FAQ!

[vangirl]

What is Hardmode?

hardmode is a Big Bang for gaming fandoms, specifically video game fandoms.

For its first round, writers will write a fanfic that is at least 10k words long within three months (Unless they are truly hardcore and decide to shoot for 100k in a month. It's not expected however, don't worry!) Once finished, the rough draft will be given to an artist/fanmixer/interpretative dancer and they will have the option to create a piece to compliment the fanfic. :3


Do you have a schedule for this round?

Yes we do! And it's updated for 2011!

April 1st - June 3rd: Writer sign-ups open. Writing period begins.
June 3rd: Rough draft and summaries due.
June 4th - June 6th: Summaries posted for media creators to look over. Claiming opens on June 6th and will occur on a first-come, first-serve basis.
July 3rd - July 17th: Posting period.
July 18th: PARTY TIEM!!!

The challenge will end by July 18th. Allowances may be made for those who have issues come up that prevent posting by then. However, "I'm still not finished" is not an issue that I'll make an allowance for.


Are all video gaming fandoms included?

Of course they are! If you can interact with it on a console, handheld, phone or PC, then it is allowed. The only rule is that you can pull 10k words worth of fic from it. If Tetris inspires you to write like that, then Tetris is accepted.

As a note for writers of the Final Fantasy games, there's also a Final Fantasy Big Bang in the works. If the higher word count and fall-time schedule appeals to you, it's worth taking a look.


Will OC-based fic be allowed?

Yes they are! Many games may require the creation of an original character as the first step to playing the game, and others may give a blank slate type of character that allows the player to define the character through choices later on in the game. We'd have to rule out a great deal of fandoms if we said 'no' to this. ^^;

Comments

[cypher]

...so excited! \o/

[vangirl]

Glad to hear it! \o/

[nan]

I can't wait! \o/

[samuraiter]

To quote the Kool-Aid Man ™ (who had a fun Atari 2600 game all to himself, IIRC), "Oh, yeah!" :-D

[ciceqi]

I have an incredibly stupid question, but I am going to ask it anyway! :D By "mixer" you mean "someone will put together music for an FST for you" and not "someone will do a Remix-style written thing for you," right? Because I am so on-board with the music thing, but, uh, while I am aware of the Remix phenomenon, I have never actually read them! So I don't even know how they work! Ahahaha, I live in a cave. A fannish cave, but still. *facepalm*

[vangirl]

Ah, yes! A mixer in this case is someone that will put together an FST for you. Allowing more types of fanworks will hopefully allow for more participants. ^^

[ciceqi]

Awesome! My 5000+ albums are at your disposal! :D

[penny]

If we're interested in doing a crossover, do both fandoms have to be gaming fandoms? I'm curious what the ruling would be on taking character(s) from a non-game fandom and inserting them in a game setting.

[vangirl]

Hmm...That's a tricky one but I think it can be accepted, if the game fandom has both its world and characters accepted. If the focus was primarily on the fandom from another media source, I don't think it could be acceptable.

Basically, I think the gaming fandom should be the main focus to count. Does that make sense?

[penny]

It makes sense! (And helps me narrow down potential ideas. Bonus!) Thanks!

[fireeye]

Stupid question: it has to be a 10k self-contained work, right? Not just the first 10k...? ^^;

[vangirl]

It has to be a story of at least 10k that can at least stand on its own. If it's part of a greater work, that's fine, but what you write for this challenge shouldn't need anything else to be understood and read.

[electric_butterfly]

Can the work be split into chapters? Because I can't imagine posting 10,000 words in a single post.

[vangirl]

It can be split into chapters though I think when posting time comes around I would prefer that there be one post for each fic in the community, so you would need to post chapters outside of the comm and make a master link post here.

However, you can post over 10,000 words in a post and have it all fit. I can't find the source but I do know I've seen plenty of 10k+ fics that managed to all fit into a single post, so if that's you concern you won't have to worry about it. :)

[electric_butterfly]

My concern is that if it's well OVER 10,000 words, and then there's the TLDR concern since most people don't read THAT much in one sitting unless they're speed readers. Lol!

I like the "Master Link" post idea because that can work for fics that would end up being way more than 10,000 words.

[vangirl]

I believe the character limit on DW specifically is around 300,000 words, give or take, so that may be less of a concern depending on how long your average word is. Still, TL;DR might be a plausible concern if it's going to be a great deal longer than 10k words. XD

"Master Link" posts may end up being the way to post, depending on exactly how overambitious some writers get to be. XD

[tyger]

What exactly are the 'classes'? Obviously writer/beta/artist etc are pretty clear, but you mention 'cheer' in the sign-up post, so I'm a little confused. ^^;;;

[vangirl]

Cheerleader! A cheerleader is someone that encourages the writer to keep writing during the writing period and are considered 'alpha readers'.

