MegaZeux Excellence Awards

From MZXWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The MegaZeux Excellence Awards (also known by its abbreviation, MZXEA) were conceived by myth as an annually-held awards ceremony where the community voted on their favorite MegaZeux games released that year. In actuality, only three were ever held: the first two were held in 1996 and 1997, after which community interest began to wane. A final effort was made by Hercules to revive the tradition in 2000, which was ultimately to be the last MZXEA. In general, the perception was and is that there are not enough high-quality MZX games released on a yearly basis to justify the ceremony, and everyone is already aware of those games that are high-quality anyway. In addition, controversy over Luke Drelick engaging in ballot stuffing for his game, Engine 2, caused a decline in faith in the legitimacy and credibility of the awards.

Rules and Awards

Historically, the rules worked like this:

Administration

The MegaZeux Excellence Awards was administered by a council of ten people, including the Council Chairman. In 2000, an entirely new council was elected, because the MZXEA hadn't been held for two years. The original intent was for the previous year's council members to hand their seats over to a person of their choice, but this only ever happened once, in 1997. Any council member was allowed to drop his or her seat if desired. The Council Chairman would reassign any dropped seats. And after the awards, each council member would choose a new member to receive his or her seat for the next year's competition (including the Council Chairman). The Council Chairman of the old guard would then elect a new Council Chairman out of the new council.

Phases/Timeframe

The MZXEA was explicitly divided into phases:

  1. Council organization phase: in which new council members were assigned, and the rules reviewed by the council.
  2. Pre-nomination phase: in which council members decided upon the different categories. This was not done in 1997, but in 2000 the Best Day of Zeux Entry category was added.
  3. Nomination phase: in which council members decided upon nominees for each category
  4. Voting phase: in which council members voted according to the category voting procedures (see below).
  5. Ampersand phase: in which public Ampersand voting occurred according to the ampersand voting procedures (see below).

Timing was generally flexible between phases, but the first four were required to be done before the end of the year, and the final phase was to be completed before January 31st of the following year.

Categories

The competition was divided into categories, each consisting of several nominees. The categories were the same for all three competitions, except for the Day of Zeux category which was added in 2000.

  1. Best Action-oriented Game
  2. Best Adventure/RPG
  3. Best Comedy Game
  4. Best Puzzle-oriented Game
  5. Best Graphics
  6. Best Sound/Music
  7. Best Demo/Unfinished Game
  8. Best Day of Zeux entry (only in 2000)
  9. Best Utility/Engine
  10. Best Website/Internet Resource

Categories could be changed at the Council's discretion, but never were.

Nominee constraints

The general idea was for nominated games to have been made during the year of the awards, since the awards were supposed to be held annually. However, only the 1997 awards strictly held to this; instead, all games released in the interval period between awards were eligible (in the case of 1996, this included everything since the release of MZX itself in 1994). ZZT or other non-MZX games/products were disallowed. No other restrictions applied to general eligibility (as the rules stated, "Nominees can be shareware, freeware, public domain, or commercial."). Authors of nominees could choose to withdraw their games/products from consideration, though this never happened.

Categorical constraints

Nominees for the first four categories were required to be completed, distributed games. However, demos and uncompleted games were eligible in the graphics and music/sound categories. Conversely, Nominees for the Demo category were required to be unfinished, distributed games or demos. The Day of Zeux category naturally only applied to actual DoZ games, whereas the Utility category could apply to external utilities as well as MZX worlds. Nominees for the Internet Resource category could only be MegaZeux websites/FTP sites/Telnet sites that dealt specifically with MegaZeux; pages that promoted a specific person or company were not allowed.

Voting procedures: Excellence Awards

Each council member could cast a limited number of unique votes in each category (originally two each, reduced to only one in 2000). In 2000 it was further stipulated that council members could not vote on their own games (this was specifically targeted at Luke Drelick, as there was a well-founded fear that he might try to hijack the awards). The council members reported their votes (by e-mail or other means) to the Council Chairman, who tallied the votes and added his own. The winner in each category was the nominee that received the most votes. In the event of a tie, each council member except the Council Chairman voted for one of the tied nominees in that category, and the winner of that vote was declared the Category Winner (this actually did happen in three categories in 1997).

