Hello, and welcome to McLeodGaming's first ever banner contest!

This year, you're able to participate in a contest that could potentially get your hard work ingrained into McLeodGaming for years to come! The site is in need of a new banner, and we're leaving it in the community's hands to produce some quality headers. There is no specific theme, so let your imagination run wild! There are, however, a few guidelines you will need to follow. I'll list a few below.


--Guidelines--

1. The banner is currently divided into two sections. 346 x 71 makes up the main image, with a 500 x 71 image off to the right of it. Try stretching and squashing the current banner by moving the web page to get a better idea of how it works. Your banner's two images do not have to match an exact width, but there MUST be a loop point that fades in between. THIS LOOP IS CRUCIAL. If your banner has no loop point somewhere in the center or wherever you choose to place it, it may not work.

2. The banner must be digitally created. This can range from any side of the digital spectrum. From Photoshop to paint.net, brush design to sprite work, anything and everything is accepted as long as it was created digitally.

3. We really want you guys to use your imaginations on this to create the best banner possible, but at the same time we want to remind you that this is the MG forum, and as such the banner should reflect that. For that reason, you will have to have the title somewhere in the banner. You are not restricted to the Osaka Sans Serif font currently being used, but a lot of people associate that font with MG. It's up to you.



With that out of the way, let's talk rules. You didn't think we were going to let you do ANYTHING, did you?


--Rules--

- You may only submit ONE banner. If we have people submitting as many as they wanted, not only would it be unfair for those who aren't as quick, it would be a literal hell for us to judge. Please think of the children.

- Save your file as a PNG (this should be obvious, but I figure better safe than sorry). I can't tell you how many beautiful images I've seen ruined by the likes of the foul JPG. For the sake of quality, please keep it PNG. (PG as well, if you please)
- -The only exception would be if you plan on making an animated GIF for the banner. If that is the case, feel free to do so. Yes, animation is allowed, but remember that animated GIFs as web page headers are usually frowned upon, so your best bet if you want to incorporate some would be only using animation where it will truly fit in. Bear in mind it will still need the loop point. Click here for a crude example of how this idea might work. (Notice there is plenty of space for a loop!)

- DO NOT post your entry in this topic! You will be automatically disqualified. Please PM me your entry when you are 100% confident that you are finished. There is no guarantee that I will take your revised version should you submit it to me a second time.



The non-partial judges for these entries will be assembled by me, and to ensure that they are indeed impartial I will not give them names when I present each image to them. So if you are worried that your forum infamy will give you a lower chance of winning, please let those worries rest and feel free to participate. They will give their opinion on each and judge off of a rubric.

The prizes are as follows:


1st Place: Their banner hoisted up onto the MG website, and a $50 MG Store Gift Card

First place will also have the option to submit an updated version of their banner after the competition's end should they feel it necessary.

2nd Place: $30 MG Store Gift Card

3rd Place: $20 MG Store Gift Card


All entries will be due by February 28th, 2013.


Don't know where to start? Here are some of MG's various logos to help you get on your way to merry banner making.



If you have any questions, or if I made anything unclear feel free to ask in the topic.

*if for some reason all of the banners submitted are unusable, we are not obligated to accept them. We will either extend the due date, or allocate prize money according to what is submitted. We're certain this wont be the case however, since we know there are many talented people roaming about MG. If only a limited number of them are usable, we reserve the right to not hand out prizes*
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If you plan on participating, please say so in this thread so I can keep track of you all.

Signing up.

Interesting, I surely would be proud to!
But whats this mcleodgaming credit?
EDIT: There's only stuff with the MCgaming logo D:
Why not sell SSF2 products, I would actually use my credit!

Because Cleod doesn't want to get sued.

Are participating Ramey?

The doctor is in.

I would to like participate.

what the f*** would i do with an mg store gift card

Go buy a hip shirt, they sell like hotcakes

buy a MCLEODGAMING APRON

Pretty much what kyuubit said. It would be illegal to make money off of SSF2, so there's no SSF2 stuff in the store.


No sir, I am not!

Thank you to those who signed up so far!

Make money of the SSF2 logo then

I would like to participate in this.

Wait which banner is it for, forums or main site?

@BluePikmin
That would still be making money off of SSF2. We'd rather avoid it all together.

@Doc
They have the same dimentions, so probably both. Or if there are enough good ones then maybe two different banners from different users.

I will add you shoop.