UCA 2016 ?

[Locke141]

Painting with broad strokes here but, it wasn't ran very well last year. A prime example a machine won for a category it didn't even qualify for, Ultimate Donkey Kong winning dedicated when it was a purpose built Multi (arcade SD).

There was also at least one build nominee that was not finished until after the end of 2015.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,144259.0.html

I would like to see the community do something around acknowledging community contributions. It would have been nice it there was a UCA for say best freely shared art work assets, best original freely shared software, or freely shared original cabinet plans. And before any one points out that none of the ones I listed were made in 2016, I know and you get the idea.

Who knows, celebrating contributions to the community may be more fun 

But I also like the top 3 idea as well.

What about a simple top 3 best of the best. No catagories.

Beat me to it. Was thinking the same thing.    If it is truly an award of excellence, why even have categories? Quality speaks for itself no matter the type of build.

[yotsuya]

Painting with broad strokes here but, it wasn't ran very well last year. A prime example a machine won for a category it didn't even qualify for, Ultimate Donkey Kong winning dedicated when it was a purpose built Multi (arcade SD).

There was also at least one build nominee that was not finished until after the end of 2015.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,144259.0.html

When I was on the board, I was a sticker for deadlines in the name of fairness. That wouldn't have been eligible for 2015 in years past.

[Malenko]

That's just circling back to the fact they were ran poorly last time. Do we even have enough good builds to have a top 3 this year?

[markc74]

I think a top 3 would be cool. It would highlight a load of stuff people have missed and get some good debate going i reckon. Like a best of 2016 summary. Add some text, an Intro from Ernest Cline and maybe we've got a book in the making.

Ok that last bit was too far.

For the record i have no vested interest in this but being part of a previous one was fun and seemed to get a lot of positive conversation going. Can't be a bad thing can it?

[wp34]

Ok.  I must have missed that drama.  I thought the "Gold Star" comments were more relating to the discussion about feedback within specific build threads.

It is unfortunate because I think the UCA's were a lot of fun and added to the community. Oh well.  Like Le Chuck said not everything lasts.

I'm all for the UCA's. it's a legitimate chance to rip into the nominated projects since it's truely about judging them. I'm looking forward to laying into this year's crapfest.

This is actually a great point.  If you love to give feedback the UCA's are a the perfect place to do it.  I've never understood how the "Gold Star" controversy relates to the UCA's.

When I got involved with the UCAs (I was asked), it was with the intent to recognize outstanding craftmanship, innovation and design. I made sure, as a board member, that rules were followed to make sure that the competition stayed fair and true to the spirit of which I felt an award like that should mean.

I decided I didn't want to be involved anymore when it was clear that others felt that more cabs should be recognized because it was the "nice thing" to do, to be more inclusive of all builds, even those which were good (but not great) so people could feel better about themselves. Now, I don't have a problem with that per se, but if the goal is to recognize outstanding quality, why lower the standard?

There are plenty of good movies that don't get an Oscar nomination. That should have no bearing or effect on how those films are enjoyed. Likewise, there are lots of good cabs and builds that aren't exemplary - why pretend that they are?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - if you really love what someone has done, tell them in their build thread. No need to wait.

[yotsuya]

Just spit balling here, but I would love to see something like a committee that looked at the previous year's builds, then selected a list of finalists that the community could choose from. I know it's not perfect and I'm sure there would be some grousing if some cabs were left off the finalist list, but I think it's a way to help recognize outstanding work and get it away from being a popularity contest. Oh well, it'd probably never work anyway.

[leapinlew]

For the Mameys, it was there to recognize builds in a few categories. One of the issues I struggled with were perfect builds that didn't break any new ground. I was a sucker for a well documented build that was super clean. Some of the judges liked the latest gee-whiz features. Many of the cabinets that were voted for a Mamey, would be mocked now. You can see the Mamey stuff here:

http://massive.mameworld.info/NEWMAMEY/awards.html

The UCA's are a good replacement. There will always be outlier categories where you want to do something for someone doing something unique. I think the first digital pinballs and dynamic marquees are good examples.

