OngoingWorlds blog

News & articles about play-by-post games, for roleplayers & writers

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The Simming Prize is Always Open for Nominations

While the latest Tournament of Simulations has just gotten underway, the awards season never ends in simming and online role playing! Indeed, the Simming Prize (officially The Prize for Simming and Online Role Playing in Memory of Seth Cotis) is always accepting nominations using this form.

What is the Simming Prize, you might ask?

simming prize
The Simming Prize Image by Jack Carter

Well, it goes all the way back to 1999 (or thereabouts) when the Simming League formally launched the The Simming League Prize for Simming and Online Role Playing (or Simming Prize, for short). Modeled after the Nobel Prizes, Simming Prizes were awarded annually with one citation in each of these five categories: Internet Technology, Literature, Management, Peace, and Service. Those first winners included Alliance Simulation Group (ASG), Tashak, Ender Maki, Chas Hammer, RolePlayerUSA, the Star Trek Galactic Newsletter, and Trek Online.

While the five categories no longer exist, the Simming Prize remains alive today to honor those in the simming & online role playing community who exemplify service, quality, and dedication or who pioneer new technology or techniques. The Prize can recognize a significant one-time accomplishment or sustained contributions over a period of time. Individuals and entities who win a Prize are entitled to use the honorific Simming Prize Laureate.

Who is this Seth Cotis?

Seth Cotis was the founder of Starfleet Legacy Alliance (SLA) and a long-time leader within the Simming League. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2005. The League initially considered establishing a new award, the Seth Cotis Medal of Honor. However, they instead decided to rename the existing Simming Prize in his memory. We continue to honor his legacy today. Ametheliana of Star Army, Obsidian Command of Obsidian Fleet, and RPG Writing won Prizes for 2024.

What does it mean for you?

This is your chance to help us honor the best of the community! Nominate your club. Nominate your sim. Nominate yourself! To date, 116 Simming Prizes, through 108 citations, have been awarded to 105 different entities since those original 1999 Prizes. This is your chance to be a part of history as we celebrate our collective achievments.

Simming Prize Website

*****Simming Prize Nomination Form*****

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But wait, there’s more!

The Simming Prize isn’t the only award on the block. Yes, the Khitomer Peace Awards are accepting nominations for their latest cycle through July 31st. Check it out!

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Calling all Nominees for the 2024 Tournament of Simulations!

Image by Willvoy

Now that the 2023 competition is in the books, it’s time for us to hold the next Tournament of Simulations (ToS): this tournament will feature entries from last year, 2024.

For those who might be unfamiliar with ToS, this is where you can enter your role play or sim to potentially win a prize at no cost or risk to you! Judges from across the community go through all of the entries and evaluate them on story, characters, and readability.

As has been our tradition for several years now, play-by-post games will be graded on 10 consecutive posts while chat games will be graded on a single chat session. All sims will be considered regardless of club or fleet affiliation. We then present awards to the top-scoring games. The sims that don’t place are not announced. That’s right: you’ve got nothing to lose, so why not enter?

Okay, enough on that. How about we get on with the nominations…

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2023 Tournament of Simulations Concludes

Image by Willvoy

The nominations were received and evaluated, and now we have some winners! Before we announce those amazing sims, in case anyone is unfamiliar with this program, the Tournament of Simulations (ToS) is an annual competition, sponsored and run by Ongoing Worlds, that is open to all sims and online role-playing games, regardless of format or genre.

This year we had 60 unique entrants, which resulted in 23 different winners. As it is seemingly every year, the participation and excellence displayed is a true testament to the ongoing strength of our simming and online role playing community, despite the naysayers.

As I frequently remind myself and others: evaluating sims is a subjective art, and this is certainly true with ToS.  We’re not here to identify the best games as this is impossible.  Instead, we’re here to identify what we think are outstanding sims that exude excellence.  A different set of judges might very well chose a completely different set of winners.  And that’s okay! If you’re interested, this is how we select the winners. With that on the record once again, here are your 2023 Tournament of Simulation winners:

Play-by-Post

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2024 Simming Prize Winners

It’s time to announce the 2024 Simming Prize winners–the cream of the crop from the nominations submitted by you, the community over the last year. They represent the very best of the simming and online role playing world today and provide each of us with a unique model of excellence, dedication, or innovation to follow. While our community is ever evolving, our historical core remains. Well done, Simming Prize Laureates!

