Co-Hosted by Trybien and Spongesonic
And on the 7th day, God created contradictions so that man may have something to point his finger at.
(Image by maridosmangas-2001)
One of the most common - and most hated - tropes in all media is the Deus ex Machina, a scenario where something sudden and unexpected provides a solution to a seemingly unsolvable situation. People hate this trope because they see it as a cheap way for an author to "write themselves out of a corner"... and we're here to change that perception. Ace Attorney has had its own fair share of Deus ex Machinas - some bad, of course, but some have been surprisingly effective ways to further a mystery or story. (Take examples like Larry barging in during 1-4, or the final pieces of evidence in 2-4, for instance.) Clearly, not every instance of this trope is bad, so there must be a way to do it right.
Task:
The goal for this comp is simple: create a case that revolves around a Deus ex Machina. For the purposes of this comp, we’re allowing two definitions of the term “Deus ex Machina” to think about:
- 1) An unsolvable problem being solved by a sudden and unexpected happenstance
- 2) Something impossible/highly improbable happening that can only be explained away with divine intervention
Judging:
Story: Your case should have a story that’s easy to follow, with an interesting premise and a satisfying mystery, assuming you choose to go for the standard Ace Attorney affair. Narrative hooks should have satisfying follow-ups, and the player should be engaged in what’s happening.
Characters: The characters in your case should be memorable and distinct. Even those that follow a bunch of cliches should have something to make them likable. They should have clear motivations for their actions and conclude their arcs in a satisfying way.
Presentation: Your case shouldn’t be a presentation nightmare. Even if you only use premade assets, you can still do a lot to make your case feel lively and polished. Grammar, music, and graphics should at least be to the point where they are presentable, and there should be no game-breaking bugs.
Gameplay: The case should be fun to play, of course. The player should feel like they have agency in what’s going on around them, rather than someone sitting back and watching things happen. Contradictions should have a logical basis and not feel like something the creator came up with on the spot. Unique gameplay additions are also welcome, of course.
Theme Relevance: This is the big one. Your case needs to have one or both possible interpretations of a Deus ex Machina as a major part of the story. Your inclusion of it should be easily identifiable, and what interpretation you went with should also be easy to understand. Most importantly, your use of Deus ex Machina should be narratively satisfying - something that adds to the case, rather than detracts from it. No matter which interpretation you go for, the reveal of it should heighten the story, be it for thrills, twists, or goofs. A case could score well in all other categories, but an underwhelming or poorly implemented Deus ex Machina will drag it down considerably.
Rules:
- All entries must be created between March 13, 2022, and June 13, 2022.
- Entries must be submitted to Trybien and Spongesonic with walkthroughs included.
- Entries must not be showcased until after they’ve been judged.
- Entries must not be edited after being submitted, unless at the behest of the judges to fix major bugs. They may be edited after judging to make minor changes, such as fixing minor bugs and grammar mistakes, but they must not be radically changed until after the competition is over.
- Entries may contain spoilers from all mainline Ace Attorney games, both Ace Attorney Investigations games, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, and The Great Ace Attorney games. Spoilers for non-Ace Attorney properties must be clarified during submission.
- Entries may be a Trial, Investigation, Comedy, Miscellaneous, or anything else so long as they follow comp rules.
- Entries may be incomplete, but please try to plan accordingly.
- Entries may be a collaboration between no more than 2 people. Third party playtesters are fine, so long as they are not the judges or other entrants.
Deadline:
Your full entry and walkthrough must be sent to Trybien and Spongesonic by 11:59:59 PM MST (UCT -7) on June 13, 2022. A 24-hour grace period will be permitted for unforeseen circumstances.
Entrants:
Super legenda - Suddenly struck by lightning out of the blue
applekitty and eerew - Entry Sumbitted
DJJ6800 - Kristoph came back from the dead and hit him with a bottle
XavierWright - Entry Submitted
Young_Englander - Entry Submitted
trialdude - Entry Submitted
TimeAxis - Entry Submitted
SuperAj3 and MasqueradeDemure - Entry Submitted
Dylan Dog - Run over by an ambulance when he was chasing cars
MedicInDisquise - Was met with a stray crocket (which was totally fair and balanced)
Mirage Xel - Suddenly disappeared into thin air when they were approached
TheDeadMan - von Karma randomly decided he should be his namesake
AFan! - Tripped and fell down the stairs and hasn't been seen since
Bench - Coach put him on the bench at the last minute. Eh? Eh? (I'll see myself out)
The Fury Wraith - Entry Submitted
CorruptedFlame - Assassinated and replaced with a robot AI
skyem - Entry Sumbitted
GuardianDreamer - Entry Submitted
Sonnie Celanna - Entry Sumbitted
TheKayOne - Kay was actually Ema the entire time! What a twist! But then Kay sued her for impersonation. (Hey, it's not easy coming up with these, okay?)
CallMeBlue - Did not die because it's too predictable, simply forgot he had a doctor's appointment
clcman - Entry Sumbitted
Good luck to anyone who joins! AND WATCH OUT FOR THAT SUDDEN LIGHTNING BOLT
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