The GUI Olympics has begun!

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The GUI Olympics 2004 begins today. The GUI Olympics is a Inter-website contest in which people compete for over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Anyone can enter as an individual or as part of a team.

There are 3 categories in this year's contest:
1) Winamp 5 skins
2) Icon packages (using IconPackager)
3) Visual Styles (in WindowBlinds format)

The contest is sponsored by Nullsoft, Stardock, ATI, Eclipsit and nVidia as well as supported by Microsoft. All of which are providing prizes. The judges will be from Neowin, deviantART, Stardock, and Nullsoft and judging won't begin until early April (over a month of now) giving plenty of time for people to start making their skins and themes. There are enough prizes that pretty much anyone who enters something is likely to win *something* even if it's just a Microsoft T-shirt. Besides cold hard cash for winners, prizes include a Microsoft Xbox, ATI video cards, MicroAngelo icon software, Stardock Object Desktop, and more.

Judging won't begin until May 4th giving skinners plenty of time to put together their submissions. Good luck to all!

News source: Visit GUIOlympics.com for more information

You can get Winamp 5 at: www.winamp.com.
You can get WindowBlinds at: www.windowblinds.net SkinStudio (which makes skins) at www.skinstudio.net (SkinStudio is free).
You can get IconPackager at IconZone.com

(2 replies) #1 Dazzla on 01 Mar 2004 - 18:47

I tried making a winamp 5 skin a while back, I guess I'm just too dense

I'll stick to WMP9 skinning for now, maybe GUI Olympics 2005 I'll be ready...

Anyone even creating an original MSStyle should consider entering, run it through Skinstudio and check out the results. A bit of tweaking if needed and you've got yourself a cool, original WB skin

#1.1 Yvo on 02 Mar 2004 - 00:15

However there wont be one in 2005, wait til 06

#1.2 ramik on 02 Mar 2004 - 07:35

However there wont be one in 2005, nor 2006, nor 2007, wait till 08

#2 MaceX on 01 Mar 2004 - 18:50

1) Winap 5 skins

I think I should submit my hello world program I made with its leet default dialog graphics.

(1 reply) #3 Zetter on 01 Mar 2004 - 18:55

so whos judging from neowin?

Its a shame that this topic is buried beneth two stickies
--Edit---
wow, the stickies both have vanished, somone must be listening to me

am i the only one wondering how they got ATI and Nvidia to sponser the same event

Last edited by 26664 on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:05

#3.1 Voodoo on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:09

for both things

#4 SMeK on 01 Mar 2004 - 18:56

im so gona make a winamp 5 in paint

i wana win a prize!

(12 replies) #5 icedevil on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:11

why not include non third party visual styles

#5.1 c242 on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:17

Did You bother to look at the sponsors ? You will be able to answer Yourself after that. I don't think Microsoft will sponsor skins that are only possible using a hacked Windows system dll.

Last edited by 8024 on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:54

#5.2 Marshalus on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:25

Because Stardock is the one running it.

#5.3 Hippy on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:27

Thanks for giving me the best laugh of the day.

Although an Msstyle category or two would be interesting.
'Best use of grey in a Minimalist skin.'
'Best use of a lack of colour.'
'Best skin ported over from OSX'
'Best grey minimalist OSX-based skin that's not really 'that' different from 2 million others.'

Also another few categories for WB too that could be added.
'Best skin ported over from an Msstyle port from the Mac.'
'Best rehash of Luna/Longhorn/Aqua' This one could be applicable to either format really....
'Best use of colorblindness,'

#5.4 Bant on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:53

ooh....youre hilarious.

i dont understand why submitted works can only be considered for 2 of the categories. if a team makes a theme that incorporates all of the categories and does it the best, effin give them everything, they deserve it. it just puts more fire under everybodies asses. what, they want to spread the prizes among lesser themers(see: undeserving)? ouch? i dont expect much to come of this event.

#5.5 imtoomuch on 01 Mar 2004 - 22:03

I think you would have to add more categories to your list for WB
-World's biggest bevel
-World's biggest taskbar
-World's chunkiest windows
-Best use of colors that nobody likes
-Best Pixtudio rip

#5.6 Hippy on 01 Mar 2004 - 22:28

And this would be my concern, why?

#5.7 kongit on 01 Mar 2004 - 23:00

I think hippy has been around the skinning bizness long enough to know what he is talking about. thanks for the rating of 6 to

#5.8 Jugalator on 02 Mar 2004 - 08:17

QUOTE

Although an Msstyle category or two would be interesting.
'Best use of grey in a Minimalist skin.'
'Best use of a lack of colour.'
'Best skin ported over from OSX'
'Best grey minimalist OSX-based skin that's not really 'that' different from 2 million others.'

