One of the things that many Ace Attorney fans, including myself, enjoy about the series is its writing, specifically its timeline of events. With proper days and years specified in each entry (except for the Professor Layton crossover), it's easy to piece together what happened when, and how one event flows into the next, creating a straight, linear timeline. But what if something in that timeline was different somehow? How would that affect the plot going forward?
Task:
The goal of this competition is to create a case set in a world where one event in the Ace Attorney timeline is either different or never happened at all. For example, what if Mia wasn't attacked in Turnabout Sisters? What if Edgeworth really DID shoot Robert Hammond in Turnabout Goodbyes? Or, as the above image suggests, what if Phoenix had become a prosecutor rather than a defense attorney?
Please note that just because it's set in a world where an event changed, it does not have to be set during the moment of that change. For example, if you're going with a timeline where Mia didn't die in Turnabout Sisters, the case itself can be set in the Apollo Justice era to showcase how her being alive would affect that time of the timeline. In fact, the farther along from that changed event the story is set, the more opportunities you have to showcase differences.
Also note that while examples were given to set up the idea and give inspiration, you're allowed to use any event from any game set in the official Ace Attorney timeline, including Ace Attorney Investigations 1 and 2 & DGS 1 and 2. For sake of giving more potential ammo, Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright is also allowed.
Judging
Story: Like any good case, especially one with a theme like this, you need a well-made story. Do your best to properly keep canon continuity in mind. For example, if Phoenix never met any of the Feys, he would realistically never have a Magatama (unless you come up with a good reason as to how he would get one).
Presentation: It should probably go without saying, but make your case look and feel good. We can't judge a case that's bugged beyond playing.
Gameplay: While standard Ace Attorney gameplay is acceptable, see if you can think outside the box a bit. For example, what if Apollo never got his signature bracelet? Could there be a different method he would use to "perceive" the tells of those on the stand? If you're going the classic AA route, then try to make it more than just reading a kinetic/linear novel.
Theme Relevance: Easily the most important. This competition will really test your knowledge of Ace Attorney and its canon. Do your best to make a world where X being different led to Y happening believable. Something like "Cindy Stone was never murdered, therefore a bombing occurred at Tres Bien" and leaving it at that won't cut it. However, something like "Cindy Stone was never murdered, but she ended up dumping Larry officially and ended up dating and breaking up with a different man who went crazy and bombed Tres Bien because she was eating there" would work. Explain how and why X led to Y in a logical way. The bigger (yet logical) the result of the change is, the better.
Rules
- Entry must have been created between January 26th, 2021 and April 27th, 2021.
- Entry and full walkthrough must be submitted to Awsome2464 and DJJ6800 by the deadline.
- Entry must not be showcased until it has been judged.
- Entry must not be edited after submission until the competition is over.
- Entry may contain spoilers from any AA game set in the canon timeline, including PLvsPW. If it contains spoilers for anything non-AA, please specify when submitting.
- Entry may be an Investigation, Trial, Comedy, or Miscellaneous so long as it follows the comp rules.
- Entry may be incomplete, but try to plan accordingly so that it can be finished by the deadline.
- Entry may be a collaboration between no more than 2 people. If a third party is to play test the case, they must not be a judge or other participant.
Deadline
Your entry and a full walkthrough must be sent to Awsome2464 and DJJ6800 by 11:59:59 PM CST (UTC -6) on April 27th, 2021. A 12-hour grace period will be given in case of internet failure or other unforeseen complications.
Entrants
Entered Withdrew
- FenrirDarkWolf
- SuperAj3 and Tiagofvarela
- BrushApocalypse and MasqueradeDemure
- trialdude
- ikuzonos
- drvonkitty and ZekromFan5
- RiverCastle
- Bannedfrom7