Org Avatar Contest - Win a copy of Medieval 2

Announcing...

The Org Avatar Contest!

What:
Make a portrait to add to the Org's remarkable avatar collection! Entries should be identifiable as individuals from the Medieval period covered by Medieval 2: Total War.

How:
Use anything: photos or screenshots and editing software, digital painting programs, 3D modeling software, tradiational media and a scanner; the possibilities are endless. Just make an avatar that can be sized down to 50 x 75 pixels, post it and its larger original version in this thread, and watch this thread for updates. Note that using copyrighted material is not allowed, and entries using copyrighted material will be removed from the competition. Please also note that screenshots from the M2TW demo or from officially sanctioned sources (such as Gamespot and IGN) are useable.

When:
The contest begins now and ends at 08:00 GMT on the 20th November. Judging will be between the 20th and the 24th, and the winners will be announced on the 25th November.

Winners?
The top four entries will receive awards. There will be a Grand Prize for the overall best entry, then three runners-up. Honourable mentions will also be given, and each of these has the chance to have their avatar enshrined for all time in the Org's avatar base!

Awards:
Grand prize: a brand new boxed copy of Medieval 2: Total War straight from Creative Assembly!
Runner-up prizes: CDs of the Rome: Total War soundtrack, also straight from CA, one for each runner-up winner!


FAQ
What guidelines should I work with when creating my entry?
There are just a few basic things to keep in mind:

• Final judging will be based on BOTH a large version of the portrait, and the final 50 x 75 pixel avatar version.
• All curent Org avatars have a 3 pixel border around them. The use of such a border is required on the 50 x 75 version.
• Using copyrighted material is not allowed.
• Images which are not related to the Medieval period covered by M2:TW will be very unlikely to score highly in the final judging.

Where do I post my entries?
Use this thread to post your entries or comment on others' entries. If you need image hosting service, check out Photobucket, Imageshack, or other hosting service.

What sort of format is ok for entries?
Please only use JPG or PNG.

I saw this contest mentioned on another website. Do I need to register on the forums here to enter the contest?
Yes, registration at TotalWar.org is required.

Can I post my image at a larger size than 50x75?
Yes, in fact you must make a large version available via link or direct posting. This version should be at least 400 pixels wide. It does not need the avatar border, but will not be penalised for having one either.

You must also post the 50 x 75 version in this thread. That way the judges can both appreciate your artwork with the large version, and see what the portrait will look like as a forum avatar.

How many entries can I add?
As many as you like. However, the prizes are limited to one per person (no winning first, second, and third place, sorry).

Who will be the judges?
A panel of five judges will vote on their favourites privately. This panel will be made up of a mix of Creative Assembly and TotalWar.org staff members.

Does TotalWar.org or Creative Assembly own the art I create after I submit it?
No. By submitting your art, you are giving TotalWar.org the right to use this art for the purpose of forum avatars. You retain all other rights and ownership of the art.

Any other questions?
Feel free to PM Tamur with questions about this contest to be sure of an answer. Posting questions in this thread is fine, but it is easy for the organisers to miss posts in long threads such as this one.

https://img128.imageshack.us/my.php?...aitbothtz9.png

Here is my pathetic attempt that i did on paint, lol

The obvious one:

https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/...1okopieww5.jpg


https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/24...21kopieon3.jpg

Could be Admin? :wink:

R'as

A Lady by Dürer:

https://img227.imageshack.us/img227/...enetianjv1.jpg

https://img129.imageshack.us/img129/...netian2xq8.jpg

Just whipped this one up:

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar1large.jpg

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar1small.jpg

Cool idea for a contest!

I can already tell the judges will have a really terrible time deciding. Very nice entries! Bob, too bad you don't have something a little better to paint with, nice form with those pixels ~:)

https://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?...istadoryr6.png

and

https://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=knightrm1.png

I thought u had to draw them urselves, oops

Another:

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar2large.jpg

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar2small.jpg

I'll get my coat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Midnight

Another:

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar2large.jpg

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar2small.jpg

I'll get my coat.

---

Cool you painted them ? :beam:

done with old fashioned paint, due to not having better, but it's good enough imo

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d...t_original.png

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d...her/knight.png

That's really great!! :2thumbsup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Midnight

Just whipped this one up:
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar1small.jpg

---

Midnight, those are some very impressive bits of work.

