Sins of a Solar Empire Video Contest Rules & Requirements

The nitty-gritty

from Sins Forums

So you've read all about the video contest on the front page, and you want to know exactly what you need to do huh?  Well, here are the official rules and entry requirements.  If something is unclear or not covered in the rules, please feel free to post them on this thread.  I will be by regularly to answer anything that comes up.

-Z

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Prizes:

  1. Grand Prize:
    • Video included on the June 2008 PC Gamer Demo Disc
    • Autographed copy of Sins of a Solar Empire
    • Sins T-Shirt
  2. 1st & 2nd Runners Up:
    • Sins T-Shirt

Deadline:

Submissions must be in by 11:59pm EST, March 6th 2008.  Any submissions after that time will be disqualified.

Judging:

Entries will be judged by Stardock and Ironclad.  In the event that judges can not agree on a winner, Stardock reserves the right to change to grand prize as it sees fit.

Eligibility

  • Must be 18 years of age or older as of 3/4/2008
  • Must be a registered owner of Sins of a Solar Empire (no pirates, thanks)

Video Requirements:

  • Must display all three Sins races without using mods.
  • Must be based on the released version of the game (no beta video).
  • Must be original (i.e. you can't take bits from existing footage like the intro video or other gameplay videos)
  • Must not run longer than 2 minutes
  • All audio used in the trailer must either be from the game, original work, or public domain
  • Must not be larger than 50mb

Of course, since the video might go on the PC Gamer Demo Disc, there are some exacting tech specifications for the video too.

Standard Definition WMV

  1. Minimum video bit rate - 2000 Kbps
  2. Sample Rate (audio) - 128/48 khz stereo CBR
  3. Frame Rate - 29.97
  4. Image Size - 640x480
  5. Codec WMV Version - v9 for audio and v8 for video - 2 pass CBR (Constant Bit Rate - normalize audio to around 10db).

High Definition WMV

  1. High Definition Quality Video - 5000 Kbps to 8000 Kbps
  2. Sample Rate (audio) - 128/48 khz stereo CBR)
  3. Frame Rate - 29.97
  4. Image Size - 1280x720
  5. Codec WMV Version - v9.1 for audio and v9 for video - 2 pass CBR (Constant Bit Rate - normalize audio to around 10db)

How To Submit Your Video

To start with, create your video to the above content and technical specifications, then upload your video to GameTrailers. 

Then take the link to your GT video and post it HERE.  Just the link, nothing more.  On March 5th we will go through the trailers and pick the winners.  We will announce the results shortly after.

It's very very very important that you keep all original video assets after uploading your GT video.  If you win, we'll be asking you for your full-size, full-quality trailer for inclusion on the demo disc.

Alteration of Contest Rules

Stardock reserves the right to modify these contest rules at its discretion.

61,756 views 38 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Sounds very cool. Might just have to give this a try. For the music, can we use things like songs from a site such as Newgrounds where other people upload them?

Also, any suggestions on video editing programs to splice in camera shots and audio?
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
No, the only music you can use is either in-game music, music freely available in the public domain, or music that is your own original creation.
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
er... This sounds cool and all, but last I checked you needed a copy of the game in order to make any sort of video... What good is a copy of Sins if you already have the game?
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
Actually, music off Newgrounds should be a yes, as thats 'music freely available to the public domain'. Its music people have created and submitted to a free site for anyone at all to listen to and share.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
er... This sounds cool and all, but last I checked you needed a copy of the game in order to make any sort of video... What good is a copy of Sins if you already have the game?
End of quote

It's an autographed copy of the game, so it'll be a cool collector's item.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
One thing about the video size, seeing as the hi-res video is going to be 720p, wouldn't it be easier to upload any size to GT keeping it to 16:9? Having it at 640x480 would only cause more headache especially if you're trying to capture the game, you'll find that the picture will be squashed unless you don't mind GT trailer to be sqaushed horizontally?

