Design-a-Weapon Winners announced!

We are all part of the fantasy role playing community...it is no wonder what-so-ever that "inspiration" is going to come from what we know, what we've seen, what we've read etc. Have you never heard, "There are no new ideas?" I tend to disagree with that sentiment, but can see how one might draw that conclusion. Things look familiar because they ARE familiar! Even if completely original (inspired by pure imagination without influence from the outside world) someone, somewhere will say, "Yessir, I've seen it before!" We share common experiences, that's all.

If you look closely at the bow design I submitted, you may see a similarity to the winning bow (a better design and artistic rendering than mine...IMO). I have never met that artist and as far as I know, I've never seen his work, yet we have a similar vision...that should not surprise anyone. Originality is a matter of perspective and the developers probably had a long list of items they thought would fit in their game...

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Some items were, I'm sure, picked on the weapon's design fitting into what they consider part of the GW image as well as their artists being able to use the ideas to base in game models on. If a really cool design is submitted that everyone loves, but can't be rendered due to the level of detail, then you have to think of it like not being able to fit the Bat-Mobile in your garage...if it doesn't fit the solution isn't always building a new garage.

The drawings that everyone seems so up in arms about are good ideas, and from the judges point-of-view, can be made into an item that fits their vision of what belongs in the game...Some really cool drawings got passed up and I'm sure it was NOT based on the quality of the drawing, but the ability of the design to be made into a weapon that can be modeled using current graphics, fits the game's image and is a concept that was to the liking of people designing the game...When asking, "WTF were they thinking?", the reply must be: they were thinking they could make these designs work.

All that said, I'd like to see some more of the designs that were submitted...whether they made it or not. There's a huge list of finalists: I really want to see what they did too. I think a little artwork might liven the place up a bit....overpower the negativity, maybe. Some of my submitted work is maybe not as great, artistically speaking, as some that I'm sure is out there, but I'm posting them anyway. Enjoy...or not: that's up to you.


[edited pic size....waaaaay too big!]

I think you may be right... but I wish you were wrong. If the Judges were to choose based on the compatability of game design they should have let us know how to make a compatable drawing... If they quickly pass over drawings like these:



...because they dont want to create the mechanics/animation for the dangling teddy.... in favour of less creative / designed ideas, then I feel a bit ..... well you know.... un-appreciated and jipped.

Is the DaW contest just to see who can draw what the designers are already thinking of? Or are the drawings we submit actually determined by the original ideas we come up with, and the presentation of those ideas? After looking at some of the drawings that didn't 'make it', I am inclined to think that originality and artistic ability do not matter as much as game compatability and designer's preconceived ideas.

NOTE: please don't get me wrong, I am an A-net fanboy, and I love the opportunity they gave me to even submit something... I don't want to seem like I am looking a gift horse in the mouth. I just feel like some better submissions could have been chosen... or at least the basis for choosing the entries should have been more well defined... for next time

....ok I am gonna shut up now ..cuz i feel like a poor sport. Gratz to the winners... especially andre and anthony..I'm a big fan.

Here's my entry

Wish there was a way I could have at least known what the jury thought about it.

I like that idea Kryth but it looks like somthing from the future O_o.

I quite like the dagger, you can see there is alot of work into it, i dont much like the one at the top, focus/shied whatever it is.

But imo it was mostly about compatibility and the designers proberly already had somthing in mind... Overall i did like most of them though ^^

Here some that didnt make it to final.

gothic - lightning - glowing - tribal bow


Elemental - transparent bow


elemental - version 2 with gothic patern


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This is the non-final version of my spear [non extended shaft] that made it.

wow ddust... those are nice... (I like the spear the best)

Mortimers beaver weapon couldnt have been used becose it would have violated WoWs copyright...

Mortimer? wha?

Damn, i shuld look on the dev tracker on witch forum it was posted.
Well this is what i was talking abaut, you can find it under the dev tracker.

I'm going to make a chicken cannon for the next design-a-weapon contest!!

the honorable mention ones destroyed some of the finalists.... there were three honorable mention items, shield with blue bit in middle, green sword, and gold axe sword thing which made my jaw drop. shame they not finalists.

gw is rly lacking cool looking skins.

I wonder where these designs will show up in.. GW:EN or GW 2? or both?

Thats half of what I submitted.

@TwinRaven - Woah ...... I like all of your designs!

amazing Zidane...as always.

omg.... the winners should be:

zidane
zidane
zidane
zidane
zidane


honorable:
the ones who actually won accept the sword that was made by zidane.


You should consider go work with Anet... seriously, you have more imagination for this kinda of stuff then the ones that are there working..

wow Zidane, nice designs! Did you at least got honorable mentions?

^ zidane actually made the thin blue sword in the winners list.

Damn Zidane. That stuff owns...

Hey, btw, has anyone received their extra character slot email? I got the package in the mail, but not the slot pass yet.

I think the word is we'll get them Thursday at the earliest. Possibly next week.

I'm also waiting on the char slot/pvp unlock pack.

kew, thanks!

Hey Zidane.. can you draw me a concept of what Gwen's broken flute of ownage would looked like!

No, but at http://www.andreroux.com/, under concept art, I drew my rendition of Gwen a while back.

gj to everyone who entered though I was a little disappointed with some of the winners.

I find the honorable mention shields to be wayyyyyyy cooler.

and zidane those weapons are hot.

Got my T-shirt and pins yesterday (5/21), but no character slot code as of yet....glad I'm not the only one....I was getting nervous.

love that rit staff, the shield, and especially that shiroken maul

Most of them are nicely designed, but I wouldn't equip them in GW.
GW needs bigger weapons imo

some of them i think are in game now...in the deep and urgoz missions

This is the thread you were looking for....thanks for the heads up on the character slots.

lol @ gaile's necroposting

I have not received a thing yet! I'm still waiting.

/Angelica

First of all, shhhhhh on the necroposting.

Secondly, if you didn't see my accidentally-bumped older thread, I'm bumping this one for a few comments:

• We need to make sure that everyone who was a Winner, Honorable Mention, or Finalist has replied to our confirmation email. If you have not done so, write [email protected].
• Most parcels went out for the Winners and Finalists last week, but quite a number were sent yesterday, due to a delay in hearing back from contestants and then the holiday weekend. We shipped all using First Class mail, so they should get there pretty quickly.
• If you do not receive your parcel by June 8th , please write [email protected] and let us know. We are tracking shipments so we may be able to tell you if someone else received it at your address. Not that we want you to look at your little brother/older sister/significant other with an evil eye for stealing your prize, of course. )
• We have not been able to send Character slot keys, and possibly those for PvP Unlock Packs--I will check on that. I'm waiting for their generation, and apologize for not having been able to send them out yet. I anticipate that keys will go out to Winners and Honorable Mentions in eligible regions by Monday, June 4. Remember that you need to check the email address with which you entered the contest to get your characters slot or PvP Unlock pack key(s).

Thanks, everyone.