Darkkitten Entertainments Video Game Retcon Contest 2014

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Ever wondered what Hyrule would be like if Link was instead Linka? What if Mario was Maria? Now’s your chance to rewrite video game history - literally!

Prizes to include a copy of RPG Maker VX Ace and more!

DKS logo
is proudly sponsoring the Retcon Rewrite Video Game Short Story Competition! The rules are simple:

  • To enter, simply post your story as you normally would, and select the contest entry tag “Darkkitten Studio Retro-Game Contest 2014”
  • The story MUST be about an existing video game character - any genre, any system or era.
  • The character can either be made transgendered, or you can rewrite them as if they were always the opposite gender.
  • There is no limit on which character or characters you choose. Want to have Prince Toadstool hook up with Zelda after Linka saves her? Go nuts.
  • This is a short story competition so please try to keep compositions between 4,000 and 20,000 words.

Voting:
The contest will be open from June 1st through the 30th.

After the contest period ends you, the TopShelf readers, will decide the winners. The top three voted stories will receive their own copy of RPG Maker VX Ace, bonus downloadable content, redeemable on Steam, to get them started, and sample games made on the RPG Maker VX Ace engine for inspiration - that’s $120 worth of software and games each! In addition, the overall highest voted story will also receive a steam key access to the Game Character Hub, a $15 value! The Final tally will be taken on July 6th.

NOTE: Due to the limited number of keys, in the event of a tie, the earlier entered story(ies) will be declared the winner(s).

The Prizes:

Two Games:

If you’re not sure what RPG Maker VX Ace is all about, you can check out the full version free this weekend on Steam for a limited time: RPG Maker VX Ace on Steam!

You can also get a lite version which is feature limited here: http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/download/free-programs/rpg-maker-vx-ace-lite

Comments

Methinks....

SOMEbody's been buying Humble Bundles :P

Melanie E.

Oh, not at all!

And you obviously didn't give the minimum, so that makes me happy too :P I just thought it was funny.

This sounds fun, but I think I'm just gonna try and come across the money to buy 'em myself. 'Sides, I've ALREADY done my TG video game story, Drabble Theatre: RAMPAGE!

Melanie E.

Though, now I think about it...

I COULD always do something really fun and obscure. Maybe write a TG story that fills the missing spot where Swordquest: Airworld was supposed to appear on the Atari 2600? Or what about one set in the old Might and Magic or Ultima universes?

Oooh! I wonder if you could write a TG story based on Berzerk? Hmmm...

Also, just for info: what's your position on canonically TG characters? Writing a story about, say, Poison from the Final Fight series, or Birdo from Mario 2, or (to a lesser extent) Morgan from Fire Emblem: Awakening? Huh? Well? Huh? Faris from Final Fantasy V? Huh?!

Sorry. Getting a bit ahead of myself there. Still, lotsa fun could be had with this, I'm kinda (nervously) looking forward to seeing what people come up with now!

Melanie E.

Might consider...

"Dark Souls" with a TG slant. for the beginning.

Knew someone would catch on ;-)

Zoe Taylor's picture

... But at least we're giving them away, unlike that Aussie guy who was selling them on eBay awhile back *giggles* We were talking about what an amazing deal it was, and Ashly's like "Let's do a contest! We can really give back to the community."

So we talked to Joyce, drew up the rules page, made the purchases, and here we are :-)

~* Queen of Sweetness *~

Become a Patron for early access ♥

Ok

Since you're a gamer as well, I guess I'm going to have to add you on PSN or XBLA darkkitten!!! :D

When I stopped playing video

When I stopped playing video games, the closest thing to a video game character was Pacman and Ms. Pacman. Note that they did their own TG version...

Was there a

Miss Frogger?

I have an idea, but...

...it has problems. I think it might be too generic and simplistic; like, too obvious and maybe with an overused character. My idea also references a few details of the particular games involved such that if you haven't played them, you'd be wondering some things.

Also, far more importantly, I've never written a story before in my life! :P It'd probably really suck.

Kitty.

