Anime Dating Game Home
Anime Dating Game Rules
Anime Dating Game Signup Form

1. How are applicants selected?
2. How many people will be selected?
3. Are there ways to participate other than being a contestant?
4. What are my chances of being selected?
5. If I win, do I have to go on a date?
6. What are the ratings of the two sessions? What do those ratings mean?
7. Why did you decide to make the main session PG and the Shounen Ai/Shoujo Ai session 18+?
8. What's up with this new "Abridged" round?
9. Do I get to pick which session I am in...main or Shounen Ai/Shoujo Ai?
10. How do I apply?
11. When should I apply?
12. Why do I need a photo? What should be in the photo?
13. When should I apply?
14. I'm under eighteen. May I still apply?
15. Why must all participants be at least 18 years old even though the main session is not rated 18+?
16. May I apply with several different costumes?
17. What kinds of costumes are allowed/forbidden?
18. May I apply as a group?
19. Is it okay if I didn't make my costume?
20. I've never made a costume before. What are my chances of being selected?
21. My costume has moving parts/large weapons/gets in other people's way. Is this a problem?
22. How will I know if I've been selected?
23. I've been selected! What do I have to do before the con?
24. The con is here! What next?
25. Is there paperwork to fill out?

1. How are applicants selected?
   We will select the participants on the basis of the characters and the quality of the costume, not on a first-come, first-serve basis.

   We are looking for applicants who will cosplay major characters from well-known shows so that everyone in our audience will be able to enjoy their viewing experience to the utmost. Priority will be given to very recognizable and popular characters who will be easily distinguishable from one another at a distance. Applicants with costumes from obscure shows or of lesser-known characters will almost certainly not be accepted, no matter how delightful the costume is.

   For variety's sake, we will probably not choose to have the same characters in this year's Anime Dating Game who appeared in last year's Anime Dating Game.

2. How many people will be selected?
   Depending on scheduling, we will select between eight and twelve participants for each of the two sessions of the dating game, so between sixteen and twenty-four participants total.
3. Are there ways to participate other than being a contestant?
   Depending on what characters apply, we sometimes have extra "special interruption" characters who appear briefly as part of the background antics for the game. These characters will usually be cosplaying characters from the same series as the contestants or hosts, and will have brief parts scripted by the event organizers. Since these are selected purely on the basis of what will work well with the characters who happen to be contestants, there is no way to predict what costumes will/won't be likely to result in your being invited to be a special interruption character, or how many we will have, but there are a few each year to add spice to the game.
4. What are my chances of being selected?
   As the con gets bigger and more fans turn 18 each year, the number of applications also increases each year, and the odds of being picked go down. Last year we had so many applications that fewer than 40% of applicants were accepted, and this year we expect the odds to be even lower, probably 30% or below. While costume quality and character popularity are factors in our choosing participants, the final decision is based mostly on how well characters fit together, so even if your costume is exquisite you should be prepared for the possibility of not being selected if by chance your character simply doesn't combine well with the others that apply. We hope that everyone who applies and is not selected will still enjoy watching the event.
5. If I win, do I have to go on a date?
   The winning couple from each round will receive, in addition to other prizes, a certificate allowing them to sit in the reserved seating at the Masquerade on Saturday night without waiting in the seating line, but only if they attend the event together as a "date". The certificate cannot be split and is only valid if the two winners go together.

6. What are the ratings of the two sessions? What do those ratings mean?
   The main session of the Anime Dating Game is rated PG. This means that, like the Masquerade, its content should be appropriate for all audiences. Brief sexual references will be permitted, and perhaps holding hands or a quick kiss on the cheek, but nothing too lewd or over-the-top.

   The late night Yaoi/Yuri session of the Anime Dating Game is rated 18+. This means some more mature content will be permitted, including explicit sexual references and gestures, but no making out or nudity will be permitted. (ID's will be checked at the door and all participants and audience members must be able to provide proof of age.)

7. Why did you decide to make the main session PG and the Yaoi/Yuri session 18+?
   Given the types of fans drawn to each genre, we decided this was the arrangement the majority of convention attendees would prefer, not to mention that we would prefer to keep the daytime entertainment family-friendly.
8. What's up with this new "Villians Only" round?
   In accordance with the cosplot and main convention theme, one round of the 18+ dating game will be for villains and evil characters only. For instance, Lust from Fullmetal Alchemist might have to choose between Sephiroth from FFVII, Aizen from Bleach, and Gendo Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Who will become the most malevolent couple in anime?
9. Do I get to pick which session I am in - main or Shounen Ai/Shoujo Ai?
   On the application form you may specify your preference.
10. How do I apply?
    Every applicant must submit links to a minimum of two color photos of the applicant wearing the specific costume that they intend to wear as a participant: one full-length front view and one full-length back view. Photos of the cosplayer not in costume or of the costume not being worn by the cosplayer are not acceptable. Other photos, of side views or significant accessories, may be included on the web page at the applicant's discretion. Everything that an applicant intends to visibly wear or carry as a participant must appear in a photo. When you send in your application, be certain to check the links to make sure they work and that no login is required to access them. If you do not have photos of your completed costume yet, wait to submit your application until you have them. Do not submit an application and then send pictures later. If an applicant is accepted for participation wearing one costume and signs in with a different costume, that is grounds for dismissal from the game. If an accepted costume is signed in by a wearer who is not the original applicant, that will be grounds for dismissal from the game.

    To upload your photo to the Internet, please use imgur.com. It is a free image upload site which requires no sign-up and is very simple to use. We will require that all image links are to imgur.com.

