Autodesk University App

This year, like last year, Autodesk University has an App. The application is available for iOS or Android operating systems. In addition there is an HTML 5 version available on pretty much any other operating system, such as Windows or Blackberry, with a modern browser.

Last year Autodesk gave out a pass for this year’s event based on the overall total points at the end of the conference. After building a huge lead starting out during Thanksgiving I was overtaken by @The_Mini_Guy barely at the end (here are the current results: pic.twitter.com/4Et08gfGtm). I suspect since we took such a commanding lead over the rest of the field, this year it’s a bit different. Rather then taking the top leader at the end a pass will be given out for each day. Now the top point leader won’t be selected, rather the top 25 at the end of the day will be put into a hat and one will be drawn to determine the winner of the prize.

I haven’t been able to find an official scoring guide from the app, but here’s how it works (if I remember correctly). A check in gets you a maximum of 7 points. Points vary based on if you’ve checked in to the location before. If you have you don’t get as many points. Included in the possible 7 points is if you added some text to the check in. If you create a new location that isn’t in the App you get an additional 2 or 3 points. That means you can make your hotel room a check in location and get some additional points. Don’t post too often, because if you post too often then you don’t get points for the post. I found last year the time interval was about every 5 to 10 minutes.

Since this a social app intended to get conversations going you get points for when people comment on your post (2 points) or give it a thumbs up (1 point). So if you have a friend you want to be pushed  to the top of the list, make sure to comment and thumbs up their posts.

Currently the point system is quasi turned off. People are still getting points for the comments and thumbs up, but not for the actual posts. The point scoring should start off when AU starts officially or a few days before, I haven’t heard when exactly it will start. The current leader has lots of activity, I suspect he’ll have trouble keeping up if he’s checked in everywhere before points starts.