Got it.

Added you on PSN darkkitten.

Might have to...

pick up RPG Maker myself and just make one on general principal.

Oh and am I the only one who is still shocked there isn't a 3D RPG Maker out yet or there isn't one that looks even decent next to "Dream Studio" for the Dreamcast?

Cool, I've been thinking

Cool, I've been thinking about sponsoring a BCTS community driven RPG Maker Game :) This is just a good way for my video game company to give back to a community that supports us, Erin and Piper have done so much for us. :)


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BCTS RPG Maker Game

shiinaai's picture

I've played around with RPG Maker and that other engine which they claimed to be more universal. But I never found it to suit my needs. Now I'm making a Visual Novel dating game on python called Magical Girl Aya-chan, with Aya-chan being a crossdressing boy. Once done, I planned to have it translated to Japanese and sell it on the open market. Miniscule funding but once those fujoshi otaku in Japan got hold of this, I will be swimming in Yen. Muhahahahahahah

/me whispers -> Any chance I can get a little bit of funding or graphics assistance from your company? I'm sure we can arrange something.

If DKE had funding to give

If DKE had funding to give out, Id love to, as for graphics assistance, that's another area lacking in my company, 3d modeling is expensive..


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3d modelling

shiinaai's picture

Not looking for 3d modelling. I was a student of Software Engineering and Games Design and 3ds Max 6 and Maya was among the necessary subjects. I can do the occasional 3d modelling, though not at the same quality as professionals, since it has been years since I worked with 3ds Max.

No, I'm looking for simple 2d drawings. Manga style preferably. I can make it myself, but it will seriously cut into my programming hours, because although I can do it, I'm not good at it. Same with programming, I can do it, but I'm not good at it, so I take a big longer than people who are proficient with it. Therefore, I've decided to focus on the programming part and get graphics and audio help.

Honestly...

I've been absolutely desperate to see a Whateley fighting game. If Whateley could just get translated into Japanese I think we'd find a shitload of Japanese kids or adults that could make an awesome Doujin fighter and then maybe Arc Systems could take a page from that.
Imagine all of the Whateley characters done in HD sprites. I'm drooling here.
Heck enemyoffun's DarkRealms could have some nice fighters in it.

Ehhh I trust the Japanese in

Ehhh I trust the Japanese in terms of making sure the gameplay mechanics are tighter. Not to say there aren't good homebrew programmers out here but it seems like in my experience the homebrew Japanese programmers tend to be more picky about gameplay not being off. Keep in mind my experience is more with Xbox Live Indie games.

Plus ca Change, Plus C'est la Meme Chose

laika's picture

CONFESSIONS OF A TRANSGENDER VIDEO GAME CHARACTER

Somehow I thought everything would be different when I added Ms. to my name and gained recognition as the girl I am. And I suppose my life is marginally better. I love my pretty new bow, even if I don't have any hair to go with it...

But I still seem to be wandering around the same old maze eating them damn dots.

THE END

waaagaaaa

Andrea Lena's picture

waaagaaaawaaagaaaawaaagaaaawaaagaaaawaaagaaaa BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeoooooooooooooooooooooo.....

  

To be alive is to be vulnerable. Madeleine L'Engle
Love, Andrea Lena

Um... does anyone know an

Um... does anyone know an emulator for The Legends of Zelda - Ocarina of time? I kinda have a story idea using the general plot of that game, but I don't quite remember the particularities. I'd borrowed the game from a friend ages ago...

Unless you own the game

Emulators are technically illegal, though you CAN usually legally justify 24 hours with any ROM on a trial basis.

That said, there areany legal ways to get OoT still: GameCube, Wii, or even on 3DS.

Or, just watch a Let's Play on YouTube :)

If you DO get an N64 copy and don't have the console to play it on, Project 64 is probably the best N64 emu, but installs for it are usually pretty virus ridden, so I'd go legal if you could.