11. Why do I need a photo? What should be in the photo?
    Your application must include a photo of yourself wearing your costume. A photo of yourself without the costume or the costume without you is not acceptable. Costumes should be complete or nearly complete - photos of costumes missing one or two small accessories are OK, but costumes missing major components, like clothing items or hair, are not sufficient. The purpose of requiring photos is (A) to make sure the costume looks good, and (B - more important) to prove the costume really exists. If people submit applications without photos and then turn up at the con and say "Sorry, I didn't finish it after all..." and drop out of the event the performance will be ruined; for the sake of the audience and the other participants we therefore require photos as proof that you really do have the costume done.
12. When should I apply?
    The cutoff date will be March 6, 2012. Staff generally need at least a month to organize and pick the participants. Do remember that this is an all-volunteer effort, and our staff have other lives outside of AB. :)

    Since contestants are selected based on quality and not on a first-come, first-serve basis, it's better to wait until your costume is finished than to rush and apply early. Take your time and make your costume the best that it can be! Remember: applications will only be accepted with photos. You MUST have photos of you in your costume by March 6, 2012 to be considered.

13. I'm under eighteen. May I still apply?
    No. While the daytime session is designed for an audience of all ages, all participants must be 18 or older.
14. Why must all participants be at least 18 years old even though the main session is not rated 18+?
    Simply put, this is for legal purposes. The grand prize for the winning couple is a "date" to the masquerade. Presenting minors with such a prize could be a cause for legal issues. We have set the rule that anyone participating in the game be of legal age, although attendees of all ages are invited to join us in the audience for the daytime session. Proof of age will be required for all participants on stage and will be checked prior to the games. Failure to provide proof of age is grounds for dismissal from the game.

15. May I apply with several different costumes?
    Yes. Any applicant may submit more than one costume, as long as each costume has its own set of photos and otherwise meets all rules. The application form is designed to hold up to four costumes. If you wish to submit more than four costumes, you may make a note of it on the form. If more than one costume is submitted, decisions as to which costume an applicant will wear in the game are entirely up to the staff, although the applicant may indicate a preference.
16. What kind of costumes are allowed/forbidden?
    Like the Masquerade and Cosplay Chess, the Anime Dating Game requires that you dress as a character from an anime, manga, or Japanese video game. This means we do not accept J-pop or J-rock characters or original characters. We usually do not accept non-Japanese characters either, but occasional exceptions might be made for Manhwa characters or other characters extremely well known among attendees. Generally such characters will be included as supporting characters and not as full contestants. Note that characters which originated in the US but also appear in Japanese things (like Batman or Disney Kingdom Hearts characters) are permitted. Priority is given to the most recognizable characters, since the more audience members know a character the more fun they will find the event. After all, this event is designed for the entertainment of the audience, so their preferences come before those of the participants.
17. May I apply as a group?
    There are no group applications, but if you are part of the group you may list the names of the others in your application. Each group member must fill out a separate application. Members of groups are asked in their applications to specify whether or not they are willing to participate if the others in the group are not selected.

18. Is it okay if I didn't make my costume?
    Since this is not a costume contest, costumes may be submitted that were not made by the applicant or that have been professionally tailored or contain commercially manufactured pieces. Costumes may also be submitted which have previously been entered in the costume contests or masquerades of Anime Boston or other conventions. Award-winning costumes will be appreciated. We do ask that you not submit a costume that you intend to enter in the Masquerade or Hall Costume Contest at Anime Boston 2012. Costumes entered in previous Anime Boston masquerades are acceptable. You may submit the same costume to both Cosplay Chess and the Anime Dating Game, but you must indicate that you are doing so on the application form and each costume will probably only be selected for one event.

19. I've never made a costume before. What are my chances of being selected?
    Experienced cosplayers will be given priority, although it will certainly be possible to be selected if you are a beginning cosplayer with an exceptional costume.

20. My costume has moving parts/large weapons/gets in other people's way. Is this a problem?
    All costumes must be self-contained, with no electrical plugs or other outside support required. You must be able to sit down and stand up and you must be able to speak into a microphone.

    All costumes must be appropriate for wear in a family environment and must be street-legal in the State of Massachusetts. Any costume that turns out to be obscene, excessively revealing, or not street-legal will be removed from the game instantly.

    Show weapons are permitted, but no actual metal will be allowed in weaponry. This event will adhere strictly to the Anime Boston Weapons Policy. Weapons will be examined both in applicant photos and at the event sign-in. Any breach of the weapons policy will result in expulsion.

    No props or stage accessories will be allowed which scatter. This means no confetti, no fake blood, no rose petals, and nothing else that could disrupt everyone's footing.

21. How will i know if I've been selected?
    Selected applicants and alternates will be notified after all decisions are made. Applicants will be notified no later than March 30th.
22. I've been selected! What do I have to do before the con?
    Participants will be required to exchange frequent e-mails with the Cosplay Games Coordinator during the time leading up to the convention. Failure to communicate in a timely manner when required will lead to dismissal from the game.
23. The con is here! What next?
    All participants and alternates are required to sign in at Masquerade HQ on Friday or Saturday (at least several hours in advance of the game's start time) while wearing or carrying their costumes. No exceptions. Anyone who fails to sign in will be dismissed from the game.

    Participants will be required to submit release forms at Masquerade HQ when they sign in, allowing the use of their images in commercial video and photography. The game may be recorded and failure to turn in a form will result in dismissal from the game.

Questions? Contact the Cosplay Games Coordinator.