Comp.sys.sinclair Crap Games Competition: Difference between revisions

Generally, the aim of the competition and criteria for entry and ranking have been loosely defined.<ref name="cgc2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/speccyspoilers/cgc2004/index.html|title=comp.sys.sinclair crap games competition 2004|date=2005-03-01|accessdate=2011-05-05|first=Jim|last=Langmead|quote=All games are the copyright of their respective authors, for what it's worth.}}</ref> The focus has tended to be on low-quality games which reproduce the look, feel and unplayability of those found on the original Cascade [[Cassette 50]] tape.<ref name="cgc2004" /> Also, games which parody, satirise or even extend those of the original Cassette 50 tape have been submitted. In later years the scope had broadened considerably with many newer titles bearing little resemblance to those on the Cassette 50 tape. Some accepted titles have consisted of technical tricks, joke programs or applications rather than games.<ref name="csscgc2008results">{{cite web|url=http://reptonix.awardspace.co.uk/sinclair/csscgc2008/results.htm|title=CSSCGC 2008 Results|publisher=Digital Prawn|date=2009-01-14|accessdate=2011-05-05|quote=Congratulations to "The Mojon Twins" for winning CSSCGC 2008 with "The Ultimate First Communion Simulator".}}</ref> Authors have also submitted deliberately good programs to the competition.<ref name="ZXF1-1">{{cite journal|title=The King of Crap|journal=ZX Format|issue=1|page=8|year=2002|first=Colin|last=Woodcock|quote=It's not escaped the attention of many CSSCGC players that some of the competitors over the years have shown {{sic|blatent|expected=blatant}} disregard for the rules of this sport, turning in entries that are actually quite good.}}</ref> A significant proportion of submissions have the word "simulator" in the title, a reference to [[Codemasters]] games that often had "simulator" in the title and often alluding to simulating something either completely mundane or conversely something well beyond the realistic limits of an 8-bit system.<ref name="csscgc2008results" />  

Since its inception, the competition had originally been dominated by [[UK]]-based entrants and judges, although in 2008 for example, the competition gained considerable international participation, with games being submitted from several countries including most notably Spain,<ref name="Bytemaniacos-1">{{cite journal|title=El peor jeugo del mundo tiene premio|journal=Fanzine Bytemaniacos|author=Miguel Angel Montejo Ráez|language=Spanish|year=2008|quote=Crear el jeugo peor realizado, más absurdo, sin sentido, injugable... ese es el objetivo.}}</ref> Argentina, Italy & Russia. Of particular note were the submissions of games in the Spanish and Russian languages and an eventual competition victory by a Spanish development team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mojontwins.com/?page_id=31|title=The Ultimate First Communion Simmulator|language=Spanish|publisher=The Mojon Twins|year=2009|accessdate=2011-05-05|quote=El camino hacia la salvación es arduo y esta lleno de vicisitudes.}}</ref>

Submissions are very often written in interpreted [[Sinclair BASIC]], suitable because of its slowness and limited audiovisual features.<ref name="sinclairfaq" /> However, submitted titles have also been developed in [[Z80]] machine code, compiled BASIC, [[Small-C]] (using [[Z88DK]]) and [[Forth (programming language)|FORTH]] amongst others.<ref name="csscgc2008results" />

The vast majority of the games submitted are for the [[ZX Spectrum]] platform, which was the most successful and popular Sinclair computer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/zxspectrum/zxspectrum.htm|title=ZX Spectrum|publisher=Planet Sinclair|first=Chris|last=Owen|year=2003|accessdate=2011-05-05|quote=By far the most famous and successful of his many products, the ZX Spectrum earned Clive Sinclair a fortune}}</ref> However, games for the [[ZX80]], [[ZX81]]<ref name="ZXF7-1">{{cite journal|title=CSSCGC 2003 Results|journal=ZX Format|issue=7|page=16|first=Colin|last=Woodcock|year=2004|quote=And this year you can submit ZX81 games too!}}</ref> & [[Jupiter Ace]] (a non-Sinclair "derivative" computer) as well as several other related computer models have also been submitted to the competition.<ref name="csscgc2008results" /> The exact list of permitted hardware platforms as well as the scope of allowed software is at the complete discretion of the incumbent judge, with variations in the rules commonplace from one year to the next.