Hehe, so true

#5.9 idbuythatforadollar on 02 Mar 2004 - 13:30

Best use of colorblindness

MISTER POWERUSER!!!1!

#5.10 EnderDX on 04 Mar 2004 - 05:30

some more WB categories

1) Most system resources used
2) Most non-microsoft program glitches
3) Best theme to make the classic start menu to look like crap

#5.11 c242 on 04 Mar 2004 - 11:15

1.5 MB RAM usage is a hell lot of system ressources...

#5.12 EnderDX on 04 Mar 2004 - 22:07

It is a lot of system resources. Douche.

#6 technics on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:16

im sure this will bring out some great stuff....

(1 reply) #7 fiz on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:31

that would bring a nice quantity of quality skins

btw, there are some typos in the news.... Microsfot

Last edited by 38795 on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:39

#7.1 MrRogers on 02 Mar 2004 - 14:54

Yeah, that and didn't they already mention Microsoft?

sponsored by Nullsoft, Microsoft, Stardock, ATI, Eclipsit and nVidia as well as supported by Microsoft

(1 reply) #8 tiger2k on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:32

i'll might enter
but where can we get a list of the actual prices that will be given out?

#8.1 c242 on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:36

What makes me sure You missed the fun factor of this ?

(4 replies) #9 Cipher on 01 Mar 2004 - 19:44

The contest is sponsored by Nullsoft, Microsoft, Stardock, ATI, Eclipsit and nVidia as well as supported by Microsoft. All of which are providing prizes.

microsoft twice !!! wow. :p

and ati cards are up for grabs but no nVidia ones

shame they have to be WB format (msstyles)

#9.1 extreme_madness on 01 Mar 2004 - 20:33

QUOTE (#9.0)

The contest is sponsored by Nullsoft, Microsoft, Stardock, ATI, Eclipsit and nVidia as well as supported by Microsoft.

hehe, read again..

#9.2 Cipher on 01 Mar 2004 - 23:47

if someone is sponsoring an event they are obviously supporting it.

why would u sponsor something u don't support (willingly) .

#9.3 timdorr on 02 Mar 2004 - 02:53

Make the theme in MSStyles and use SkinStudio to convert it to WB format.

#9.4 YaddaMe on 02 Mar 2004 - 05:58

remember... "Neowin.net - Where unprofessional journalism looks better"

#10 cesardrgn on 01 Mar 2004 - 20:29

this is good...

(1 reply) #11 nw_raptor on 01 Mar 2004 - 20:48

ah great! i cant wait to see all the awesome creations!!!

#11.1 Mav Phoenix on 01 Mar 2004 - 20:57

Yeah, some great stuff should come out of this. Hopefully bug free skins.

(2 replies) #12 Dallas` on 01 Mar 2004 - 20:48

never herd of this

#12.1 chacho on 01 Mar 2004 - 23:00

thanks for letting us know

#12.2 memNOC on 01 Mar 2004 - 23:39

ha!

#13 ffx on 01 Mar 2004 - 21:11

awesome

#14 sadatkarim on 01 Mar 2004 - 22:05

I'm only going to look out for winamp5 skins and Iconpackager.

I dont use WB. :/

(1 reply) #15 Frogboy on 01 Mar 2004 - 22:34

ATI is providing 15 graphics cards. Total prizes will be close to around $15,000.

As for being able to enter skins into "only" 2 of the events at a time. Well, there are ONLY 6 WindowBlinds events, 3 icon packager events, and 4 Winamp events.

The others are "Best overall" which all entries are available for.

So in essence, it would reqiure a skin author to make a whole 3 WindowBlinds skins, 2 icon packages, and 2 Winamp skins to win EVERY event in the entire GUI Olympics. That's 7 entries to win a large chunk of the $15,000.

#15.1 being-obtatyion on 02 Mar 2004 - 00:30

QUOTE (#15.0)

#1 Posted by Frogboy on 02 Mar 2004 - 03:34

ATI is providing 15 graphics cards. Total prizes will be close to around $15,000.

As for being able to enter skins into "only" 2 of the events at a time. Well, there are ONLY 6 WindowBlinds events, 3 icon packager events, and 4 Winamp events.

The others are "Best overall" which all entries are available for.

