Update for Phase 1 winners

[crowl]

Hi everyone, thank you for hanging in there with us while we confirm your contact information and get paperwork in order. Phase 1 has been a learning experience and more of a manual process than we had anticipated, but we’ve made some tweaks to the system so that Phases 2, 3, 4 and the grand final will run smoothly.

If you have PM’d WarTourist and have not received a response, it is because he is no longer with Epic. After five great years with the company, he has moved on to pursue other creative dreams, and we miss him dearly.

We still have a great support system behind the contest. Everyone here is excited about the amazing mods created for Phase 1, and we’re eagerly trying out the entries for Phase 2 as they are posted.

Intel is also committed to promoting your work; in fact, they created a DVD that contains the top five mods in each category as well as a sizzle reel highlighting a few of the winners. This was a special handout for Austin GDC attendees, and we’ll gladly have one mailed to you upon request.

The prize claim forms are being sent via email this week, and we'll remit payment as soon as we receive your completed paperwork and verify your information. The fastest way to collect winnings is via wire transfer, although you should be aware that some banks will charge an incoming wire transfer fee (probably around U.S. $15). If you prefer to have a check instead, simply specify that on the form.

Feel free to PM me if you have not received the form (Make Something Unreal Winner's Declaration Form.pdf) by close of business this Friday, 17 October. U.S. winners – you will also be receiving a W-9, which we need for tax purposes.

Again, sorry you've had to wait this long. We really want you to have your prizes ASAP.

All the best,

crowl

[bazzwano]

Hi Crowl...

Originally I asked about how you would like the account number written as some may not know

for example the account number for me is written:
XX - XXXX - XXXXXXX - XX
but even some banks will say they need a 3 digit suffix EG:
XX - XXXX - XXXXXXX - XXX

I checked with international who said that the swift code determines where the payment goes, the sending bank don't use the account number, the receiving bank does so as long as its in the format your bank use then all will be fine.

So what I gave you is correct for my bank.

Thank you.

[bazzwano]

thought I would update so people know

[twigsby]

Should the Tax ID/SSN be left blank for people not from America? The closest I've got (UK) is a National Insurance Number.

[bazzwano]

Im from NZ and I put in my IRD number, this is was our government use for tax purposes.. im sure everyone pays taxs

[crowl]

Bazzwano, thanks for posting that info as others may have had the same question.

Twigsby, as for the Tax ID field on the claim form, just use the closest thing you have. Thanks.

[plugh]

Feel free to PM me if you have not received the form (Make Something Unreal Winner's Declaration Form.pdf) by close of business this Friday, 17 October. U.S. winners – you will also be receiving a W-9, which we need for tax purposes.

Sorry Crowl, I can't PM you, your in box is full. I have not received anything since an email asking for my personal details, which I have replied to. I would like to be paid!

[crowl]

Hi plugh, let me know if you have any issues sending through the paperwork we sent over last week. We must have had an old email address on file but will take care of you ASAP now that we have your current contact info.

[bazzwano]

I read somewhere that there is a DVD being sent to the winners with what I asume is the winners maps..

I think this is great, a piece of memorabilia. I was just hoping someone may have some info on when we may receive this?

Thanks

[SmokeRingHalo]

I read somewhere that there is a DVD being sent to the winners with what I asume is the winners maps..

I think this is great, a piece of memorabilia. I was just hoping someone may have some info on when we may receive this?

Thanks

Did anyone actually get their DVD?
I'm still waiting. Seriously.

[Hourences]

I would much rather have my pc than a dvd....

[Mr Evil]

Did anyone actually get their DVD?
I'm still waiting. Seriously.

I'm used to waiting after an MSUC...

[»TheHitMan«]

I would much rather have my pc than a dvd....

Sorry they're fresh outta PC's

[SmokeRingHalo]

I would much rather have my pc than a dvd....

No PC yet? That sucks.
Warfare was one of the few if only categories that didn't have a PC prize, not that it matters to me though since I placed 2nd anyway.
The money had come and gone so long ago that I would have figured that all the spoils had been sent out by now.
So no DVD either I take it. Someone needs to kick Intel in the rear again.

[Setheran]

Still no PC prize here either. I was hoping to put it to good use on my phase 3 entries, but time is running out.

[CaptainSnarf]

I want to do my taxes but I never received the W-9 (or if I did I can't find it). Can I just file it as 1099 misc?

[Spoondog]

I wonder if maybe EPIC would give Velocity Micro a kick up the butt for our PCs? By the time we get them they won't be monster PCs any more

[Angel_Mapper]

PC's? I never saw PC prizes listed in the categories on the MSUC site, where are they listed?

[foultzy]

http://www.velocitymicro.com/unrealcontest/

Press release at the end of Phase 1:

Epic Games Announces Winners of Phase 1 in the $1 Million Intel Make Something Unreal Contest

Unreal Tournament 3 mod creators awarded cash prizes and Velocity Micro PCs loaded with Intel® Software Development Products

AUSTIN, Texas – September 16, 2008 – Epic Games, Inc. today announced at the Austin Game Developers Conference the winners of the first phase in the $1 Million Intel Make Something Unreal Contest, a competition that rewards aspiring game developers for making exceptional game modifications (mods) for Unreal Tournament 3. Awards for the first phase of the competition include cash prizes in addition to Velocity Micro PCs loaded with Intel® Software Development Products.

