We had a lot of fun going through the 460 entries we received for the Nexus 5 Screenshot Contest, and we thought what better way to celebrate our contest winners than to share them with the world! Also, since we'll probably do another screenshot contest again in the future, you can see how our selection process works and maybe better your chances next time around.
Just a reminder on the rules -- We asked people to send in a screenshot of a Vector Unit game in action. Out of all the entries, we picked 10 of our favorites, and then out of the eligible entries from that group, we used a random number generator to pick the winner of the Grand Prize Nexus 5. The rest of the finalists received codes and/or T-shirts.
So in no particular order, here are the 10 finalist screenshots:
First of all, there's a Yeti in this screenshot. Second of all, there's a fully upgraded Beach Buggy smashing into a Yeti. Third, it takes some timing and effort to actually capture a moment like this in a screenshot. We appreciate that. Plus, did I mention the yeti?
One way to endear yourself to the Vector Unit judges in a screenshot contest is to get it from Shine Runner, which we always consider one of our favorite (but less popular) games. In this case, we have a nicely framed shot of a guy getting punted out of a boat. Yeehaw!
This is just a straight up awesome shot of Riptide GP2. It's got tons of guys on screen all doing crazy stunts. It's got the splash screen effect going. AND the latest hydro jet, Scorpion.
We got several screenshots from the treasure room in Beach Buggy Blitz, but we liked this one the best, because it's a nicely composed, well balanced image of OH MY GOD LOOK AT ALL THE COINS.
Another sweet Beach Buggy Blitz shot. Another well composed image. We also appreciated that the player is playing with Oog Oog and a custom-painted Dune Jumper instead of the standard car/driver.
A couple of people sent us their top score stats from Beach Buggy, but none were as impressive as this one. No, it's not the high score that's amazing (although it's pretty darn great.) It's the 100% career completion, with 1,003,095 career coins collected, and almost 60 hours played! Now that's dedication!
Just another overall great Riptide GP2 shot. We docked him a few points for using the default paint job (customization people!) but the judges loved the composition, the fact that he's busting out a Tornado, and of course the Vector Unit and Beach Buggy Blitz billboards. Flattery will get you everywhere.
Although this screenshot was weirdly cropped, we liked the fact that he was busting along with a Drop Ship and a Mr. Happy driver. There's just something kind of intense about this composition.
More Riptide GP2, more coolness showing the pump station in one of the later levels. Feels epic, lots of action, and splashes. Oh, the splashes!
And yes, another Mr Happy, this time in a custom painted Lightning. We liked the fact that he's smashing a Lava Monster (in case you can't tell, we like smashing stuff), and also that ... actually no that was pretty much it: Mr Happy, custom painted muscle car, Lava Monster.
And the winner is...
So out of these entries we picked Jim Laverty's of Pennsburg, PA. His treasure room shot was picked at random out of the qualifying winners to receive the Nexus 5. Congrats, Jim!
And congrats to all the 10 finalists -- we hope you enjoy your prizes, and we hope that the rest of you will be inspired to enter the next time we do a screenshot contest!