Terrouge Mascot Challenge 2009

[Miskett]

Ladies and gentlebeasts, we have our first competition for 2009!

As many of you know, Terrouge has more than one mascot-like image hanging around the site. There's Trisscar on the main site, guarding us with her shiny sword. There's the happy little bloke kicking a leg up. There are three other mascots, lurking somewhere around here too. They all have a history for Terrouge attached, ranging from the early days of the site to more recent redesigns.

Now, though, it's time for a fresh face to join Terrouge's mascot ranks. A mascot specially created for the community itself; Trisscar is the website's mascot, the happy kicking otter-type was usually seen in the ezine itself, and we need one particularly for the community. That means all the forum-goers, those who participate in challenges and chats, general discussion and ezine reviews - all the people who have come and gone to make Terrouge what it is today. They need recognition!

Artists, your challenge is to create a mascot particularly for the community. Be creative, but remember Terrouge's roots - the other mascots are particularly anthropomorphic, so we'd like you to stick to that guideline.

Writers, you're not left outside of this challenge! Find an artist who is planning on entering. Discuss your ideas together, work out what you both want to show in your entry. This mascot is not just an image to be put on the site; this mascot needs a name, a Terrougeish character - show us what Terrouge is through this mascot!

The winner will be decided by public vote; everyone has a say in who our mascot is. Artist-writer teams of two people each receive a prize - oh yes, we have prizes! Read on ...

First Place winners will receive either an Amazon Gift Card to the value of $30, or a deviantART subscription of one year. The writer and artist can each choose what they would prefer to be awarded for their prize. These prizes will be given by me; no one else is expected or will be charged for these prizes.

You also win the fame and glory of having your mascot image and character used throughout Terrouge's website, with full credit back to both artist and writer!

Who wouldn't want that? So get your entries in by May 1 - there's no rush, take your time and give us the best mascot you possibly can. Terrouge deserves that.

Now, off with you and start creating!

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Rules

1. One entry per writer-artist team.
2. Artists cannot enter with an image alone, nor can a writer enter with a character sheet alone. All entries must be drawn and written by two people.
3. The writer and artist, by entering this competition, agree that Terrouge retains the rights to use the winning entry for the forum and community mascot. Non-winning entries are not retained by Terrouge and all rights revert to their creators.
4. We're not a nasty grabbing website and if asked in future to take down the mascot or character sheet for clear reasons (i.e. portfolio requirements or publishing problems) we will do so.
5. The prizes cannot be transferred to any other website, subscription or giftcard.

How to enter
1. Each submitted mascot must be on an 800x800 .JPG image, with the mascot in the top left corner with character information and artist/writer-team name surrounding it.
2. The mascot image in .png or .gif and full character sheet in .doc format must be attached separately to the entry sheet. The mascot image can be any size, preferably over 300x300, on a transparent background. The name of the artist and writer must be in the image and document names, e.g. MiskettDawnfinder.doc or MiskettDawnfinder.JPG.
Edited for clarity: This means your submission email needs to have two images and one document attached. The first image has the text and a small version of the mascot inclusive. The second image is the large-scale mascot for actual use on the site. The .doc file has all the character information separately.
3. Entries are to be emailed to terrougemascot@gmail.com before May 1st at 9.00am AUEST
4. Any member of Terrouge may enter, or sign up to enter. I'm the only one not allowed to enter. Alas.

And there we have it! A lot of reading, but worth it. Enjoy, and if you have any questions (I'm sure you will), post here.

- Lucy

[Kyrahlynn]

oh my, this does look like fun! I do have one question, however, regarding "How to Enter" #2- by "transparent" background, do you mean just a white background, or literally transparent? 'Cuz from my experience, I've always had to use .gif or .png to get a transparent background

[Miskett]

Actually, if you could give one on a plain white background in .JPG format, and then one transparent in .gif or .png, that would be great. XD

[Digger]

Jpg could be a real pain if you ever want a transparent background; anti-aliasing will kill you, you know?

[Miskett]

Whoops. Thanks for pointing that out, Diggs. I meant it to be .png for the high-res submission piece and .jpg for the small entry sheet. Will fix that.

[Flammable Pears]

When someone completes a mascot, will it be shown anywhere before the deadline of the contest?

Or, to put the purpose of my question another way... Is there any example of the sort of character sheet thingummy that the writer-half is supposed to come up with anywhere else on the internet, so we have some idea what we're supposed to write? XD

[Miskett]

Less than a week to go, everyone - get your entries in soon!

[Flammable Pears]

Sent in! I hope. There's a possibility I might not have entered the email address correctly. Do let me know if I need to send it again.

[Miskett]

All good! Thank you very much.

Only a couple more days, folks ... get your entries in!

[Kyrahlynn]

aaaaannd... sent! Let me know if you don't get it.

[Miskett]

Entries closed! Thank you, everyone who entered. Updates on the voting will be forthcoming.

[Brandybuck]

OH MAN
I totally showed up late to this.

We all know that the sofa-lounging Baguette accompanied by His Ragefurness with an appropriately en flambé Pope Hat is the true mascot of Terrouge. We all know that.