Firaxis Civ4 Col Mod Competition

[Dale]

Firaxis have announced a Civilization IV: Colonization mod competition! There are four categories that you can submit mods for: New Assets, New Civs, Map Scripts & Concept Changes.

The contest will run from October 8th 2008 till December 17th 2008 and is only open to US residents. First prize is a new desktop computer with four runner-up prizes of signed copies of the game.

The creator of the over-all winning Grand Prize entry will receive a desktop computer to show off to friends. In addition, the four runner-up submissions will receive a copy of Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization signed by the development team.

Here are some things to remember. The Grand Prize prize is awarded to an individual only, so if your mod is a team effort, the prize will only be awarded to the designated team leader. Please do not submit mods that are not yours or include third party materials. This not only makes our job harder, but also makes children cry.

For more details please visit Firaxis's website here.

[DarthVeda]

Heh, guess I'm right out since I'm in Maryland.

[alpaca]

This is an interesting corporate strategy: A new desktop for modders is much cheaper than paying a pro to fix the game

Anyways, I'm glad I can't participate so at least I don't spend too much of my free time on this modding

[DarkCloud]

>>Void in Arizona, Maryland, North Dakota, and Vermont,

* I wonder why these states make entry illegal?
* Could DV theoretically be on a team though if he is not "team leader"?

It would appear that an entrant from a legal entryable point could divvy up the prizes in a fair fashion if someone from another country wanted to "play".

However, it also appears that the person from a place where the offer is "void" could not "bind" the team leader, the "entrant" in a competition.

Thus, even Americans in the aforementioned states could possibly participate. However, the words: " You are not authorized to participate in the Contest if you are not located within the United States." do mean that no person located outside the US may play.

[snoopy369]

The competition would be illegal in those states, I believe, based on ... something. No idea.

As far as I understand (and, IANAL), Team leader is the only person who matters, though, and yes, it would be up to him to divvy up the prize as appropriate. However, you couldn't hold him accountable legally, I suspect, indeed. If someone not in the US were to 'participate' by being on a team, I think that was previously determined to be fine as long as the team leader was authorized - the non-US folks just have to not object to their work being used.

[Dale]

Yes, in the Civ4 competition along the same lines, teams could be made up of anyone from around the world, EXCEPT the nominated team leader who must be from an area that can enter (US - aformentioned states). The team leader is the only person who receives the prize (but they don't care what happens to the prize after that).

So Snoopy, you should enter our patch (concept changes category) sell the desktop and we'll split the money.

Though considering the exchange rate at the moment, I'll get about $10 AUD.

[DarkCloud]

If someone not in the US were to 'participate' by being on a team, I think that was previously determined to be fine as long as the team leader was authorized - the non-US folks just have to not object to their work being used.

Really? Non-US people can't even "participate" according to the code, so I don't think they can even be team-members. Where do you see in the text of the rules that it was "previously determined to be fine" ?

As far as I understand (and, IANAL), Team leader is the only person who matters, though, and yes, it would be up to him to divvy up the prize as appropriate. However, you couldn't hold him accountable legally, I suspect, indeed.

This however, seems true. Which means there could be a situation where the team leader is from Oklahoma and 4 members are from Arizona.

[snoopy369]

Participate == enter the competition (yourself), based on typical rules of competitions. Non-USians can 'participate' in that they can work on mods, they just can't be the 'official' participant. (Again, IANAL, though.)

[Standup]

US only seems to be a regular occurance in these competitions. Is there a reason for this especially as a significant amount of sales must come from outside the US?

[snoopy369]

If i had to guess it would be related to legal issues, perhaps particularly tax issues; or they don't want to ship a PC overseas?

To be fair, there are competitions that are specific to other countries... Dale, didn't you win an Australian mod competition a while back for something or another?

[Dale]

Yeah, Age of Discovery for vanilla Civ4 won the Single Player Mod category of E-Games & Entertainment Expo.

[Keygen]

This U.S. residents only thing is ridiculous

What, the rest non-U.S. residents don't buy the game?!?!

[DarkCloud]

Keygen, it's logistics and legal issues. Some countries won't allow proceeds from winning a contest... Just like some states in the United States. And what if the computer gets lost in customs?

It's probably simpler for Firaxis to not have to worry about complying with each country's specific laws.

[joncnunn]

I'm guessing that the listed states where it's prohibited have laws on the books that would result in this contest either being illegal in it or Firaxis being taxed on it.

As to other countries, probably because Firaxis didn't want to look up all the other countries laws.

Since it's marked as an individual contest it's only the person listed as Team Leader the restrictions apply so "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" applies: Firaxis won't ask about helpers and helpers won't tell Firaxis.

[Keygen]

It's an advertisement move which is perfectly OK, with the minimum cost possible. Probably the computer is sponsored by another company too. The ridiculous part is that Take-Two Interactive, a multimillion firm, don't wish to spent a dime to ship a single computer and 4 signed copies of the game worldwide to show some appreciation to those overseas who bought the game!!!

As for legal or other issues don't seem to play a part when shipping the game worldwide for profit.

Globalization is good when there's a profit but it's no good if there is not. Don't take me wrong, I'm just criticizing what is supposed to be a reward to the supporters of the game.