We’re back! This year, too, the Sonic Hacking Contest returns to put a shine on your favorite and upcoming ROM Hacks and Mods! The SHC has undergone many changes in the past few months between the last contest and this announcement, even down to the inner management! To stay up to date with the changes, watch our video presentation detailing all of the changes for SHC2024, or keep reading! Deadlines for the Sonic Hacking Contest 2024 SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: End of Sunday 8th September CONTEST PERIOD: From Saturday 28th September to Sunday 6th October Where did all the Deadlines go!? You may have noticed a number of notable differences in the schedule format since last year, such as the notable absence of the Updates Week. This is where you’ll find the first few changes! There’s been a lot of confusion in regards to the Updates Week’s purpose. It appears to have been a period reserved to patching any errors and polishing the entries. However, that was not a widely enforced (or disclosed) rule, and many have been operating under the assumption that the Updates Week would welcome all sorts of updates, including major content updates. To save everyone the confusion, we’re getting rid of the Updates Week. We have kept that into account when determining the Submissions Deadline, to give entrants one additional week of further development. However, this means that, starting this year, entries found on the website at the Submissions Deadline will be considered final, and, outside of the usual exceptions granted for game breaking bug fixes, we will not be accepting updates past the Submissions Deadline. This comes with the added condition that, should an entrant release an unauthorized update for a Judged Entry in the period between the end of the Submissions Deadline, and the end of Community Voting, Judges reserve the right to immediately disqualify the Entry. We will update the Rules in the website accordingly to reflect that once we have the chance to do so! In short, starting this year, the deadline you see above applies to all submissions: Judged submissions; Unjudged submissions; and Trailer clip submissions. We’ll open up submissions later around August through a future announcement, so stay tuned! What about the Expo? Keen eyes will have noticed that, until now, the Expo went entirely unmentioned. That’s because we’re getting rid of that, too. Entries to the main event can still opt in and out of judgment. However, both Entry kinds will appear on the same website page! Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you can still tell them apart when browsing the website for entries, you’re just going to be more likely to notice them! We recognize that the Expo has been home for some… less than favorable entries in the past, and that said entries may have turned some of you off from checking out some of the higher quality ones, so we’re going to address that by increasing the Quality Standards for Unjudged Entries to match those of the Judged ones. Speaking of Quality Control, we are adding additional conditions for repeat submitters: starting this year, repeat submissions will undergo Quality Control against their previous SHC submissions, to ensure that they remain fresh. Entries that fail to innovate will be discarded. Contest Week… and more! Another thing you may have noticed is the fact that the usual Contest “Week” lasts a bit more than a week this year. We have received plenty of demand from you people asking us to extend the Contest Period. And we’re going to deliver! We’re going to experiment with extended Contest Periods, starting this year with 9 days of it! Should this be well received, we may consider going even longer for future years! Changes to Judgment of Entries In previous years, was an entry submitted for one of the three macro categories, a Judge of that category would be required to judge it regardless of base game. However, some judges may have lesser knowledge or familiarity with the game, therefore leading to lower quality judgment. We’re going to address it by introducing Free-Flow Judgment, a system allowing Judges to opt in and out of Judgment for select games! This will allow Judges to stick with games they are most comfortable with, ensuring that your entry will be looked at by experts at their craft, or by folks that truly know what they’re talking of. Naturally, to prevent understaffing, Select Judges of a given category may be assigned to judge a more exotic game, should a submission for it pop up. We’ll announce who judges what later this year. Judges will remain split in the three macro categories, maintaining a rough expectation. List of Judges Once it is included in the SHC Website, we will redirect you there. For now, here it is, in written form: ROM Hack Head Judges: Giovanni, pixelcat Standard Judges: jubbalub, KGL, Ravenfreak, saan1ty, SSF1991, SunkythePootis Modern 2D Head Judges: Axanery, HazelSpooder Standard Judges: Cosmic Eternity, Dynamic Lemons, JacksNormal, Leonx254, MegAmi, MiaCDi, SSF1991, KGL 3D Head Judges: ItsEasyActually, ĐeäTh Standard Judges: Hyper, Sajid, Sewer56, Skyth, Speeps, SSF1991 Returning Trophies All trophies from last year are here to stay, but we have brought back a selection of trophies from the olden days! Green Hill: Entry that plays the most like an existing Sonic game Crystal Meth Chao Garden: Entry with the most potential replayability Eosian Sphere: Entry with the best new level object or gimmick Signing off Thanks for your attention! Once again, we're working on getting this very same information on the actual website: this will be done as soon as possible! Make sure to check the home page of our website, as important news will be delivered there! You’re free to contact us through our email at shc<.>zone<.>site@gmail<.>com (without the “<>”s), or send a DM for inquiries. With all that said and done, get ready… set… PROCRASTINATE!
I like this... not a bad idea at all. Though what about subjective judging by nature? i.e. artwork or music A person may have no knowledge of the technical difficulties of a PC entry, but they surely are still able to judge the artistic side compared to other PC entries of the same nature. What's the stance on that?