PROMETHEUS, R'as al Ghul, Myrddraal - thanks! Yeah, I sketched them earlier this afternoon.

You just sketched them :dizzy2:
If I even attempt to do that it'll cost me a week to make just one, nice work m8, I think we don't need to vote, we've already found the winner

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Midnight

PROMETHEUS, R'as al Ghul, Myrddraal - thanks! Yeah, I sketched them earlier this afternoon.

---

Cool you are very good , what prog u use? Free hand? graphic tablet?

Here is mine.

large
https://img275.imageshack.us/img275/...htlargecw7.jpg

small
https://img277.imageshack.us/img277/...htsmallhf3.jpg

PROMETHEUS - I'm using a graphics tablet and Photoshop.

Cool ... very much talented......

anyway here is my entry after having confirmed the possibility to post it ^^ ....

https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/78...etheus2jd9.png

https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/81...savatarnu4.png

I hope I can use it :sweatdrop: .....

The large one looked wierd, but then I scrolled down and saw the avi, nice job m8

Cool, very nice Prom!

Another:

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar3large.jpg

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar3small.jpg

Once again, a great piece of work. I'm more than slightly jealous...

Hands up who wants to change the thread title into:
Midnights new avatars for MTW2

Lol no way to compete ....

No way Prom, yours is really good! Midnight's are more detailed, but in the forum avatar size, you cannot tell.

Oh well , thanks .... here is another one ....

https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/...tar2bigxw0.png

https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/3531/avatar2pp3.png

This is my attempt with "personal" photo :laugh4:
large
https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/...eavatarui1.png
small
http://images11.snimka.bg/001429705.jpg

If you take pictures from movies you need to heavily alter them to not incurr in copyright problems ....

Wow, the pics posted here are ALL extremely fine pieces of work. I salute you, and the guys who took the initiative to start this thread!

Great Work! You'll give the judges a hard time :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PROMETHEUS

If you take pictures from movies you need to heavily alter them to not incurr in copyright problems ....

---

This was just a joke which I created for less than 10 min.
Please excuse me for it. :oops: The moderators are free to delete my previous post!

Pope Pius V

https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8374/piusvez8.png

https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8215/popepiusvco7.png

Lots of great entries!

We've got announcements coming out on this contest at a couple of major digital art sites, so the competition could get pretty ferocious ~:) Keep 'em coming!

Ouch .... means no more chances for normal ppl .... ho well ....:juggle2:

Moved the thread post in the following one ......

very nice :bow:

Here a little photoshop painting taken from a movie ^^ ....

https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/78...etheus2jd9.png

https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/81...savatarnu4.png

And from a Caravaggio original ... http://www.wga.hu/art/c/caravagg/10/60alof.jpg

The modified version

https://img55.imageshack.us/img55/98...tar9bigbz2.png

https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/...tar6bisnt2.png


Ok time to get more energy into it .... ^^

The Original http://www.portrait-painting.org/Ima...t-portrait.jpg Old Knight ....

Here is my first photoshop original painting ^^ pretty liking it .... what you think ?

https://img188.imageshack.us/img188/...tar3bigij7.png https://img195.imageshack.us/img195/...tar4bigeu7.png

https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/3613/avatar3bg7.png https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5724/avatar4fp2.png

I called this the Old Captain ... andits variation called Armoured Captain....


Lol I am starting to like to make those stuff ^^ What about those?

taken from the original http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/artis...ssance_008.jpg from Moroni the tailor

So I painted in the armour and here is the Condottiero , visor down and visor up , and helmet off in hand....

https://img60.imageshack.us/img60/87...tar5bigkn2.png https://img314.imageshack.us/img314/...tar6bigih8.png https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/99...tar7biggz1.png

https://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9444/avatar5vz0.png https://img60.imageshack.us/img60/5939/avatar6dl2.png https://img336.imageshack.us/img336/3582/avatar7co1.png https://img75.imageshack.us/img75/19...tar5bisfw8.png https://img75.imageshack.us/img75/481/avatar6bisbq7.png https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/...tar7biscz7.png





and Here a painting also made by me but Oil on Canvas scannerized no Photoshop ....

https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/23...metheussc5.png


https://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6222/avatar8ul7.png https://img234.imageshack.us/img234/...tar8bisge5.png

Personally I like the head only avi's, but they look damned good

I updated the last thread ^^ ......:sweatdrop: Hope you like it ....

wow looks very good

Nice update Prometheus, I love the feel of those paintings.