Voting procedures: Ampersand Awards

Each of the category winners were then eligible for the Ampersand Awards. The Ampersand Awards were decided by a public vote, submitted by any means necessary originally, and using a specific form on the MZXEA page in 2000. Any person, including council members, could vote for the Ampersand Awards, but each person was allowed to vote only once. The category winner receiving the most votes in the public election received the Golden Ampersand award; the second most voted received the Silver Ampersand award; and the third most received the Bronze Ampersand. Any ties were resolved by the council. (In retrospect, considering the nature of the internet and internet polls, this was a profoundly stupid way to take a vote.)

Rule Changes

The council could changed any rules at their discretion, though processes for this were never explicitly laid out. The 2000 MZXEA saw some minor changes to the rules, as noted above.

History

The following charts detail the nominations, council members, winners and ampersand winners in each of the three MZXEA competitions held to date.

1996

Council Members
myth (chairman)
Alexis Janson
Matt Williams
Kevin Vance
Darren Hewer
Scott Hammack
Luke Drelick
Nathan Ridley
Barney9651
Evan Furchgott
Nominees
Best Action Game Best Adventure Game
Damaged Mind Darren Hewer Honor Quest Darren Hewer
Nick Brick Jubal Scharold Engine Luke Drelick
Bomb Brothers Jeremy Lamar Crystal Cities Millenium Software
Super Zero II Visitech Zog the Hunter Nathan Ridley
Caverns of Zeux Software Visions
Best Comedy Game Best Puzzle Game
Darkness Darren Hewer Flik! Helios Software
Funky Chunkey Monkey Scott Hammack Calmness Darren Hewer
Oh No, Not Another Star Wars Parody! Kevin Vance Weirdness Software Visions
Yapok Sundria 2, Castle of the Aardvarks Daniel Haug
Best Graphics Best Sound/Music
Weirdness Software Visions Weirdness Software Visions
Bloodgate Tom Ivey Honor Quest Darren Hewer
Slimed Helios Software Bloodgate Tom Ivey
Quest of Durin Prerelease myth Engine Luke Drelick
Orb of the Twisted Demo Nathan Ridley
Best Demo Best Utility/Engine
Quest of Durin Prerelease myth MZX Encyclopedia Software Visions
Orb of the Twisted Nathan Ridley Smileys myth
Sivion Clint Neilson Autoscroll Kevin Vance
Bloodgate Tom Ivey Majik Boomerang Engine Majik
TGOMDDAD Luke St. Clair Saint Games Sword Engine Luke St. Clair
Best Website/Internet Resource
Megazeux Stockpile Barney9651
Matt Williams's ZZT and Megazeux Page Matt Williams
Realm of Megazeux myth
MegaZealot Links Page Darren Hewer
Scott Hammack's Megazeux Page Scott Hammack



Ampersands
Award Winner Author
Gold Orb of the Twisted Demo Nathan Ridley
Silver Weirdness Software Visions
Bronze Honor Quest Darren Hewer
Category Winners
Category Winner Author
Best Action-Oriented Game Damaged Mind Darren Hewer
Best Adventure Game Honor Quest Darren Hewer
Best Comedy Game Darkness Darren Hewer
Best Puzzle-Oriented Game Weirdness Software Visions
Best Graphics Orb of the Twisted Demo Nathan Ridley
Best Sound/Music Weirdness Software Visions
Best Demo/Unfinished Game Quest of Durin Prerelease myth
Best Utility/Engine MegaZeux Encyclopedia v1a Software Visions
Best Website/Internet Resource MegaZeux Stockpile Barney9651

