Official Holiday Decorating Contest Winners?

[Tangled Metal]

Was there ever an official announcement about the winners? Was there going to be anything done about the "creative use of Stratics multiple proxy voting mechanics" results? I know there was a huge revert on Atlantic and Mesanna is probably really busy but I thought it might be time to re-visit the contest.

 

[MalagAste]

I could care less anymore since it obviously had more to do with how many facebook friends you have rather than how nice your home was decorated or constructed.

 

[cazador]

I could care less anymore since it obviously had more to do with how many facebook friends you have rather than how nice your home was decorated or constructed.

As well as a lot of things UO related which I won't mention here since it seems it equate to 7 day bans..

 

[Petra Fyde]

The results have been passed to Mesanna, I'm sure she'll post as soon as she's able. She's rather had her hands full lately.

 

[Zynia]

... and they just posted they'll be out of office until the 2nd. So there's one sort of an answer.

 

[LordDrago]

... and they just posted they'll be out of office until the 2nd. So there's one sort of an answer.

Except that even when out of the office, some (like Mesanna) are still "in the office". So, there still is hope!

 

[Petra Fyde]

I don't want to sound unsympathetic but quite honestly, and personally, while it's reasonable to expect the team to give up their holiday to deal with game breaking emergencies, I'm not at all sure I would feel comfortable expecting Mesanna to give up her holiday to hand out contest prizes.

 

[Goodmann]

I don't want to sound unsympathetic but quite honestly, and personally, while it's reasonable to expect the team to give up their holiday to deal with game breaking emergencies, I'm not at all sure I would feel comfortable expecting Mesanna to give up her holiday to hand out contest prizes.

It was a scam anyways so who cares?

 

[Tangled Metal]

Well, all the Devs including Mesanna should be back in the office. So, I thought we might try and revisit this. I would like to know what the official word is on this. I would also like to know what steps are being planned by the Mesanna side of this to prevent the mess we had with this for the next time.

 

[outcry]

I know my friend I believe was in 5th place and has no word about winning

 

[lineman]

Ya I would like to know what is going on with this as well. Contest ended almost 20 days ago and still no word??

 

[Tangled Metal]

Mesanna is on Atlantic giving out the "Trophies" to the winners of the deco 'contest.' I am so glad I removed my entry from this when I saw how it was going to end up. A contest is not a contest when there is a predetermined outcome. People said they cheated, they even said how they did it and shared the information so that others could cheat. It is truly sad when the cheaters win even when they admit to it. Truly sad, indeed.

 

[Queen Arya]

Every entry should have received a reindeer (Mesanna can you make mine look like a Toad please) :}

 

[Flutter]

Mesanna is on Atlantic giving out the "Trophies" to the winners of the deco 'contest.' I am so glad I removed my entry from this when I saw how it was going to end up. A contest is not a contest when there is a predetermined outcome. People said they cheated, they even said how they did it and shared the information so that others could cheat. It is truly sad when the cheaters win even when they admit to it. Truly sad, indeed.

No matter how the judging was done people would claim that there was favoritism or cheating involved. If Mesanna was the sole judge someone would claim that the winner was a friend of Mesanna (just like the GL idoc drama). Sure, people could have cheated. Petra did her best to make sure that didn't happen but there's only so much she (we) can do here. It's hard to run fun events anymore. I mean I'd like to run an event myself but I don't know what to do to insure no one cheats or gets accused of cheating. It's a sad virtual world we live in. I went in, voted for someone on Siege (I liked the idea of the prizes being non xferrable and thought the house designed like a present would have made a cool mini house) and I checked back once to see how the votes were going.
It's a shame that #1 people think cheating was involved. and #2 if cheating was involved at all. but... Let's just take it all for what it was, an attempt at something fun for folks to do during the holidays. It's nothing world changing. It's not going to change our real lives in any way.

If anyone has any ideas for contests that are cheat-proof and conspiracy-proof (ie: she's friends with the winner) please send me a PM. I'd like to do something special. I just can't think of a damn thing that would eliminate any accusation of impropriety, fact of fictionally.