Quote:

---

When:
The contest begins now and ends at 08:00 GMT on the 20th November. Judging will be between the 20th and the 24th, and the winners will be announced on the 25th November.

---

bTW couldn't it be anticipated the judging to the day of mtw2 release ? :laugh4: At least so none of the partecipants will have the game , by the 24 everyone here would alreay have ....:smash:

Damn I was gonna add my feeble effort but on second thoughts I pass, no need to get embarressed.

My avatar.
http://forum.vivictrix.net/uploads/av-196.gif

That is a very very funny avatar Roman_Gladiator.

Thanks, if you liked that then I think you will love this https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/...10322297ud.gif To bad it this isen't a sig contest. lol

Thats hilarious as well. I actualy saw the council of elrond portion of it on its own some time ago and that was funny but the rest just takes it over the top. Good stuff.

i guess you all know this one:

https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/9528/bigno2.jpg

i have made 2 avatars, since u said theye must be 50X75, but all the avatars on this forum seem to be 50X70.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/5489/smallzq9.jpg https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7460/small2ck6.jpg

btw i plan to do some more avatars, but before this i ask if we have to post them in 50X70 or 50X75 as it was originally said?

50x75

right click an avatar in this forum, and select properties, for me it always gives 50x74

Well as long as you post the big picture isn't necessary I suppose couse can be cutted by it , the smaller is to show how looks as avatar.....

Quote:

---

Damn I was gonna add my feeble effort but on second thoughts I pass, no need to get embarressed.

---

Cmon, lets see it. :grin:

I'll post a bad one if you do too :laugh4:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by }|{NO}|{Roman_Gladiator

My avatar.
http://forum.vivictrix.net/uploads/av-196.gif

---

LOL! That was great. It reminded me of the Very Secret Diaries.... :laugh4:

yea ive seen someone use that before.
its really funny.

This one's pretty good too:

https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/...ordorvidi4.gif

And the classic :

https://img96.imageshack.us/img96/68...dsamllepa2.gif

:balloon2:

Im quite a noob at Photoahop but I want to have a go at this competition :) How do you put those borders around the smaller pics?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wishazu

Im quite a noob at Photoahop but I want to have a go at this competition :) How do you put those borders around the smaller pics?

---

Copy one of thep pics with the borders , remove with a square selection the inside part , then copy the external borders and apply to a same sized image of your avatar and paste over it ....

lol thanks

This is a simple one of a gothic knight that I made from a screenshot. It's not that good and I don't expect it to get close to winning.

https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/...atarbigrd8.jpg

https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6975/avatarhp3.jpg

If it MUST be 50x75, here is a rescaled one:

https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/...vatar11ka3.jpg

I like it better in 50x70 though.

New one based on a foot knight:

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/...tar2bigbj4.jpg

https://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7290/avatar2na2.jpg

Another one: (hey, this is fun!)

https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/...tar3bigup2.jpg

https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/3908/avatar3gk8.jpg

A bit of a different one with 2 variations:

https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/...tar4bigos5.jpg https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/...r4bigwbxa4.jpg

https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4108/avatar4rp3.jpg https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/...atar4wbyl0.jpg

Heres my entry, I may post some more if I can get round to it :)

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ace-detail.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...rgavatar1a.jpg https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...rgavatar2a.jpg

I suppose you could call this guy a generic horse archer/ horse warrior. But you cant really tell that without seeing the whole picture.

EDIT: heres the full picture
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...andal-full.jpg


P.S Thanks again for the help Prometheus :)

Well, here is my attempt. I have to add that I do not have Photoshop or any other fancy programs, so, I made these using Paint. Yes, go ahead, mock me. :) The links I posted beneath each avatar is a larger version, 200 x 300 pixels.

Wickus the Righteous, Cardinal.

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...eRighteous.jpg

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...Righteous2.jpg

Welf Weinmuth, Spy.