[yotsuya]

For the Mameys, it was there to recognize builds in a few categories. One of the issues I struggled with were perfect builds that didn't break any new ground. I was a sucker for a well documented build that was super clean. Some of the judges liked the latest gee-whiz features. Many of the cabinets that were voted for a Mamey, would be mocked now. You can see the Mamey stuff here:

http://massive.mameworld.info/NEWMAMEY/awards.html

The UCA's are a good replacement. There will always be outlier categories where you want to do something for someone doing something unique. I think the first digital pinballs and dynamic marquees are good examples.

Well said, Lew. That's where I'm kind of at with the UCAs, myself. I feel like everything last year was a clone of something else.

[yotsuya]

Oh, and thanks for the link. I really like the discussions you guys had there on why you voted yes or no for cabs. That's the kind of thing that I think the judges should be doing.

However, I have the feeling if that kind of discussion were to happen today, judges would be branded as haters. And who needs that?

[BadMouth]

I like how UncleT's "Mom's Arcade" both won a MAMEY and is on CrapMAME. 

It was his Mala guide that walked me through my first setup (and probably a ton of other people as well).

[markc74]

Wow the mameys take me back. And I remember Mission Control being the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Still is.

Some of the others (moms in particular) were at least interesting. Things seem a bit homogenised now. We need more batshitcrazy cabs.

[yotsuya]

Wow the mameys take me back. And I remember Mission Control being the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Still is.

Some of the others (moms in particular) were at least interesting. Things seem a bit homogenised now. We need more batshitcrazy cabs.

I personally would love to see more full size cabinets. No slim cabinets, no LCD cabinets, no 4 player aircraft carrier panels. I love some of the old designs because they truly look like they're evolved forms of an 80's arcade cabinet, and not simply a piece of furniture that plays video games. But that's just me.

[wp34]

Wow the mameys take me back. And I remember Mission Control being the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Still is.

Some of the others (moms in particular) were at least interesting. Things seem a bit homogenised now. We need more batshitcrazy cabs.

+1

I got to KLOV for the classics.  It is nice to see the envelope pushed a little over here.

[wp34]

Just spit balling here, but I would love to see something like a committee that looked at the previous year's builds, then selected a list of finalists that the community could choose from. I know it's not perfect and I'm sure there would be some grousing if some cabs were left off the finalist list, but I think it's a way to help recognize outstanding work and get it away from being a popularity contest. Oh well, it'd probably never work anyway.

I like this idea but for it to be successful it would take Saint coming down from Forum Heaven to lead it.

[Nephasth]

He's not in heaven... He's a little closer to hell...

[Locke141]

I think if we limited ever one to making only one nomination, and two seconded/ third's for builds it would result in a lot more focused contest. I don't think I would have made the voting cut in years past if that was the case but that's cool with me. I never thought my builds were the best ones in there cadigories.

Sample posable cardigories:
-Best original build.
-Best original idea.
-Best camunity contubution. (This would be like an all in one vertion of my earlier prposed cadigries)

[vwalbridge]

Some other categories could be:

Most angled joysticks
Best use of clip art
Most use of admin buttons
Best use of keyboard and mouse
Most likely to be featured in Dave & Buster's
Most likely to not fit through a doorway

[Nephasth]

 

[yotsuya]

Some other categories could be:

Most angled joysticks
Best use of clip art
Most use of admin buttons
Best use of keyboard and mouse
Most likely to be featured in Dave & Buster's
Most likely to not fit through a doorway

Chito won't be eligible until 2018 at the earliest.

[CheffoJeffo]

He's not in heaven... He's a little closer to hell...

I see what you did there. 

[Le Chuck]

I went back a re-read the 2011 (inaugural) nomination thread.  The UCA username and panel was created after this went down.  There were two build categories and three for contributions to the community.  There was no panel and nothing was being done behind the scenes.  The aircraft was building itself in flight so to speak.  What sticks out to me is how much that thread is about the people.  Sure there were build nominations, but a lot of the discussion from everyone was about who had had a big impact on them personally.  The categories were still in flex well into the nomination window and things sorted themselves out.

From  my chair the UCA was the nomination thread.  The voting and winner announcement thread was a lot of typing by me but that wasn't where the magic happened.  Somewhere in there it got too focused on the product and lost sight of the people.  That's where I lost interest. 

