Basic Summary

Finalists Jam accepted Maps from participants.
Requires maps are downloadable.

Read the about for more information.

Judging

Ranked by Judges - Only members of the jam assigned with judging permission can vote.
Entries can't be updated during the judge phase.
29 day entry period.

Rating Criteria

1. Concept & Originality
   Rated 1 to 10
2. Technique & Execution
   Rated 1 to 10
3. Presentation
   Rated 1 to 10

With his creation of stone, steel, furnace and fire before completed before him, Steve felt his impatience resurface. He had created many wondrous things, but nothing seemed to be able to fill his insatiable desire to build. He had built an industry unlike the world had ever seen, dove headfirst into creations of the sky, tamed the Nether, created a massive games arena, flown into space, delved into the deep caves of the earth, opened a fantastic island resort, and had built all the way to the limits of the sky. What else was there left to do?

Looking from the precipice of his colossal, industrial jungle of an island, Steve realized that what he wanted to do next was obvious; it was all he could see, after all. There was one thing that in his travels he had not touched nor explored; the ocean! Deep, dark, and wondrous it was, surely with many undiscovered creatures, terrain, and more. Using his recently completed manufacturing facility, he crafted a suit that would allow him to dive deep below the surface of the water, and function as if it wasn'™t there at all. He could mine, craft, build, and destroy like he always had; but this time in the undiscovered blue of the sea.

With his new suit equipped and imagination ready to burst, Steve leapt into the water headfirst, and took in the sights; coral reefs, everywhere! Fish, swimming all around him! Dolphins, manta rays, clownfish, whales, sharks! Sharks! Sharks!? Krakens!? Leviathans!? Who knew what awaited him farther down.

But with the coral reefs surrounding him, Steve began his work to truly tame the ocean.

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TLDR; Welcome to the eleventh PlanetMinecraft.com Project Contest!

This time, the goal is to build an underwater wonderland. It'™s all up to your imagination.

All entries must be built on the custom map provided.

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IMPORTANT RULE!

Third party texture packs are NOT allowed this contest. You need to use the default texture pack; this makes it more fair for each user. If you are found presenting your build in texture packs outside of default, your project will be disqualified. Read rules carefully.

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Projects will be judged on the following criteria:

• 1) Concept & Originality - the more original your idea, the better! It's always more fun to see a fresh, new idea, rather than an old concept that's been done a thousand times.
  
• 2) Technique & Execution - make sure your build flows together well. Make sure that each element matches the next. Attention to color and shape is key, and don't forget about detail!
  
• 3) Presentation & Experience - a good build is never just an empty shell! Interior design can help the presentation of your build immensely. Spend time presenting your project on PMC with quality screenshots, videos and descriptions. Remember, Photoshop does not make the build! Rely on your project to present itself!
  

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STEP ONE: Download the custom map!

DOWNLOAD THE STARTER MAP HERE!

Map created by Lentebriesje

STEP TWO: Builds have to be original works created specifically for this contest.

Projects entered into this contest must be conceptualized and created for this contest by you.

What's Allowed:

• Creative Mode
  
• Map Editing Tools: MCEdit, VoxelSniper, WorldEdit
  
• Teamwork: you can recruit help from others but you are the mastermind/team leader. They must understand that only you can enter the final project and potentially win. If there is significant drama about who created the project, we will disqualify it.
  
• Shader Mods; shaders are allowed in presenting your build via video and screenshots
  
• Taking inspiration from existing work; you may base your project off of another game, movie, or work of art, but it must overall be original work (i.e. - you like Stormwind from WoW, and you want to recreate it - using the architectural style and theme is allowed, but no verbatim copies of layouts, designs, or specific elements of the project)
  

What's Not Allowed: The following will result in disqualification.

• Third party texture packs are NOT allowed this contest. You need to use the default texture pack; this makes it more fair for each user. If you are found presenting your build in texture packs outside of default, your project will be disqualified.
  
• Do not use constructions created before the contest's announcement date, even if you are the original author.
  
• Do not use 3D or 2D auto conversion / import scripts.
  
• Do not import schematics from the past.
  
• Do not use third party mods that introduce new blocks that are unobtainable in vanilla Minecraft.
  
• We can disqualify at any time, including after the submission period. Do not cheat.
  
• Heavy photoshopping of screenshots and video. At least 75% of your screenshots should be completely unaltered and taken straight from the game (shaders are allowed; post-screenshot editing is not). If you do not have a sufficient amount of unaltered screenshots, your project will be disqualified.
  
• Only content contained within the build provided will be judged. If any bits stick outside of the bounding box of the build and into the flatmap area, it is assumed that those bits are not there for judging purposes.
  
• TERRAIN EXPANSION AND EDITING:
  • you may expand on the original build, but you may not remove existing blocks other than the blue faux-water on the surface (for instance if you wish for your build to poke out of the water).
    
  • you may lower the entire build if you wish to have more space. The map has been updated to be lower down, those who downloaded the earlier map have permission to change the height of the entire build.
    
