Tossing around a idea for a bit of fun for the community...
The scripts that are published here are usually the efforts of one scripter taking a crack at some feature that they wanted to share. Once a script is written, there arent usually too many other scripts that directly compete with it, especially when the intent is to accomplish the exact same thing. Comparing Scripts for Battle Systems, and Fullscreen Scripts for XP. Not really a fair comparison because of how different they are in their complexity. But there are multiple different types of Battle System Scripts out there because each accomplishes different things. But going Fullscreen as a comparison was picked, because, lets face it, how many different ways are there to go Fullscreen?
Here's the point. Different Scripters will take different approaches to accomplishing the same thing. Lets say we had a Scripters Challenge. All the willing participants would write their own scripts that achieve the same goal. Something that isn't too simple, but isn't too hard either. Scripts would be due by a Challenge Deadline. Once the scripts are submitted, we get a chance to judge the quality of each script, and vote for which one is "the best" and explain why. We could consider things like Stability, Ease of Use, and Compatability, or other suggested topics. The winner of each contest could receive special recognition for those achievements, even if those contests are small. It isnt much, but hey, its something!
The Scripters Challenge for that contest could be for a type of script that is in high demand, or something that is a boon to all. We could write scripts for things that have already been done, or write scripts for totally new ideas. The Goal of a Scripters Challenge could be suggested by the Community itself. We could have limits in those challenges, such as only being allowed to Alias currently existing methods, or something like that. Maybe require zero aliasing and zero redefinitions of existing methods. Maybe less than 100 lines of code. I guess it depends on the Challenge as to what those limits would be.
I think I am a decent scripter, but not great by any means. I sometimes find that I run out of ideas, and have nothing to challenge me. I want to be a better scripter than I feel I am. But to achieve that, I need a Goal, and something to challenge me, which helps me increase my potential. And I think a few of us are probably in the same boat.
Other sites have contests where their members come up with a Game in a Week, or best looking Map Screen. Why cant we have a bit of fun with the challenges of contests as well? So, would any of you participate in the contests? What kinds of scripts do you think would be a good Scripters Challenge for the particpants to try to achieve?
So what do you guys think?