Yeah, I always do the Pyweek competitions solo (www.pyweek.org) and art always takes about 50% or so of my week. I think one of the particulars programmers will need is maybe a font package for doing titles, or some kind of package like that so we can make cool title screens.

I've watched some of the results of the B competition, and I was really impressed by it. Quickly put together rules can make for a variety of insane, fun games. I am really digging having the artists put together their sprite hacks, music, sfx, etc. and having the programmers (I would be one of these) put these together in a game.

Just a few thoughts after lurking on the forums for a bit about the competition. What do you think the best way to encourage people to use a variety of the sprites? So like if there is one realllly good piece of music, and three killer sprite hacks, and everything else is lower quality, do you think there is a good way to make everyone use more than just that combination? I'm thinking there should not be any judging on the sprites until AFTER the programmers competition, that way the programmers will use the ones they think are the best (not sure if that was in your heads as well?)

Not having a hard theme for programmers does two important things: first is it makes it harder to come up with an idea, because you are so much less restricted, BUT second, it makes the games a much wider variety. You could have action, puzzle, beat rythm, etc. all using the same sprites which would be hilarious!

Also last question, would the programmers have the freedom to do hacks to the sprite hacks? Like palette changing, adding our own backgrounds, using some kind of render effects, add in some particles (not just using particle sprites people rip), etc.?