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Best World-Building Tournament: Concluded!


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rosebrook11



Joined: 20 Mar 2011
Posts: 1181
PostPosted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 12:18 pm Reply with quote
Group C-9
Gold Crown Town, Princess Tutu
vs.
Future France, Gankutsuo: The Count of Monte Cristo

Gold Crown Town

Group C-10
Noein Multiverse, Noein – to your other self
vs.
The Wired, Serial Experiments Lain

Noein Multiverse

Group C-11
Soul Society, Bleach franchise
vs.
Ikebukuro, Durarara!!

Ikebukuro I feel like Ikebukuro did a better job of having an overall world building experience that the Soul Society did.

Group C-12
Humankind Empire Abh, Crest/Banner of the Stars franchise
vs.
Ruined World, Casshern Sins

Humankind Empire Abh

Group C-13
Gunsmoke, Trigun
vs.
Setting of BTM: Decode, Birdy the Mighty: Decode

Gunsmoke

Group C-14
Setting of From the New World, From the New World
vs.
Prester, Last Exile

Prester I've only seen a little bit of each of these shows, and think them both to have amazing world building. However, I'm giving my vote to Prester because I think it has more impressive visuals that help to add to the story and add to the overall worldbuilding experience.

Group C-15
Solar System, Cowboy Bebop
vs.
Future Earth, Now and Then, Here and There

Solar System Seen both of the series but I think that Cowboy Bebop does a better job of creating an overall setting.

Group C-16
Gargantia, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
vs.
Roanapur, Black Lagoon

Roanapur I think Roanapur might be my favorite out of the 'realistic' settings in this tournament. It has amazing worldbuilding not just from matters relating to Black Lagoon's story arcs, but also with tiny details and shots of the city and its inhabitants in the background.
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Aylinn



Joined: 18 Nov 2006
Posts: 1684
PostPosted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 2:05 pm Reply with quote
Group C-9
Gold Crown Town, Princess Tutu
vs.
Future France, Gankutsuo: The Count of Monte Cristo

Gold Crown Town

Group C-10
Noein Multiverse, Noein – to your other self
vs.
The Wired, Serial Experiments Lain

The Wired

Group C-11
Soul Society, Bleach franchise
vs.
Ikebukuro, Durarara!!

Ikebukuro Bleach has too many holes and the whole setting seems to lack cohesion.

Group C-12
Humankind Empire Abh, Crest/Banner of the Stars franchise
vs.
Ruined World, Casshern Sins

Humankind Empire Abh Even if what was presented is not everything, it is an interesting setting.

Group C-13
Gunsmoke, Trigun
vs.
Setting of BTM: Decode, Birdy the Mighty: Decode

Setting of BTM: Decode

Group C-14
Setting of From the New World, From the New World
vs.
Prester, Last Exile

Prester

Group C-15
Solar System, Cowboy Bebop
vs.
Future Earth, Now and Then, Here and There

Future Earth

Group C-16
Gargantia, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
vs.
Roanapur, Black Lagoon

Gargantia
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Furudanuki



Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 1874
PostPosted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 5:04 pm Reply with quote
Group C-9
Gold Crown Town, Princess Tutu

Group C-10
Noein Multiverse, Noein – to your other self
When it comes to entertainment value I prefer Lain by good margin, but I'm going to acknowledge what Noein does well.

Group C-11
Soul Society, Bleach franchise
I don't consider Bleach to be more than adequate in this regard, but I can't vote against it until it's matched against a stronger competitor than this.

Group C-12
Humankind Empire Abh, Crest/Banner of the Stars franchise
One of the best in the tournament. There is only one series left in the competition that I would even consider putting ahead of this one.

Group C-13
Setting of BTM: Decode, Birdy the Mighty: Decode
A decent competitor in its own right, and Birdy is up against a series that I simply dislike.

Group C-14
Prester, Last Exile

Group C-15
Future Earth, Now and Then, Here and There

Group C-16
Gargantia, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
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Dorcas_Aurelia



Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 5344
Location: Philly
PostPosted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:05 pm Reply with quote
Mini-game link fixed. Reposting here because the original link is on the previous page.


My Votes:
Group C-9
Gold Crown Town, Princess Tutu vs.
Future France, Gankutsuo: The Count of Monte Cristo
Choosing: Gold Crown Town

Group C-10
Noein Multiverse, Noein – to your other self vs.
The Wired, Serial Experiments Lain
Choosing: The Wired
I feel like Noein didn't really spend that much time fleshing out the worlds that weren't present day Japan, and that wasn't anything special, either. The post-apocalyptic world is limited in scope and we don't see much of its functionality.
The Wired, while not really a high-end competitor in this competition, feels more completely thought through. It's the internet, but with notable differences, and the way it imposes on the real world is unique and well done.

