3/28/12

• As we near the end of the contest - that also means its almost time to distribute the gifts generously donated by community members. 
• Punchy has been working on a system to aid in the distribution this year so things will be a bit different than in the past.  Look for further information on the process soon, and please read through the new process entirely so that are sure you understand it.  All we can do is explain the process to you, you are responsible for following it.  If there are any questions (after it is posted) please do not hesitate to ask.
• This also means that if anyone has a last minute gift they'd like to donate, it has to be submitted before the end of the contest on 3/31.
• A big 'Thank You' to everyone that has so generously donated to this great team and great cause! 

 
3/23/12
 

• The first elimination round has ended:
  • Mad's Maniacs defeat F@Holding Pimps 12,843.95 to 12,717.00
  • Fast and Furious Folders defeat Ins@nity F@Holders 15,778.11 to    15,583.80
  • Fanatical Folders defeat FAHaholics Anonymous 11,833.26 to 10,718.75
  • Protein Prophets defeat Crunching Tigers Folding Dragons 12,775.45 to 12,717.42
• Congratulations to the winning teams!
• The match ups for the final elimination round are:
  • Mad's Maniacs vs Fast and Furious Folders
  • FAHolding Pimps vs Ins@nity F@Holders
  • Fanatical Folders vs Protein Prophets
  • FAHaholics Anonymous vs Crunching Tigers Folding Dragons
• The final round will continue through March 31, 11:59 PM Eastern Time (US).
• Good luck to all teams!

 
3/16/12
 

• The Qualification Round has ended.  The final standings are as follows:

1.  
   1.  Mad's Maniacs    24,778.07
   2. Ins@nity F@Holders    22,980.86
   3. Fast and Furious Folders    21,687.28
   4. F@Holding Pimps    21,381.15   
   5. Fanatical Folders    21,251.30
   6. Crunching Tigers Folding Dragons    21,127.36
   7. Protein Prophets    18,782.08
   8. FAHaholics Anonymous    18,472.14

 

• The first Elimination Round begins immediately with the following match ups:
  • Mad's Maniacs vs F@Holding Pimps
  • Ins@nity F@Holders vs Fast and Furious Folders
  • Fanatical Folders vs FAHaholics Anonymous
  • Crunching Tigers Folding Dragons vs Protein Prophets
• The first Elimination round will run through 11:59 PM 3/23/12.  Good Luck to All Teams!
  

3/15/12

• Contestant Comparison stats are now up.

3/6/12

• In regard to the points system, while modifying points to better reflect people's estimated points production may have reduced the gap between some of the teams, the decision has been made that ultimately it did not add enough value to the contest to justify using it.
  
  • Team order changes very little with or without it.
  • Removing the system makes a much closer race for the 2-4 and 5-6, and 7-8 positions in the qualifying round, which would be missing out on.
  • Though the theoreticals behind the system are sound, there was too much controversy around the proper way to implement it, and at the end of the day I don't have enough free time to come up with a system I would deem adequately fair to everyone involved.
• This will remain in effect for the remainder of the contest period, so plan accordingly.
• Good luck and apologies for any confusion in this matter.

3/4/12
 
Just to be clear regarding the points system:
 
 
The points modification system is not officially in place until approved by a captains vote.  This will happen in the next 48 hours.  Until then, a group of people are looking over the relevant data.

 
Ultimately, its about what you guys would enjoy most.  I'm simply trying to offer an improvement building upon our previous success.  But if it does not offer additional value to the contest, or the costs outweigh the benefits we will not use it.
 
3/3/12

• A system is now implemented to limit the ability of people that are egregiously over their estimates to distort the contest results.  Key characteristics:
  • The system provides a good deal of leeway and
  • Never penalizes over production (i.e. you never lose points for going over, you just may not receive full contest points beyond a certain threshold)
  • Does not penalize teams that are below their predicted PPD as a team.
• Everyone is welcome to provide feedback on the system, but I would like the team captains to vote on it in the next day or two.
• A handful of contestants have yet to produced any output.  After attempting to contact them, most were facing circumstances beyond their control and will be back online soon.  A few have yet to reply.

3/3/12

• candle_86 has withdrawn from the contest due to personal circumstances causing him to be unable to fold at the moment.  His production will simulated for the remainder of the contest period.

 
3/1/12
 

drougnor

Alright, folks!  Drop your socks and grab your OverClocks! It's TIME!  As of this most recent update (7 PM EST on the 1st of March) It's ON!

