Yeah there was that Street Fighter 4 competition from Dont Panic ([link]) I entered few days ago, and all I can say is, it's one BIG FAT JOKE. The concept was good, but it is flawed in so many ways. As it turns out, there is really no test for artistic skills, but rather it's turned into more like a high school popularity contest. Not to put down all those who had entered it, I do see some really great entries, but there are some that look like a preschooler's doodles and yet they are in the running for the Top 10 Finals (based on user votes), and a pool of really awesome work that shows the artist really put a lot of time and effort that aren't getting any recognition. And the comments, oh man, there are few very intelligent critiques that gets drowned by rather immature holier-than-thou crap, it's hard to sit through it.
All I can say is, I feel like I've wasted my time and effort; well what can I really really expect, it's Street Fighter, for crying out loud, and who plays them? Do I really need to say it?? So to you who read, have you ever had similar experiences in your artistic endeavors, and how did you endure it?