Group C-11
Soul Society, Bleach franchise vs.
Ikebukuro, Durarara!!
Choosing: Soul Society
Voted against SS last time because I thought it was flawed, but DRRR!'s Ikebukuro doesn't really have much personality of its own. The cast is interesting, but the setting doesn't feel much different than any other set in a Japanese city. (Why is this a seed and not Baccano?)

Group C-12
Humankind Empire Abh, Crest/Banner of the Stars franchise vs.
Ruined World, Casshern Sins
Choosing: Humankind Empire Abh

Group C-13
Gunsmoke, Trigun vs.
Setting of BTM: Decode, Birdy the Mighty: Decode
Choosing: Gunsmoke

Group C-14
Setting of From the New World, From the New World vs.
Prester, Last Exile
Choosing: Setting of From the New World
I'm not really happy that one of these two have to go already, but I'd prefer that the New World moves on. It's restructuring of society in the wake of humanity gaining dangerous psychic powers is a little more unique.
Prester, on the other hand, has layers of social class and political conflict underlying the story, as well as the steam punk technology. I can't really complain if that wins here, instead.

Group C-15
Solar System, Cowboy Bebop vs.
Future Earth, Now and Then, Here and There
Choosing: Solar System

Group C-16
Gargantia, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet vs.
Roanapur, Black Lagoon
Choosing: Roanapur

Edit: adjusted link for minigame to spreadsheet with a minor correction. Vote unchanged.


Last edited by Dorcas_Aurelia on Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:36 pm; edited 1 time in total
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getchman
Space Cowboy



Joined: 07 Apr 2012
Posts: 9120
Location: Bedford, NH
PostPosted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:47 pm Reply with quote
Group C-9
Gold Crown Town, Princess Tutu
vs.
Future France, Gankutsuo: The Count of Monte Cristo

haven't seen either, but the arguments for Tutu from this and the last tournament have convinced me that voting for Gold Crown Town is the right choice

Group C-10
Noein Multiverse, Noein – to your other self
vs.
The Wired, Serial Experiments Lain

Coin toss. Noien wins

Group C-11
Soul Society, Bleach franchise
vs.
Ikebukuro, Durarara!!

Soul Society

Group C-12
Humankind Empire Abh, Crest/Banner of the Stars franchise
vs.
Ruined World, Casshern Sins

Humankind Empire Abh

Group C-13
Gunsmoke, Trigun
vs.
Setting of BTM: Decode, Birdy the Mighty: Decode

Gunsmoke

Group C-14
Setting of From the New World, From the New World
vs.
Prester, Last Exile

going with the show that I know. From the New World

Group C-15
Solar System, Cowboy Bebop
vs.
Future Earth, Now and Then, Here and There

Solar System

Group C-16
Gargantia, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
vs.
Roanapur, Black Lagoon[/quote]

Key said it better than I could, voting for Roanapur
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Key
Moderator


Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 18189
Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley)
PostPosted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:21 am Reply with quote
Round 2 Group C is now closed.

With 15 votes in (which seems to be our average, more or less), the results:

C-9: Gold Crown Town dances around Future France, 12-3.
C-10: Noein Multiverse unwires The Wired, 11-4.
C-11: Ikebukuro holds off a late comeback by Soul Society, 9-6.
C-12: Humankind Empire Abh claims Ruined World under its jurisdiction, 12-3.
C-13: Gunsmoke wins a shoot-out against Setting of BTM Decode, 9-6.
C-14: Prester exiles Setting of FTNW, 9-6.
C-15: Solar System zooms around Future Earth, 10-5.
C-16: Gargantia floats past Roanupur, 10-5.

Most of these matches weren't as close as the final results look, with only C-13 ever being competitive. That gives seeds a 7/8 record again and a 22/24 record so far. However, somehow I think that this domination won't be so complete in Group D.

And that's coming up momentarily.
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Key
Moderator


Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 18189
Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley)
PostPosted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:23 am Reply with quote
Round 2 Group D is now closed.

Results can be found here.

Wow, is this Group stacked with excellent match-ups! Two of the tournament’s most prominent city-states face off against each other, new opponents come into the mix on two ties, and a couple of the other matches look promising, too. I especially want to see arguments on the two three-way matches. Looks fun!

