The Application to Create Life
The Current Regulations
The Latest Update
A Quick Fix to Save the Contest
After the initial scare, three contestants joined Life: root, Craig, and OscarMeyr. Unfortunately, they joined too late to have any real activity for the first week of the contest.
Craig hops in right away and purchases Control of 5 Cells. Craig also suggests an early change to the regulations.
The context for Craig's suggestion was missing from that last email. Without that, the suggested change makes little sense. I quickly send out another email.
Context for Craig's Suggestion
Another contestant. At this time, Goethe joins the fun.
There is some confusion regarding how the X and Y coordinates are handled in the Life Contest. This is probably due to the fact that I chose to handle them the opposite of how the Mapkeepor handles coordinates in their reports. I send out a quick note to help clear things up.
The second week is shaping up to be much more interesting than the first week. OscarMeyr purchases Control of 5 Cells and Goethe purchases Control of 3 Cells. I send out a mid week update with this information.
There is some distress from the contestants regarding the time of Life Contest updates. A few ideas are discussed for structuring the timing of Life Contest updates. I agree to refrain from posting Life Contest updates until after the next round is run. In the end, no regulation changes were made, and I eventually settle on posting Life Contest updates once a week.
Discussion Regarding the Timing of Updates
Since Life Contest updates will now only be sent once a week, I was asked to clarify my policy on responding to contestants' requests to purchase Control of Cells. I form a policy that indicates I will respond to such requests immediately and privately to the contestant who made the request.
Before the second week ended, Goethe purchases Control of 7 Cells. Goethe Controls the most Cells at this point, so e wins 20 Vials of Primordial Ooze.
root steps up to the plate for the third week and purchases Control of 6 Cells. Goethe still Controls the most Cells however, so e wins 6 Vials of Primordial Ooze.
There was some confusion regarding exactly what regulation change suggestions had been approved, and taken effect. I send out a reminder of all pending regulation change suggestions.
Pending Regulation Change Suggestions
Craig purchases Control of 1 Cell. Goethe purchases Control of 16 Cells. This is the end of the first month of the contest. I calculate that Goethe needs to be awarded 13.6 points for being in the lead. (This number was initially incorrect and later adjusted to 20.)
A Notice of Award, awarding 13.6 points to Goethe, is sent to a public forum.
The initial award was incorrect. 20 points should have been awarded instead.
Correction: 20 Points Awarded to Goethe
A busy week for Life. Craig purchases Control of 10 Cells. Goddess Eris joined the contest. Goethe purchases Control of 6 Cells. OscarMeyr purchases Control of 8 Cells. Goethe, the runaway winner for the contest, wins 24 Vials of Primordial Ooze.
A little quieter this week. OscarMeyr purchases Control of 5 Cells. Craig purchases Control of 1 Cell. Goethe purchases Control of 4 Cells. Goethe, still winning, wins 10 Vials of Primordial Ooze.
An explosion of activity this next week from Goethe. Craig purchases Control of 2 Cells. Goddess Eris purchases Control of of 7 Cells. Goethe purchases Control of a record 17 Cells. Yet again, Goethe is winning. E wins 26 Vials of Primordial Ooze.
I begin to sense that an unfair advantage has been created for the current winner of Life. In an attempt to balance out the contest, and to add some more strategy, I suggest a few regulation changes. Also during this week, OscarMeyr purchases Control of 4 Cells and Goethe purchases Control of 12 Cells. As the current winner, Goethe is awarded 20 points.
A Notice of Award, awarding 20 points to Goethe, is sent to a public forum.
My suggested changes to the regulations are accepted. The latest version of the Life regulations is sent out. It was later pointed out that the regulations contained in this message were in fact an old version, and did not contain the changes just incorporated into the regulations. A corrected version was later sent out.
Goethe purchases Control of 10 Cells. Goethe is in the lead with a Cell count of 184. OscarMeyr is the only other contestant on the board, but is way behind with a Cell count of 4.
No one purchases Control of any Cells this week. Goethe's lead increased to a Cell count of 211, while OscarMeyr's count has remained the same at 4.
Craig hops in again, purchasing Control of 14 Cells. Goethe's lead drops to a Cell count of 164. Craig comes in at second place with a Cell count of 28. OscarMeyr's Cell count has dropped to 2.
No one purchases Control of any Cells this week. Goethe's lead grows to a Cell count of 166. Craig's second place standing drops to a Cell count of 26. OscarMeyr drops out of the picture entirely with a Cell count of 0.
The version of the regulations sent out to contestants via private email on Sun, 7 Jul 2002 15:54:33 -0700 (PDT) was an old and incorrect version. A corrected version is sent out at this time.
I spot a glaring typo in the regulations and suggest a change to the regulations to fix it.
My suggested change to the regulations is accepted. The latest version of the Life regulations is sent out.
An explosion of activity occurs this week, all in an attempt to take away Goethe's commanding lead. First, RedKnight joins the contest. OscarMeyr purchases Control of a record setting 31 Cells. root purchases Control of 29 Cells. RedKnight purchases Control of 10 Cells. Goethe remains in the lead with a reduced Cell count of 125. Craig retains second place with a much higher Cell count of 83. root and OscarMeyr make an appearance, both tying for third place with Cell counts of 22 each. Goddess Eris and RedKnight are dwelling in the cellar with Cell counts of 0 each. Goethe, still the current winner, is awarded 20 Points.
Update for the Thirteenth Week
A Notice of Award, awarding 20 points to Goethe, is sent to a public forum.