In each category, cash prizes of $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $1,000 and $500 will be awarded for first through fifth place winners, respectively. First place winners in the categories for Best Deathmatch Level, Best Capture the Flag Level, Best Vehicle Capture the Flag Level, Best New Game Type, and Best Character/Customization Pack will also receive a high-performance Skulltrail PC featuring dual Intel® Core™2 Extreme quad-core processors courtesy of Velocity Micro.

“These $1 Million Intel Make Something Unreal Contest winners demonstrate the imagination and innovation developers and enthusiasts have achieved on the PC gaming platform,” said Jeff Abbate, marketing director, Intel Software and Solutions Group. “Combining Intel developer products, our Intel® Core™ processor family, and high-performance platforms with the Unreal Engine modding tools provides a wonderful opportunity for aspiring developers, machinima artists, and modders to unleash their creativity.”

Added Randy Copeland, president and chief executive officer of Velocity Micro, “Selecting winners was tough because there were so many cool submissions to play, but the winners deserve the accolades for their really unique mods. Velocity Micro is honored to support the winners by awarding them our fastest Raptor PCs to help power their future game development. I can't wait to see what's next.”

“On behalf of everyone at Epic Games, I would like to congratulate our Phase 1 winners. We have been blown away by the quality and variety of the mods submitted in the first round,” said Mark Rein, vice president, Epic Games. “I'm really looking forward to future phases to see what these amazingly talented mod-makers can do when they have even more experience with the Unreal Engine 3 toolset that comes with UT3. I'd also like to wish special thanks to our sponsors Intel and Velocity Micro for their participation in the judging and prizes and to the 3DBuzz folks for putting together videos that have trained so many up and coming developers how to work with our technology.”

GeForce 9s are already slipping behind (even though it's a quad-GPU system), so they ought to hurry up there and get those things out.

[Mr Evil]

PC's? I never saw PC prizes listed in the categories on the MSUC site, where are they listed?

I'm getting that deja vu feeling...

[Angel_Mapper]

That was my first quantum state, disregard her.

[Hourences]

I wonder if maybe EPIC would give Velocity Micro a kick up the butt for our PCs? By the time we get them they won't be monster PCs any more

Epic pls fix...

[SmokeRingHalo]

Perhaps Velocity doesn't want to pony up because of the bad economy?
I've had that sinking feeling ever since the DM & CTF categories were merged mid contest. There's no logic in a move like that unless someone (sponsors?) are trying to cut prize corners.
Again, I didn't win a PC and I'm merely speculating. I'm sure Epic is doing everything possible to not leave folks twisting in the wind though.

[crowl]

Velocity Micro will be ready to ship the Skulltrail systems within a week. This delay wasn't their fault, so please don't point any fingers. If you were a PC winner for Phase 1, you will be getting contacted within 24 hours for address verification.

Also, regarding the Phase 1 DVD - Intel ran out of the first batch. We didn't want to say it's not coming because we've actually been working on a new and improved DVD that contains both Phase 1 and Phase 2 mod winners in addition to the promotional sizzle reels honoring finalists. They're printing up a huge number for handout at GDC, and we intend to do a mailing before the show.

[Spoondog]

Thanks crowl.

Looking forward to that email!

[MozI]

They're printing up a huge number for handout at GDC, and we intend to do a mailing before the show.

I wish I could have gotten a pass for GDC this year, last two years were a blast. But...sigh... deadlines at work take priority this time, but would have been cool to 'pimp' my map in person

[Daniel KaMi]

As Spoondog said, thanks Crowl

[R.Flagg]

I'm getting that deja vu feeling...

Heh, deja vu indeed. ;p

[bazzwano]

Velocity Micro will be ready to ship the Skulltrail systems within a week. This delay wasn't their fault, so please don't point any fingers. If you were a PC winner for Phase 1, you will be getting contacted within 24 hours for address verification.

Also, regarding the Phase 1 DVD - Intel ran out of the first batch. We didn't want to say it's not coming because we've actually been working on a new and improved DVD that contains both Phase 1 and Phase 2 mod winners in addition to the promotional sizzle reels honoring finalists. They're printing up a huge number for handout at GDC, and we intend to do a mailing before the show.

YAY.. that CD is juts the kind of memorabilia I want..

[Setheran]

If you were a PC winner for Phase 1, you will be getting contacted within 24 hours for address verification.

Very glad to hear that my PC might finally be coming, but should I be concerned if I haven't been contacted yet?

Has anyone else had an e-mail?

[Daniel KaMi]

Very glad to hear that my PC might finally be coming, but should I be concerned if I haven't been contacted yet?

Has anyone else had an e-mail?

The same here, not yet

[crowl]

Very glad to hear that my PC might finally be coming, but should I be concerned if I haven't been contacted yet?

The rest of the emails are going out to PC winners now.

If you're a new winner as of Phase 2 and have never been contacted by us before, hang in there; we're working with FilePlanet to get everyone's information.

Last week was busy (in a great way) since we finally lifted the lid on the Titan Pack, so we're catching up with all the contest participants this week.

[Davision]

Anyone got a notification yet that his PC got shipped?

[Angel_Mapper]

No email here yet, from anyone.

[Spoondog]

Negative...

[Hourences]

"Within a week" is already 2 weeks ago and as far as I can see there is not much progress?

[HEGI]

I also haven't received any notification so far. A progress update on that would be really nice.

[Davision]

I just hope there is not another problem now that take ages to solve!

[Setheran]

Any news at all? I can just about live with the waiting, but the lack of communication from Velocity is pretty frustrating.

[crowl]

Ping sent. [update]

Each PC winner is getting an email from us now.

And some of you have already received tracking numbers.