I've seen some fantastic customs. But if it was based on the custom itself, there'd be no point in the one on one matches at all. Just put them all up to be voted on and whoever gets the most votes wins.
Of course there is a point in making matches for the customs, it allows people to vote several times for several different customs making the final remaining customs real strong finalists. And though it is a longer process allows people to talk about it and discuss each pair of customs.
What it is pointless, IMHO, is invite some really talented customizers (I can exclude myself from those, I just really like having GI-Joe figures, so I make them myself) to spend time and effort making a kick ass custom, writing an elaborated bio ... just to be judged by who is the more powerful fighter.
By this criteria .. then please give the prize to the Hulk and we can be done with it.
Maybe it was discussed in some thread what the bosses thought as a good criteria .. but really I hang out much more at the OG13 ... and may have missed it trough more than 200 post in the custom games thread.
But it is also good to remember people casting their votes most probably won't read trough all the posts to have an idea what the contests or the matches are about. So if the question over the choices is "Who wins?", it is very understandable most people will vote in the "character" they think would win the fight ... with a few exceptions (the customizers who are entering and the hosts most probably) most people won't even have read the "Custom Games" rules thread.
Bellow I copied what is in the thread and I will outline how
I read it
"Concept:
Think "Hunger Games" only with
custom 1:18th figures. Members will create a custom figure and submit them to the contest. The Contest will be set up in a bracket format, think college basketball. Each
figure will be faced off in a 1 vs 1 situation and the forum votes on the winner until we only have 1 figure left.
Story:
Custom Games is the ultimate
test for all customs. We are gathering the best
warriors from the entire community (I believe the warriors here, are the customizers... or there are any Gladiators living among us) to see who will become our champion. The arena will be set up for a true battle. Each contestant may also bring in there own weapon(s) of choice to the arena. Every contestant needs to be prepared for anything and everything. We can only have one champion!"
So if a custom contest isn't about the customs ...
Honestly I don't think my entry stands a chance, by any of the criterias (unless there's a hidden criteria for the shiniest figure), as I said I just like making GI-Joe figures, and if is one of them is not that bad, why not put it in the contest. But some guys here really dispensed a lot of effort and talent in their
customs and profiles, it just bothers me that some of that talented may go unrecognized.
Now that I spoke my mind...
Thank you Monkeywrench and Fighting1:18 for sponsoring such a great contest with some fantastic prizes and for supporting the customizing hobby.
I don't mean ill by anything I said to anybody, but I hope it serves as feedback for the next contest.