For 2016 Yotsuya has had a big impact for me.  He's always there with a balanced viewpoint, he works his ass off hosting Zapcon for all us knuckleheads, he's become a long distance friend I can always hit up offline about anything (tho mostly its arcade related), and he's a dedicated DIYer.  Solid user.  I bestow my finest internet High Five upon Yotsuya. 

Howard Casto also has an impact.  His argumentative nature is a gigantic pain in the ass sometimes but it also keeps this place lively.  He's had a rough year physically and has toyed with walking away from the community again.  I'm glad he's stuck around.  I personally benefit from much of his programing and those are real contributions that increase the happiness quotient in my life.  Good ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.  Howard, upon you I bestow my finest internet Fist Bump.

Malenko is a machine.  You want awesome restores, good threads, fun reads, and builds that you want to go steal and stick in your own garage?  Then look no further than his Naomi wizardry.  Also a giant pain the ass.  Also keeps this place lively.  Malenko get's my finest internet Tummy Tickle.   

This is not the UCA.  This is Steve Von Jett's personal post of thanks to solid internet dweebs that make my life better because they post...or text for those of us tight like that.

[yotsuya]

I went back a re-read the 2011 (inaugural) nomination thread.  The UCA username and panel was created after this went down.  There were two build categories and three for contributions to the community.  There was no panel and nothing was being done behind the scenes.  The aircraft was building itself in flight so to speak.  What sticks out to me is how much that thread is about the people.  Sure there were build nominations, but a lot of the discussion from everyone was about who had had a big impact on them personally.  The categories were still in flex well into the nomination window and things sorted themselves out.

From  my chair the UCA was the nomination thread.  The voting and winner announcement thread was a lot of typing by me but that wasn't where the magic happened.  Somewhere in there it got too focused on the product and lost sight of the people.  That's where I lost interest. 

For 2016 Yotsuya has had a big impact for me.  He's always there with a balanced viewpoint, he works his ass off hosting Zapcon for all us knuckleheads, he's become a long distance friend I can always hit up offline about anything (tho mostly its arcade related), and he's a dedicated DIYer.  Solid user.  I bestow my finest internet High Five upon Yotsuya. 

Howard Casto also has an impact.  His argumentative nature is a gigantic pain in the ass sometimes but it also keeps this place lively.  He's had a rough year physically and has toyed with walking away from the community again.  I'm glad he's stuck around.  I personally benefit from much of his programing and those are real contributions that increase the happiness quotient in my life.  Good ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.  Howard, upon you I bestow my finest internet Fist Bump.

Malenko is a machine.  You want awesome restores, good threads, fun reads, and builds that you want to go steal and stick in your own garage?  Then look no further than his Naomi wizardry.  Also a giant pain the ass.  Also keeps this place lively.  Malenko get's my finest internet Tummy Tickle.   

This is not the UCA.  This is Steve Von Jett's personal post of thanks to solid internet dweebs that make my life better because they post...or text for those of us tight like that.

Thanks, LeChuck. Same here, my partner in crime. Your creativity helps balance my purist tendencies, and that's why I like to bounce ideas off you here and via text - I know you'll be a straight shooter. I proudly accept this High Five Award. Send me a tracing of your hand so I can get it cut out in wood.

Since we're doing this, I'd like to give a shoutout to Opt2Not, HaRuMaN, Harveybirdman, Malenko, Vigo, and BYOAC Soul Brother #1 Neph who helped me with the award-winning "ZapCon the Game" in 2016. The plaques are in the mail.

And he doesn't come around much, but if you want to talk Outstanding Acrade Hobbyiest Vendor, Arcadenut, who sells the AnyCoinMech, has done so much for the Phoenix arcade community. I don't consider him a local collector, I consider him a true friend. My favorite ZapCon '16 memory will always be unloading his games at his house at Midnight after the show with vwalbridge and HBM, knowing I had to get them back their hotel and get home, go to sleep and wake up for work in 6 hours, yet loving every minute of the camaraderie. THAT'S why I collect games.

Oh, and if I may, I'd like to nominate Laythe for the 2016 LouisTully Memorial Kewlest N00b Award. Made a great cab, has given a lot of good advice, and made the pilgrimage out to ZapCon within months of joining. Solid member and I hope he stick around.

[harveybirdman]

nice circle jerk ---uvulas---

[yotsuya]

nice circle jerk ---uvulas---

Hey, I gave you a tug in my post!

