Community Profile

Theme, Overview, Timeline & General Rules
Celebrating a Decade: Anniversaries, Landmarks, and Milestones

Can you believe that we have been at this for ten years? RS_Games officially began in 2007 and has continued to entertain participants, mods, readers, viewers, and voters since its inception. Over the years, it has evolved and changed, but the core idea of making friends through friendly competition and love of our ship has always remained. Our first year featured two rounds and no initial theme, but since then we’ve had different themes (and several different Team designations) each year. Below is tour of the last decade:

2007/2008 - No theme/horoscopes - Team MWPP v. Team Post-Hogwarts
2009 - Over the Rainbow - Team Canon v. Team AU
2010 - Music: It’s What Life Sounds Like - Team Canon v. Team AU
2011 - Life is a Journey, Not a Destination - Team Remus v. Team Sirius
2012 - Tell Me a Story - Team Remus v. Team Sirius
2013 - For Everything There is a Season - Team MWPP v. Team Post-Hogwarts
2014 - Perception: The Five Senses - Team Magic v. Team Muggle (perfect, numeric tie)
2015 - The Sky’s the Limit: The Sky, the Heavens, and Celestial Bodies - Team Moon (Remus) v. Team Star (Sirius)
2016 - There’s a Time and a Place for Everything - Team Time v. Team Place (tie)
Bolded Teams were the winning Teams

Sadly, however, this will be our final year for RS_Games. The change to LiveJournal’s TOS has proven to be the final nail in the coffin. To avoid any possible issues, we’re moving the Games to DW. As with last year, the pieces will be posted on AO3 (Archive of Our Own), but most other action (including sign-ups, team communities, inter-team action. etc.) will be posted on DW.

We are sad that things are drawing to a close, but it feels like time. Ten years is a good, long run for any fest. The work we have done, along with our participants, has generated hundreds of fanworks for our beloved OTP over the years, including some genuine classics. We couldn’t ask for more than that.


General Overview:
Welcome to RS_Games 2017! After ten years, the tradition continues.

As always, the Games are about having fun and spreading the love of our favorite ship - not to mention going for Puppyshippers Gold. Sure, it’s technically a competition between teams, but the truth is, The Games are really more about making friends, telling stories, finding the right time and place to be creative, and having a good time.

Here is how it works: as in previous years, two teams will compete by creating the best possible stories and artwork, which will then be viewed and voted upon. Think of it as working together to create a body of work, a book of stories both visual and narrative which represent your Team’s point of view. You have about twelve weeks to do this and during that time there are Team activities, Inter-Team activities, and all kinds of fun.

In October, posting begins on AO3 (Archive of Our Own) with links here on DW. During the posting portion of the Games, works will be posted anonymously each day and readers will vote on each work. These works are not directly competing against each other, for the voters will evaluate each work independently, not as compared with the other posting.

At the end of the Games, the votes will be tallied as points. The team who has accrued the most points will be officially declared the winner, but, as we see it, everyone is a true winner. The public at large gets to read, view, and vote on the best fics and artworks around, but the real fun is in the process of making friends and creating some wonderful R/S pieces to share!

NOTE: You do need an DW account to participate, but there is no requirement about how active it needs to be. However, a huge part of the fun of RS_Games is interacting in the Team Community and inter-Team activities, and it is necessary to be an DW member for that. It’s easy and it’s free. Go here: https://www.dreamwidth.org/create for more info!


A Note About Our Theme:

For I have known them all already, known them all:
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
- “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by TS Eliot

In - five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life - “Seasons of Love” from Rent


How do we measure life? What landmarks dot our paths? This year’s theme is about celebrations - not just our ten year anniversary, but recognitions of landmarks and milestones of any kind. Throughout our lives we each experience myriad anniversaries, landmarks, and milestones of many different types, and those experiences form the core of this year’s theme. They need not always be pretty or personal, but they must be recognized.

As always with the Games, the theme is merely an organizing principle, intended to inspire and pull everything together. Your piece could center around anything from an AU 20th wedding anniversary celebration on a spacecraft to a canon tale of the familiar milestone, the Willow Prank. It can center around a super subtle turning point or a dreamy, distant memory. It can be anything you wish!


