The Otakon 2015 Mega-thread

[Rider4Z]

^i'm with dragontamer. but i don't attend the con

[Hiroto Sumi]

I'd like to see the non-finalist AMV program, but the schedule says that it is two hours long on Friday, and an hour long on Saturday. Why are the hours different? Also, where is AMV Op's so that I can pick up the leet Editor badge? Thanks.

Congratulations to the finalists! Can't wait to see the AMV contest!

[Brakus]

Have you ever considered the possibility of alleviating the submission restriction a little bit? I would like to suggest that Otakon ups the number of submissions from 1 to 2. As long as you still keep the "no prior wins" rule, I feel that the contest will maintain its freashness and continue to be the convention where numerous AMVs premiere at every summer. I feel that this adjustment will only make the contest better because it will allow editors to take risks and not just play it safe. By having the option of a 2nd entry, editors can send in videos that they may not feel have the best odds of making finals, but they would still like to give a chance. This will also ensure that you get enough entries to make the contest as strong as possible

I second this. I think having two limiting rules like that is just a little much. I LOVE the fact this con has a rule where a video cannot have won a major award in the past, but the fact we are also limited to just one entry takes a lot of the experience out for me because I just feel like it is always such a huge ultimatum decision, and, idk, I just think it would be more enjoyable as a whole for a lot of the participants to be able to submit two videos.

Speaking for myself and not for any conventions I work for....

I like that Otakon has the "one entry per person" rule. It reduces the chances that any one editor or any one studio will dominate the awards given out, as is the case some years at AWA.

I really do think the drop in entries is mostly because of Otakon seeming to be so much earlier than usual, even though the submission deadline was the traditional weekend of AnimeNext. Normally Otakon happens the very last days of July or the first/second weekend in August. It seems we haven't had such an earlier Otakon since 2009 (when it was July 17-19). It seems like Otakon snuck up on all of us like a Ninja of the Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

[NightMistress85]

Speaking for myself and not for any conventions I work for....

I like that Otakon has the "one entry per person" rule. It reduces the chances that any one editor or any one studio will dominate the awards given out, as is the case some years at AWA.

I really do think the drop in entries is mostly because of Otakon seeming to be so much earlier than usual, even though the submission deadline was the traditional weekend of AnimeNext. Normally Otakon happens the very last days of July or the first/second weekend in August. It seems we haven't had such an earlier Otakon since 2009 (when it was July 17-19). It seems like Otakon snuck up on all of us like a Ninja of the Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

I would also prefer to see if it's a new trend first. Prescreenings can be pretty brutal as it is with just one entry per person. As for me, I really need to stop being busy and lazy and unmotivated so I can watch some new stuff and make something new, lol

[l33tmeatwad]

Okay, I'm going to be that guy...if you can only make one video per year, make it good. If you are worried about not making finals, then get better. There are plenty of people in this community that are ready and willing to give you feedback for your video(s). Being there is a rule that doesn't allow for troll videos I'm not really sure what the issue would be with 2 submissions and it actually INCREASES your chance of having something make finals if you actually submit more than one.

[Ileia]

...if you can only make one video for Otakon, make it good.

Joking aside, I haven't entered previously so I don't have much of a horse in the race, but I don't see an issue with allowing two entries. However, I don't see how entering only one is detrimental, either. I haven't seen it yet, obviously, but from a few comments here saying the contest is still high quality it sounds like the drop in number has not been problematic. A good compromise might be allowing a second submission specifically for categories that are typically light on entries (like comedy).

[l33tmeatwad]

A good compromise might be allowing a second submission specifically for categories that are typically light on entries (like comedy).

This is basically what I would like to see, from what I've heard they've struggled to get comedy entries each year, I think a boost in comedy submissions could help the quality of that category tremendously.

[milesprower05]

Okay, I'm going to be that guy...if you can only make one video per year, make it good. If you are worried about not making finals, then get better. There are plenty of people in this community that are ready and willing to give you feedback for your video(s). Being there is a rule that doesn't allow for troll videos I'm not really sure what the issue would be with 2 submissions and it actually INCREASES your chance of having something make finals if you actually submit more than one.

You may be "that guy" but your typical "get gud" mentality isn't selling me on this argument. In fact it can be used the other way. By extension of your point the editor should be getting better in order to make sure their one submission makes the finals. Dragontamer has made finals, has made finals before and even got a first place trophy at Otakon before so he isn't just an editor who doesn't understand quality.

I definitely can understand the original posts point that only one submission scares editors from branching out, in fact, I feel like I was a victim of submitting to a new category this year. That said on the other side I love how Otakon's contest showcases so many different editors and styles at the same time because of that same rule. It in turn forces a diversity of videos in the contest through a large roster of editors.

That is the main reason I would still side with the one submission rule even if it stung to not make finals this year.

As for allowing a second submission to specific categories, it sounds nice, but it also is just side-stepping the one submission rule which isn't fair. At that point someone submitting into Drama and then a bonus like Comedy would not only get two shots at finals but also at Best in Show.

That said, I also understand the reasoning to sacrifice fairness to some degree in order to get a better show.

At that point we are entering a grey area but as of right now I still favor the single submission rule.

[Rider4Z]

I like that Otakon allows only one. That's part of its personality and makes it stand out. There's no one "right" way to run a contest. No matter what you choose or which direction you sway there are always consequences and benefits. Otakon seems to be big enough for the one submission rule to work for them. And from a judge's point of view, there are much fewer throw-away entries to sit thru.

[l33tmeatwad]

You may be "that guy" but your typical "get gud" mentality isn't selling me on this argument.

Not trying to sell you on it, just being blunt about it. If i'm being honest, not every good video makes finals, and often there are weak categories, so you could make it one year with a weaker video than another. That said, if someone is consistently not making finals, they might need to look at why and maybe change things up a bit.