I know it’s obvious, you see an online competition and you read through all the rules before taking part. Well, it may be obvious but it’s something I often forget

So, the other day I noticed a competition with a rather nice first prize, a trip to New Zealand and a visit to Weta – the important details were fairly clear “Don’t just sit around like a nilly wag, design the latest and greatest rayguns using Blender — the free but ever-so-awesome 3D software to help your wicked creations come to life.” As I say, the important details were clearly shown, not only that but were printed in bold

A short while after reading seeing the competition I was busy trying to design my first raygun, sadly for me I missed the important bit of the competition rules, namely that I should use Blender (that ever-so-awesome 3D software) to create the raygun. My first attempt at a raygun was the ‘multiphasing-twiddly-gun’…

After the ‘multiphasing-twiddly-gun’, I visited the workshop of Dr Grordbort, where the ‘featherlight-sniper-rifle’ was still sitting on the workbench…

It was whilst I was busy playing with this rifle that I went back to the competition website and checked the details, I experienced that sinking feeling that the hours I’d spent in 3D Studio Max had just been wasted and I now have to decide whether I wish to learn how to use Blender or find another way to New Zealand. Next time, I’ll read the rules twice