Of course you can still use a widescreen output on GT as well so would that be fine keeping the codecs the same that is?
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Can we use Sin Web Assets, game logo/title and the respective company logos?
Or will IronClad/Stardock do that for us? As in slap the respective game and company logos either at the start or end of the game trailer?
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
No, the only music you can use is either in-game music, music freely available in the public domain, or music that is your own original creation.
End of quote


Well, A) its an autographed copy. B) do all your friends have copies? :D
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
How do you guys know that one of the PCG staff (*cough Dan S. cough*) won't enter?
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

One thing about the video size, seeing as the hi-res video is going to be 720p, wouldn't it be easier to upload any size to GT keeping it to 16:9? Having it at 640x480 would only cause more headache especially if you're trying to capture the game, you'll find that the picture will be squashed unless you don't mind GT trailer to be sqaushed horizontally?Of course you can still use a widescreen output on GT as well so would that be fine keeping the codecs the same that is?
End of quote

The video specs are what's required by PC Gamer.

Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top

Can we use Sin Web Assets, game logo/title and the respective company logos?Or will IronClad/Stardock do that for us? As in slap the respective game and company logos either at the start or end of the game trailer?
End of quote

I would suggest skipping those for your video. If you win we'll be able to add them, but you can use any assets off this website. ;)

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

How do you guys know that one of the PCG staff (*cough Dan S. cough*) won't enter?
End of quote

Maybe they will. :P 

PC Gamer really isn't involved in this at all as Stardock's paying for the video to appear on their demo disc. ;)

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
In regards to the videos. Does it matter whether or not watermarks are imprinted in the videos? Sure I can pay for Fraps, but I feel I don't need the full program to capture what I need for my videos.
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
hmm 18 yet Arr!!!!
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top

In regards to the videos. Does it matter whether or not watermarks are imprinted in the videos? Sure I can pay for Fraps, but I feel I don't need the full program to capture what I need for my videos.
End of quote

If it comes down to two videos of roughly equal quality, and one has a watermark whereas another one doesn't, the one without will win.  Watermark degrades the presentation quality of the video.

Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top

er... This sounds cool and all, but last I checked you needed a copy of the game in order to make any sort of video... What good is a copy of Sins if you already have the game?
End of quote

As others have said, you're getting a collectors item, a copy of the game signed by the entire team. 

Additionally, if someone doesn't own the game and they're making gameplay videos, it means they pirated it, and that is in no way acceptable.

Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top
Hmm. Is there any possibility of getting a tiny bit of leniency on the rule about being under 2 minutes?

If fx. the video was all planned out with the audio, but the darn thing ends up running a 2 min and 5 seconds. Is there nothing to do at all there?
Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
Hmm. Is there any possibility of getting a tiny bit of leniency on the rule about being under 2 minutes?If fx. the video was all planned out with the audio, but the darn thing ends up running a 2 min and 5 seconds. Is there nothing to do at all there?
End of quote


Things like video length, tech requirements are set by PC Gamer.
Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top
ah well. Guess I'll have to adapt then :)
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top
Question about the two version of the video that you write about up there. Is the Standard definition video suposed to be the one that is uploaded to GT, and the High definition is the one that get's handed over to PC gamer in case it wins?
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
Submit whichever you think gives you the best shot at winning  ;)
Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top

If fx. the video was all planned out with the audio, but the darn thing ends up running a 2 min and 5 seconds. Is there nothing to do at all there?
End of quote

Actually this is okay. The thing that can't be exceeded is the 50 MB size limitation. I wouldn't sweat 5 seconds. ;)

Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top
I'm having trouble with the WMV encoder by Microsoft as far as what is selectable for audio/video settings for encoding. It shows 9.2 for sound and 9 for video. Is this acceptable?
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
Ye my sound won't go lower than v9.2 either. But I don't think that should come off as too much of a problem.
Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top
Hi How do I turn of the hud so I can have pure game screen, and what is the best way to capture the game video. I know of fraps but it slows down when the setting ar high. Cheers