 

[Flutter]

Every entry should have received a reindeer (Mesanna can you make mine look like a Toad please) :}

Oooh giant toads > reindeer!!

 

[Tangled Metal]

Flutter, if you read the original thread people explained exactly how to cheat. People don't think cheating went on, cheating actually went on and people said how to do it. It isn't conjecture, it is fact.

The sad thing is that people felt the need to cheat, cheated, got caught, votes were removed, a new way to cheat was found that could not be removed and voted their places up. Cheating happened. Plain and simple. Seriously with your avatar you cannot be that naive, can you?

Petra did the best she could. Mesanna did the best she could. AND the cheaters did the best they could. It is sad and unfortunate that cheaters will be rewarded for cheating. It does not send a good message.

And once again, for the record, I posted to have my house removed early on when the cheating started. My dog in this fight is for the people that didn't win even though they had wonderful designs. Not that the ones that cheated didn't have great designs, some of them did as well. Cheating has always bothered me. In games and in real life. People should not be rewarded for cheating.

BTW- Mesanna did mention that duped items are about to get a really big hit because they are not going to be able to be placed on vendors. That is a start.

 

[Assia Penryn]

Yes the cheating sucked (as it always does).

However, I'd like to thank Petra, Mesanna and all who did work to make the contest a reality. You guys did the best you could with trying to fix the situation. I hope folks will give solutions to the problems with this one instead of saying it wasn't fair and that it should be fixed. A hill is always a much easier looking walk than when you're actually walking up it

 

[MalagAste]

Yes and even more sad is the fact that the "winner" will be a mini house that honestly was NOT the best. I'm thankful it wasn't the hideously ugly day glow goza mat thing.... But sadly someones house will be turned into a mini house deed and it won't be the house that deserved to win because of how it looked... It is based on how many Facebook friends they had.

That is what is saddest.

And what really makes me sad is there are already 2 Christmas style Mini houses.... now we have to have a third. And you can't really "see" the inside or deco on a mini house all you can see is the actual building for the most part.

I wish there were a way to "craft" mini houses. I've seen some houses that would look totally awesome as a mini. Yet they will never have that opportunity more than likely. Especially not if there ever is another contest like this one. Which in my opinion wasn't a contest at all unless it was a contest based on who has the most Facebook friends.

 

[Angel Dust]

Mesanna is on Atlantic giving out the "Trophies" to the winners of the deco 'contest.' I am so glad I removed my entry from this when I saw how it was going to end up. A contest is not a contest when there is a predetermined outcome. People said they cheated, they even said how they did it and shared the information so that others could cheat. It is truly sad when the cheaters win even when they admit to it. Truly sad, indeed.

She gave out the rewards? Um, i was a winner and got nada

 

[MissEcho]

She gave out the rewards? Um, i was a winner and got nada

So when exactly were 'rewards' given out or the contest winners announced? I have seen nothing.

I hardly think every winner was from Atlantic?

I would also hardly credit the dev's actually giving prizes to known cheats. And they did KNOW they were cheating. I was supposed to be one vote per person, not multi-votes by one person using proxy voting systems voting for themselves over and over again.

To reward this type of behaviour makes a mockery of the whole thing and does not reflect well on those running the competition.

The ONLY fair thing to do, given the fiasco that resulted from this voting, is to either say 'sorry' to all those who entered and explain that due to the above cheating there will not be prizes given out as the dev's have no way of proving exactly who cheated or the alternative, give all entries a token 'prize' for going to the effort of decorating and entering the competition and call it quits.

To do anything else is just a pure sham.

 

[Tangled Metal]

I fully agree, MissEcho. However, Mesanna said in very plain language that the 10 "Contest" winners would receive their prize of a special hue Reindeer and the #1 slot would be a mini house deed. The "contest" stands the way it is. She was on Atlantic last night looking for some of the winners that were from Atlantic to give them their prize. So, this is, as you say, a pure sham.

Congrats to the top 10 houses! You're all winners!