I'll update the FAQ to include them when I'm...not currently running out the door. ^^;

[tyger]

O I SEE. So basically a low-stress version of a beta? (What happens if you notice something that twigs you? Do you say sommat, or is it strictly encouragement-only? Depends?) Anyway, I could probably do that, if I knew the fandom. *ponders*

Fair enough! Have fun~~

[vangirl]

The post you want to post to is here; and yes, you'll make it in time if you get it there quickly. :D

[tg]

So, is it cool if you throw what you're writing at friends to beta you even without it being the beta period?

[vangirl]

Oh, of course! The beta system is more for those who have trouble finding friends that have the time and desire to beta 10k words worth of fic. ^^ If you can find betas on your own time, that's more than fine!

[tyger]

...back again! ¬¬;;

Is it okay to publicly post things up for beta/stylistic comments, or would that have to be locked/private in some way? Unrelatedly, if we said 'yes I'll also...' in out app post do we have to re-comment on the other posts?

[vangirl]

I'm sorry, I somehow missed this!

Anyway, I think it would probably be best to keep it private? Mainly because the idea of betaing is usually to have something fixed up before throwing it out into the great internet. XD But it is your writing so it should be your call, I think.

[tyger]

I have a tiny FL of tiny tininess, so that doesn't really bother me, but hey! Can do! *laughs*

[imadra_blue]

If my fic winds up substantially different from the idea I put in my writer sign-up, is that okay? I'm still in the same fandom, but the pairing and plot has changed.

[vangirl]

That's fine! Stuff like that happens too!

I haven't assigned betas or artists to any author yet, so you can still change stuff like pairing and plot (though I prefer that it at least stays in the same fandom so I don't need to scramble to find someone for an obscure game. ^^) I'll include something about that in the check-in post on the 15th so don't worry about it. :>

[imadra_blue]

Awesome, thank you! I'm definitely staying in the fandom right now, but I'm struggling with ideas. I'm torn between two pairings, and I'm trying to figure out something that doesn't completely suck but is also not too much like the Big Bang I have plotted for Megaflare. XD Hopefully I'll have it sorted by the 15th.

[ryuosen.livejournal.com]

Question here.. even if it's a stupid one...

So I'm a mixer and my job is quite clear, but what about the cover? It obviously belongs to the mix, do I have to draw one or am I allowed to use my photoshop and make it. I'm asking because my drawing skills aren't that great but I love making mixes. Can I still participate?

[vangirl]

...I completely forgot about mix covers! You can definitely use photoshop for the cover if you can't draw -- I don't see why not. ^^

[icedark_elf]

I can't remember if I asked this here or not, but I have at least two different stories in my head, and was curious if I could do two? I would be able to write both pretty easily, as long as I plan them out, and I was curious if it would be allowed, or if I'd only be allowed to do one.

[vangirl]

You can do two stories so long as they are both written during this round's writing period.

There is a catch though: I can only guarantee media for one of your fics. If there's a shortage of media creators, your second fic will be a lower priority than fic from writers who only have one. It probably won't be much an issue this round with creator's choosing whatever they want, but if it is an issue then do know that I may have to tell you that I couldn't find someone to work on your second fic.

[icedark_elf]

That's understandable. I'm planning on pimping the game out to my flist, and I have a few artists there, so maybe I'll be able to lure them over. Thanks, and I'll let you know probably in the next day or so about if I will do two or not. >.> I've been plotting. A lot.

[kyuohki]

Can I post in the mingling thread even if I'm not certain I'll be joining the bigbang? (I accidentally deleted the post, fail!)

[kyuohki]

nevermind. I answered my own question.

[urby]

I have zero experience with actually participating in bigbang challenges so I hope that these questions aren't stupid!

When rough drafts are due, where should we send/post them? Do they go into the community or are they emailed to someone? If they go into the community does that mean the final draft with the media made for it goes in a seperate entry or does the rough draft post get edited?

Also I am pretty sure the answer to this question is "yes", but do we make our own story summaries?

[vangirl]

I had planned to have a post up a week before the deadline with this round's instructions and you've asked...just a few days in advance. xD But it'll be pretty much the same as last time; e-mail the rough draft to me (just so I can verify it's complete) and also a detailed summary that you wrote (so the answer is "yes" ;3). The sample will probably be reduced to 100 words though.

As they'll be gathered and posted though, there may be some more specific details on summaries but rough drafts and summaries will be e-mailed, not posted to the community.

(And don't forget to sign up once you feel ready to commit!)