Infinite Bits 2009 Costume Contest Rules

Below are the rules for the Infinite Bits 2009 Costume Contest. Failure to abide by any of these rules may result in forfeiture from the contest. In the event of any conflict or dispute of these rules, any and all outcomes will be handled at our judges' discretion.

1. All costumes must come from an established video game. The franchise they come from must have originated as a video game. For example, Legend of Zelda is okay, but Harry Potter is not. People wearing a costume not from a video game may be eligible to walk the stage, but not to be judged or win an award. You MAY cosplay a specific version of a character from a game, for example Goofy from Kingdom Hearts, so long as that version of the character is completely different and exclusive to the game and you provide us a reference picture of the character. If not you will be ineligible for a prize.

2. All contestants must bring reference photos as well as progress photos of the costume being made.

3. If you are wearing a costume made by someone else, the creator of the costume must be present as well as the model at pre-judging.

4. Store bought and commissioned costumes are not eligible for awards. The only parts of a costume that may be store bought are wigs, props, shoes, belts, gloves, jewelry, and most other accessories. If you enter with a costume that is bought or pieces of a costume that are bought, you must notify the judges of this.

5. In order to be eligible for a prize, all contestants are responsible for attending pre-judging before the competition.

6. If you have won a competition with a costume in the past, you MAY NOT enter it again. Minor alterations to a costume do not make it eligible to compete. Please do not enter the competition with any costume that has already won an award at a 2009 convention or any previous years.

7. ABSOLUTELY NO nudity, suggestive, or overly burlesque costumes. Costumes should show NO MORE THAN 75% of you skin and should abide by Florida law of indecent exposure.

8. No costumes that are hurtful, racist, bigoted, or impose hate on any groups whatsoever.

9. No harmful, messy, or projectile materials. This includes but is not limited to fake blood, water, confetti, smoke, silly string, fireworks, metal spikes, and toy guns that actually fire.

10. NO WAVING AROUND PROPS. Accidents happen. You may pose with your prop, but if you are caught waving it around your prop may be confiscated. If someone else is waving around your prop you will be held liable. During the convention, while not posing with a prop, your prop must be peace bonded, this includes guns, swords, etc.

11. NO REAL WEAPONS. No metal swords, knives, daggers, etc. All guns must have an official orange safety cap on the barrel. Putting an orange piece of paper over the barrel does not count as a safety cap.

12. You must wear shoes at all times. You may only take them off at your own risk while posing for pictures. You may also not wear rollerskates, rollerblades, heelies, ect. Accidents happen.