Very good question right there! My own personal stance? I think it's really cool! While I do believe that a technical understanding of the game you're evaluating can help better appreciate the arts that go on in the entry, one doesn't need this alone. Many fields can be evaluated: artistic, musical, game design related... Anything worth evaluating can be put into question, and technical understanding is only one of the many fields that can be judged: individuals will excel at variable rates at each task. This is something worthy of consideration in our internal assessments: thank you for your feedback!
THE SHC2024 is LIVE! If you're participating, get to submitting your entries RIGHT NOW! You have until the 8th of September to submit! You know what the site is at this point. =P Do make sure to review the Contest information and the rules, we've changed quite a lot since last year! Any questions? This thread serves as an avenue for them! Otherwise, the information pages should tell you how to reach us!
SHC2024 - Results Podium 3D - Community 1st: Sonic Forces Overclocked 2nd: Project Re-Rainbow 3nd: SM64 Adventure 3D - Judged 1st: Sonic Forces Overclocked 2nd (tied): Project Re-Rainbow 2nd (tied): Westopolis Level Pack Modern 2D - Community 1st: SONIC 3 & TENNA 2nd: Amy Galore 3nd: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Modern 2D - Judged 1st: Sonic Origins Ultrafix 2nd (tied): Sonic 2: Westside Renovation 2nd (tied): Cold Peaks Zone ROM Hack - Community 1st: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition 2nd: Sonic ERaZor 7 3nd: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives ROM Hack - Judged 1st: Sonic ERaZor 7 2nd (tied): Sonic 2 VS 2nd (tied): Sonic 1: South Island Expedition ROM Hack Quartz Quadrant (Best Visual) Judged: Sonic Sundown - Early Teaser (Honourable Mention: Sonic the Hedgehog: Save The Moon) Community: Sonic the Hedgehog: Save the Moon (Honourable Mentions: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition; Sonic Sundown) D.A. Garden (Best Audio) Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition, Sonic Sundown - Early Teaser (Honourable Mentions: Sonic ERaZor 7, Martlet's Fun Adventure! Demo) Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition Hexadecimal (Best Technical) Judged: MD-SONIC (Honourable Mentions: Sonic 2 VS; Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CE) Community: Sonic 2 VS (Honourable Mentions: MD-SONIC; GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears) Chemical Plant (Best Level Design) Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition (Honourable Mention: Giovanni's Level Pack 2) Radiant Emerald (Best Special Stages) Judged: Sonic 2 VS (Honourable Mention: Sonic 3 Extended World Demo) Community: Sonic 2 VS Professor Pickle (Most Entertaining) Judged: Sonic 2 VS Community: GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears (Honourable Mention: Sonic ERaZor 7) Polygon Jim (Most "WTF!?") Judged: GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears (Honourable Mention: The worst Sonic the Hedgehog romhack (featuring mario) 2) Community: GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears Chaotix (Best Team Entry) Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition (Honourable Mention: Sonic 2 VS) Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition (Honourable Mention: Sonic 2 VS) Rivals (Best Multiplayer) Judged: Sonic 2 VS Community: Sonic 2 VS Storybook (Best Custcenes) Judged: Sonic ERaZor 7 Community: Sonic ERaZor 7 (Honourable Mention: GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears) Emerl (Best Character Implementation) Judged: Sonic Sundown - Early Teaser Community: Martlet's Fun Adventure Demo EggRobo (Best Bosses) Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives (Honourable Mentions: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition; Sonic ERaZor 7; GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears) Motobug (Best Enemies) Judged: Sonic The Hedgehog 2: Archives Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives Mania (Best Fresh Concept using Existing Concepts as a Backbone) Judged: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives (Honourable Mentions: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition; Sonic 2 VS) Spinball (Best Based on a game not commonly modified) Judged: Sonic Sundown Community: Sonic Sundown Blaze (Most Potential) Judged: Sonic the Hedgehog: Save The Moon Community: Sonic Sundown Silver (Most Improved from a previous SHC) Judged: Sonic ERaZor 7 Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives Green Hill (Plays Most like a Sonic Game) Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition Chao Garden (Most Replayable) Judged: Sonic 2 VS; Giovanni's Level Pack 2 Community: Sonic 2 VS Eosian Sphere (Best New Level Object or Gimmick) Judged: Sonic ERaZor 7 Community: Sonic ERaZor 7 Studiopolis (Best According to the Media Panel) Media Panel: Sonic Erazor 7 Modern 2D Quartz Quadrant (Best Visual) Judged: SONIC 3 & TENNA (Honourable Mention: Cold Peaks Zone) Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA D.A. Garden (Best Audio) Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA Hexadecimal (Best Technical) Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Community: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Chemical Plant (Best Level Design) Judged: Cold