I know you had to wait, but hopefully you will find the reason was worth it!
First up we have the..
Cakes We expected this contest to work out well, but it turned into what can best be described as a cake arms-race! Towards the final weekend, it looked like our 25-30 cake estimate would be somewhat accurate.. so wrong. So very wrong. During the final two days, the cake-count more than doubled - for every cake I added to the thread, a new one would pop up! I literally said to myself "OK I'm gonna add the last cake-entries and go to bed" at 5 am, and ended up sitting there adding cakes for almost 2 hours before the flood let up!
In short, we are amazed by the effort put into this, as well as the quality cakes that came out of it. If you have not done so already, I strongly recommend perusing the Post Your Cake thread, HERE.
In addition, forum-member and cake-baker Pape made an excellent compilation video of all the cakes (I think): + Show Spoiler [Video] +
With over 3000 diggs, Vincze01's screenshot-esque rendition of a zerg base came out as an early favorite to win, and kept its position in the top 3 until the end.
Just when everyone had gotten used to the idea of nothing coming close to Vincze's cake, Vedic & Venes shocked everyone with this scarily life-like Marine-cake.
I'm not sure I'd have the stones to actually try to eat this, I'd be worried he'd (see? I'm pretty sure a cake is an "it", but it just doesn't feel right in this case) shoot me or somethig.
Not as massive in size as the above entry, but amazingly detailed, this was the 3rd step in the cake-arms race. Extremely well deserved beta-keys for this entry!
As you may be aware, the prizes for this contest was originally listed as being 2 keys for each top 3 entry, something that we quickly realized would not allow us to reward all the cakes we wanted to reward.
So what to do? We talked about changing the distribution, but that just wouldn't be fair. We talked to Blizzard about getting new keys, but were told they had no more keys for the 1st wave to give out - however, if we wanted to, we could use keys from our 2nd wave allotment.
Each of the Top 3 cakes will receive TWO keys, while cakes 4 to 10 get ONE 2nd Wave key. What this mean is that you will not get into the beta in the 1st wave, but as soon as the 2nd wave of Beta Invites goes out, you will get one.
I know there were some delays in revealing the winners, but I hope you can see why now, and will agree with me that it was worth it!
Guides
Like the Cake Contest, our guide contest recieved around 50 entries, varying in length from a page to... 31 pages - seriously. Voting was hard, as the guidelines for what we were after were.. non-existant. Nonetheless, at the end three guides pulled ahead in our votes (really, four did, the distance between 3rd and 4th was quite small).
Atrioc'sProgamer Trading Card Game A clear favorite, among both staff and forumers! Atrioc's adaption of the Pokemon TCG rules, and his amazing series of actual cards, is a well deserved winner.
With expansions already in the works, and work being done on making it playable online, this is something you don't want to miss - check it out now!
Nightmarjoo'sGuide to Map Making I don't feel too bad calling this THE guide to map-making. At 31 pages, this mammoth of a guide will cover everything from the technical aspects to map-making theory.
Beta-keys well deserved. Maybe we'll see a SC2 version of this in 10 years, in time for the SC3 beta ?
Cube's Guide to Solving the Rubik's Cube Cube writing a guide about Cubing.. damn, appropiate ID, sir! Cube basics, advanced cubing, cube maintenance.. everything you ever wanted to know, in one place.
In the words of our Great Leader:
On June 15 2009 16:04 Manifesto7 wrote: Very nice guide. Two things that are important to be able to pick up nonchalantly at a house party and do well are play the guitar and solve a rubiks cube.
So, congratulations sir, enjoy the beta
Each of the above entries will receive TWO beta keys each.
Ironman Unfortunately, we STILL have not heard back from Blizzard on this yet - although they have assured us they are almost ready. So, while we would love to be able to announce new dates for these, the wait goes on.. Sorry!
So there you have it! We hope you all enjoyed these contests, even if you didn't win. Judging these contests was extremely hard, and despite our best efforts, there are going to be good entries that didn't get keys.