Our zero point levels have been set and the systems are pulling!  It's ON!!

Best of luck to you all!

• As of 7 PM EST the contest is officially underway
• All teams are posted on their respective contest pages and points are being tallied.
• The qualification round will end at 3/15/12 11:59 PM.
• I'll continue to update the page and add additional stats similar to what we had last year.
• Please let me know if there is anything you'd like to see added to improve the contest!
• Good luck all! 

 
2/28/12

• Just waiting for a couple last people to check in with their stats and then the teams will be set tonight

 

• As for the start of the contest, I've decided that drougnor will have the privilege of determining the start time/date.  All the work he does to bring us hourly stats updates often goes overlooked, so take between now and the start of the contest to thank him for all his efforts by harassing him about when the contest is going to officially start. 

 
2/26/12 
The official registration period has ended.  Stats updates and late registrations will be accepted at my discretion up until the point that the teams are set. 
 
2/20/12

•  An anonymous donor has offered the following gift if we get at least 120 members signed up for the contest:
  • A new 8 core FX 8120 CPU with a Asrock 990 FX motherboard shipped to North America
  • If the winner is outside North America, $200 by paypal
• Per the donors request, this will be randomly given away to one lucky contestant at the end of the contest.  All entrants that meet the gift requirements will be eligible to receive it.  This will also be independent of all other gift distribution (i.e. will not inhibit your ability to win something else).

2/18/12

• DutchForce has generously offered to upgrade two EVGA Ti 560s to 660s if as a community we meet the contest goals.  Details can be found in his post here.
  

2/11/12
 

• One thing I want to encourage is for you guys to make suggestions on ways to improve the contest.  A good number of the things we continue to add to contests are simply because someone suggested on the forums.

 
2/6/12

• Registration is now active.  Sign up for the 2012 Folding M@dness today!  Make sure you before 2/26 to be sure you've got a spot in the contest.
• Gift Donation is now active.  The EVGA folding community has a long standing reputation for generosity - lets keep that tradition going.
• The M@dness Chat is now up!  Thanks again to Punchy for providing us the chatbox!

 
2/3/12
 

• Hide yo' rigs, hide yo' wife.  The M@dness is coming....

I've got my cannons ready, my rig warmed up, and I'm sure that I've got some wicked spare equipment just in case things don't go our way.

*dusts off her pom poms*
I'm in, I arrived at the forums near the end of last years M@dness competition, instead of just cheering and heckling I can join in this time .
 
Whoa yeah by the end of March I'll have been at the forums a year.

Troy, You know Im always in. This time I bring a bigger gun
 

Count me in !! woohoo! does anyone know of the actual start date?

Madrias

I've got my cannons ready, my rig warmed up, and I'm sure that I've got some wicked spare equipment just in case things don't go our way.

He said cannons, last time Madrias mentioned a cannon (one not plural and 2 like this time) he set the drapes on fire, no really he did, that and I swear he's indestructible as he can fall out a 3rd story window into a snow bank and moments later get up dust himself off and continue on with his day .

wrinvert

Shykal

Madrias
I've got my cannons ready, my rig warmed up, and I'm sure that I've got some wicked spare equipment just in case things don't go our way.

He said cannons, last time Madrias mentioned a cannon (one not plural and 2 like this time) he set the drapes on fire, no really he did, that and I swear he's indestructible as he can fall out a 3rd story window into a snow bank and moments later get up dust himself off and continue on with his day .

i see his pea shooters and raise him this:

 
Yeah, we all know you're compensating for something with that.  It's not the size of the gun that matters, after all.

Just registered in, I hope.  Tried to be as accurate as possible, but half-running leads to... amusing calculations.

I missed out last year but this challenge is so crazy I might have to join in!  Are there short breaks in between phases or is it one month of constant folding m@dness?

Opolis

I missed out last year but this challenge is so crazy I might have to join in!  Are there short breaks in between phases or is it one month of constant folding m@dness?

One month of solid in your face, butt kicking folding.
 
Also Troy the gift donation page won't open. I don't know if it's just my machine or not. But could you look into that please. Thank You.

hpcs = HP cloud service?

It lives . . . . Again!!! My PSU is installed and Wrathchild, my gaming/main folding rig is purring away happily, sipping on the juice while chewing up the WUs! Plenty of time to break it in before the contest!!

Signed up ... and it's good to hear your rig is running again Drougnor !!

im in!