 

[Gheed]

I cant really say getting your facebook friends to vote for you is all that bad of a thing. I ddint remeber seeing "you must play UO to vote or be a member of stratics" anywhere in the rules. I mean, some folks voted for a house because they are friends with the entrant (a few of mine came form this). So I guess I cheated. Some folks voted for other guild members.. again I'm guilty here. Some folks voted for entries from their shard. I even got mass ICQ's from folks politicking for themselves or their friends.

A few folks really wanted the prize more than others and got creative. I would not be suprised if every single entry got a vote that wasn't cast in the pure spirit of the contest. I voted for my own, and it wasnt the best As for facebook friends. I say tell them all! If a few of them get hooked into opening a sub then the person who told them about it should get two prizes IMHO.

It is odd to me that a stratics or UO membership was not required. But that is just a sign of the times. Typically some entity has to something to gain from these sort contests.... in some area other than having to read these posts.

 

[LordDrago]

What you said:

Every entry should have received a reindeer (Mesanna can you make mine look like a Toad please) :}

What Mesanna hears:

Every entry should have received a reindeer (Mesanna can you make me a Toad please) :}

and now for your entertainment, the dancing broccoli triplets

 

[Petra Fyde]

It is odd to me that a stratics or UO membership was not required. But that is just a sign of the times. Typically some entity has to something to gain from these sort contests.... in some area other than having to read these posts.

uo membership would be hard to track and prove
Stratics membership requirement would have got me a ton and half of grief from all kinds of quarters.
On a personal note - and I emphasis that I do not speak for anyone but myself. My gut reaction is 'That's the last damn contest I do'.

 

[Lady Michelle]

Next contest the voting should be done with using ballot boxes inside the game. The ballot boxes could be set up in moonglow in the green area by the inn for each shard. 1 ballot box per entry, and a sign with the website thats hosting the contest. writing,deco, or whatever you visit the site you like entry #5. You look for the ballot box marked #5, and you cast your vote.

1 vote per account
trail counts cannot vote
accounts that are bought from the orgin store can vote.

 

[Vor]

Next contest the voting should be done with using ballot boxes inside the game. The ballot boxes could be set up in moonglow in the green area by the inn for each shard. 1 ballot box per entry, and a sign with the website thats hosting the contest. writing,deco, or whatever you visit the site you like entry #5. You look for the ballot box marked #5, and you cast your vote.

1 vote per account
trail counts cannot vote
accounts that are bought from the orgin store can vote.

This is how it should have been. Maybe have it on Test though. That way you won't get people going to every shard to vote for their friends entry.

If it's an EA contest, with prizes given by EA, then EA should take full responsibility for it. Not leave it to a volunteer on a fansite to take all the hate if the goes wrong.

 

[Angel Dust]

uo membership would be hard to track and prove
Stratics membership requirement would have got me a ton and half of grief from all kinds of quarters.
On a personal note - and I emphasis that I do not speak for anyone but myself. My gut reaction is 'That's the last damn contest I do'.

Petra, no matter what the outcome was, you would have gotten grief. No matter how the contest was set up, people who did not get outcome they wanted will complain. It was same way with the memorable moments contest, and that was voted on by Devs. Mentality of people these days is "no one should lose, and we all should be winners".

 

[Angel Dust]

After reading through some of these posts, it seems as if you guys are saying all the top 10 houses cheated. Is that what you are saying? Not a single one of my votes are from cheating, yes some where from Facebook friends, but I can assure you that is a small percent of my total. At most, the two houses that just went straight to the top from day one would raise suspisions. The other 8 winners should not have to be accused of something they did not do. I only say this because I ended up in 6th place, and have never in my 11 years of UO cheated at anything or cheated anyone.

 

[cazador]

There needs to be ballot boxes in game for events and things like this I don't understand why something hasn't been put in long ago..even for small changes voting should take place "in game" not at a fan site that's always boggled my mind..this isn't an official EA forum for Ultima Online it's a fan site but yet the devs treat the word here as gold as if stratics amounts to over half the population. In my guild alone I can say over 75% of the people don't have an account here nevermind read the forums. Anyways to get to the point a simple ballot box system setup at Brit bank where you can vote once per account on an issue to get an idea where the community actually stands on issue and this includes voting for events or anything it shouldn't be up to Petra or any other volunteer to take the reigns on this, I mean god we pay to play a game that has a volunteer at a fan site running an event on her own time nobody sees a problem with that..

