i think it depends on how you look at it. i understand your point of few but @AndoGDTunes has also a point. for me i did it once and it pushed me to try out some new things. even if i didn't win i was happy. i also did it once with a friend and i was supporting them and it didn't break me appart it just gave me more spirit. but i agree that it can break friendships as well what sucks. but a competition isn't created from capitalisme from what i know. (i could be wrong you can show me the facts then) but anyway competitions don't always have a price and it's about seeing how people can be creative with a theme in mind. but what people forget is that there always good and bad things about stuff so that counts for a compition as well. if something like that destroys something dear or limits you i understand why you don't do it. it isn't a reason to stop others if they enjoy it. i just hope you can see that to. anyway i hope you can find creativity in so many other things as well and i wanted to wish you luck in creating your future works ^^
EMBL3M
Then again, competition can be used as a motivator. Especially if there are themes to what you create. It's key to look at it not as a chain holding you down, but a guide pushing you forward to try new things and experiment a little. If you look at it that way, it's fun. If you don't, it's just tedious.
Also, having a little competition between friends is good sometimes ;) expecting that not to happen is a little too idealistic, my friend.
zybor
Themes are limitations and rules imposed so you can fool yourself into doing the same thing over and over again.
Competitions caused ripple and hatred between friends. If it wasn't for NGADM drama, PeterSatera and SoundChris would not leave NG. If it wasn't for the same drama, Troisnyx would still participating in it. If it wasn't for competitions that showed our difference, I would still be friend with Samulis. I could have participated in 2016 8Dio Stand Out, but a friend of mine, Phonometrologist was a participant, and I chose to step out even I knew clearly I had great chance in the contest. And finally, Make Arma Not War, I participated into without knowingly that ForgottenDawn also participated, and this created some difficulty between us whenever we discussed about. My entry won, his did not.
My MANW project, Arma 3 Resist: http://makearmanotwar.com/entry/g0Y3lPei2x
ForgottenDawn MANW project, Green Draw: http://makearmanotwar.com/entry/0gKapy8KQ8
(I couldn't live with this guilt so I introduced ForgottenDawn to take over future projects by Scott Alsworth, Resist's director who now works for Bohemia Interactive)
There, you see, contests and competitions are bullshit that people fooled themselves into. That's what self control is about