Connection

A connection is something that ties two series together, no matter how minor. This article will go through what is and isn't considered a connection and the different types of connections that you'll see throughout the Wiki

## What is a Connection

A connection includes anything that connects two series, no matter how minor or major, from a direct crossover between two series to two series sharing a sound effect or a piece of music.

Some examples of what can be used to create a connection are listed below

* Any entries in a series that are produced by the owners of the series or produced by others under the owners license
* Any promotional content in relation to a series that has some sort of narrative element, including posters, trailers or commercials
* Any connection formed by an official source in relation to a series such as from the owners social media or website, an official strategy guide or an official encyclopaedia on the series

## What isn't a Connection

Some examples of what does not constitute a connection are listed below.

* Series sharing the same creator or owner
* Series sharing the same actors or actress
* Series sharing development history for example, the cancelled Diddy Kong Pilot evolving into Banjo-Pilot
* Series being bundled in the same release
* Any connection involving a series that has fallen out of public domain
* Any connection that falls under The Real Life Representation Rule

Some examples of what can't be used to create a connection are listed below

* Any fan created or unauthorised content in relation to series
* Any user generated content in relation to a series

## Level One Connection

Level one connections, also known as an in-universe connection, is the strongest type of connection. A level one connection is a direct connection that provides indisputable evidence that the series exist within the same universe. Some examples of what constitutes a level one connection are listed below.

* A direct crossover between two or more series, excluding Format Crososovers , for example the Mario and Sonic series and the Alien vs Predator series
* Characters or enemies from one series appearing in another series for example, Banjo from the Banjo series appearing as a playable character in Diddy Kong Racing or Link from The Legend of Zelda series appearing as a playable character in Soul Calibur II
* Locations from one series appearing in another series for example, Pilotwings Resort taking place in Wuhu Island from the Wii Sports series series or Greenwood Village from Diddy Kong Racing appear as an unlockable track in Jet Force Gemini
* An organisation from one series appearing in another series
* An item that is a key element and specific to one series appearing in another series for example, the Triforce from The Legend of Zelda series appearing as a collectible treasure in Kirby Super Star
* This can also included two series being revealed to exist in the same universe by official sources even if there is no evidence to suggest so in the series themselves

These connection must be officially licensed and elements from one series must be presented as real in the other series. Some examples of what would not constitute as a level one crossover are listed below.

* The majority of spin-offs as they will automatically be considered as part of the series they are a spin-off of
* Format Crossovers
* Elements similar to one series appearing in another series
* An element of one series being listed or mentioned in another series
* An element from one series appearing indirectly in another series, such as on a billboard, poster, television screen or cinema screen

## Level Two Connection

A level two connection is a direct reference to another series without providing indisputable evidence of them both existing in the same universe. Some examples of what constitutes a level two connection are listed below.

* Format Crossovers
* Elements from one series appearing indirectly in another series for example on posters, billboards, television or cinema screens, except when it in relation to an entry in that series, for example if a poster is advertising a movie from that series or segments from a movie from one series appears on a television screen in another series, as this shows that they are fictional within the series, forming a level 3 connection instead
* Elements from one series appearing in artwork in another series for example in paintings, drawings, sculptures or statues
* Elements of one series appearing in puzzles in another series
* Elements from one series appearing in consumer products in another series for example in toys, clothing or accessories
* Items from one series that aren't key or specific to another series, for example clothing

Arguable connections. which are connections that blur the lines between level 1 and level 2 connections, will be categorised as level 2 connections they don't provide clear and indisputable evidence that they exist in the same universe. Some example of these are listed below.

* Elements from one series being mentioned or being listed as real in another series without making a direct appearance, for example if the name of a location from one series is listed on a map in another series, or if a character from one series says that they visited a location from another series
* Instances where characters appear as fictional and real in a series, for example in Toy Story, toys that are fictional in the series were revealed to be real without any sort of explanation. However as the appearance of a toy from the Toy Story series in another series doesn’t provide indisputable evidences they exist in the same universe, as they are still appearing in the other series primarily as a toy, this will not be classified as a level 1 crossover

Some examples of what would not constitute as a level 2 crossover are listed below

* Elements from one series being mentioned in another series
* Elements from one series appearing as fictional in another series

## Level Three Connection

A level three connection is when elements from one series are presented as fictional in another series. Some examples of what would constitute as a level three connection are listed below.

* Entries from one series being mentioned in another series
* Copies of movies, comic books, video games or physical games from one series appearing in another series
* Characters playing a video game or physical game from one series in another series
* Characters watching segments of movies or television series from one series in another series
* Elements from one series being mentioned in another series, without explicitly stating them to be real

Some example of what would not constitute as a level three connection are listed below

* Characters playing a video game or watching segments of movies or television series from another series, without it actually being shown

## Level Four Connection

A level four connection is an indirect connection between two series. Some examples of what would constitute as a level four connection are listed below.

* A series parodying another series or elements from another series
* Elements from one series taking clear and considerable inspiration from another series
* A series featuring music or sound effects from another series
* An element from one series being referenced in another series without being directly mentioned
* An iconic line from one series being mentioned in another series

## Cancelled Connection

A cancelled connection refers to any level of connection that was intended to occur but didn't for any reason. This can include cancelled crossover projects or connections that were intended to be included in projects, but didn't appear in the final version. This does not include projects or any elements that were intended to be part of one series but ended up appearing in another series, for example the unreleased Diddy Kong Pilot evolving into Banjo-Pilot or the cancelled Donkey Kong Racing evolving into the also cancelled Sabreman Stampede*.* Cancelled connections will be listed as separate from any other level of connection.