My second favorite memory was picking up you and Vigo at the airport with Uptown Funk blasting, and the grins on your faces when you realized I did do it.

[Malenko]

Malenko is a machine.Also a giant pain the ass.

Im considered an ---uvula--- because I dont pull punches often and type out/say what other people think but are too scared to say. HC is a great coder and all , but I would prefer not to be lumped in with him in any capacity.
I dislike being called a pain in the ass, but feel free to call me an ---uvula--- 


Opt2Not is hands down the best best artist on these boards. He isn't vain or unapproachable and is there to answer questions, provide tutorials, help with art, and is really just an all around great guy. His work is truly inspiring. His rough drafts are superior to my final revisions, a true wizard on paper, in Illustrator, and Photoshop.

CheffoJeffo is just my all time favorite poster ever. We should all aspire to be more like him.

[leapinlew]

I think focusing on the builders/users instead of the builds is a great idea.

Yes! We totally need a popularity contest.  I'd suggest a swimsuit competition as well - mandatory thong.

I don't think anyone considers you too bad Malenko. I think when you are being rude, or as you say "tell it like it is", you should expect someone to reply in kind. Why would that be a surprise to you? The most likely issue is the written word isn't received as it was intended when written.

[leapinlew]

say nothing? 

If you have nothing nice to say, don't say it. Why even bother saying anything?

[leapinlew]

say nothing? 

If you have nothing nice to say, don't say it. Why even bother saying anything?

Maybe I need a refresh on what the problem is....

[Malenko]

Edit: congrats you pulled me in but I'm not posting any more in here. kk thnx bai!

[yamatetsu]

My suggestion would be a 'Your Favorite Build 2016' poll. Categories like 'upright', 'bartop', 'pinball' and 'everything else' (or 'unique builds'), 1 nomination per user/category, up to 3-5 builds make it to the final poll. No restrictions like innovations or craftmanship, just the builds that you liked best.

[leapinlew]

Edit: congrats you pulled me in but I'm not posting any more in here. kk thnx bai!

Pulling punches again I see. 

[yotsuya]

My suggestion is we don't worry about anything formal, just everybody use tomorrow to go and your favorite builds and tell people what a great job they did. Nice, tiny, light, the end.

[pbj]

Hah.  Told you clowns you'd come around on my "best neat projects" idea. 

[yotsuya]

Hah.  Told you clowns you'd come around on my "best neat projects" idea.

I'd like to nominate your bootleg Hooch or your home grown meat for best neat project.

[pbj]

You laugh but now I have a deep freeze full of hams and I'm trying to figure out what can be done with them.  I've pondered whether they could be further salted and hung in the garage.... or perhaps cut into strips and dried into jerky.  But, man, that first one gave me epic poops.

[saint]

Just spit balling here, but I would love to see something like a committee that looked at the previous year's builds, then selected a list of finalists that the community could choose from. I know it's not perfect and I'm sure there would be some grousing if some cabs were left off the finalist list, but I think it's a way to help recognize outstanding work and get it away from being a popularity contest. Oh well, it'd probably never work anyway.

I like this idea but for it to be successful it would take Saint coming down from Forum Heaven to lead it.

Oh no, don't drag me into this...

[yotsuya]

You laugh but now I have a deep freeze full of hams and I'm trying to figure out what can be done with them.  I've pondered whether they could be further salted and hung in the garage.... or perhaps cut into strips and dried into jerky.  But, man, that first one gave me epic poops.

Send me for ZapCon gift bag swag.

[leapinlew]

You laugh but now I have a deep freeze full of hams and I'm trying to figure out what can be done with them.  I've pondered whether they could be further salted and hung in the garage.... or perhaps cut into strips and dried into jerky.  But, man, that first one gave me epic poops.

Feed the ham to your pigs for double ham goodness.

Ham fried rice FTW!

[thomas_surles]

You laugh but now I have a deep freeze full of hams and I'm trying to figure out what can be done with them.  I've pondered whether they could be further salted and hung in the garage.... or perhaps cut into strips and dried into jerky.  But, man, that first one gave me epic poops.

Rum Ham

[Locke141]

Bomb Your Favorite Builds (BYFB) day 2016. Sound good to me, hopefully I'll take notice of builds I over looked.