Melanie E.

as Melanie stated, Project64

as Melanie stated, Project64 or Youtube let's play, Emulators are however a gray area in law, as she said you can download it for 24 hours as a "Demo" to see if you want it, just like most "warez". However there's more to the gray area of the law too, because I can own legal backups of games I own, so I have roms of all the cartridge games I have for N64, NES, SNES, etc :)


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Content

shiinaai's picture

Is this purely vanilla? Can I add elements of boys love (BL/yaoi/shounen ai) or girls love (yuri/shouju ai) as well? Sorry, I'm a Fujoshi Otaku. Not that I meant it will be an XX story, no, I can't write XX. I'm just wondering that instead of the 'straight' love that one often see in mainstream videogames, I can have bent love in my story instead? Also, I only need the characters, right? I don't have to faithfully follow the storyline?

I assume crossdressing is not accepted?

BTW, I already have RPG Maker VX Ace, can I name someone else to receive the software instead (if I win, probably won't)

Thanks alot.

Answer 1) You don't have to

Answer 1) You don't have to do vanilla.
Answer 2) You do not have to follow the Storyline to a tee, just make sure you use the characters in some TG sense, you can include Cross dressing, or even gender swap into the story as long as there's a transgender feel to it.

Answer 3) Yes the prize can be gifted to whoever you specify when or if you win. They will be in the form of Steam Keys that will be emailed to the winners.


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Thanks

shiinaai's picture

Thanks for clearing that up.

Now, I'll have to scour the internet for some game info. Too late to replay the games now.

The big joke in regards to emulators...

First is that a lot of those legal collections usually use those emulators.

In terms of ROMs that's true darkkitten but you and I both know there are games that have the game's rights lost or the company thinks it wouldn't be terribly profitable to make another run at re-offering them commercially.
In this case, depending upon the games availability in market for secondary you may either be gouged or find it for a reasonable price.

Even then, you may still not get a reissue of the exact same game if it's popular enough(thank you Capcom for NOT offering the original Ducktales and Ducktales 2 as an unlockable, at least I've heard nothing of the sort). Emulators are also the ONLY way you'll be able to play Final Fantasy 3 in its non-butchered 2D version in English though I justify my owning it since I actually own the Famicom cart of FF3.

For emulation overall, I'll be surprised when they finally get a solid version of Saturn emulation down. Supposedly one of the emulators really nailed it but I heard Sega or Atlus bought it. So that emulator is off the market now. I have heard it was used for "Princess Crown" on the PSP, which is suppose to be a huge pain in the ass to find even though it got a sort of "Greatest Hits" reprint for the Saturn over in Japan.

No entries are standalones

Please be aware even though each entry is likely to be a one-off they count as fanfiction, they are from a pre-existing universe and therefore should not be in the standalone section at the top of the front page.
This has been confirmed and endorsed by Erin.

Looking forward to more entries

Hugs
Cat

-
You can't choose your relatives but you can choose your family.

Working on a Story

terrynaut's picture

I started writing a story for this contest and I should be able to finish it this weekend. I hope to post it Sunday night. Please stay tuned.

- Terry

The real mario brothers ending

"Mario, the princess is in another castle!"

"Like hell she is," Mario said as he reached into his plumbers bag, pulling out a blonde wig and pink dress. "She is right here and no one will be the wiser."

"But the princess doesn't have a mustache."

Mario picks up Toadstool and throws him off the bridge into the lava. "Any other objections?"

All the koopa troopers shook their head no.

Game Over (after world one)!

Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)

Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life

I Should Spend More Time Writing

And less time making pictures for my story. That said, this is kind of what I needed for my writing. Instead of focusing on every little thing, I am just writing stuff. Hope I can finish on time.

4 more days people :) You

4 more days people :) You could be the lucky winners of some Steam keys for RPG Maker VX Ace if you get your stories in by the deadline! Also as mentioned before, you are allowed to give your prize to someone else if you do win :)


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Just a heads up, if you

Just a heads up, if you started a story and need a few more days to finish, we will give you a reprieve and let you post your story a bit late. Voting will Start on the 6th of July, I know we said Final tally will be taken.


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