unforum

[Sylvia]

[Cross_]

That's the one that took me longest last time because stuff was hidden behind these stupid pseudo-windows. It's also annoying that EA can't be bothered to make their Xs green.

[faeryqueen21]

[madmad59]

just to clarify

[faeryqueen21]

I think that asking for help is totally ok. There have been times where I have needed help but I didn't necessarily want the answers and having people give extra hints is nice. It's not just giving away the anwers but it may help me know where I need to squint a bit harder on a page. No harm in that.

[Sylvia]

Sorry madmad59, I misread your post. I edited my previous post to reflect that.


For all of us, I will continue to post helpful hints here, that is, if I can find the correct word myself.

[madmad59]

no problem

[madmad59]

Well I got all 10

[rose]

[Sylvia]

Day 5, Friday, 9 Nov. 2007

[Sylvia]

I agree with you Rose and I understand your point. But in the case of this Contest, it just takes all the fun out of trying to find the answers yourself before looking for help.

Personally, I have enjoyed looking at the pages for the clues. I actually end up reading some of them and have discovered a few things I didn't know before. It's too easy to just enter the answers that someone else did all the work for. I know the answers get spoilered but that's like throwing a bone to a dog and expecting him to NOT eat it. But I will gladly give anyone the answers when they truly give up on finding it themselves and need it before the 24 hours is up. I wouldn't want anyone to be left out when I could have helped. Actually, entering the green x words is not necessary to enter the contest but it's faster since each clue that you answer correctly gives you another entry in the drawings. It's certainly faster than mailing in your name/address/etc. 360 times.

Basically all I'm saying is, it's not fair if, for example, either I or someone else does all the work and everyone else copies the answers. It takes all the fun out of trying to find it yourself and, well, it just isn't fair. Especially, since this is a Contest and not an ARG or CF. Everyone should at least try to fnd the answer themselves before asking for help.

What would really be unfair is, if the person giving all the answers needs help at a later stage and the person doing all the copying is able to help but won't. That gives them an unfair advantage. Believe me, we are not the only people who read this forum. There are many who steal ideas from here and don't contribute back. I know, because in the Sullivan's Stories game a guy from another forum copied my stuff and posted it on the other forum as if it was his. That may be ok in an ARG but not in a Contest. I'm not trying to sound mean or anything, just expressing how I personally feel which is, in the case of a contest I think hints are more appropriate than just giving the answer outright unless the person has used the hints and still can't get the answer.

Besides, an explanation of how the answer is found is more productive as it also acts as a learning tool. It's like the old saying, "Tell me, I will forget. Show me, I might remember. Let me do it, and it is mine forever." Or, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but teach him to fish and you feed him for life." I just feel hints will be more productive in this case. Another good example is the contest that just ended about the Guinness Tipping Point. No one gave the answers but instead clues on how to find the answers. And all the players seemed to approve. Sorry for this being a bit wordy but I felt the distinction between the information sharing in an ARG and a Contest needed to be made.

I hope I haven't over stepped the boundaries here. Usually, I end up sticking my foot in my mouth when I try to explain something because It seems to always comes out wrong.

Also, it is true that at the Xbox forums, the mods delete every answer that gets posted. I guess, in the name of fairness. But probably more so is the fact that they want as many people as possible visiting the sites to get the answers as this is not only a contest for them but an elaborate ad campaign. And, they must have made a deal with the other sites in order for them to be listed as partners who will be contributing to the prizes that are awarded. Probably, part of the deal was that they would be getting a lot of people visiting their sites.

[rose]

[Cross_]

Sylvia has done an excellent job pointing out her concerns and I share those. Just to address some of the specific points you made:

[faeryqueen21]

Hey, to each his own. I'm all for sharing when help is needed.

On that note, if anyone here wins anything they need to post and let us know!!

On another note, this may be kind of silly, but I really enjoy inputting an answer and watching my "ranking" go up. Easily amused I guess...

[faeryqueen21]

[quote="Cross_"]