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...lfWeinmuth.jpg

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...fWeinmuth2.jpg

Rudolf Der Bartige, Merchant.

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...DerBartige.jpg

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...erBartige2.jpg

Herr von Schwaben, minor noble.

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...onSchwaben.jpg

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...nSchwaben2.jpg

Godwine von Wolfsburg, Diplomat.

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...nWolfsburg.jpg

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...Wolfsburg2.jpg

Demetrios Calaphates, Byzantine Family Member.

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...Calaphates.jpg

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...alaphates2.jpg

Wolfgang der Bar, Assassin.

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...gangderBar.jpg

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l...angderBar2.jpg

Is it compulsory for the large images to be 400 pixels wide? You wouldn't recognise the smaller avatars because of the pixellation. But, if it is compulsory, I will resize the larger images.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PROMETHEUS

bTW couldn't it be anticipated the judging to the day of mtw2 release ? :laugh4: At least so none of the partecipants will have the game , by the 24 everyone here would alreay have ....:smash:

---

:smash: :whip: :book:

https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/9460/entrysi4.png
My entry please. Edited to add border.

Nice entries all!

Wishazu, what are you using to create your images? Scanned drawing? Painter? Great line work and texture, whatever you're doing.

The picture was drawn by hand then scanned into the computer and coloured using photoshop etc. but alas I am not the maestro who created this masterpiece, a friend of mine is a freelance illustrator and me and my clan commission him from time to time to do artwork for us. Anyways, if anyone is interested in checking out the art of David Cousens you can pay him a visit here > www.coolsurface.com

A lady:

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar4large.jpg

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2...atar4small.jpg

Mid.

Very nice midnight.

Yeah, that's a good one, Midnight. (Nice to see a female avatar as well, if only for variety's sake.)

Truth be told, I'm pretty impressed by all the avatars submitted thus far. A pity I'm no artist, or I might try my hand as well. ~:rolleyes:

Does straight from CA mean that CA are sponsoring this? If so, it might be nice to get a copy for the winner that is signed by the devs :whip:

Yes, CA have a hand in it and are providing the prizes. I thought of asking for signatures to make it more of a truly prized, err, prize... but not sure how far to push my luck ~:) I will give it a try and report back ~:)

something happened to my border and im on my way out so this will do right.

https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a...ns/0border.jpg

Wow these are all great......it would take me at least a week or so to draw anytrhing of Midnight or PROMETHEUS' quality.:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

edit: picture in revision

These are just cropped images off IGN but you have to admit that they are good, they are spoiled to save victims of Dial Up from waiting for too long:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img450.imageshack.us/img450/...r1largefm5.jpg
https://img450.imageshack.us/img450/...avatar1pw4.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...r2largeqo6.jpg
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...avatar2ta6.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...rgesizear0.jpg
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...avatar3ca8.jpg https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...avatar4te8.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...r5largevq1.jpg
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...avatar5tw7.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...r6largewm0.jpg
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/...avatar6cb4.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/...r7largedo1.jpg
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/...avatar7ae4.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img314.imageshack.us/img314/...r8largebw1.jpg
https://img314.imageshack.us/img314/...avatar8fs3.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/...r9largejj3.jpg
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/...avatar9fx5.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...10largeze8.jpg
https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...vatar10ku7.jpg

I know that I don't stand a chance, but at least I tried!

Avlvs, you do need to put the avatar border on your small images for your entries to make it into the pool that are judged.

Get those updated and you do stand a chance! ~:)

btw,. the game will have been out in the UK for 10 days already when the deadline for the competition is reached. Potential winners will just have to wait and not risk buying it I suppose...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wishazu

btw,. the game will have been out in the UK for 10 days already when the deadline for the competition is reached. Potential winners will just have to wait and not risk buying it I suppose...

---

Yeah I proposed to shorten the judgement at the day of release at least so that we can all know and buy our copies freel^^.....

Sadly the end date is fixed in stone as far as I know -- it's been announced in a few places as well as being specified to CA. I agree it would have been better to shorten the contest by a couple of weeks, but what's done is done, I guess.

How do I get the blotted brown border that you guys are using?

You can just copy it off any of the existing images, or off my avatar for example

Hehe, everyone will be copying your avatar now Myrddraal.