entries get left in the dust with only 1 or 2 votes. Enter & let the judges have at it, which offers more assurance of quality and not popularity! my 2 cents.

Well, it's checks and balances, to a degree. If the staff were to be the only judging system of the whole contest, there would be members that would say THAT would be impartial. That we the staff could be voting for our friends, or just our own personal favorites, without being unbiased. (like me voting for JUST Bryce pics, lol) With a community vote, then a staff vote, if any "less than talented looking" pics make it to the top 10 by any devious means, the staff most likely won't vote for it to win. Yeah, no contest is perfect, all we can do is try our best at making the best system possible, but yes, unfortunately some great talent will be overlooked or left behind. I've seen it happen in many kinds of contests (not just the ones here, or just art contests either) :o/ AS

Well, aside from contest entries..... shrugs IMHO, all my pics are rather on the crappy side.... I only ever get 2 or 3 comments and rankings... whether or not those comments and rankings are well-placed or not, it sure bolsters my confidence! Especially when hanging around a lot of experts is so depressing ;)

Message edited on: 05/28/2004 07:25

Yup, ALL comments help, no matter how many you get. ;o) AS

I don't know if you'd call them 'freinds' or not..but after a while, you get your little 'amen corner' who checks out your stuff (as a favorite artist, for example, something encouraged by 'rosity). Nothing wrong with that. I've maybe twice in 2 years published an update; once a castle that someone had some opinions on..followed their advice, and for the next 6 months, the original 'out-hit' the 'improvement' 2 to 1..;) In cataloging all the downloads from here, I do see the occasional dupe (9,000+ pictures, and maybe 100 dupes altogether).
If'n I was to make a suggestion, I'd say if you do a new version of the pic, delete the old one. I've come back to a subject several times (redid a 'mystery ship' at least twice..but remodelled it each time), but usually I delete the oldie first.

"like me voting for JUST Bryce pics, lol" What's wrong with that, Agent Smith, I ask you... We all know that Bryce pictures are the best around, so if you vote only for Bryce pics, you automatically vote for the best. Ain't it so, ha? :-)))) Anyways, I just wanted to say that "friend" voting irritates the hell out of me and I might outdrac the drac himself one day on that topic. Death to "friends"! They'll be the first against the wall comes the revolution. :-)

Don't forget the possibility of shady characters delivering brown paper bags, stuffed with cash, to the judges in the middle of the night, hoping to influence their vote.

My address is...

see! I knew AS could be bought!!!!

Not bought, just rented. :^D

He's a RENTBOY? Jeez ya just can't tell can you?

It's the hair... AS

And I thought he was just a Hippy!

He (Mr. Smith) is probably dating quite a few members here. Ahhh life of celebrity.

Actually, just one. ;o) AS

He ain't dating me!!!!!!