Propaganda Contest

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The Propaganda Contest was a community event run by Valve in conjunction with the WAR! Update. It encouraged users to create propaganda posters for their side of choice (BLU Soldier or RED Demoman). The posters were then submitted to Valve to be judged through the Propaganda Contest website.

“

We’re just over 24 hours into the war, and let us tell you, we are surprised and delighted by the number of Soldiers and Demomen brutally slaughtered so far—the life mercilessly choked from their bodies by your bare hands, much like the air mercilessly squeezed from the inflatable mattress you flattened out after your relatives stayed over for the holidays. You’d think this would sate our bloodlust. Our on-site developmental psychologist certainly did when he suggested this event. But all we can think of when we look at those big beautiful numbers (2,985,323) is MORE. Luckily, you can help. Contribute to the war effort by designing a propaganda poster focused on the brave/cold-hearted Soldier/Demomen and his heroic/cowardly fight against the square-jawed/craven Soldier/Demoman—thus inspiring new casualties and feeding our all-consuming thirst for war. — http://www.teamfortress.com/propaganda/

”

Prizes

“

FIRST PRIZE is a one-of-a-kind in-game item—the most prestigious and unique item ever to grace the game of Team Fortress. Not only will it be awarded to you and you only, we will name it after you and even ENGRAVE YOUR NAME on it, so even if someone manages to steal it, you’re still the boss! SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES won’t be nearly as cool as the first prize, but will ALSO be one-of-a-kind in-game items (just not as good). That’s how prizes work. Look it up sometime. — http://www.teamfortress.com/propaganda/

”

First prize was announced to be a one-of-a-kind hat, which was named based on the name the user wrote in when submitting their entry to the contest. The three leading prizes were later revealed to be the Towering Pillar of Hats, Noble Amassment of Hats, and Modest Pile of Hat (for first, second, and third, respectively) with orange prize ribbons attached.

“

As if that weren’t enough, 25 RUNNERS-UP will get the MANN CO PRIZE PACKAGE, which isn’t one-of-a-kind but is nonetheless free. That’s 25 more free things than we got today. Food for thought. — http://www.teamfortress.com/propaganda/

”

It was also announced that there would be 25 runners-up which would receive a mysterious Mann Co. "prize package". Over 40 runners-up were later selected, and received a Modest Pile of Hat as their prize.

“

But wait! Against all the rules of contest creation, there is STILL MORE! Because even if you don’t win ANY of the prizes listed above, Gabe Newell might take a liking to your poster and AWARD SOME POINTS to the side of your choice in the Soldier/Demo War. Is this fair? No! Does Gabe care? Not even slightly! — http://www.teamfortress.com/propaganda/

”

The final "prize" announced was additional points for the side of choice of posters that Valve president Gabe Newell liked, which would help tip the scale of the ongoing "battle" between the Soldier and Demoman for the item that would later be revealed as the Gunboats.

Runners-up

• 

  Most Unique Likeness of Soldier and/or Demo
  - Draw

• 

  Most Unique Likeness of Soldier and/or Demo
  - Brown

• 

  Best Use of a Term We Don't Know the Meaning of, But That is Probably Filthy
  - Matthias Rigling

• 

  Best Incorporation of Another Class
  -Reese

• 

  Most Likely to Get Us a Cease and Desist Order From Bethesda
  -LARATRON

• 

  Best Use of the Time-worn Maxim "Sex Sells"
  -Agent Melon

• 

  Best Attempts to Make Soldier Look Adorable
  -Delicious Spyger

• 

  Best Attempts to Make Soldier Look Adorable
  -Anneka

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Soldier Look Heroic
  -metalpiss

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Soldier Look Jet-Propelled
  -B0nd07

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Soldier Look Manly
  -Commissar K

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Soldier Look Normal
  -Brooke

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Soldier Look Melting
  -Nick Pearce

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Demoman Look Cowardly
  -huzzah!

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Demoman Look Like a Drunk
  -The Fox Fanfare

• 

  Best Attempts to Make Demoman Look Evil
  -Chanicle Bullie

• 

  Best Attempts to Make Demoman Look Evil
  -Daimao

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Demoman Look Like a Kamikaze Pilot
  -?Faction

• 

  Best Attempt to Make Demoman Look Like Billy Dee Williams
  -The Wenny C's Pride

• 

  Best Alternate Entry by a Contest Winner
  -J.Axer

• 

  Best Ironic Resuscitation of a Long-dead Genre
  -Prototype

• 

  Best Use of Euclidean Space
  -Hollohill

• 

  Best Attempt at Iconography
  -Viva la Demo!

• 

  Best Poster to Take Into a Tattoo Parlor While Pointing at Your Chest
  -BAO

• 

  Most Convincing Argument for Evolution
  -Rawr/TankTaur

• 

  Most Convincing Argument for Education
  -Plank

• 

  Most Convincing Argument for Learning How to Contract by One Pixel in Photoshop
  -Cliff Hanger

• 

  Best Poster Evidently Scanned From a 14-Year-Old's Binder
  -Ryan "Danger" Ohlemeier

• 

  Best Attempt to Raise Awareness About the Dangers of Alcohol
  -Christian Grund

• 

  Best Attempt to Raise Awareness About Sticky Bomb Tragedies
  -Esk

• 

  Best Use of Eye Patches
  -Christian Kaiser

• 

  Best Reference to Conan the Barbarian
  -UnidColor

• 

  Honorable Mentions in Catchphrase Creation
  -rEJ

• 

  Honorable Mentions in Catchphrase Creation
  -Wofiel

• 

  Honorable Mentions in Catchphrase Creation
  -Shenanigans

• 

  Honorable Mentions in Catchphrase Creation
  -.nik

• 

  Honorable Mentions in Catchphrase Borrowing
  -kris aubuchon (awesomerobot)

• 

  Best Use of Garry's Mod
  -Eric Salama

• 

  Best Reference to William Wallace
  -Alan Longstaff

• 

  Best Reference to Uncle Sam
  -Dan Tyler

• 

  Best Reference to Loch Ness Monster
  -Wade "Nineaxis" Fabry

• 

  Best Literal Depiction of Larvae
  -Christopher Martinez

• 

  Most Inevitable Incorporation of Urine
  -Christian

• 

  Best Use of Sticky Bombs
  -Michael A. Szymanski