  • you may replace blocks with similar blocks so long as they do not take away from the overall theme of the map. For instance, replacing bits of sand with gravel is OK, but replacing the coral with air or beacons is not.
    
  
  

We can disqualify at any time, including after the submission period. Do not cheat.

All of the normal rules of the site apply in this contest. Essentially summed up as; make your own work.

*Rules are subject to change each contest, make sure to read the rules every time you enter!

STEP THREE: Submit project WITH download to PMC during entry period.

Take quality screenshots and submit the project like usual but check the box indicating it's for the contest. It's important to capture the highlights of your project with quality screenshots. Think of it like an actual photo shoot. Take your time and consider lighting, composition and the overall story your gallery will present to your viewers. To make it to the finalists, you will need to make an impression.

You don't have to upload your map until you're finished. Feel free to post your project during development to show off what you're building and to receive feedback. Just don't forget to upload the final map before the entry period ends!

How to prepare your project for download

Step 1: Locate your Minecraft "Saves" folder.

a) Start Minecraft.

b) Click "Texture Packs".

c) Click "Open Texture Pack Folder".

d) Go to the parent folder. One back from where you are.

e) Click "Saves". See your world folder? Good.

Step 2: Prepare your world for upload by compressing it into a single file.

a) Right click the folder containing the world you want to upload.

b) Windows : Click "Send To > Compressed (zip) folder. If you do not have this option. 7-zip is a free open source compression application.

c) Upload the zipped world to a free shared host. Example: mediafire.com

Step 3: Create your project on PMC and include the link to the file in the "World Save" field. Good luck!

One entry only: Each user will only be permitted to submit one project for this contest. You may edit your one entry as long as the contest is still running. If you decide to change your submission at any point, you are free to do so. However, you should not delete your original entry. Instead, use the "update submission" button to save the new file over your old one, and change the submission title if necessary.

Entry period: July 1st, 2015 @ 12:00 PM EST to July 29th, 2015 @ 12:00 PM EST. Entries submitted after this date will not be accepted.

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Above all else: Have fun!

Contests are here for the community to have fun interpreting a common theme. Take the contest theme and run with it, maybe even come up with a story to guide your work and enhance your presentation page. Remember, you have three weeks to do this. You don't need to put something up right away - and even if you chose to, you're allowed to update your submission as many times as you want before the end of the submission period on July 29st, 2015 @ 12:00 PM EST

This contest is not a random drawing - the submissions are judged by a panel of longstanding members with a great deal of experience with Minecraft projects. It will not help you to submit anything less than fantastic, so take your time.

1st Place

• Prizes : $60 worth of Steam Game(s). Games will be gifted to your Steam account. Winner may choose more than one game but the total must be $60 or less. Must have a Steam account to claim prize, no substitutes.
  
• A Contest Themed, Gold, Pixel Art Trophy for Member's Profile Trophy Case.
  
• Profile Featured on PMC - 1 Week.
  

2nd Place

• $30 worth of Steam Game(s). Games will be gifted to your Steam account. Winner may choose more than one game but the total must be $30 or less. Must have a Steam account to claim prize, no substitutes.
  
• A Contest Themed, Silver, Pixel Art Trophy for Member's Profile Trophy Case.
  
• Profile Featured on PMC - 1 Week.
  

3rd Place

• $20 worth of Steam Game(s). Games will be gifted to your Steam account. Winner may choose more than one game but the total must be $20 or less. Must have a Steam account to claim prize, no substitutes.
  
• Contest Themed, Bronze, Pixel Art Trophy for Member's Profile Trophy Case.
  
• Profile Featured on PMC - 1 Week.
  

All Participants

• A Contest Themed, Pixel Art Badge/Medal for Member's Profile Trophy Case.
  

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Phase #1: Entry Period : ~4 weeks

Typically, 4 weeks, read rules carefully. This is the time that everyone has to create and submit a contest entry. During this time, judges are reviewing entries, anonymously voting and disqualifying those that don't meet the contest requirements. The PMC community is doing the same.

Phase #2: Review Period : 5 days

After submissions are closed, judges get 5 additional days to review late entries and cast their final votes. Their votes are heavily weighted in an algorithm that includes the community's votes and activity to determine the finalists.

Phase #3: Finalists Calculated : Judges cast criteria ratings

After the finalists are calculated, judges begin anonymously rating each entry based on the following criteria on a scale of 1-10:

• 1) Concept & Originality - the more original your idea, the better! It's always more fun to see a fresh, new idea, rather than an old concept that's been done a thousand times.
  
• 2) Technique & Execution - make sure your build flows together well. Make sure that each element matches the next. Attention to color and shape is key, and don't forget about detail!
  
• 3) Presentation & Experience - a good build is never just an empty shell! Interior design can help the presentation of your build immensely. Spend time presenting your project on PMC with quality screenshots, videos and descriptions. Remember, Photoshop does not make the build! Rely on your project to present itself!
  

Once the site detects that all judges have cast their ratings on all finalists, the winners are announced.

Judges will be encouraged to participate, but will be disqualified from winning prizes.

Judges will be encouraged to participate, but will be disqualified from winning prizes.