IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER:
We’ve played 2 months of @Photogames... and we’ve created one of the best communities on Steemit.

Today we’re announcing some big changes that will make the gameplay even more exciting and bond the community tighter together. We are aiming to improve the Photo Games while making them more sustainable into the future.

SEASON 2 UPGRADES

• EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY - Public will be playing right alongside the people who volunteer to help run the games (Photostars)
• THE LEADERBOARD - Anytime you win points they’ll be added to the leaderboard.
• POINTS SYSTEM - When you play you earn points. Each week 500 points will be up for grabs through the games/contests.
• PRIZE POOL/BIG MONEY - No more small daily prizes, you will now be competing in the leaderboard and playing for much much bigger SBD rewards.
• 1 MONTH SEASON - Four 1 week segments, totalling 1 month.
• NEW PHOTOSTARS - The veteran photostars are coming back but we will be inviting many more of you to join us in hosting the games as “photostars” for a week.
• NEW GAMES - We will have many new games in addition to the old favourites.

We crown our Season Two Champion at the end of April.
And by “everyone” we mean EVERYONE on steemit is invited… the games will still be played on the blogs of select individuals we call the “Photo Stars,” but everyone on Steemit is welcome to play and earn points towards the big monthly prize pool. (and weekly). Some games are very doable by non-photographers.

HOW TO PLAY

• Anyone can play at any point this season. Just find a game and play.
• Play as much or as little as you want.
• If you score points during the month you will be added to the leaderboard.
• Visit @photogames and the #photogames tag: you'll see our game posts and the rules (they will be similar to the last 2 months).
• Winners of the games will be rewarded with points.
• We will keep track of your points. Updates on @photogames account
• The Weekly Groups of Photo Stars will decide the games and their posts will tell us how points are scored.
• Each week 500 pts will be available to win. Expect about 2-4 games a week.
• Each week begins and ends on Monday.
• Before each week starts the Group will notify you of the schedule. Deadlines for submissions may be longer than in the past.
• The Photo Stars who run each week can’t earn points during their week, but they'll be eligible to play a make-up game during the month that will give them a fair opportunity to make up those lost potential points.
• "Introduction to the Photogames" Post

PHOTO STARS

• ONE WEEK ONLY - This season you will only be able to be a Photo Star for one week; even the @photogames team will play only one week each: we’ll take turns leading each of the four Photo Star Groups (see schedule below).
• PERKS? - The games are still run on PHOTO STAR blogs. Being a Photo Star is an opportunity to bring an established audience, followers and views, to your own blog.
• PHOTO STARS CAN WIN THE GAME - This is the big change in Season Two: now the Photo Stars are eligible for the big prize at the end of the month.
• MAKE-UP GAME - Because each Photo Star is sacrificing 1 week of playing time to help run the games and not earn points, they will all be given the chance to play a special game during the month: it will be hosted by the @photogames account and the public will help to judge it.
• DECISION MAKING - Weekly Photo Stars will be more involved in deciding which games they will be playing and how the points will be awarded. So, if you have ideas for new games, become a Photo Star and inspire your group with your great ideas.
• FINANCIALLY BETTER - We will still ask Photo Stars to contribute 5 SBD like they have in the past. But now it goes towards the large prize pool which is award to 14 winners. And now they will be eligible to play and win part of the prize pool themselves!
• HOW TO APPLY - We will first invite all of the previous Photo Stars. After that, depending on open spaces group leaders will invite more photostars. Let us know if you're interested in being one of those people. Then join the discord group chat for your week and send in your 5SBD to @photogames. If you've sent your 5 SBD, and picked a Group (Week) you're officially in.

SOME OF THE FACES YOU'LL RECOGNIZE
Some of steemit's favorite photographers have been Photostars and most of these guys are coming back to compete and to help run this game as a Photostar. @derekkind @intrepidphotos @vmoldo @gabyoraa @aweber @yumyumseth @jarvie @caseygrimley @r00sj3 @asgarth @skiesandsports @dmytrokorol @alevaskye @scottshots @snooway @shadalene and @sjarvie5 @itchyfeetdonica @derangedvisions

WEEK THE GROUP IS RUNNING THE GAMES	PHOTO STAR GROUP LEADER
Week 1 - April 2-9	@Jarvie
Week 2 - April 9-16	@CaseyGrimley
Week 3 - April 16-23	@GabyOraa
Week 4 - April 23-30	@DerekKind

Comment below or join our Discord and request which week you'd like to be a Photo Star. If there is space in a week the group leader will invite you.

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DISQUALIFICATIONS FROM THE SEASON
Don’t do these things and you’ll be fine
-- Cheating
-- Plagiarism
-- Unfairly conspiring with other players
The four @photogames group leaders will rule on this by vote

PRIZE POOL

The leaderboard will bring an exciting element to the Games and will lead to some fun bragging rights…but if you need more motivation, there’s a financial reward as well.

We’ll ask Photo Stars to contribute the same amount as we have for the last 8 weeks of games (5 SBD), but now all of it will go into the prize pool, and they'll have the opportunity to win some or more of that SBD back. The @photogames organizers (@derekkind, @caseygrimley, @jarvie and @gabyoraa) will play as well, but if they win, their winnings will stay on the @photogames account to be used for future prizes.

Below is how the prize pool will be rewarded. Up to 14 people may be rewarded for playing well... 10 winners at the end of the month and 1 for each week.

PLACEMENT	PRIZE	SBD ESTIMATE (ASSUMING 7 PHOTO STARS EACH WEEK)
1st place overall	27% of the prize pool	37.8sbd
2nd place overall	17% of the prize pool	23.8sbd
3rd place overall	10% of the prize pool	14sbd
4th-5th overall	4% of the prize pool	5.6 sbd Each
6th-10th overall	2% of the prize pool	2.8sbd Each
Weekly 1st place Winners	7% of the prize pool each	9.8 sbd Each

The actual prize pool is dependent to the number of Photo Stars who play.
Please note: You do not have to be a photostar to play or win

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