Pandora Rebirth Competition [Update]
January 24, 2012
Update:
All developers get an extra month to brew up something awesome:
Okay, [deadline] extended until end of March.
Also erico and quatercast have been working hard on a banner (top image) and all sorts of other graphics for the competition, which you can check out here – this is not officially approved yet, though.
Meanwhile this topic is to collect ideas/wishes for software you want to see from the competition.
Original post:
It’s ON!
EvilDragon just announced an official OpenPandora software competition with the first price being a new and shiny Pandora right off the prototype production run in a unique golden or pearl-white case (photos to be uploaded soon).
Everything is good in this competition, may it be an original game, a port, new software, ported software, an emulator, a whole OS or a digitalized unicorn spreading love and peace, as long as it follows the rules posted by EvilDragon (see below).
You can enter alone or as a team, but hurry, the deadline is the 29th of February! That is not as much time as it might seem now, so better get started immediately!
If you are good friends with pixels, listen up as EvilDragon is looking for someone to create a nice banner and splash screen for the submissions. Head to the forum thread for more details.
Here is the full quote with all prices and rules (read them if you are considering submitting anything):
I mentioned it a couple of times, but it’s finally time to officially announce it:
The Pandora Rebirth Competition – Deadline: End of February 29th (UTC)
The prizes of the competition are the following:
1st prize:
One of the fully working Pandora PCBs from the German prototype production run in a special edition case!
You can either choose a golden or pearl white case (I will post pictures soon), signed by EvilDragon.
Both cases only exist one time worldwide!2nd prize:
A fully working Pandora straight from the German production starting in February, signed by EvilDragon.3rd prize:
A classic 1st Edition Pandora (PCB from Texas).4th and 5th prize:
A 32GB SDHC card, tested to work with the Pandora6th and 7th prize:
A 16 GB SDHC card from Samsung, tested to work with the PandoraThe rules:
- The program you submit can be virtually anything: A game, an application, a tool, an alternative OS, an OS extend, etc.
- The entry can be a port of an existing program or a completely new development.
- The entry HAS to work on the Pandora. It does not have to be in PND format, but it should run and start on the Pandora.
- The entry must NOT be released to the public before the competition is over. It is possible to submit an entry where an early version or demo has already been released before January 9th, but no further public releases should happen if you plan on entering.
- The entry can of course be released to selected betatesters.
- The entry CAN be an engine or port for an existing commercial game (similar to ScummVM or the VVVVVV-port). Be sure you own all the needed licenses though!
- You are welcome to post pictures or share your project ideas with the community (and get suggestions and/or help from them). The judgement will be done by the community, so this is a good way to find out what they’d love to get
- One person can submit an unlimited number of entries – however, each entrant can only win one prize.
- Team projects are possible, but the prize can only be won by one person in the team. I will throw in small prizes for the rest of the team (up to 5 members) though, like T-Shirts, signed cases, etc.
- You MUST have the full rights and licenses to use and release all graphics, sounds, music, code and or anything else you supply with your entry. No copyrighted material (unless you license it from the copyright holder – proof needed) is allowed.
- No illegal content or pornography is allowed.
- Voting will happen through polls on the official Pandora Boards (http://boards.openpandora.org/).
- We will release a splashscreen and small banners which needs to be included somewhere in your entry (startup, main menu, etc.)
- The rules can be changed and / or optimized within the next couple of days (also based on community input) until January 15th.
If you don’t follow the rules, your entry might be disqualified – so be sure to read these carefully.
You are free to share this competition on any websites, forums, IRC, social media, etc. you like.
To get help with coding, cross-compiling or setting up a dev environment, you can ask for help at the Development Section on the boards or by visiting #openpandora on Freenode.Finally, I’m also asking for help from the community here:
Please read and review the rules and let me know any suggestions you have.
Also, I know we got some pretty talented graphic designers here: If anyone wants to create a splashscreen and / or banners in various sizes, I’d be very happy about it
(last updated here 09.01.2012 21:10)
Source
Link throws in some extra cases (as in carrying cases) from his shop for the first two places.
SteaK already gets started submitting software with an “Online Selling assistant” and “Pandora BookShelf”.
Good luck to all entrants, may the best one win.
