Friday Feature – Player Tips and Stories for the Loading Screen - 09/03/2010

Player Tips and Stories for the Loading Screen
Overview
Over the past couple of months we have been changing the look of the in-game loading screens in Star Wars Galaxies. We have been displaying artwork from Star Wars, Star Wars Galaxies, and from the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game.
Thank you, everyone, for your great feedback on the screens. We're now moving forward with the next phase of the loading screen improvement project.
We have decided to give the community the opportunity to contribute by providing their favorite tips for playing the game. These tips can range from using commands to combat tactics. Players can also submit stories that relate to their tips. Characters submitting the tips and stories will be credited on the loading screen.
Once we have reviewed all the submissions, we'll be placing them into categories and pairing them up with artwork that matches the planet and categories of the tip.
Submissions will be accepted from September 3, 2010 at 10:00am PDT until September 20, 2010 10:00am PDT.
What are loading screens?
Loading screens are what players see while they are in transit from one area to another. These screens generally include something about the planet being loaded.
What will be included with the tips?
Each tip will include the following information:
Tip:
The tip is your actual advice. The maximum limit for this is 250 characters including spaces.
Tip Category:
The tip category describes the type of tip. These might include general terms like combat, options, profession, planet, quest, expertise, species, user interface, commands, etc.
Flavor:
The flavor text is a story or description that relates to the tip. The maximum limit for the flavor text is 500 characters including spaces.
Flavor Category:
The flavor category helps us determine which planet or area the advice would best apply for the loading screen.
Credit:
Credit displays the name of the character who submitted the tip and the server on which they play. Based on the tip and flavor categories, tips will be randomly selected and displayed on the loading screen. Players will have an in-game option to show or hide the flavor text and character credit.
Example:
Tip: Enable "Options->Interface->Creature Names and Radar Symbols Blink when in Combat" to help show you when creatures have aggression towards your character.
Tip Category: User Interface, Combat, Options
Flavor: "Be careful!", Teesquared said to his companions. "The Dathomir Quarantine Zone is dangerous enough. Try to keep the undead in check. If a bunch of them come at us ... well then it's time to run!"
Flavor Category: Dathomir, Death Troopers, Quarantine Zone, Undead
Credit: Teesquared of TestCenter
This was an example from the Fan Faire panel. It shows how your tip will be paired up with related game artwork. We are still finalizing the actual screen but we're going to create a new background to compliment your tips.
What are the submission Rules and Guidelines?
In order to give your submission a better chance of being selected, be sure to review the submissions rules and guidelines.
Official Rules:

You acknowledge that SOE and its licensors own all right, title and interest in and to all materials and content ("Content") submitted by you. The Content must be your original work and creation. The Content may not be offensive, objectionable or otherwise unsuitable for use, as determined in SOE's sole and absolute discretion. You must comply with the Star Wars Galaxies Terms of Use, Station Terms of Service, and all Star Wars Galaxies rules, regulations and policies in connection with the Content. SOE may modify the Content and may, but is not obligated to, use, copy, distribute and display the Content you submit, in whole or in part, and you acknowledge and agree that you shall not be entitled to, nor receive, any consideration or compensation for such Content whether used by SOE, in whatever form, or not used by SOE.

All submissions are subject to final approval of SOE and must be consistent with the Terms of Service Agreement.

General Guidelines:
In order to help us process the tips, please follow the guidelines listed below:

Additional guidelines and rules may be added after reviewing the submissions. Please be ready to update your submission if requested.

How to do I submit an entry?

To submit a tip, visit the Loading Screen Tip Submission thread and include the following information:

Note: Flavor and Credit text is optional but who wouldn't want their name in bright lights?

The Loading Screen Tips Submission thread should only include tips. Please do not use this thread for discussing the tips or the project. Posts that are not tip submissions or in the incorrect format will be removed. We have created a Loading Screen Tips discussion thread for questions, answers, and discussion about the project.