1. Storyboarders may participate in teams of up to 5 users. You may enter alone as a "team of one" if you prefer. Each individual user may join only one team, and each team can enter only one storyboard.
2. All storyboard entries will be judged together, but you have three maps to choose from. You must leave the map itself unchanged, although you may choose custom combo colors to match your storyboard. The mapsets you're working with are the three winning entries from the Official Beatmapping Contest 3. The choices are:
   
   1. Licnect's winning map for Wind Climbing ~ Kaze ni Asobarete
      Download here
   2. Behonkiss's winning map for Black Sheep
      Download here
   3. Lilac's winning map for Ernst
      Download here
   Follow those links to download the base osz's and the map files. Again, all entries will be judged together, so whichever map you choose, you will be competing against all other storyboards for all three songs.
3. 
   Judges will be rating your map based on these major categories:
   
   1. Concept - the cleverness or creativity of the storyboard idea, including the plot (if it has one) or other gimmicks
   2. Relevance - the way the storyboard relates to the map in an effective way, including correlation to both the song itself and the mapping of each difficulty
   3. Technical Execution - The quality of the images (including reasonable filesizes and proper cropping), the quality of the code, and the performance of the SB
   4. Judges Impression - This is where they can swing their score slightly based on their personal opinion
4. I shouldn't have to say this, but any kind of nsfw material that wouldn't be allowed in normal maps or on the forums will not be allowed here either. In fact, I would encourage you to err on the safe side and keep it extra clean. I also discourage you from using any flashes or strobes that would require an epilepsy warning; these storyboards should be safe for everyone to view.
5. All three of these songs are tied to various bits of pop culture (Mahoujin Guru Guru, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim, respectively). You are welcome to use, recreate, or parody elements of these series if you choose, but it is not a requirement... if you have a different idea, by all means run with it. That said, outright plagiarism is not allowed, so please make a note of who creates each piece of artwork, and give proper credit to any that come from outside sources.
6. Finished entries should be saved as an .osz file and should include the mp3 and the three maps of the mapset. Unlike the mapping contest, entries here aren't anonymous, so feel free to discuss ideas and WIP's as you see fit. The submission process itself isn't finalized yet, but entries will be due before midnight on August 31st, 2011 (GMT/UTC). A countdown clock can be viewed here. You have a little less than two months, as of this posting.
7. The prizes this time around are kind of fun: Each member of the winning team will receive a signed "photo" of osu!'s mascot, Pippi, also autographed by peppy, the game's creator. Each of the winners will also get a year of supporter status, a forum profile badge, and a custom title.

Ayeen wrote:

No love for the people who got pending slots full

Xgor wrote:

Are you allowed to only submit one Storyboard for all three of them or are you allowed to make one SB for every map? (And if it is so, can you be in different teams for each SB)

Xgor wrote:

Are you allowed to only submit one Storyboard for all three of them or are you allowed to make one SB for every map? (And if it is so, can you be in different teams for each SB)

LuigiHann wrote:

Each individual user may join only one team, and each team can enter only one storyboard.

LuigiHann wrote:

rules are ... complicated

Shinde wrote:

LuigiHann wrote:

rules are ... complicated

Welp, I tried my best. Good luck to all you other applicants.

Shinde wrote:

You said they're complicated, LH. This contest is too smart for me. Also Siriru will win.

Sallad4ever wrote:

about the SB, is the ranking criteria is applied too (SB load, maximum size, etc) ?

Technical Execution - The quality of the images (including reasonable filesizes and proper cropping), the quality of the code, and the performance of the SB

-SiN- wrote:

unsecured .png detected.. most of my work on osu! stolen
so.. nah thanks

Astom wrote:

I'm still waiting for a response for this "can be added custom skin? or it's only SB"

<3

LuigiHann wrote:

I might regret this later, but I'm going to go ahead and say go for it. Skinning is allowed. But it'll be one of those things that the judges aren't going to be judging directly, so it shouldn't impact your score unless it's so amazing or so terrible that it sways the "overall impression" rating. And try to limit it to skinning elements that are directly relevant to your SB, and not just meaningless flair.

Edit: But I will say no to custom hitsounds, since that would change the map itself. Comboburst, spinner, and sectionpass/fail sounds are okay, but any sound that starts with "normal-" or "soft-" or otherwise "hit" is off limits

Astom wrote:

A good SB looks better with a good Skin so ~

LuigiHann wrote:

Are you saying that your work has been stolen, or that you're afraid it will be stolen, or what? I have no idea what you are talking about

Astom wrote:

Here another question, or a request, can we use a BG? or can you give one for each song?

loli0000 wrote:

还行吧

X-Ray wrote:

It's Larto time!

LuigiHann wrote:

Like I said before I don't think we need in-game credits (unless you want to add them), but I'm thinking that some kind of listing of sources will be required as part of the entry process. Not gonna be super picky, just need to be able to tell which elements are user-made and which elements come from elsewhere.

Lilac wrote:

I don't think I can join in and SB my own map...

...Not that I am actually that great at SBing, though I've done...a lot. *cough*Gensou*cough*

awp wrote:

Lilac wrote:

I don't think I can join in and SB my own map...

...Not that I am actually that great at SBing, though I've done...a lot. *cough*Gensou*cough*

I don't see why not. Also imo storyboarding (writing the code) is pretty much the easiest part

awp wrote:

LuigiHann wrote:

Like I said before I don't think we need in-game credits (unless you want to add them), but I'm thinking that some kind of listing of sources will be required as part of the entry process. Not gonna be super picky, just need to be able to tell which elements are user-made and which elements come from elsewhere.

How about photography? I took a picture of the venue used in Scott Pilgrim where they performed Black Sheep but I have no idea who did the artwork on the building itself. I'm guessing that falls into the "not super picky" bucket?