Once the beta starts, we'll be sure to offer more chances of getting keys so look out for that!
Congratulations, winners! These contests turned into a massive TL talent contest of sorts...I was floored by the talent around here. All the keys are super well-deserved.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! When does the 2nd wave start? I knew when that Kerrigan cake came out I was doomed haha! I'll take 4th place though as long as I get to participate and share with the community!
Thank You so much TL this is awsome news and I want to congratulate the top 3 you deserve it and from 4-10 you also deserve it and from 11-61 I will make sure to give back for your efforts!
On June 21 2009 00:40 FrozenArbiter wrote: So what to do? We talked about changing the distribution, but that just wouldn't be fair. We talked to Blizzard about getting new keys, but were told they had no more keys for the 1st wave to give out - however, if we wanted to, we could use keys from our 2nd wave allotment.
Each of the Top 3 cakes will receive TWO keys, while cakes 4 to 10 get ONE 2nd Wave key. What this mean is that you will not get into the beta in the 1st wave, but as soon as the 2nd wave of Beta Invites goes out, you will get one.
So does this mean there will be a second round of invites before the beta comes out, meaning that it'll still be some time until the beta starts?
On June 21 2009 00:40 FrozenArbiter wrote: So what to do? We talked about changing the distribution, but that just wouldn't be fair. We talked to Blizzard about getting new keys, but were told they had no more keys for the 1st wave to give out - however, if we wanted to, we could use keys from our 2nd wave allotment.
Each of the Top 3 cakes will receive TWO keys, while cakes 4 to 10 get ONE 2nd Wave key. What this mean is that you will not get into the beta in the 1st wave, but as soon as the 2nd wave of Beta Invites goes out, you will get one.
So does this mean there will be a second round of invites before the beta comes out, meaning that it'll still be some time until the beta starts?
Congrats to the winners btw
I believe the 2nd round is AFTER the beta has started.. I am not sure, Blizzard basically told us that we could take keys from our "2nd Wave" allotment if we wanted to, and we did .
On June 21 2009 01:13 Kennigit wrote: Yeah there will be a second round. We are taking those keys "out" prematurely cause there were too many awesome cakes.
Great decision for the cakes (even if it means less keys in the future). Good job every body !
Ironman Unfortunately, we STILL have not heard back from Blizzard on this yet - although they have assured us they are almost ready. So, while we would love to be able to announce new dates for these, the wait goes on.. Sorry!
Ironman Unfortunately, we STILL have not heard back from Blizzard on this yet - although they have assured us they are almost ready. So, while we would love to be able to announce new dates for these, the wait goes on.. Sorry!
Why do you need Blizzard on this ?
We need a license to host the tournaments apparently.. I don't know if it's because it's a Blizzard-affiliated event or if it's because we want to broadcast games from it.
On June 21 2009 01:23 Nitro68 wrote: Great decision for the cakes (even if it means less keys in the future). Good job every body !
Ironman Unfortunately, we STILL have not heard back from Blizzard on this yet - although they have assured us they are almost ready. So, while we would love to be able to announce new dates for these, the wait goes on.. Sorry!
Why do you need Blizzard on this ?
We need a license to host the tournaments apparently.. I don't know if it's because it's a Blizzard-affiliated event or if it's because we want to broadcast games from it.
YAY! Those three cakes were exactly those which I though would win, except for the last one, I just wished for that one. ^^ Great for the others also getting a beta key somewhen. So winning doesn't make me have to feel bad. You just gotta love this site. I think I'll stay. Haha, my gf was F5ing all the time and now that the results are out she isn't at home. Oh, the irony. Thanks to everyone for such a great contest. And now I'm going to read the winner-guides.
edit: I would eat some cake now for celebrating, but it's all gone by now...
On June 21 2009 01:23 Nitro68 wrote: Great decision for the cakes (even if it means less keys in the future). Good job every body !
Ironman Unfortunately, we STILL have not heard back from Blizzard on this yet - although they have assured us they are almost ready. So, while we would love to be able to announce new dates for these, the wait goes on.. Sorry!