To make things short and sweet ballot box you vote your heard..then the fan boys argue it out on these forums afterwards and let it go that way

 

[Tangled Metal]

I like the idea of having ALL housing design contests on Test It would not be difficult at all. We could do character copy so we'd have everything we need. You could sign up and get a plot. Smart idea.

 

[Queen Arya]

What you said:


What Mesanna hears:




and now for your entertainment, the dancing broccoli triplets

So much for adding a little levity

 

[Zosimus]

uo membership would be hard to track and prove
Stratics membership requirement would have got me a ton and half of grief from all kinds of quarters.
On a personal note - and I emphasis that I do not speak for anyone but myself. My gut reaction is 'That's the last damn contest I do'.

I would just go with your gut reaction because you and Stratics does not need this. As you can see it was not worth it. In the end the community can blame themselves for this mess and QQ when they realize that holding contests is to much of drama session.

This whole situation proves no matter how or what is done there is always issues.

I will add, this crazy nonsense with Facebook or other social media ( twitter as an example) is just another way for players who don't use them to bash about this contest. Players find ways to advertise UO in any way in the new digital era , which includes social media and its referred as cheating.

I can see why the community doesn't see new player growth in UO because when any possible new player would read threads like these why would they want to even try the game out? Cheating, drama, pointing fingers and arguing over nothing fills up these boards.


Oh last but not least. I don't play UO. I play GW2. I am former staff of Stratics but I do have hope for the site and would and want a better positive future for Stratics. Yes, I am about a healthy and positive community more than most know. Instead of finding negative ways to bring up issues, players should be more innovative and be more positive in ways of brining up issues instead of slacking and just accuse. Gosh forbid if you bring up a PvP issue or thread because others are their to troll it that despise PvP. Same goes with PvE. Same goes with most threads.


Some seem to forget there are many players that staff volunteer their time to do this for all of you. I will agree that some staff crosses the line at times. Trust me whenI say I even disagreed with staff and I know many may have disagreed with me. I really didn't care much if they did or didn't. I can be very outspoken when I choose to be. It definetly didnt mean I was "RIGHT" either. If it wasn't for Petra, Storm and Farc to name a few then this site would be pretty useless. Stratics didn't have to do the contests in the first place. Mesanna didn't have to either. If another contests was ever done at least these issues would be known and could be delt with. Best way is to go with a blind vote then nobody would kow the resluts until it was published would be my only suggestion. This QQ'ing started before the contest was even done and continues.

Go ahead and report me for this but I think some forgot to take their daily dose of geritol. I can sure go back and report many posts that have crossed the line and still are up. So my comment is friggen mild compared to the ones I can point out in 4 threads running now.

Petra, your way better of a person than I will ever be but keep your chin up

 

[Jade of Sonoma]

This post is a bit belated since it is well past Christmas but the idea could be used next years:

As in 'once upon a time', we had impartial "judges" go around the country and explore every segment of the lands to find houses that were decorated for Christmas, and hopefully open to the public, and if not open to the public, they would try contact the owner and have it opened on display for tour groups to visit. Then the Judges advertised that there would be a "TOUR of CHRISTMAS LIGHTS" at certain times during the week before Christmas.

The BEST in SHOW was decided by that panel of judges and the winners announced at an eventful Christmas Party. Awards were simple in-game items including perhaps a million UO gold as first Prize, and less for second and third prizes. It wasn't about rewards. It was about having fun. The competition simply inspired those in the community who loved to decorate houses! FUN!

 

[lineman]

This post is a bit belated since it is well past Christmas but the idea could be used next years:!

A little ? you think. The lack of communication on this is baffling to me. Has anyone actually recieved the promised reward for a top ten house?

 

[Lady Michelle]

This is how it should have been. Maybe have it on Test though. That way you won't get people going to every shard to vote for their friends entry.

If it's an EA contest, with prizes given by EA, then EA should take full responsibility for it. Not leave it to a volunteer on a fansite to take all the hate if the goes wrong.

ya would be more easier to set it up on test then every shard. I did say 1 vote per account tho.