1997

Original MZXEA 1997 Page

Council Members
Casey McCann (chairman)
Mike Sartin
Brandon Franklin
Roto
Henry Truong
MenTaLboY
myth
Brett Smith
Evan Furchgott
Jessamin Yu
Nominees
Best Action Game Best Adventure Game
Midnight Bomber vs the City Impulse Software (?) Honor Quest II -- Chapter 1 Autumn Dreams (Darren Hewer)
Talon's Tale Jeremy Lamar Honor Quest Special Edition Autumn Dreams (Darren Hewer)
Time Trial Destiny Software (?) Eggplant Adventure Draconic Creations (Casey McCann)
Tae Kwon Do Joe Eon Entertainment (?) Portals Damien Wellman/SkidMark Int'l
Blade of Islan Duky Incorporated (Luke Drelick)
Best Comedy Game Best Puzzle Game
Cans ][ Destiny Software (inmate2993) Dylan's Gems Stargazer
Final Fantasy EdVenture Duky Incorporated (Luke Drelick) Bomb Threat Intervision Software (?)
MegaZeux Superstar Autumn Dreams (Greg Falcon) Darbytown II DNB Productions (?)
Smiley RPG Destiny Software (?)
Spirit Revenge Autumn Dreams (Yenrab)
Best Graphics Best Sound/Music
Xenogenesis Autumn Dreams Honor Quest Special Edition Autumn Dreams (Darren Hewer)
Zog the Hunter 2 demo Autumn Dreams (Nathan Ridley) Dylan's Gems Stargazer
Blade of Islan Duky Incorporated (Luke Drelick) Blade of Islan Duky Incorporated (Luke Drelick)
Honor Quest Special Edition Autumn Dreams (Darren Hewer) Spirit Revenge Autumn Dreams (yenrab)
Booshkies Draconic Creations (Eric Drobile) MegaZeux Superstar Autumn Dreams (Greg Falcon)
Best Demo Best Utility/Engine
Xenogenesis Autumn Dreams ASTeRiCk's PCX2CHR converter ASTeRiCk
Booshkies Draconic Creations (Eric Drobile) Legendd's PALFADE utility Autumn Dreams (Nathan Ridley)
Shining Legend demo Autumn Dreams (?) Veloso's MiniCounters Autumn Dreams (Greg Falcon)
Bernard the Bard Demo Jeremy Lamar MZXPack Brad Faler
Sivion (final) demo Autumn Dreams (Clint Neilson) MZX Encyclopedia IIa Matt Williams
Best Website/Internet Resource
MegaZeux World Evan Furchgott
Realm of MegaZeux myth
MegaZealot: Links Darren Hewer
mWorld Matt Williams
MZX Gamer Brett Smith



Ampersands
Award Winner Author
Gold Honor Quest Special Edition Autumn Dreams (Darren Hewer)
Silver Eggplant Adventure Draconic Creations (Casey McCann)
Bronze Cans ][ Destiny Software (inmate2993)
Category Winners
Category Winner Author
Best Action-Oriented Game Time Trial Destiny Software (?)
Best Adventure Game Eggplant Adventure Draconic Creations
(Casey McCann)
Best Comedy Game Cans ][ Destiny Software
(inmate2993)
Best Puzzle-Oriented Game Dylan's Gems Stargazer
Best Graphics Booshkies Draconic Creations
(Eric Drobile)
Best Sound/Music Honor Quest Special Edition Autumn Dreams
(Darren Hewer)
Best Demo Xenogenesis Autumn Dreams
Best Utility/Engine MZX Encyclopedia IIa Matt Williams
Best Website/Internet Resource MegaZeux World Evan Furchgott

