Now that Messenger Plus! 5.0 is out, we hope you enjoy finally being able to use all Plus! features on Windows Live Messenger 2011. You had to wait for it a long time while we at Yuna Software went through a lot of internal changes. We owe you for your patience. It is time to have some fun!

We did it in 2008, and we’re doing it again: the skinning contest is back. This time we are specifically looking for Messenger 2011-compatible skins. Messenger 2011 adds an interesting new element with the social view window, but besides that, people are simply looking for nice Messenger 2011 skins in general. However, to give you an extra incentive we're going to start the contest soon.

Skin to win

Each Messenger 2011 skin which gets accepted onto the site during the contest will automatically enter the contest. If you are a skinner, get ready to make a new creation or update one of your existing skins. If you are new to skinning, get started with the official documentation. Skinning with Plus! does require some technical skills, like XML syntax, to make everything work. Fortunately there are people on the forum who can point you in the right direction. If the technical stuff is not for you though, don’t worry, keep on reading. You can submit your skin multiple times during the contest. Only the latest version will be judged for the prizes. By submitting your skin early you can ask other people to provide you with feedback and make your skin better, improving your chances to win. You can even enter with multiple skins, although we encourage quality over quantity. Winners are awarded in a “most stylish” and a “most usable” category. Most stylish focuses on the look of a skin: appealing graphics, typography, design. Most usable focuses on the features of a skin: useful layout, options, functionality. Multiple prizes are awarded in both categories.

Not a skinner but have graphic  talent?

If you are good with graphics but not a star in the technical side of making skins, we’ve created a special category for you, a “design-only” category. To compete in this category, you will only have to submit the look of the skin. Simply draw up a skin in Photoshop or Illustrator. There will only be one winner in this category, but he or she,  in addition to winning a prize, will also have the graphics turned into an actual Messenger 2011 skin by the one and only Willz. We’ll post more details and specifications as to which your graphics should comply will be posted when the contest starts.

Prize

So what is in it for you? Apart from having your skin downloaded by potentially millions of Plus! users. A new game console, LCD screen, Wacom tablet, laptop? You get to choose this time! The contest is open to Messenger Plus! users worldwide. Winners receive a gift card from a reputable online store which ships to their location. The prizes range up to $1250 US dollars in value per person. Everyone who submits a Messenger 2011 skin which gets accepted onto the site will receive a small mystery gift as a thank you for competing. And all the Messenger Plus! users will receive a batch of fresh downloadable skins.

How do I enter?

The contest will start as soon as some technical issues with the new submission system are resolved. Once it starts, we will make a new announcement and open the contest page with full details and rules. The contest will run for 7 weeks. For now you can get your inspiration wheels turning or tell your graphically-gifted friends to get involved. More info will be posted soon, but if you have any questions already you can reach us here on the forum.

Menthix and I will answer questions about the contest on the thread whereas Willz will respond to your queries about the 'design-only' category.

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Originally posted by Nathalie
The contest will run for 7 weeks

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Plus! Buttons the first skin entered? D:

lol yay...gonna try to finish a skin...

FFS, I got cheated out of my T-Shirt for the scripting contest (¬_¬ dodgy patchou), then 2 skinning contests in a row?

I'm gonna go design my own skins, with hookers and blackjack...

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Originally posted by Spunky

I'm gonna go design my own skins, with hookers and blackjack...

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Skinning again? Us script developers are starting to become lonely!

But congrats on the release guys! I know a lot of effort has gone into this!

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Originally posted by matty
Skinning again? Us script developers are starting to become lonely!

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quote:

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Originally posted by matty
Skinning again? Us script developers are starting to become lonely!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Matti
does this mean that Willz isn't participating with his own skins then?

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i dont see many rushing to make New skins or scripts for that matter

Willz would win the skinning contest anyway, he's a Aussie, us aussies rock. you yankies suck at skinning

As Menthix has pointed out I'm not participating in the contest out of fairness to everyone else like last time.

I'll still be releasing stuff, but it won't be included. Plus the majority of stuff I'll be bringing out will just be updates for existing stuff anyway.

That's a horrible attitude to have Willz

I have no problem that you've decided not to enter, but because you're that overconfident you'd win?

Even if that's true that's a horrible thing to publicly state.

Sam is just mad that if I'd enter and there was one mystery gift left to give out and they had a choice they'd give it to me instead of him

haha

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Originally posted by Willz
Sam is just mad that if I'd enter and there was one mystery gift left to give out and they had a choice they'd give it to me instead of him

haha

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Glad to see about a new contest.

Won't be in participating, but it's nice to see activities around Plus! happening, gets the community of the software to shine.

wOOT Skinning Contest!

hope my lion plus! skin win!

time to make some skins!

good thing Willz is out

Oh my goshhh!!! Yeyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

Hi!
Ohhhh   good news,   only have a question Reshaping is  dead for 5 PLus version????

sEEYA!!!

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Originally posted by ZOiD
only have a question Reshaping is  dead for 5 PLus version?

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mmm
Bad new for me  i loved(hope some day it back  ) reshaping windows...
But  for now i will make some skins and finish some skin proyects!

Are there any specific dates yet regarding the contest?

Hi,

We will be posting dates and more details in another week or so, as soon as the skin submission system is ready.   

I'm looking forward to seeing your new work!

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Originally posted by Nathalie


We will be posting dates and more details in another week or so, as soon as the skin submission system is ready.   

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Hello!

For the contest, a new version of Plus! will be release?
old 947 window cant be skinning for a long time?
and reshaping?

Seeya!

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Originally posted by ZOiD
Hello!

For the contest, a new version of Plus! will be release?
old 947 window cant be skinning for a long time?
and reshaping?

Seeya!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Willz

quote:

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Originally posted by ZOiD
Hello!

For the contest, a new version of Plus! will be release?
old 947 window cant be skinning for a long time?
and reshaping?

Seeya!

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Reshaping, not possible anymore.

947 - doesn't exist anymore.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Willz

quote:

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Originally posted by ZOiD
Hello!

For the contest, a new version of Plus! will be release?
old 947 window cant be skinning for a long time?
and reshaping?

Seeya!

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Reshaping, not possible anymore.   

947 - doesn't exist anymore.

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Is there any specific reason Willz cant(/wont) participate? I know his had a lot of experience and a lot of his skins have frequently been regarded as the best skins. But thats still not a good reason to not participate.
Thanks in advance.

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Originally posted by mattisdada
Is there any specific reason Willz cant(/wont) participate? I know his had a lot of experience and a lot of his skins have frequently been regarded as the best skins. But thats still not a good reason to not participate.
Thanks in advance.

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That and I think he is helping manage it, I could be wrong here. But if he is then he cannot participate.

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Originally posted by matty
That and I think he is helping manage it

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