Peaks Zone; Sonic 1 Proto-Mix Community: Cold Peaks Zone Radiant Emerald (Best Special Stages) Judged: Not Awarded Community: Not Awarded Professor Pickle (Most Entertaining) Judged: Sonic 3: Goodliest Edition Community: Sonic 3: Goodliest Edition Polygon Jim (Most "WTF!?") Judged: Sonic 3: Goodliest Edition Community: Sonic 3: Goodliest Edition Chaotix (Best Team Entry) Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Community: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Rivals (Best Multiplayer) Judged: Not Awarded Community: Not Awarded Storybook (Best Custcenes) Judged: SONIC 3 & TENNA Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA Emerl (Best Character Implementation) Judged: Amy Galore; Pac-Man in S3AIR Community: Amy Galore EggRobo (Best Bosses) Judged: SONIC 3 & TENNA Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA Motobug (Best Enemies) Judged: Sonic 3 Goodliest Edition Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA (Honourable Mention: Sonic 3 Goodliest Edition) Mania (Best Fresh Concept using Existing Concepts as a Backbone) Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Community: Chili Island Spinball (Best Based on a game not commonly modified) Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Community: Not Awarded Blaze (Most Potential) Judged: Cold Peaks Zone Community: Chili Island Silver (Most Improved from a previous SHC) Judged: Sonic 2: Westside Renovation Community: Not Awarded Green Hill (Plays Most like a Sonic Game) Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Community: Not Awarded Chao Garden (Most Replayable) Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix Community: Amy Galore Eosian Sphere (Best New Level Object or Gimmick) Judged: Sonic 2: Westside Renovation Community: Chili Island Studiopolis (Best According to the Media Panel) Media Panel: Sonic Origins Ultrafix 3D Quartz Quadrant (Best Visual) Judged: Westopolis Level Pack Community: Project Re-Rainbow D.A. Garden (Best Audio) Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked Hexadecimal (Best Technical) Judged: SM64 Adventure Community: SM64 Adventure (Honourable Mention: Project Re-Rainbow) Chemical Plant (Best Level Design) Judged: Cyberspace Remakes: Green Hill Pack Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked Radiant Emerald (Best Special Stages) Judged: Not Awarded Community: Not Awarded Professor Pickle (Most Entertaining) Judged: ShadowRando: A Shadow the Hedgehog Randomizer Community: SM64 Adventure (Honourable Mention: ShadowRando: A Shadow the Hedgehog Randomizer) Polygon Jim (Most "WTF!?") Judged: SM64 Adventure Community: SM64 Adventure Chaotix (Best Team Entry) Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked Rivals (Best Multiplayer) Judged: Not Awarded Community: Not Awarded Storybook (Best Custcenes) Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked Emerl (Best Character Implementation) Judged: SM64 Adventure Community: SM64 Adventure EggRobo (Best Bosses) Judged: Not Awarded Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked Motobug (Best Enemies) Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked Community: Not Awarded Mania (Best Fresh Concept using Existing Concepts as a Backbone) Judged: Like a Werehog: Extreme Fury (Honourable Mention: SADX - Ring Rush) Community: SADX - Ring Rush (v1.0.0) (Honourable Mention: Sonic Forces Overclocked) Spinball (Best Based on a game not commonly modified) Judged: Sonic the Fighters: Remix Community: Sonic the Fighters: Remix Blaze (Most Potential) Judged: Project Re-Rainbow Community: Project Re-Rainbow (Honourable Mention: Like a Werehog: Extreme Fury) Silver (Most Improved from a previous SHC) Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked Green Hill (Plays Most like a Sonic Game) Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked Chao Garden (Most Replayable) Judged: ShadowRando: A Shadow the Hedgehog Randomizer Community: SADX - Ring Rush (v1.0.0) Eosian Sphere (Best New Level Object or Gimmick) Judged: SADX - Ring Rush (v1.0.0) Community: SADX - Ring Rush (v1.0.0) (Honourable Mention: Sonic Forces Overclocked (Honourable Mention) Studiopolis (Best According to the Media Panel) Media Panel: Sonic Forces Overclocked What about the banners? The banners for all the trophies are back this year! They are available in two formats: Raw: Completely devoid of any background, these banners are served to you at a much smaller native resolution, for you to use and upscale at your liking. Pretty good for forum signatures! Upscaled: These are the images as presented during the announcement thread, upscaled to better fit a 1080p canvas, and sporting our own SHC background! Download here! Community Feedback Form This 40-ish question form will be your place to give us your two cents on just about everything of this year's Hacking Contest. Do take your time filling out each question! Fill in now *** We want to thank you all for participating in this year's Sonic Hacking Contest! With the change of Staff, new rules and a record-breaking number of entries this year, this year has been quite a big shakeup, and it wouldn't have gone this well without your entries, votes, streams and overall support. There are still a few rough patches to iron out, but we're glad that so many people have enjoyed the event, and we hope you look forward to a new-and-improved Sonic Hacking Contest 2025!