2000

Original MZXEA 2000 Page

Council Members
Sander Pieterse (chairman)
Kevin Vance
Wervyn
Matt Williams
Niels Reyngoud
Gilead Kutnick
Michael O'Reilly
Luke Drelick
Ibrahim
Xwing1056
Nominees
Best Action Game Best Adventure Game
Adlo craNKGod Bernard the Bard Jeremy Lamar
MegaZeux Combat Trainer Arctic Fusion Brotherhood Hercules
Dungeons of Dismay PenguZ Engine: The Second Attack Luke Drelick
Brotherhood Hercules Endless Journey: Ethen's Test Almighty Cow
A Hidden Anomaly Almighty Cow Emotion MZX Sei Mamoruno
Doom Keep seanarcher Adlo craNKGod
Fiona's Sepulcher Chris van Wagoner
Best Comedy Game Best Puzzle Game
Cans 3 Inmate2993 Gates: the Puzzles MenTaLguY
Snarfoogle Cheezit Blocks Big Bubba
Keep Smilin' Spazz MZX Tetris ASTeRiCk
Weirdland 5 Esdemo1 Doom Keep seanarcher
Insanifest Inmate2993 Weirdness Special Edition Duhreetoh
RPG-RPG Eurakarte Brotherhood Hercules
Best Graphics Best Sound/Music
Final Fantasy: Dynasty Prelude Demo Akwende Engine: The Second Attack Luke Drelick
Booshkies Demo Duhreetoh Adlo craNKGod
Dark Corner Draconic Creations Fiona's Sepulcher Chris van Wagoner
Fiona's Sepulcher Chris van Wagoner Emotion MZX Sei Mamoruno
Engine: The Second Attack Luke Drelick Bernard the Bard Jeremy Lamar
Endless Journey: Ethen's Test Almighty Cow Battlesuits Demo 2 Gemini
Kikan Luke Drelick Final Fantasy: Dynasty Prelude Demo Akwende
Bernard the Bard Jeremy Lamar Endless Journey: Ethen's Test Almighty Cow
Kikan Luke Drelick
Blocks Big Bubba
Cans 3 Inmate2993
Best Demo Best Day of Zeux Entry
Endless Journey Demo Almighty Cow Dark Nova Lacan, Wervyn
and Exophase
Booshkies Demo Duhreetoh Beginning Duhreetoh
Battlesuits Demo 2 Gemini Freedom Bound Exophase, Starfire
and Ghent
Amnesia Demo Graham Peet Shadows of War MenTaLguY
Zane: Professional Idiot Demo Duhreetoh War 2000 Duhreetoh and zixyer
Final Fantasy: Dynasty Prelude Demo Akwende Captain Proton and the Reality Rippers Kev Vance and Lipid
Silent Thunder Demo Zoox1 and Zoox2 Shiloh myth, Creator and Nebulah
Fury of the Fuzzies Kev Vance, Lipid
and Sei Mamoruno
Best Utility/Engine Best Website/Internet Resource
MegaZeux Spider series Spider124, JZig,
MenTaLguY
and Kev Vance
DigitalMZX joshdw1 and Maverick
MegaZeux Encyclopedia 2b Matt Williams mWorld Matt Williams
Circle Engine Exophase Interactive Fantasies ZZT/MZX Page Hercules
Random Namer Engine Crusader
Mode 7 Engine Akwende
MegaZeux 3D Engine Nathan Platt
Get Password Alexis Janson
GDMplay wizdom
Original RPG Engine -unknown-
Zombie Engine ZombieBoy



Ampersands
Award Winner Author
Gold Engine: The Second Attack Luke Drelick
Silver Bernard the Bard Jeremy Lamar
Bronze Adlo craNKGod
Category Winners
Category Winner Author
Best Action-Oriented Game Adlo craNKGod
Best Adventure Game Bernard the Bard Jeremy Lamar
Best Comedy Game Cans 3 Inmate2993
Best Puzzle-Oriented Game Gates: The Puzzles MenTaLguY
Best Graphics Final Fantasy: Dynasty Prelude Demo Akwende
Best Sound/Music Engine: The Second Attack Luke Drelick
Best Demo/Unfinished Game Endless Journey Demo Almighty Cow
Best Day of Zeux Entry Dark Nova Lacan, Wervyn
and Exophase
Best Utility/Engine MegaZeux Spider series Spider124, JZig,
MenTaLguY
and Kev Vance
Best Website/Internet Resource DigitalMZX joshdw1 and Maverick