Hi
as @MuN asked: does the submitted game have to be published as a free app? I didn’t noticed any restriction about it in the official rules. Can anyone confirm that a premium app is eligible?
thanks
It doesnt have to be free.
We have an interesting choice:
- Submit the universal app
a. Back button doesn’t work on phone (see bug: https://github.com/MSOpenTech/cocos2d-x/issues/122), so will get rejected at the store
b. Hence, you can only submit a desktop app - Go for WP8-XAML
a. Lags in performance, when compared to the universal app - that’s what I have read, has anyone done an actual test with findings?
On for debugging/testing right ?
If i have a real device, i can test app on my phone, but is windows 8 pro is required to publish app to the store ?
Then the only viable way is for Windows RT 8.1 (tablets and desktop)?
WP 8.1 Back button (i think this should be fixed soon)
WP 8.0 (Too slow?)
I am not sure what you are stating here. Can you clarify?
Windows Phone 8.1 (universal-app) back button must be handled correctly or probably will be rejected by Windows Store:
Ex:
From Main Menu navigate to Options
if i press the back button from phone now, scene must be replaced/popped and back to main menu, but as far as i know, there is no way to do it (KEY_BACK works on Android, but don’t works on WP 8.1). If there is any solution, please let us know.
Recently i created a topic about this: Handling back button on wp8.1 (universal)
Windows Phone 8.0 (WP8.0 xaml): Some people saying it lags / has poor performance. I have not tested this though, can anyone confirm this? (Need to install old VS2012 + WP 8.0 SDK).
What remains is the Windows 8.1 (universal-app) for tablets and desktops.
If I said something wrong, please correct me.
ok, let me ask someone to take a look at this back button issue as if it truly doesn’t work and apps are getting rejected this is a big deal.
I don’t see anywhere in rules that the game must be free of charge.
The game that we put on market can it be paid game, and be reported for this contest?
Look further up in this thread, the game does NOT have to be free.
Guys, I really do not understand what means
Creativity (25%): How creative is your use of the development tools and assets in your App?
Explain me, please. Maybe, give some examples of this “creative” using
creative: resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative
So if you submit a Flappy Bird clone, a 2048 clone, a Candy Crush clone, these are examples of NOT very creative.
Submit an original idea/concept.
This is the biggest problem with such contests. Developers should really think about it. They are basically giving away their concepts and ideas for free, without getting anything back, as the contest organizer does not need to pay out money for all contestants.
He can take your cool idea/concept and make money out of it on their own. No strings attached. That’s why I’m always a bit careful with competing in such.
A Candy Crush clone might not be chosen as a winner, but does not harm you that bad, compared to letting some third party “milk” your great game idea.
I just wanted to point out the importance of reading the small print of the contest guidelines and the consequences of competing in the contest, as some developer may not be aware of them.
All your points are good @IQD. Remember that they aren’t giving away the source. They are uploading to the Windows App Store and we get it from there.
Um, I am confused. What do you mean?
I make a game and submit to the app store. I also submit it as an entry to a competition. If (a big IF) my game wins anything, I get some publicity for the game. What’s the catch?
Regarding the source: someone can RE the whole thing anyway, if they really want to get to the in and outs. Ideas, Data and Code cannot be copyrighted anyway.
The source does not make the money, but the idea/concept does.
Sure, but all the ideas and concepts can be used by Microsoft for any purpose they want. They basically “own” your game after uploading. They can just clone your idea/game and you cannot do anything against/about it, as you agreed to the ToS. That’s the thing I’m criticizing.
Isn’t the whole idea of such contest to suck in as much input/ideas as possible? It’s like an incubator.
25k seems to be a good amount of money for Joe “Basement” Coder, but just take it this way: How much money does it cost to develop a game idea/concept? A lot more than that. But for 25k the organizer will get hundreds or thousands of concepts/ideas for that money(assumed there are thousands of contestants, which provided great ones).
I’m not saying that contests are a rip-off, but every developer should decide for themselves.
Read the last sentence of the fine print. They are not obligated to give your game some publicity, even if it won.
They can use everything for THEIR purpose. They will benefit more than you do. The rights are irrevocable.
This is the catch(in case you did not read the fine print):
HOW WILL MY ENTRY BE POTENTIALLY USED?
Other than what is set forth below, we are not claiming any ownership rights to your Entry. However, by submitting your Entry, you:
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are granting us an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your Entry and all its content in connection with this Contest or the promotion of Microsoft goods and services; and (ii) feature your Entry and all content in connection with the marketing, sale, or promotion of this Contest or Microsoft goods and services (including but not limited to internal and external sales meetings, conference presentations, tradeshows, and screen shots of the Contest Entry in press releases) in all media (now known or later developed);
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agree to sign any necessary documentation that may be required for us and our designees to make use of the rights you granted above;
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understand and acknowledge that the Sponsor(s) may have developed or commissioned materials similar or identical to your submission and you waive any claims you may have resulting from any similarities to your Entry;
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understand that we cannot control the incoming information you will disclose to our representatives in the course of entering, or what our representatives will remember about your Entry. You also understand that we will not restrict work assignments of representatives who have had access to your Entry. By entering this Contest, you agree that use of information in our representatives’ unaided memories in the development or deployment of our products or services does not create liability for us under this agreement or copyright or trade secret law; and
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understand that you will not receive any compensation or credit for use of your Entry, other than what is described in these Official Rules.
While we reserve these rights, we are not obligated to use your Entry for any purpose, even if it has been selected as a winner.
That’s a tricky one. Does this mean that MS can copy my game idea and I can’t claim anything? Or does it mean that they may have something similar in the pipeline and I waive my claim rights?
The others don’t seem too bad - more of a publicity thing and don’t mind publicity 
Yep, that’s what it means in theory.
Theoretically they can release a similar game as yours, and just say: “sorry, that thing was in development by us long ago”.
Cause of this clause:
and you waive any claims you may have resulting from any similarities to your Entry;
Yes, you cannot claim anything, in case they release an identical game as yours.
How would you prove, that they stole your idea or how do you prove, that your game is just not a “coincidence” with their game? It could have been in development 10 years ago, right?
Even if you can prove it, you already waived your claim right, right?
Such clauses are very very tricky, as you mentioned.
and the “unaided memories”. thing!? They can give your idea to their development departments and work on something similar. “Sorry, can’t remember, that there was some Entry with a similar idea”. But if there was some, you have to take it and cannot claim/sue anyone 
Not too bad, no?
Always keep in mind, that the rules were written by some lawyers. If you really want to know the consequences, you would need to get in contact with a lawyer.
Any chances there is one on the forum and is reading and understanding this?
Note above all: I’m not a lawyer and it’s just my opinion.
Note above all: I'm not a lawyer and it's just my opinion.
You are a very clever guy! (After the reading all of this)