Why do you need Blizzard on this ?
We need a license to host the tournaments apparently.. I don't know if it's because it's a Blizzard-affiliated event or if it's because we want to broadcast games from it.
Big applause to Vedic and his Wife for the epic marine cake. This guy had the energy to make 3 cakes and his 3rd was an unbelievable effort definetlly most deserving of a key for all the time he put into this. It took most of us multiple days to make 1 cake and this guy made 3!
Even though I don't understand with guide results AT ALL (maybe except of first place but basic idea of this was already shown at GG.net like 2 years ago, truth is, it was meant more like joke thing back then), I fully support the decission of giving more keys for cakes, those people have my respect!
tl has so many talented bakers/cake-makers :D The top 3 were just jaw-dropping. Congrats to the winners!
I'm sad the smart investing guide didn't make top 3; I really liked that one. That said, the guide winners totally deserved to win. It would be criminal if the map making guide didn't get a beta key.
Congrats to all the winners! Trust me when I say I wish we had even more keys to hand out, the effort that went into many of the cakes/guides was just phenominal.
Really nice cakes, some of them had to take many days to make. im drooling over them wondering if they'll taste good aswell? ;D Congratulations to the winners!
congratulations guys! i'm sad i didn't win anything, but you guys deserved it more. hopefully i'll be seeing lots of beta videos from you guys that would make the wait a little easier...
On June 21 2009 04:37 Grobyc wrote: DAaaaaaaaamn I was really hoping to win T_________T
I wish there was that second round of beta keys for 4th-10th placers in the guide making as well. Thousands upon thousands of words for some of them.
GG guys, you earned it.
Haha yes ... when I saw the #4-10 cakes were getting keys I figured I had a decent chance, but the tenacity of TL users is too much. I suppose there's no one better to get beaten by, and making the cake itself was a good experience.
well, i really like the idea of getting a beta key from my friend who bake in coorperation with his girlfriend this awesome kerrigan cake but although i feel kinda happy now i never saw a piece of it.... i neither was able to touch it nor to taste its deliciousness... and then i finally realized it... the all too obvious truth
THE CAKE WAS A LIE^^
congratulations to all winners and participants i would have liked to eat alot of them the effort you put into this is incredible for someone like me... really impressing
greetings i_love_evoli
edit: to make this clear... this contest was the first time i actually thought THE CAKES ARE NO LIES
On June 21 2009 04:37 Grobyc wrote: I wish there was that second round of beta keys for 4th-10th placers in the guide making as well. Thousands upon thousands of words for some of them.
Yeah that's how I feel. Even though I think 4-10 would be overkill for the guides... they should consider throwing a couple more. I don't know how many second round keys they are getting, but I think they should give approximately double what they gave for the guide contest this time and give less double keys next time to compensate. Honestly I wish it had been single keys except for maybe first place.
Man, those cakes are fucking excellent. I guess if I received any of them, I would never eat them, just pet somewhere in my room, to look at them, every morning I'm waking up. Lol
amazing cakes!!! Grats to the winners! well deserved! as for those who didnt win, and put in alot of work, I really feel ya... Better luck next time, you will allways gain something from hard work. I promise you
Congrats to the winners The cakes especially look amazing. I've been wanting to use the Rubik's Cube guide but wasn't able to find an old cube at home yet T_T
On June 21 2009 05:24 jtype wrote: Grats guys! The amount of work that went into all of those entries was just astonishing.
We should open up a TL cake shop, methinks.
Based on time alone, specialty cakes of this type would run around $200. =P
You under ran the amount. Cakes of the quality of the top 3 for instance could run well over $200 provided you were supplying them for a large function (be it a convention, or the like).
Because you have to charge them based on the material cost you put into the work, and you can charge them for all the work you put into it, ie you can charge for initial brainstorm of idea, all time taken to create a test run or two, shopping time, etc....
Cakes are an industry you can make a better living off of than most other jobs
Wow! Sweet job securing the second wave of keys for all the hard work everyone put in I'm truly impressed by the efforts of the contestants and the staff. I can't wait to start to hear stories of what beta is like from all the winners great job everyone you deserve the sweet thrill of beta!