I’m glad this wasn’t launched by Craig. The reputation of previous competitions has not been too grand.
Hey, you’re not me!
Just to clarify the ‘no public release’ clause of the competition, ED confirmed that it’s okay to publish ideas and screenshots/artwork etc. and ask for volunteers for beta-testing on the forum(s) if you want to get early feedback on your project. After all, the idea of the competition is to get more stuff released on the Pandora, and if it starts coming out in dribs and drabs throughout the competition period, it’d reduce that impact somewhat.
Although, to reply to self, ED’s since clarified that your project doesn’t need to be ready by the deadline even…which seems odd to me, but there you go.
Yeah, I even think one should make that a rule.
“Your entry has to be feature-complete. No demos/previews allowed.”
This would have killed me in the two previous competitions, too, but look at what came from that, most entries were not finished and some look like they never will be.
So better add some pressure, because to me it seems like we have enough unfinished projects already.
Enter and win a pandora. Second prize is two pandoras.
Nope…
Why do they still have some Pandoras to give out for a competition, but not send to people waiting? As in, why are there any first batch (from CC) around not sent to people who’ve been waiting since 2008.
So the only way to get one is to pay the new premium price or win a competition.
I’m not trying to bash them for giving out the prototype ones, just the ones they could send to a customer.
They are giving out ONE “regular” Pandora, which does not make much of a difference.
Once production in Germany rolls (which this competition has no effect on) more Pandoras will go out to regular customers (including “Premium” orders).
Also they are still shipping in the background, it’s just a low number though, made from the remaining boards from Texas or “broken” ones they could fix (put new nubs on, etc.).
Yes, but all these “doesn’t make a difference” Pandoras add up over time. The premium ones weren’t supposed to delay things either.
I accept that the premium orders were necessary as are the ones with the rest of the batch. But it’s a tad insulting to those of us that have been waiting for over 3 years that they’ve ones to give away while we wait for our orders to be filled.
I’m wondering why they even bother…
Looking at the website:
In February Sony brings out the PS Vita, in the EU/US. Price: 250€
Lets compare shall we?
Price: 375/445€ vs 250$/250€
CPU: 1 core ARM Cortex-A8 vs 4 core ARM Cortex-A9
GPU: PowerVR SGX530 vs 4 core SGX543MP4+
Memory: 256/512 MB vs 512 MB
GPU Memory: System memory vs 128 MB dedicated memory
Screen:
800×480 resolution resistive 4.3″ vs OLED multi-touch capacitive 5″
Available: in 2 months ( 2008 ) vs next month REALLY available.
What has the Pandora actually going for itself? Its a open system, it has a mini keyboard, 2 * SD, and a TV out ( no HDMI! ), battery life ( that still depends on how the comparison is done. You can not exactly compare a 4h running of heavy graphic game on the Vita, vs … well, you just can not compare unless you run emulator vs emulator )?
Its software is not its advantage, as they already hacked the Japanese Vita, to run in the PSP Level, all the PSP emulators ( *haha* strange sentence that has become ).
http://wololo.net/wagic/2012/01/09/a-few-homebrews-that-run-on-the-vita-hbl/
…
We are 2012, and there are still people waiting for there Pandora’s? HELLOOOOOOO…
The Pandora was a novel, and interesting project … in 2008, but it sure as hell is antiquated. How long will it take for the PSV to be completely hacked to allow low level access? 3 months, 6 months? Probably faster then all people getting there Pandora, that is for sure.
This contest looks to me, as a way to try and get some developers interested again in the Pandora. You can conclude that developers are focusing on other things, because there is no reason to do a contest if there are plenty of developers active, now is there?
There you go, that was not too hard… also you forgot the community, which is a big part of the “experience” (stupid, overused word though) for many people.
Yes, the Pandora is outdated hardware wise, but do People actually get to the limits of said hardware?
Currently only the N64 emulator, HD video playback (on a 800×480 screen mind you) and Flash are held back by the raw CPU power and might be accelerated by the DSP.
There is software (not only games) on the Pandora that is available on no other portable system and so far no other system comes close in terms of control.
In my honest opinion, if you are only looking at the hardware specs, then yes, please get PSVita, you will be happier with that (no offence or anything).