So in essence, it would reqiure a skin author to make a whole 3 WindowBlinds skins, 2 icon packages, and 2 Winamp skins to win EVERY event in the entire GUI Olympics. That's 7 entries to win a large chunk of the $15,000.

SWEET

#16 Trust on 01 Mar 2004 - 22:51

damn I cant draw a circle :/

#17 sadatkarim on 02 Mar 2004 - 00:01

I cant *draw* a perfect circle either, but I can make one!

(1 reply) #18 nuka_t on 02 Mar 2004 - 00:14

i dont use ANY of those progs, i hope they port all hte VS's over to msstyles tho.

#18.1 c242 on 02 Mar 2004 - 12:13

#19 nuclearcow on 02 Mar 2004 - 00:16

I always enjoy these things

#20 being-obtatyion on 02 Mar 2004 - 00:29

im gona steal a good one

jsut go in and kick the web sites

and then just

and then get high

#21 shimon on 02 Mar 2004 - 01:32

ok Microsoft shuld give a few windows longhorn keys for prizes then the site will be overloaded

(8 replies) #22 sputnik on 02 Mar 2004 - 01:51

The contest is sponsored AND supported by Microsoft. WOW
I guess every other company just sponsored and did not agreee to support?

wb: who cares. icon packager - maybe. winamp 5 - sweet !!!

#22.1 AthleticTrainer1981 on 02 Mar 2004 - 03:36

What is so bad about Windowblinds? I find it to be faster than uxtheme and has 10x more features than the default MS skin engine

#22.2 EnderDX on 04 Mar 2004 - 05:33

You're also a stardock zealot and a douche

#22.3 Hippy on 04 Mar 2004 - 11:18

QUOTE (#22.2)

Hehe, do you live in a cupboard here and only come out when there's a WB/Stardock related thread around.
You're just so sad, it's the same thing from you all the time.
Get over it, Stardock bashing was done to death in '99, and people moved on (Grew up).

#22.4 EnderDX on 04 Mar 2004 - 22:09

2004 is a clone of 1996, so you have a few years before the real basing comes into full effect.

Douche.

#22.5 Pas on 04 Mar 2004 - 23:57

ender, so 2004 is a clone of 1996, huh? i guess that means you're going thru your terrible two's again. why is it you never post anywhere unless it's a stardock based thread? it seems you're hiding under a bridge somewhere until a stardock or windowblinds thread is started and then you come up for air. you say you're older than 12. if you indeed are, try acting like it!

#22.6 EnderDX on 05 Mar 2004 - 00:55

So anyone who makes negative comments towards one of your favorite companies (Either microsoft or stardock) is 12 years old?

#22.7 Pas on 05 Mar 2004 - 03:23

No, Ender, not everyone. Most people try to come at it with some level of intelligence and maturity. They may have their numbers wrong but at least they approach things in a mature matter. You've yet to do that on any level. The only thing you do is spew so called 'facts' about with nothing to back them up. Did you download a pirate copy of WB and screw up your system or what is your problem? I can understand somebody not liking a program and not using it but you seem to always want to blast anyone who does use WB. If you want anyopne to take you seriously, try acting like adult. It may help.

#22.8 EnderDX on 05 Mar 2004 - 08:16

Are you saying that WindowBlinds has some form of spyware that messes up your system if its not a legit copy?

My computer didn't mess up when I used WindowBlinds, i simply didn't like how non ms programs looked dumb when they got themed.

#23 vln004 on 02 Mar 2004 - 02:36

are they giving away athlon 64's and windows xp pro too? i mean, since microsoft and amd are sposoring... i don't see a list of prizes anywhere, except the offerings of ATI... *drools*

#24 thornz0 on 02 Mar 2004 - 02:39

wow, those are some pretty big sponsors

(2 replies) #25 sadatkarim on 02 Mar 2004 - 03:08

Shouldnt this read: The The GUI Olympics have begun!

#25.1 whistlerxp on 02 Mar 2004 - 18:41

Only if you are refering to it as being more than one event

Competition has begun
Several Competitions have begun

Whistler

#25.2 sadatkarim on 02 Mar 2004 - 21:56

But Olympics is plural. So this should be have.

#26 demorgoron on 02 Mar 2004 - 03:38

10 bucks that the guy called Pixstudio from wincustomize.com wins

#27 enslaved on 02 Mar 2004 - 03:39

lol

(9 replies) #28 frogworm on 02 Mar 2004 - 03:47

what the phukk, there is another Frog in town now?