About Our Teams:

To celebrate our anniversary, we’re going for an old classic: Team Remus v. Team Sirius. You can pick your favorite character - or the one you most relate to - but, in the end, your piece needs to be somehow focused or centered on that character. This does NOT mean that, if you are on Team Remus, the story has to be written from his POV - it could well be from Sirius’ POV, if he’s thinking about Remus. The reader or viewer just needs to be able to really feel that character.



Time Line:
Sign-ups begin on Wednesday, June 14th and last through Monday, June 19th, ending at 11:59pm Eastern time (like NYC)

Teams will be announced on Wednesday, June 21st., so please watch this space for more info.

Prompt table goes up Thursday, June 22nd and closes at 11:59PM EST (like Toronto) on Monday, June 26th. (NOTE: If for some reason you will be out of reach of a computer during that time, please let the Mods know in advance and we’ll be more than happy to accommodate you.) In general, the earlier you choose your prompt, the better. First off, you may begin creating your work as soon as you receive your prompt confirmation. Second, for the sake of variety we like to limit the number of participants per prompt. It’s first come, first serve - so get served first!

Works are due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, September 20th EST (like NYC). This gives you about twelve weeks (depending upon when you choose your prompt) to create your work. You are welcome to turn in your work early (and this year there may be rewards for that!) but there can be penalties for late entries. In the meantime, there will be activities (both team and inter-team), fun, and lots of interaction.

Posting begins Monday, October 2nd and runs throughout the month. The number of days will be determined by the number of participants, etc.

The winning team will be revealed in early November.


Sign-up process:
Sign-ups begin on Wednesday, June 14th and last through Monday, June 19th, ending at 11:59pm Eastern time (like NYC) and the sign-up post will use the following information:
DW User name:
Real name (optional)/Tumblr name/AO3 name: (We don’t share your real name, but it does make matching emails to user names MUCH easier when the works come in. Also if you are on Tumblr or AO3 and we need to contact you that way, it’s helpful to know your name there, too.)
Artist or author: Do you want to create a story or art for the Games? You can also put "Either" or "Both"
Email contact/best contact:
It is VERY important that we be able to contact you. If you have issues with sharing your email, please be sure that we can contact you by DW PM or other means.
Country/City/State: This is just to get an idea of your time zone and where you are in the world. Fear not, for we promise we’re not stalkers - but it is really fun to know how many countries/states/areas participate. Knowing your time zone can also help us make decisions about lateness, etc.
Team Choice:
IMPORTANT NOTE: No matter how hard we try to accommodate everyone, there is no guarantee that you will get the your first choice of teams. Obviously we will make every attempt to give players the team they want most, but that is not always possible. If you’re willing to play on either team, please note that and the Mods will be happy to assign you to the team who needs you most!
Is there anything else you need to tell us? Say anything here or ask a question, but this is also where you can mention things like if/when you’ll be out of town during the timeline of the Games, etc.

Please sign up using the following information:
<b>DW User name</b>: <b>Artist or Author</b>: <b>Real name (optional)/Tumblr name/AO3 name</b>: <b>Email contact (It is essential that we be able to contact you. If you have issues with email, please be sure that we can contact you by DW PM)</b>: <b>Country/City/State (just to get an idea of your time zone)</b>: <b>Team Choice</b>: <b>Is there anything else you need to tell us?</b>



General Game Rules:
1. The stories will be a minimum of 1,500 words and, while there is no maximum, but keep in mind that this is a competition. Many readers adore long works, but others find length off-putting and skip the longer works. We encourage you to write as your muse directs you, but please don’t forget your audience.

2. Art has no size requirements, but keep in mind the size of most people’s screens. If the image is too big it can become unwieldy and some people may have trouble viewing it, but if it’s too small, people may not be able to see it clearly.