To me as a developer the Pandora is still an unmatched system. I like to get my own apps running on it without a hassle (and having to “break” the system first). There is a open and friendly community with a relatively high amount of developers and a low amount of twats (can’t say the latter part from the PSP community).
The first part is certainly true, the latter not from my experience.
As far as I know no “major” developer has left the system in the last couple of months (or year), a few have left before (as production hit its first major rock) and a few new ones have discovered the system.
Relatively speaking there are still much more developers around than for most other gaming systems/handhelds.
This contest certainly is to get some of them off their asses and probably to inspire some people to get started with programming, too.
And if not that, just to get some new software (the last big compo brought out GINGE amongst others).
It’s not all pink and rosy in Pandora land, but in my eyes it certainly has a right to exist, even today.
Sorry but… where exactely can I put a compiler and decent text editor on the PS Vita? OH WAIT. I need a much $ debug unit and a more $$$ SDK license.
Now that blows.
You’re literally comparing specs from 2008 to today. No HDMI? I’m not even sure if mini-HDMI existed in 2008. Why would anyone spend $500 on this over a $250 PSP Vita? Yeah, I’m drawing a blank on this one.
I still follow this project even though I cancelled my preorder 3 years ago. I love the idea but I’m terribly disappointed that everything turned out the way it has. Worse yet, since the community now devs for the Pandora, the whole open source handheld movement they had going is relegated to the couple thousand people that actually own one.
Ah… that discussion again… I do understand though. But seriously, if one want an example: I’ve bought a TI89 12 years ago and when i need to make calculations, solve equations and stuff, that is what i pull out, not my smartphone with an app for that. It is a very different thing. And join Foxblock, the idea of having to break the system to get anything exotic run does not appeal to me (past the fact that you won’t be able create your own apps on the fly). Your thesis is off by a mile (no offense): you compare an athlete and a construction worker.
“It’s not all pink and rosy in Pandora land, but in my eyes it certainly has a right to exist, even today.”
I agree with this statement… For me, the Pandora is a legacy system. I would use it purely for emulators. The future of the Pandora is what interest me. It might take a while but I can picture a redesigned and up to date spec Pandora a few years down the road. But yeah, the PS Vita seems to be the clear winner right now for Emulators.
Thanks largely to Apple it’s not getting any easier to get devices like the Pandora with a real keyboard. For people who require a keyboard the Pandora is one of the few options. Especially one that also has good gaming controls.
Sigh, or at least that’s what I hear, they don’t ever go to shows anywhere outside of Europe so most of us haven’t even had the chance to see or touch one prior to receiving our order.
The Pandora isn’t just an emulator machine, it’s a full blown handheld Linux computer. It has a full keyboard, SD card slots and is practically free as in freedom software. The PS Vita is designed to be defective with its digital restriction anti-user features. These two machines are different and should not be compared for something that they’re not.
Hi! Concerning this, do you know if there is any active development in emulating the PSP? Regards!
No, none that I know of, sorry.
For what it’s worth: Exophase and Notaz teamed up lately to bring PSX Emulation to another level, details here: http://boards.openpandora.org/index.php?/topic/6546-pcsx-rearmed-r13-with-a-new-gpu/
I received an email from “Jacquelyn” on September 29, 2011.
”’
Hello Paul,
I will process the refund via Paypal as requested.
Kind regards
Jacquelyn
”’
It has been about four months now, and I still have yet to see the $374.99 returned to me. I emailed Jacquelyn again regarding this in November 2011, and no reply was sent back to me.
Where is my money?
Try pestering Craig on the Forum, he seldom frequents this blog, so you hardly will get a qualified answer here, sorry.
It’s a shame though those requests seem to be not handled with the care and accuracy they should be.
Great post!
Really looking forward to what is the result of this compo. I’ve really got to get back into coding for the Pandy as well…I have so many ideas too but other other things are taking over my life right now!
Also, to those poo-pooing the Pandora. Why? It does what it says on the tin (as long as you get a working one!). It’s the same now as it was ‘advertised’ as in 2009. It still plays all those classic games beautifully (and always will!).
If I had to take one hand-held console with me on a desert island – it would still be the Pandora (with a couple of FULL 32gig SD cards obviously!)
Lynn Johnston: “Complaining is good for you as long as you’re not complaining to the person you’re complaining about.”