@HyperskiesSM in the QFC64 topic made me realize that through my first 6 or 7 months digging through the Automation community, nobody has made a general guide or list of challenges offered, but as you’ll read below, it’s not too difficult to figure out what each challenge name stands for and how it runs with a little bit of searching.
Still, I thought I’d make a quick guide for those of us just tuning in.
Here’s what I was writing before I realized I’d be crowding the QFC thread:
well, you can usually find out what’s what by going to the first iteration/round of the challenge. I have no knowledge of an existing list. I’d also recommend going through those first iterations/rounds to see how the challenge usually runs.
however, I can list the major 10-ish off the top of my head after a few months of lurking:
CSR - Car Shopping Round
Description
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A described buyer or the challenge host are looking for a car that fits a certain criteria, with real-life inspirations given and goals listed.
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''The premise of each round is that a particular client, described by the host, wants to buy a certain car for whatever needs and desires they have. They provide a brief and everybody who wants to enter submits a car with a pitch hoping to convince the client to buy their car." CSR Rules and Stats, 2018
CSC - Community/CrowdSourcing Competition
Description
- A described company or the challenge host is seeking outside help in designing their next car, with a description of what they seek and inspirations from both IRL and previous lore/company cars. the Crowdsourcing Competition’s first thread, 2019
ARM - Automation Resto-Mod (challenge)
Description
- “The premise of each round is that a particular client, described by the host, wants to have their car restored/modified according to whatever needs and desires they have. The host provides a challenge brief and a premade car. Everybody who wants to enter downloads the provided car, modifies it, and submits the modded car with a sales pitch hoping to convince the client to buy their car.” ARM General Rules and Guidelines, 2021
QFC is, of course, Quick-Fire Challenge
Description
- (I’d describe it as a fortnight-long CSR with short briefs and clear goals.) Quick-Fire Challenge (description thread) 2022
AGC - Automation Gamer Challenge
Description
- A described game developer or the host is looking for a vehicle (or other things, seemingly) that will fit the premise of their video game or a character within it. AGC original thread, 2019
JOC - Journey of Ownership Challenge
Description
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(From what I’ve seen, you follow a family or person and their journey of owning cars. You might start round one with a commuter looking for their first car, move onto a family looking to expand with something bigger, and end with requirements of aging and downsizing.)
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Follow a person through their journey of owning cars, where each round a different time and scenario of their life is given and the car they choose will reflect that. JOC round 1(A), 2022. see also the linked BannedByAndroid proposal
TMCC - TV/Movie Car Challenge
Description
- Similar to AGC, except for TV and Movies. A described production company or general TV show/movie (the host) is looking for a vehicle that will fit the premise of their TV show/movie or a character within it. TMCC original thread, 2019
CW - Cool Wall
Description
- A described customer or the host is looking for a car that fits certain criteria. Similar to CSR, but a contestant (or anyone) may first enter IRL cars to see where they place on the Cool Wall. The cars are ranked accordingly based on the customer/challenge criteria, meant to help a competitor map out the customer’s tastes. General Guide for the CW Challenge Series, 2025
ALC - Automation Legacy Challenge
Description
- “The idea of this challenge is simple. All entrants will be running car companies in a fictional country - with lobbying, market effects and such included. Entrants may run any sort of company. Luxury, performance, commercial, offroad or just plain commuter cars… Just be aware of the market.” ALC original thread, 2022
honorable mention, CSCS - Cop-Show Car Supply
Description
A TV station needs cars to run their cop TV show! CSCS original thread, 2023
keep in mind that this isn’t meant to include every challenge ever, this is just a brief guide for the more popular/longest running challenges which live today.
to those original/current hosts who may visit this quick thread, how well do you feel your challenge was represented?
<3, Vernode