[SECOND UPDATE: Nuts, Pixish took the challenge down because they're refocusing on 'illustrations', and there is some debate about whether what we submitted is one or not. Mail us if you still have an entry.]

So I was excited to see Pixish, a rather neat new website which allows you to set up visual competitions and challenges in a Web 2.0 stylee. Seems like something we might want to use in the future, so I thought we'd try it now with a special GameSetWatch challenge.

[UPDATE: Now I've got a hi-res 'GameSetGuy' EPS and a hi-res GameSetWatch logo EPS to help artists with better source materials. Yay.]

Specifically, the deadline is February 22nd to devise some cool-looking wallpaper for GameSetWatch, and as we noted on the site:

"The overall winner will get $100 in cash, a lifetime physical subscription to Game Developer magazine, and their desktop wallpaper featured on GameSetWatch.com. Any other entrants deemed of sufficient quality will also appear on the site in exchange for a lifetime digital subscription to Game Developer."

Most interestingly, the site allows you to vote on submissions with 'Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down', so I guess we'll see what people think of any submissions that pop up on the site over the next few days. Here's the full rules:

"Alt.video game weblog GameSetWatch - made by the folks who bring you Game Developers Conference and Game Developer magazine - is looking for a cute desktop wallpaper image.

Here's the ground rules:

- The illustration should be starring GameSetWatch's very own GameSetGuy mascot, whom you can see at our website.
- The blog is on an alternative 'more obscure/undiscussed side of gaming' subject, so you can either just draw GameSetGuy in an interesting style, or put him in a surrounding with characters/situations that reflect that.
- Please don't use any copyrighted game character designs, such as Pac-Man - parody characters in a similar style are fine, though, of course.
- The image you upload should be 1280x1024.

The criteria for voters is 'do I want this as my desktop wallpaper?', of course. May the best person win!"

So go ahead and enter the competition at your leisure, and we'll see what fun stuff appears over time - I'll update and point to it if anyone uploads anything fun!