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Simming Prize Double Feature

simming prize
The Simming Prize Image by Jack Carter

As we ring in the new year, please help me in congratulating both the 2022 & 2023 Simming Prize winners. They represent the very best of the simming and online role playing community today and provide each of us with a different and unique model of excellence, dedication, or innovation to follow. While our community is ever changing, our core of greatness endures. Well done, Simming Prize Laureates!

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2023 Tournament of Simulations open for nominations… Finally!


Image by Willvoy

It’s long past time for us to hold the next Tournament of Simulations (ToS)… before it’s 2025! Speaking of years, ToS is the oldest and longest-running award in the simming and online role playing community.

For those who might be unfamiliar with ToS, this is where you can enter your role play to potentially win a prize at no cost or risk to you! Judges from across the community go through all of the entries and grade them on story, characters, and readability.

As has been our tradition for several years now, play-by-post games will be graded on 10 consecutive posts while chat games will be graded on a single chat session. All sims will be considered regardless of club or fleet affiliation. We then present awards to the top-scoring games. The sims that don’t place are not announced. That’s right: you’ve got nothing to lose, so why not enter?

Okay, enough on that. How about we get on with the nominations…

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2022 Simulation Cup Results… Finally!

Image by Malkfan

What a tournament! A record of 88 fantastic entrants led to another record of 36 awards to be conferred below. Before we get to those, however, you might remember that we’re running this Tournament of Simulations (ToS) under the Simulation Cup banner to honor the 2012 and 2014 tournaments.

Naming conventions aside, this competition has been one for the ages, easily blowing away last year’s records of 70 entrants with 26 winners. The participation and excellence displayed is a true testament to the ongoing strength of the simming and online role playing community, regardless of what others might say.

As I say every year, evaluating sims is a subjective art, and this is certainly true with ToS.  We’re not here to identify the best games as this is impossible.  Instead, we’re here to identify what we think are outstanding sims that exude excellence.  A different set of judges might very well chose a completely different set of winners.  And that’s okay! If you’re interested, this is how we select the winners. With that on the record once again, here are your 2022 Simulation Cup winners:

Play-by-Post

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2022 Simulation Cup: Enter Today!

Image by Malkfan

With calendar year 2022 in the books, it’s time for us to formally close it out with the annual Simulation Cup. Wait, don’t I mean the annual Tournament of Simulations aka ToS? Yes, they are one at the same!

According to our records, the 2012 tournament was held under the Simulation Cup banner. In honor of that event 10 years ago, we decided to use its name again today. And we think it makes a pretty cool poster too!

The mechanics of the game remain the same: Here are a few tips on how to win. For those who may be unfamiliar, this is where you can enter your role play to potentially win a prize at no cost or risk to you! Judges from across the community go through all of the entries and grade them on story, characters, and readability.

As has been our tradition for several years now, play-by-post games will be graded on 10 consecutive posts while chat games will be graded on a single chat session. All sims will be considered regardless of club or fleet affiliation. We then present awards to the top-scoring games. The sims that don’t place are not announced. That’s right: you’ve got nothing to lose, so why not enter?

Okay, enough on that. How about we get on with the nominations…

Read More

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2020 Squiddie Award Winners

Squiddie award for superior online roleplaying

After announcing this year’s award and receiving nominees, it’s time reveal the winners for the long overdue 2020 awards:

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2021 WarGames Competition Winners

Image by Malkfan

It’s time to announce the winners of the latest Tournament of Simulations (ToS). But before we get to that, you might remember that we’re using the WarGames banner this year to honor the 2001 tournament from 20 years ago. My how times flies!

Anyway, we asked for nominations in February, and you responded by sending us an absolutely incredible list of 70 fantastic games from across the community. That easily breaks our modern (since 2011) record of 64 set last year, and is maybe even tops all-time (since 1999). Regardless, it just goes to show that simming and online role playing is still thriving and probably stronger than ever.

As I say every year, evaluating sims is a subjective art, and this is certainly true with ToS.  We’re not here to identify the best games as this is impossible.  Instead, we’re here to identify what we think are outstanding sims that exude excellence.  A different set of judges may very well chose a completely different set of winners.  And that’s okay! In case you’re interested, this is how we select the winners. With that on the record once again, here are your 2021 WarGames winners:

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