Great Games With Pals

Q: If the event is cancelled or rescheduled, what happens to my artist table?

An email will be sent out to everyone who bought tables with details on the rescheduled or cancelled event. Refunds will be offered to those who request them minus any transaction fees that occur, otherwise tables will be kept for a rescheduled event.

Cosplay Competition rules

There are two categories you can enter:

• Made
• Bought

Prizes include best in show and awards for each category, and technical and skit awards. Costumes must be from a “game” - video games, mobile games, board games, card games, tabletop games – as long as it’s from a game, it counts!

General Rules and guidelines:

• You must make 75% of your costume to be eligible for the “made” category. If you have purchased more than 25% of your costume, you are able to enter in the “bought” category.
• You may enter a cosplay that has previously been entered in another competition, as long as the costume has not won a major award. If your costume has won best in show, or first/second/third placements, this is a major award and would not be accepted. Costumes that have won judges commendations or technical awards would be allowed.
• Both groups and solo entries will be accepted, however you can only enter once. Entries are capped on a first come, first serve basis. Entries received after we’ve reached our cap will be placed on a waitlist and we may contact you if space becomes available.
• Fan art is accepted only if it is a fan interpretation of a pre-existing game character (alternative costume) that you have decided to cosplay and you can provide a fan art reference image as well as an official art reference image.
• You will need to supply the following information in the entry form: character name, title of game and a description of the cosplay, including the aspects that have been made and bought, and reference photos of your character. Please also let us know any parts of the costume you had help with.
• We also require you to provide a build book if you are entering the ‘made’ category. A build book can be as simple as photos showing your progress, or photos and bullet points of info on what you’ve done - no one but yourself and the judges will see this, so there’s no need to be fancy or write an essay. Ideally your build book should be around ten pages maximum. We have some examples of build books below, but if you have any questions feel free to flick us an email.
  • Example 1
  • Example 2
• During the judging process you will have a small interview (around 5 minutes) with our judges who will ask you some questions about your cosplay or build.
• If you need a support person you are most welcome to bring someone with you to the judging - it will be in a small room away from the main area of the convention, and we will have clear signs to guide you. If you have any issues with this or any part of the process please contact ggwpcosplaycompetiton@gmail.com
• Costumes must follow all the normal GGWP cosplay rules.

Skit rules:

• A skit is a short stage performance where you perform as your character. Skits can be any sort of genre of performance - think comedy, drama, song and dance, action - the possibilities are endless!
• You are welcome to perform a short skit during the stage presentation – while there is a special prize for skit entries, skits are optional. Opting not to have a skit won’t stop you from being eligible to win other prizes!
• We ask that you keep your skits PG - no profanities, abuse, sexual themes or harassment will be accepted.
• Skits must be no shorter than 1 minute, and no longer than 2 minutes. You must submit your audio file as an mp3 file, or video file (file type TBC) at the same time as your entry form.
• Any stage props you may have must be able to be set up and taken off the stage in under 30 seconds – no mess is to be left on the stage after your skit is done.
• No throwing things at the audience, no explosives or incendiary or smoke devices, no weapons displays and no acrobatics. Keep yourself and the audience safe!
• We will have a sound system and a screen available for use during your skit (details TBC). All skit audio and video must be pre-recorded and submitted with your entry form.
• Want some skit inspiration?
  Check out APG Media’s recordings of Overload NZ’s cosplay competitions below:
  • 2024: https://youtu.be/kOtSb3wFoSE?si=TdwV5Jp8snXFhCqW
  • 2023: https://youtu.be/76X2MnHRJEQ?si=ebCQVdOWwSL-pAjv
  • 2022: https://youtu.be/Gzvaifo2HNs?si=I21BSDzSktYKGNI6
  One of our judges has collated a playlist of skits by overseas cosplayers here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFEiiqWa2wgvs79RBV4g_Yx22N9Uvnefn&si=WGCQorHpBZXFnOnh

General cosplay rules:

The following safety guidelines apply:

• No real weapons (including paintball and airsoft firearms).
• Cosplays, including weapons and other props, are to be made out of materials that will not cause any harm e.g. fabric, plastic, cardboard, paper mâché, balsa or EVA foam.
• No smoking devices of any kind.
• Props must be no more than 2 metres long.
• Consider your ability to move around and go through doorways with oversized cosplays / weapons / other props. -Please include details on the entry form if the cosplay has oversized elements or if you need assistance in any way.
• Choose body make-up / paint carefully, keeping in mind Health and Safety as well as the clothing of others attending the convention.
• If there is anything in particular that you would like to be read out as part of your announcement to the stage area, please include it as part of the entry process.

Costume & prop restrictions

To avoid false alarms with the general public & waste of police resources, GGWP has the following policies:

• Imitation firearms MUST have an orange cap, be non-firing (including Nerf bullets) and MUST be transported to and from the venue in a bag/box/some form of covering. Any props that do not meet this rule will be confiscated at the door and surrendered to the local police station for collection at a later date. We make no guarantees for the safety of confiscated props.
• This rule refers to any prop gun that your hard-of-sight family member might mistake as maybe being a ‘real’ gun – a Nuka Cola pistol is fine, a Call of Duty shotgun is not.
• We know Military uniforms are quite popular in video games but due to our location and standings we ask that any form of militia cosplay is to be changed into and out of IN the venue. Bathrooms are available for changing at the venue. You will not be permitted in or out of the venue in a costume that falls under this description.
• If you’re uncertain and would like to ask about a particular costume, please email charlotte@ggwp.nz