Very nice work to the winners. I am satisfied with the chosen ones. I won't single anyone in particular out, but one in particular deserves money on top of the key.
Seriously, congratulations to all the winners, and well done to everyone who participated to the contests. When I saw the 4-10 other winners I had a big grin on my face thinking TL didn't let them down. I remember checking the cake thread every few minutes finding new entries. It was crazy. Even though a lot of guides didn't win I would like to thank the guide makers for their effort, some of those guides are definitely useful.
On June 21 2009 05:24 jtype wrote: Grats guys! The amount of work that went into all of those entries was just astonishing.
We should open up a TL cake shop, methinks.
Based on time alone, specialty cakes of this type would run around $200. =P
You under ran the amount. Cakes of the quality of the top 3 for instance could run well over $200 provided you were supplying them for a large function (be it a convention, or the like).
Because you have to charge them based on the material cost you put into the work, and you can charge them for all the work you put into it, ie you can charge for initial brainstorm of idea, all time taken to create a test run or two, shopping time, etc....
Cakes are an industry you can make a better living off of than most other jobs
Oh, I agree, that's why I said that the time alone was probably just $200. My wife is actually considering switching up to cake decorating now. =D
Does uncontrollable get anything? She was the one who came up with the idea for the original cake competition after all which turned into the most awesome thing I've ever, ever seen on this site. Maybe not a beta key but at least an icon or something.
On June 21 2009 11:56 The Storyteller wrote: Does uncontrollable get anything? She was the one who came up with the idea for the original cake competition after all which turned into the most awesome thing I've ever, ever seen on this site. Maybe not a beta key but at least an icon or something.
On June 21 2009 12:28 micronesia wrote: I honestly don't want to think about how long my guide took including research... but I probably would have done it even if not for the contest.
Well I have to thank you for it, since reading it my sleep and attitude towards sleep have already started improving.
It's really too sad that some people who should have gotten beta key's didn't, but what can TL do about it? They have already put a bunch of second wave keys out on "credit". I wish everyone who did a good guide could get one. One other thing I've noticed is that the contests really stimulated user activity and I think that's great.
Edit* Also, I can't wait for the Beta. I think that the whole guide/cake contest is going to motivate everyone to make commentaries, reviews, and videos and thus improve coverage quality of the Beta among TL. All in all these contests were fantastic moves by TL and we should all thank "the controls" for their influence and suggestions.
On June 21 2009 12:28 micronesia wrote: I honestly don't want to think about how long my guide took including research... but I probably would have done it even if not for the contest.
Well I have to thank you for it, since reading it my sleep and attitude towards sleep have already started improving.
Ah I'm glad to hear that. This is mainly why I wrote the guide. Already a bunch of people have said it's helped them.
On June 21 2009 14:14 VIB wrote: I'm really surprised that were no guides on how to make cakes
Well they would just increase competition in the cake contest if they did that XD
On June 22 2009 00:37 fanatacist wrote: I'm surprised there is no 4-10 for guides ):
4-10 isn't necessary. Still, they should have increased the guide number slightly if they were gonna increase the cake number that drastically. Their overly low expectations of the cake entries are not the guide writers' fault!
On June 21 2009 11:56 The Storyteller wrote: Does uncontrollable get anything? She was the one who came up with the idea for the original cake competition after all which turned into the most awesome thing I've ever, ever seen on this site. Maybe not a beta key but at least an icon or something.
I kinda wanna second this
If nothing material at least mention her in the contest... she deserves some credit for inventing/starting this... i know tl kinda swept it up cause blizz liked the idea but plz be more appreciative or something to the community member that started this.
On June 21 2009 11:56 The Storyteller wrote: Does uncontrollable get anything? She was the one who came up with the idea for the original cake competition after all which turned into the most awesome thing I've ever, ever seen on this site. Maybe not a beta key but at least an icon or something.
