·         You should start the recording at least 5 seconds before powering on your machine.

·         (For Computers) Allow the machine to boot normally. For more modern systems with ejectable media (CDs or DVDs for example), it is often a wise precaution to boot without the game inserted.

·         Once the game is loaded, continue through the menu structure of the game to get it started.

2. We will only allow digital submissions. You will need to upload your whole game to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ on your own channel. Each month RTM will include links to the submissions for the public to watch as well (they will not be voting, just watching). If you do not know how to use YouTube or you don’t have an account, email your submission to me. We will then upload it to Retrogaming Times TV on YouTube.

If you need to email your submission:

·         You can use the following types of videos: Quicktime .mov and .mp4 files, Microsoft Windows Media Video .wmv files, Audio Video Interleave .avi files, and Moving Picture Experts Group .mpeg files. These types of files are generally easily played on any modern PC and the necessary players can be downloaded free of charge.

·         Minimum video resolution must be 640x480.

·         Frame rate should match the native frame rate for the type of video source you are recording to/from. What this means is that frames should be allowed to naturally record to the video and no frames should be digitally removed or edited.

·         It is advisable to make the codec that you used to create the video available to me. Please consider that it is the responsibility of the game player to create a video that I can watch on my computer. It is highly recommended that you create your video in a format that is PC friendly and can easily be viewed in either Windows Media Player or Quicktime Viewer.

·        Hard disk drive camcorders typically record video/audio in a proprietary file format that cannot be read on a PC without being converted first. Please convert raw camcorder files into one of the user-friendly file formats listed above so that they can be readily viewed on any PC.

·         NOTE - Digital video submissions that are fraudulently altered for the purpose of cheating will easily be detected, the score disqualified, and the gamer banned from making any further submissions.

3. The recording of the game must be a new recording. Can't be a previous recording of the game.

4. You do not need to film yourself playing the game, just the game screen. Before or after your game you must either state out loud or hold up a sign saying your name and the date. After your game try to zoom in on your final score and state out loud what it is.

5. Emulators are fine.

6. NOTE - 500 bonus points if you are using the original system!! You will need to film the system as well, right before or after your game with no breaks between filming your system and your game.

7. You can only submit one score a month.

8. Deadline will be the last day of the month at 11:59pm Central.

9. You can only play the game for a maximum of of 10 minutes (of game play), anything more will be disqualified.

10. Include your full name and your real email address with your submission. Email your submission (YouTube link or file) to me, Paul Zimmerman – paul@retrogamingtimes.com.

Make sure to put in the subject line “High Score Monthly! – x” and in place of “x” type the current month of the contest. Make sure that you include your name and e-mail address that you want to be contacted at, since I will have to contact the winner each month to let the person know that he/she won.

For all contests make sure you remember to put the subject in the Subject Line, because most likely your email will go to my junk folder. The subject title will help me spot your email. If you do not put the subject in the Subject Line then your score submission will be disqualified, obviously, because I did not notice your email.

11. The winner each month will receive recognition in Retrogaming Times Monthly. We will publish a quick bio of the winner along with their picture (if they would like) and a website link to their site if they have one. Also, if the winner wants their picture posted, we can do that as well. In addition, a link to their YouTube submission will also be included.

As an example on how this would work: the winner of the June issue will have their bio published in the August issue. Therefore, there will be a 2 month gap between the contest first being mentioned and the time when the winner will get their name in the magazine. However, the actual prize will be mailed to the winner immediately upon winning the contest.

The prizes will usually consist of a homebrew game from our friends at Atariage. Atariage sells homebrew games for the Colecovision, Atari 800/XL/XE, Atari 7800, Atari 5200 and Atari 2600!

We will also have a second place prize which will be a $25.00 gift certificate to Atari Video Club Online’s news stand at Cafepress.com (fyi – you can’t buy the Flip camcorders with the gift certificate).

Where else can you win a retro homebrew game every month from a simple high score contest?! No where except from Retrogaming Times Monthly!!

What if you are a bad player or you are not really good at that game for the month? Well, you should still enter since many good retro-players might already have these homebrews! Therefore, you don’t really have to be an expert to win by any means, since most likely the big collectors will not compete.

12. The winner of the High Score Monthly! will receive an email from me within the first couple weeks of the following month.

13. Since play time is short and limited there might be some ties. If there is a tie the winner will be selected by whoever sent me their submission first.