3. A list of prompts will be posted and each participant must choose one prompt ONLY from the list. There are multiple types of prompts including: Word-based (like quotations and phrases), picture-based (like photographs and drawings), and audio-visual (like music and videos), and there are always enough so that every participant should find something to inspire them. The prompt table will appear on Thursday, June 22nd and you will have until 11:59PM EST (like Toronto) on Monday, June 26th to make your choice. (If you are going to be out of computer range during that time, please see a Mod and we’ll be happy to accommodate.) If multiple prompts inspire you, so much the better, but you need to pick only ONE that will be used for voting.

4. Works should be labeled as one (or more) of the following genres. Please note, these categories will be used ONLY for Mod organizational purposes and not used as a basis for voting. In fact, at least on the DW side, your genre labels may be removed from the header. (We’ve found that this increases readership.) The genre choices are:
a. Angst
b. Fluff/Romance
c. Hurt/Comfort
d. Horror/Adventure
f. Humor/Crack
e. Smut
f. You can also let us know if it is AU or Canon
Please note, any and all of these categories (and combos!) are welcome. You can do AU Horror-Smut with a dash of Humor or simple Romance. Yes, sometimes these things are hard to categorize, but remember, it’s ONLY for organizational purposes, so please just do your best. Believe it or not, we Mods try really hard to post complementary pieces for the readers to enjoy, so your labels help us immensely. You may also notice that crossover is not on the list. You’re more than free to write crossover, but, once again, keep in mind that this is a competition and you want to reach as wide an audience as possible. Many good writers and artists can create crossover works that can stand on their own and reach any audience, but it can be tricky for readers not familiar with the crossover work can often feel a bit alienated and vote accordingly.

5. All works must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, September 20th EST and will be screened and posted by Mods. If you think that you are going to drop or miss the deadline, please see your Team Captain or a Mod to arrange a Pinch Hit. Missed deadlines can result in elimination and this will hurt your Team’s overall score.

Or, if you wish, you may apply for an extension. But there is a catch: one-half point will be deducted for each day you are late. The key here is COMMUNICATION, the more you let us know about the situation, the easier it will be on all of us. We’re not going to penalize you if your piece is late because you contracted Bubonic Plague, but we have to know about it in order to excuse you!

Also, this year, there may be special bonuses for those who get their stuff in early!

6. All fics and art must be rated. Ratings in the community will go from “G” (or “All Ages”) to “NC-17”(or “18+”). Obviously, this community will contain fictional works involving same-sex relationships between fictional characters. If you are bothered by that concept please do not enter. While there are no official rules against (properly labeled) adult themes and material, please be aware that this is a game open to everyone and the more general the access, the more votes you will get. Due to certain posting requirements, choosing to write NC-17 could theoretically decrease readership. The same is true for non-consensual sex and other controversial themes. Again, this is an issue between you and your muse, but there are things to keep in mind.

7. All fics should be beta’d (edited) and, to be fair, it is best that all fics appear similar in format. We prefer that you use a plain, 10-point font. However, if font appearance or size is somehow integral to the story, please just let us know that - but remember that stories that are physically hard to read garner less votes. Eyestrain is nobody’s friend. Obviously, letters, notes, and other text-within-text situations are exceptions, but please put in the coding yourself. Proper coding is essential; if you have questions about how to code we will happily provide a guideline or you can ask a Mod or community member.

8. Posts will be accomplished by the Mods and all you have to do is prepare your work and email it to: [email protected]. You may submit any time before the deadline, and you should receive a confirmation email within twenty-four hours of submission. If you do not receive a confirmation, please contact a Mod.

When you send your email please include your user name, team, and the title of your work in the subject line. This makes it easier for the mods to organize. Along those lines, if you have multiple user names or change your username, please let us know as this can become confusing. Also, please include the text of the story and/or a copy (or link) to the artwork . You may send it either as an attachment or in the body of the email. Please use the following form as a header both in the work and in the body of the email. Remember, as in the story itself, you must include the coding in the header. Coding is important and coding errors can make or break a story. Also, fixing coding errors can easily drive the Mods into an early grave and nobody wants that!

Your user name (will be deleted before posting):
Team:
Title:
Rating:
Warnings:
Genres (will also be deleted before posting on DW):
Word Count:
Summary:
Notes:
Prompt: PLACE PROMPT NUMBER HERE

Fic/Art Below:

Your name, team, and genres will be removed before posting and a general disclaimer will appear on the site.

