Cosplay rules

General Information

The Cosplay Masquerade will be run by Gameforce BE on 30 September and 01 October. Gameforce BE will always have the final say in decisions that have to be made. Gameforce BE will make sure all judging will be done fair and without bias!

Please send any queries by email to ilunaneko@gmail.com.

Participation in the Cosplay Masquerade does not grant free entry to Gameforce BE.

Saturday Rules:

  • There are two types of Masquerade entries: With and Without Act. No act entries show off their costumes through a simple walk-on and in-character posing. Act entries will have 120 seconds maximum to perform to their own provided music. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis to eligible entries.
  • Online sign-ups open at least 8 weeks before each Masquerade. Applications will close when places are full or 2 days before the Masquerade, whichever occurs first. Sign up at the con is NOT available on SATURDAY!
  • Only one entry is permitted per person or group. If you enter as part of a group you cannot also enter as an individual.
  • On the day of the Cosplay Masquerade, you must check in at the Foamtastisch booth by the time communicated by the Gameforce team to confirm you are still taking part and check your details.
    You will be allocated a time slot (a 5-8 minute window) to appear for pre-judging so the judges can assess your costume construction.

    All entries will present their costume or performance on the Main Stage after pre-judging in the Cosplay Masquerade, which usually takes place at the end of the relevant day of the con.

  • All costumes must be made by the wearer or one of the group. A portion of the costume (such as leotard, tights and shoes) may be from purchased, finished goods, but the majority of the costume should have been constructed by the entrant: at least 70% should be their own work. Any customization work to bought wigs, props, etc. should be the original work of the entrant. If entrants have made heavy alterations to or completely transformed a store-bought garment and wish to enter it into the Masquerade, they must be able to explain how they have altered it and the processes that such an endeavor entailed.

  • Commissioned and bought costumes or costumes mostly made up of bought general clothing are not accepted for Costume Display entries, even in a group with some eligible costumes.
  • The costume must not have been entered into a Cosplay Masquerade at any previous GameForce event.
  • All costumes should provide enough coverage to be worn in public and should be in good taste and appropriate for a family-friendly show and must not contain material that is violent, pornographic or otherwise obscene, illegal or racially or morally offensive or endorses any form of hate or hate group, each as determined by GameForce, at their sole discretion. Further, no costume may include harmful or potentially harmful materials, including, but not limited to, water, cigarettes, flames, fireworks, silly string or any other substance that can be fired, launched or dripped.
  • Cosplay is not limited to costumes from anime and games – any pop culture costume is welcome. Original costumes based on pop culture are allowed, due to judging criteria please explain the design of the costume!
  • Employees, staff, crew or guests of GameForce and persons connected with the Masquerade, e.g. prize sponsors or judges and their agents, are not eligible to enter the Cosplay Masquerade

Sunday Rules:

  • There is one type of Masquerade entry: Costume Display entries show off their costumes through a simple walk-on and in character posing. They are all of entries in the Masquerade. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis to eligible entries. Most Costume Display entries will be on stage for 30 – 60 seconds. No performance is allowed! Gameforce will provide the music for the show.
  • Online sign-ups open at least 8 weeks before each Masquerade. Applications will close when places are full or 2 days before the Masquerade, whichever occurs first. Sign up at the con is only available if there is still space left!
  • Only one entry is permitted per person or group. If you enter as part of a group you cannot also enter as an individual.
  • On the day of the Cosplay Masquerade, you must check in at the Foamtastisch booth by the time communicated by the Gameforce Cosplay Team to confirm you are still taking part and check your details.
    All entries will present their costume or performance on the Main Stage in the Cosplay Masquerade, which usually takes place at the end of the relevant day of the Con.
    On SUNDAY, no pre-judging is planned. You will receive a time to be backstage for the competition only!
  • Cosplay is not limited to costumes from anime and games – any pop culture costume is welcome. Original costumes based on pop culture are allowed, due to judging criteria please explain the design of the costume!
  • Employees, staff, crew or guests of GameForce and persons connected with the Masquerade, e.g. prize sponsors or judges and their agents, are not eligible to enter the Cosplay Masquerade

Judging Criteria:

The competition will be judged by a panel of experienced cosplayers!
The judges’ decision is FINAL. Please respect the judges and the other participants by accepting their decisions.

Groups will be judged as a whole and not just on the basis of the best or worst costumes. 

Prizes are awarded per entry, not per person in a group. 

Saturday:

Costume points (75%​) will be allocated on the basis of:

  • Complexity (20%)­ Difficulty of costume project chosen and how confidently this was overcome.
  • Craftsmanship (30%) – how detailed, creative and well-constructed the costume is taking into account application of skills, materials used and practicality based on movement and use on stage.
  • Accuracy (25%) – How close the costume is to the characters original design.

The Last 25% Will be based on the stage presence.

Sunday:

Costume points will be 50% of the total score.

  • Complexity (20%)­ Difficulty of costume project chosen and how confidently this was overcome.
  • Craftsmanship (30%) – how detailed, creative and well-constructed the costume is taking into account application of skills, materials used and practicality based on movement and use on stage.

The last 50% Will be based on the stage presence.