WotC Settings Search update

[Chromnos]

I reserve judgement-

However, I feel that failure to make some form of notification, even a mass notification for those who did not make it would be highly unprofessional.

Second, the orginal announcement by Zukir was that those chosen would be given the option to conceal or reveal their status (which, I feel is far more fair than the whole TOP SECRET idea). In fact, winners would be under no professional obligation of secrecy unless they were paid for work or entered into a separate contract.

Regardless, it's time they got that ball rolling.

-C

 

[PatrickLawinger]

I believe they'll be sending email for any non-winners that they possibly can. that would be the smartest way to do it. 10,000+ letters via mail would be what, $3600.00? email is free, and everyone's notified immediately. Then they just have to mail the remainder of the pile who have no email listed or from whom they get a bounce message.

Actually, email is not free. It is definitely not free if you have to pay someone to go through 11,000 pieces of paper individually typing in email addresses.

I am fairly certain "winners" will be notified and everyone else will simply see/hear about a message posted on the WotC website saying winners have been notified, if you haven't been notified you didn't win, etc.

Nothing I have heard or seen indicates people that don't make the next round will receive special confirmation that they didn't make it.

Patrick

 

[ladyofdragons]

actually, I'm pretty darn sure that their AA entered all names, emails, & corresponding numbers into a spreadsheet or database as she processed and copied each entry. A record of name-number would have been necessary to keep the process blind but save her sanity if she needed to go back and get certain info, and I'm sure additional info was necessary to keep track of on their part, such as entries that required additional signatures on contracts and such. an email address would have taken 2 seconds more on what she was already entering. Data entry like this is pretty standard in most businesses. With the email address in the db/spreadsheet along with the name, it's just a matter of doing a mail-merge directly to email.

But I'm talking as someone who spent years as an AA, and now I'm a programmer. So I look for the easiest, most effective possible process that returns the greatest value.

 

[Mistwell]

From the contest FAQ:

Q. Should I include my e-mail address with my cover letter?

A. "If you send an e-mail with your cover letter we will let you know by e-mail. If you do have an e-mail please do send it in your cover letter as it will really help our admin out in the contact process. If you do not have an e-mail or you did not send it in the cover letter, don't worry we will send out notice by snail mail." (source: Enworld Message Boards)

Personally, I didn't include my email address.

 

[Duvall]

Contact Info

I believe it said give "Contact info" which I took to mean snail-mail address, phone number and my email address.

 

[PatrickLawinger]

actually, I'm pretty darn sure that their AA entered all names, emails, & corresponding numbers into a spreadsheet or database as she processed and copied each entry. A record of name-number would have been necessary to keep the process blind but save her sanity if she needed to go back and get certain info, and I'm sure additional info was necessary to keep track of on their part, such as entries that required additional signatures on contracts and such. an email address would have taken 2 seconds more on what she was already entering. Data entry like this is pretty standard in most businesses. With the email address in the db/spreadsheet along with the name, it's just a matter of doing a mail-merge directly to email.

But I'm talking as someone who spent years as an AA, and now I'm a programmer. So I look for the easiest, most effective possible process that returns the greatest value.

You are probably correct, but I guessing that even if they do send out a mass email, many people won't have included their email addresses (some might not even have them). I don't think they are going to spend the extra money to send out all that mail. I could be wrong.

All I am trying to say is that giving notification does not necessarily mean you have to notify the people that didn't make the next round. They only have to notify the people that did make the next round, and then state that if you haven't been notified, you didn't make it.

This "contest" is similar to a massive open call. Open calls for monsters, spells, etc. by numerous companies generally used the tactic of sending out an email with "if you are one of the following people <list> you have one or more <whatever> accepted for use in <>." WotC doesn't want to issue the names of the people in the next round so that tactic isn't really going to work.

I don't know how they will do it, but I expect a simple statement that winners have already been notified. I see nothing unprofessional about doing so given the nature of the contest.

Patrick

 

[tarchon]

Re: Contact Info

I believe it said give "Contact info" which I took to mean snail-mail address, phone number and my email address.

I just listed my name, plane, and the appropriate summoning ritual.

 

[anacrusis]

actually, I'm pretty darn sure that their AA entered all names, emails, & corresponding numbers into a spreadsheet or database as she processed and copied each entry. A record of name-number would have been necessary to keep the process blind but save her sanity if she needed to go back and get certain info, and I'm sure additional info was necessary to keep track of on their part, such as entries that required additional signatures on contracts and such. an email address would have taken 2 seconds more on what she was already entering. Data entry like this is pretty standard in most businesses. With the email address in the db/spreadsheet along with the name, it's just a matter of doing a mail-merge directly to email.

But I'm talking as someone who spent years as an AA, and now I'm a programmer. So I look for the easiest, most effective possible process that returns the greatest value.

As much as I love technology, I expect they may have taken a somewhat less labor intensive route. If one were to, say, run off several sheets of sticker labels in pairs of sequential numbers, you could just peel them off, slap one over the name on the entry, one onto the cover letter, and call it a day. I cannot imagine them taking the effort to put all the contact information in a database, unless of course they want it for something other than just notifying the losers (esp. since they've more or less said that they won't).

I'm not saying they would, mind you. I'm just saying that if "MAKE YOUR FIREBALLS BIGGER WITH NO SURGERY" emails start showing up in my mailbox, I'm going to get suspicious.

 

[Mistwell]

I'm just saying that if "MAKE YOUR FIREBALLS BIGGER WITH NO SURGERY" emails start showing up in my mailbox, I'm going to get suspicious.

Ha! Now that is funny!

(I love nerd humor.)

 

[Chrysoula]

A fear just related to me:

'O god! what if they sent me email and I accidentally deleted it when fast-deleting spam! Bad habits! Bad fingers! Augh!'