There should be no hate towards Petra or Stratics for what happened with the contest. Petra did wonderful job setting this contest, and voting up. No one could for see what was going to happen, and some one did point out the rules never said you had to play UO to vote.

 

[LordDrago]

So much for adding a little levity

Perhaps my view has been tainted by watching Mesanna and Gareth. hehehe.

 

[Lady Michelle]

After reading through some of these posts, it seems as if you guys are saying all the top 10 houses cheated. Is that what you are saying? Not a single one of my votes are from cheating, yes some where from Facebook friends, but I can assure you that is a small percent of my total. At most, the two houses that just went straight to the top from day one would raise suspisions. The other 8 winners should not have to be accused of something they did not do. I only say this because I ended up in 6th place, and have never in my 11 years of UO cheated at anything or cheated anyone.

I'm sorry it wasn't my intentions for any of my posts to make you feel this way. Having facebook friends voting is not cheating.I frown on it, but its not cheating. When talking about cheating on this issue is where illegal means done to get the top votes is changing your IP etc.

 

[kelmo]

What can we learn from this experience?

 

[old gypsy]

What can we learn from this experience?

Possibly that it would be simpler to choose a panel of (hopefully) impartial in-game judges for each shard rather than open it to voting? (Keeping in mind that no matter how it's handled, some folks aren't going to be happy with the outcome.)

 

[Lady Michelle]

What can we learn from this experience?

I learned to suggest things to make the next contests a better experience for everyone like the in game voting using the ballot boxes I posted in here. Its all we can do is suggest, and hopefully the next contest will be better.
and
be careful about hurting the winners feelings that didn't cheat, who feel that they are being accused of it. Thats not cool at all.

 

[kelmo]

Simple does not happen anymore. How many entries were there? In the time frame allowed it was impossible for a panel of judges to see each house.

 

[old gypsy]

Simple does not happen anymore. How many entries were there? In the time frame allowed it was impossible for a panel of judges to see each house.

True, since the contest encompassed all the shards. I was thinking along the lines of each shard having its own contest, with its own judges.

 

[kelmo]

...be careful about hurting the winners feelings that didn't cheat, who feel that they are being accused of it. Thats not cool at all.

This is the thing that sticks in my mind.

 

[kelmo]

Trust me... we did not start this with any ill intentions.

 

[old gypsy]

It's evident that everyone who worked on this did so with the very best of intentions. There was no way to foresee how complicated it would become once the votes started flooding in.

 

[kelmo]

Well we did. We are just old school folk and never imagined that we would have to deal with deco hackers. *shakes head*

 

[Flutter]

Wow can we just let this go already? Holy crap. Take up a real life cause that matters to you. Stop wasting energy because someone may or may not have allegedly cheated to get a virtual item in a 15 year old MMO. My GOD. Especially if the extent of the "cheating" was just getting your friends to vote for you even if they don't play UO.

My best solution? Have Mesanna make the items no-trade account bound. Since they are deeds I am fairly certain she can do that.

Otherwise, let's build a bridge people... let's build a bridge.

 

[kelmo]

*smiles* You are awesome as always Flutter.

 

[Lord Nabin]

*smiles* Flutter Cracks Whip :whip:

 

[KLOMP]

I didn't enter this contest, but when all the talk of cheating started, I fired up the Tor browser and went to the voting page. The Tor browser is a modded version of Firefox that does all it's traffic through a network of proxy servers by default. It's slow, but it's useful if you live in a country with a repressive government or otherwise want to keep a low profile. Anyway I went to the voting page, cycled through a few different IP addresses, and couldn't find a proxy that hadn't voted already.

There was massive cheating. That's just a fact. I don't mean cheating like getting your Facebook friends to vote for you, I mean like real cheating where one person casts a whole bunch of votes all by themselves.

They really should have required forum registration in order to vote. (Some people would have complained, but registration is quick and free so those people should have been told to shut up.) The forums have tools with which to combat proxy server shenanigans. Those tools are far from perfect, but they can thwart the dumber cheaters and make the smart ones work harder for each vote.