#28.1 jardragon901 on 02 Mar 2004 - 11:20

Hate to break it to you but Frogboy there has been around for a long time, probably before you even

#28.2 oggiethefroggie on 04 Mar 2004 - 04:41

*whistles and walks off*

#28.3 EnderDX on 04 Mar 2004 - 22:11

but who is in fact cooler

frogworm - kickass person from #betas

frogboy - strong microsoft supporter and CEO of a company that sells skinable products that are lame

#28.4 Pas on 04 Mar 2004 - 23:48

ender, you just don't quit, do ya? with every word you type on any forum you're in, you make yourself out to be more ignorant that you seemed before. if that is your goal in life, you're certainly doing a wonderful job.

Last edited by 13583 on 05 Mar 2004 - 00:40

#28.5 EnderDX on 05 Mar 2004 - 00:53

its fun to rile you guys up... lower brain cells than those from slashdot.

I really do know what I am talking about.

I have tried WindowBlinds, it was okay until i noticed it made non microsoft programs look like crap. The solution would be to add application exclusions which makes the whole windows environment inconsistent since most of the programs I use are microsoft alternatives.

Another solution is to use native skinning, which works quite well with any program and doesn't make the classic start menu look like crap.

I speak with experience, not only to start flame wars.

#28.6 Hippy on 05 Mar 2004 - 23:33

You forgot to say douche at the end, proffessor.

#28.7 EnderDX on 06 Mar 2004 - 23:53

you spelled professor wrong douche

#28.8 andRUWeir on 09 Mar 2004 - 20:53

I wanna troll like yesterday!!! LOL

If your gonna use a bunch of 'MS Alternative' apps and then bitch about a skinning engine for 'MS' Windows, maybe you should just shut up and use linux or something your almighty holiness, or if you think your so intelligent and well informed, write your own damn OS that skins everything perfectly!

I'd don't use WB, or visual styles in XP period actually, and is still think your and idiot, why don't you and your right hand get off the keyboard and back under the bridge with your victoria secret catalogue why you can do something useful and stop being such a knob.

#28.9 AtlasDS on 05 Apr 2004 - 01:27

I love these idiots. "If you don't like it go make it yourself".

Some people haven't heard of a critic before.

#29 ViperSnake on 02 Mar 2004 - 17:26

I'm going to work on a Windowblinds 4.2 skin and hopefully if I can a Winamp 5 skin.

#30 Magallanes on 02 Mar 2004 - 17:50

Where i can see the previous winners?

(7 replies) #31 EnderDX on 03 Mar 2004 - 03:32

StyleXP owns windowblinds

windowblinds only runs fast on new computers. stylexp will run on a 500mhz cpu.

#31.1 AthleticTrainer1981 on 03 Mar 2004 - 03:48

Never going to let up will you? StyleXP is nothing but a hack file to use unsigned msstyles. WB created a new skinning engine which does more than StyleXp could ever hope to and does it legally.

WB can run on a 500 Mhz cpu also...just depends on the skin being used....same thing with StyleXP.

#31.2 EnderDX on 03 Mar 2004 - 05:28

I say they did a better job hacking than what stardock put out legally.

#31.3 c242 on 03 Mar 2004 - 07:21

EnderDX : It is really ridiculous how You sound like a broken record... It is not Stardock's fault that You can't handle Your computer.

#31.4 EnderDX on 03 Mar 2004 - 13:11

douche

i can handle my computer

perhaps even better than you.

#31.5 c242 on 03 Mar 2004 - 13:35

Then I wonder why Stardock programs haven't given me unsolvable problems in years... Last I will say to that. This is about the Olympics and not another Hack vs. Software war...

#31.6 EnderDX on 04 Mar 2004 - 02:47

Yeah windows-only software too. Apparently Windows is the only OS that has a gui.

Last edited by 43179 on 06 Mar 2004 - 23:55

#31.7 AtlasDS on 05 Apr 2004 - 01:24

It's all sponsored by windows only companies.

(1 reply) #32 c242 on 03 Mar 2004 - 07:19

#32.1 scaredmogwai on 06 Mar 2004 - 03:46

#33 being-obtatyion on 04 Mar 2004 - 23:12

biger prizes

(1 reply) #34 Orin on 22 Mar 2004 - 17:41

Speaking of Olympics.

"...Arguing over the internet is kind of like competing in the special Olimpics. Doesn't matter whether you win or lose, you are still a retard..."

So, Ender, stfu and quit being lame. Nobody cares about your opinion.

#34.1 Divide Overflow on 01 Apr 2004 - 23:36

Apparently you cared enough to respond to him. .

Neowin.net

The GUI Olympics has begun!

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