I kinda wanna second this
If nothing material at least mention her in the contest... she deserves some credit for inventing/starting this... i know tl kinda swept it up cause blizz liked the idea but plz be more appreciative or something to the community member that started this.
She was mentioned in the contest announcement. She even got a little praise in the post.
If you think that's insufficient effort, consider yourself a TeamLiquid ambassador with a mission to please.
Cube's Guide to Solving the Rubik's Cube Cube writing a guide about Cubing.. damn, appropiate ID, sir! Cube basics, advanced cubing, cube maintenance.. everything you ever wanted to know, in one place.
In the words of our Great Leader: On June 15 2009 16:04 Manifesto7 wrote: Very nice guide. Two things that are important to be able to pick up nonchalantly at a house party and do well are play the guitar and solve a rubiks cube.
On June 21 2009 11:56 The Storyteller wrote: Does uncontrollable get anything? She was the one who came up with the idea for the original cake competition after all which turned into the most awesome thing I've ever, ever seen on this site. Maybe not a beta key but at least an icon or something.
I kinda wanna second this
If nothing material at least mention her in the contest... she deserves some credit for inventing/starting this... i know tl kinda swept it up cause blizz liked the idea but plz be more appreciative or something to the community member that started this.
hahah sounds like someone wants his GF's beta key... hahaha
Inc: "hey come on it's not fair she worked so hard! All I'm asking for is acknowledgment" FA: "okkk.. here unc, have a beta key" Inc: "*yoink* thanks for the keyyyyyyyyyyyyy......." FA: "Wait that was for unc..... ahhhhh whatever..."
Congratulations I loved seeing all the cakes - a brilliant idea for a contest and some gorgeous results (although it made me wish not to diet right now!)
On June 21 2009 11:56 The Storyteller wrote: Does uncontrollable get anything? She was the one who came up with the idea for the original cake competition after all which turned into the most awesome thing I've ever, ever seen on this site. Maybe not a beta key but at least an icon or something.
I kinda wanna second this
If nothing material at least mention her in the contest... she deserves some credit for inventing/starting this... i know tl kinda swept it up cause blizz liked the idea but plz be more appreciative or something to the community member that started this.
hahah sounds like someone wants his GF's beta key... hahaha
Inc: "hey come on it's not fair she worked so hard! All I'm asking for is acknowledgment" FA: "okkk.. here unc, have a beta key" Inc: "*yoink* thanks for the keyyyyyyyyyyyyy......." FA: "Wait that was for unc..... ahhhhh whatever..."
On June 22 2009 16:28 buscettn wrote: congratulations to everyone... those were some awesome cakes, and also so much effort put into those guides (i really loved the progaming-game)...
Cube's Guide to Solving the Rubik's Cube Cube writing a guide about Cubing.. damn, appropiate ID, sir! Cube basics, advanced cubing, cube maintenance.. everything you ever wanted to know, in one place.
In the words of our Great Leader: On June 15 2009 16:04 Manifesto7 wrote: Very nice guide. Two things that are important to be able to pick up nonchalantly at a house party and do well are play the guitar and solve a rubiks cube.
So, congratulations sir, enjoy the beta
just lol - congrats all around
Soo.. there should be 2nd wave keys given to other guides too, as Manifesto mentioned, the Playing guitar guide *cough cough* =]
But in all seriousness, just curious.. Did you guys (being TL mods) send every winners bnet account info to Blizzard for the 19th? I thought I read that somewhere, just looking for confirmation.
Soo.. there should be 2nd wave keys given to other guides too, as Manifesto mentioned, the Playing guitar guide *cough cough* =]
But in all seriousness, just curious.. Did you guys (being TL mods) send every winners bnet account info to Blizzard for the 19th? I thought I read that somewhere, just looking for confirmation.
I won the cake key for the 2nd round and TL didn't mention anything about that. Infact they don't even know my bnet account info! So hopefully I get a pm about it sometime along the way.
EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/alffla/BetaKeyBanner.jpg)
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![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/pachi/Contest/09_betacake_coltrane.jpg)
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