The amazing Pio & UltraBolt Challenge YOU to write stuff!

The amazing Pio & UltraBolt Challenge YOU to write stuff!, also known as RWC, was a writing contest created and hosted by pio\_dov and UltraBolt in March 2021. A sequel, The UNEARTHLY Extra-Amazing Pio and UB Challenge YOU to Write MORE Stuff! was created in May 2022.

## History

In mid 2020 the site suffered from a lack of events, leading new users to feel they had no reason to stay in the community. On October 23rd pio\_dov created a thread on the Forum Bugs and Feature Requests Topic, proposing the idea of a "personal narrative contest". The idea was met with lukewarm reception, with TiramisuGrenouille mentioning they already had Monthly Prompt Posts. CerealQueen and BossCrafty expressed mild interest, but the discussion ultimately ended there. Despite this, the thread did lead to MPPs returning in December through by CerealQueen.

Later, as user UltraBolt was looking at old threads, he found pio\_dov's original proposal, and he thought the idea was worthy of trying. On March 13th, 2021 UltraBolt PMed pio\_dov about bringing the idea to life. Finally, after preparation, the event began on March 15, with the thread entitled 'The amazing Pio & UltraBolt Challenge YOU to write stuff!' The event ended up running until April 14.

## Rules

The event lasted from March 15th to April 14th. The event was in the style of competitive writing. Each contestant submitted a short piece in the span of 2-3 days about the topic suggested. The topics where in all cases video game related. The rules changed a bit over the first days but at the end they were as follows:

* **1. No NSFW Content.**

* **2. Please use the topic.**

* **3. Do not go over 100 words.**

* **4. Do not comment about other people prompts negatively.**

* **5. Have Fun!**

Along with this there were other guidelines. The quality of the prompts could range from poor to outstanding although the entries only needed to follow the rules to be counted as participation. In the cases contestants were over the limit they entry didn't qualify to win marks but were accepted anyway.

### Marks

The entries where able to win points in 4 ways, 'Topic Win', 'Quicky Point', 'Honorable Mention' and 'Sympathy Point'.

* Topic Win-Essentially first place, granted the five points to the winner. Added since March 15th.
* Honorable Mention-Second Place, granted the winner 3 points. Added since March 15th.
* Quicky Point-Added for the first prompt, granted 1 point. Added since March 15th. BossCrafty's only point won ever!
* Sympathy Point-Third Place, granted 1 point. Chosen by the co-host of the round. Added March 17th.

## Contestants and Entries

At the end of the contest the total number of contestants was 11. Some of them just entering a couple times 4 of them entering just once, out of all the rounds the final scores are as follows:

(As of April 14th)

* **Drake Inferno: 26**
* **maximuspinpoint: 18**
* **FallenAither: 17**
* **epoch5zz: 15**
* **Sword of Dorks: 13**
* **UnassumingLocalGuy321: 6**
* **PSINightmareEmpower:4**
* **BossCrafty: 1**
* **C04X14L: 0**
* **6r1s5r: 0**
* **Themuckamuck: 0**

The prompts, which were only video game related, are as follows: (Crossed topics were changed)

* Topic 1: Kirby
* Topic 2: ~~XBOX 360~~-Earthbound
* Topic 3: Smash Bros
* Topic 4: Mother 1
* Topic 5: Mother 3
* Topic 6: Splatoon (pio\_dov's choice!)
* Topic 7: ~~Live-A-Live~~-Sonic
* Topic 8: Wii Sports
* Topic 9: ANYTHING (As long as it was VG related)

The full list of Topics entry number and entries (except Drake Inferno's multiple final entries) can be accessed on this docs file.

## Prizes and Future

On April 10th UltraBolt asked Buck Fever for the permission of adding badges as prizes, and Buck accepted to do it. The original idea was to give a single participation badge for all the contestants and hosts. Later, UltraBolt wanted separate badges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place. This request was denied by Buck Fever. Unfortunately, UltraBolt had already announced the badges. Despite this minor issue everyone ended up getting a badge for participation, the NES Controller one.

Buck Fever distributed the badges a day later on the 15th to all the contestants and hosts. The caption of the badge proposed by UltraBolt reads as follows: 'My geeky knowledge earned me this badge done in paint!' The badge was indeed done in Paint by UltraBolt. Later the caption was changed to '1st Annual RWC! (From Pong to CS:GO!)'

As of right now the idea of a second revival was discussed between the hosts, but pio\_dov has stated they are unsure to have the time needed for it, so the sequel certainty is unknown. As the sequel needs badge prizes the badgeczar to award them is still not set. Although it may be the original first place badge.