The “Warnings” space is mostly optional, especially for “G” rated pieces (please see Ratings Guide), but it is best if you warn your audience about anything that might be potentially adult-related. Warnings might include everything from swearing to frottage to character death to non-consensual sex. However, for the sake of expediency, let’s just assume that things like “boy kissing” and “same sex romance” are givens. This is Remus and Sirius, after all! Also, keep in mind that warning can also be advertising for other people’s kinks. Bondage? Drug use? Sarcastic llamas? Sometimes people will read something just because you’re creative here.

Under “Notes” you can give bits of background, explanation, etc. You may also thank a beta or someone else who helped you, but please use initials only, etc. For example, if your beta is cackling_madly you could call her “C” or use the first initial of her real name. This is only because some people always use the same beta and it can become rather obvious who is who.


9. Entries will be judged in the following manner:

1. For story: Is the Team Character (Sirius or Remus) most prominently featured? Yes/No vote ("yes" is worth 2 points, "no" is worth 0)
For Art: Does this piece of art adequately illustrate the Team Character’s (Remus or Sirius) point of view? ("yes" is worth 2 points, "no" is worth 0)
2. How well did the author/artist use their Prompt? 1 to 9 (1 being the least)
3. How much did you like this story/art overall? 1 to 9 (1 being the least)

Your final score will be an average of all the votes and poll results will remain hidden. You will not get to see your scores, but you will be allowed to see all comments. In case you’re wondering, you can totally trust our honesty, but seeing scores can cause hurt feelings and needless division and that’s NOT what we’re going for in our fest.

Flaming is never allowed and any and all offensive/hurtful comments will be removed. If, as a participant, you find a comment that you consider hurtful or rude, please let a Mod know immediately and we will take care of it. Again, flaming and rudeness will not be tolerated. We really mean it! Trolls are only Magical Creatures and the only flaming allowed is Sirius swishing around in glam make-up and tight leather pants. SIRIUSLY!

Voting is open to the public, but Team members and Mods cannot vote. We do, however, encourage all participants to comment on works and pimp the Games as much as possible. Remember, all works are posted anonymously, so we ask you to honor that and not pimp your work on your own journal by revealing what you created. Pimp the Games, pimp works you love, encourage people to read your Team’s works, but please do not cheat and reveal yourself before Reveals. If we catch you doing this it is very possible that you and your work will be eliminated from the Games and that will undoubtedly hurt your Team a lot. All votes are averaged so it does not matter as much how many people vote for any particular story or artwork, but it is nice to get as many votes as possible.

Overall team scores will be posted by the Mods at the end of the Games, but individual scores will not. The latter is simply to avoid hurt feelings. This isn’t about competition amongst your teammates, it’s about competition between Teams.

10. IMPORTANT:Each Team will have a home community in which to gather, socialize, have fun, and make decisions. (The first of these decisions is to choose and vote on Team Captains.) This community is also your place to discuss life and support each other as teammates. Such support can come in the form of brainstorming, discussions, posting work samples, cheerleading, beta help, and the collective support needed to win the PuppyShippers Gold. The Teams can also use these private communities to enlist the support of and ask questions to our most excellent Mod team. For organizational reasons, your Team Community will be on DW, so please make it a point to visit it often.

11. Any drafts or bits and pieces of your work in progress must not be posted anywhere public. Please keep it in the DW Team Community or otherwise in spaces where non-Team members cannot see it. Because the pieces are posted anonymously, there must not be any public trail between you and your final piece. Thus we ask you to keep it within your Team. An exception to this is your beta (if chosen from outside your Team). You may discuss/show whatever you wish with your beta, but, again, please keep those channels private.

Please remember all comments are screened! So if it looks like no one has signed-up, think again... they’re all there, just under invisibility cloaks! Also, if you do not get a response from us within 24 hours please email or PM us. DW can sometimes be up to no good (and not in a cool, Mauraderly way) and have a little sport hiding comments from us.