Group D-9
Metropolis, Metropolis
vs.
Neo-Verona, Romeo x Juliet

Group D-10
Kingdom of Honneamise, Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise
vs.
World of Attack on Titan, Attack on Titan
vs.
Legend of GH Milky Way, Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Group D-11
World of Castle in the Sky, Laputa: Castle in the Sky
vs.
Japan 2113, Psycho-Pass

Group D-12
World of Spice and Wolf, Spice and Wolf
vs.
Japan 2030, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex franchise

Group D-13
World of Natsume’s Book of Friends, Natsume’s Book of Friends franchise
vs.
Saubure, Gosick
vs.
Gaea, The Vision of Escaflowne (TV series)

Group D-14
World of Pokemon, Pokemon franchise
vs.
Italy, Gunslinger Girl franchise

Group D-15
Aincard, Sword Art Online Aincard arc
vs.
Daikuuriku, Simoun

Group D-16
Glie, Haibane Renmei
vs.
Dustbin, Scrapped Princess


Last edited by Key on Tue Nov 26, 2013 1:42 am; edited 1 time in total
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Galap
Moderator


Joined: 07 Apr 2012
Posts: 2354
PostPosted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:45 am Reply with quote
@animeigomaniac:

I just watched the Trigun movie, and we didn't really learn any more about what the 'light bulb things' were than we already knew from the show. Not really sure what you were getting at there then...
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marie-antoinette



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 4136
Location: Ottawa, Canada
PostPosted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:33 am Reply with quote
Group D-9
Neo-Verona, Romeo x Juliet

A rare match-up where I've seen both, at least to some extent. While Romeo x Juliet ultimately lost me because of the plot, it's world left more of an impression on me than Metropolis, which I barely remember.

Group D-10
Legend of GH Milky Way, Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Attack on Titan was my pick for last round, so it came down to either it or Legend of Galactic Heroes. Going with the unknown for me here because of all the good things I've heard about the series, plus a convincing guide entry and the fact that Attack on Titan hasn't been able to finish building the world as of yet.

Group D-11
World of Castle in the Sky, Laputa: Castle in the Sky

I still think this entry would be stronger if it was just Laputa being considered, since the rest of the world was fairly typical Miyazaki/steampunk, but it's strong enough to get my vote now.

Group D-12
World of Spice and Wolf, Spice and Wolf

It's going to take a lot for me to vote against Spice and Wolf, since worldbuilding is one of the most important things about this show, IMO, after the relationship between Holo and Lawrence. There are some great creative ideas there but this one is really all about a near flawless execution.

Group D-13
Gaea, The Vision of Escaflowne (TV series)

While I did nominate Gaea, I do agree with the general sentiment that it was overrated in the nominations stage. That said, the arguments for the other two settings last time didn't convince me that either setting is that strong and I do think Gaea deserves a fair amount of recognition ... just not quite as much as it got.

Group D-14
Italy, Gunslinger Girl franchise

Group D-15
Daikuuriku, Simoun

Group D-16
Glie, Haibane Renmei
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Aylinn



Joined: 18 Nov 2006
Posts: 1684
PostPosted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 1:10 pm Reply with quote
Group D-9
Metropolis, Metropolis
vs.
Neo-Verona, Romeo x Juliet

Metropolis

Group D-10
Kingdom of Honneamise, Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise
vs.
World of Attack on Titan, Attack on Titan
vs.
Legend of GH Milky Way, Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Legend of GH Milky Way I would need very convincing arguments to vote against it. This setting has a lot of potential and lives up to it.

Group D-11
World of Castle in the Sky, Laputa: Castle in the Sky
vs.
Japan 2113, Psycho-Pass

World of Castle in the Sky

Group D-12
World of Spice and Wolf, Spice and Wolf
vs.
Japan 2030, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex franchise

World of Spice and Wolf

Group D-13
World of Natsume’s Book of Friends, Natsume’s Book of Friends franchise
vs.
Saubure, Gosick
vs.
Gaea, The Vision of Escaflowne (TV series)

World of Natsume’s Book of Friends It may not have the most complex word-building, but from these three, it is the one that charmed me the most. Simple, but very well executed.

Group D-14
World of Pokemon, Pokemon franchise
vs.
Italy, Gunslinger Girl franchise

Italy

Group D-15
Aincard, Sword Art Online Aincard arc
vs.
Daikuuriku, Simoun

Daikuuriku

Group D-16
Glie, Haibane Renmei
vs.
Dustbin, Scrapped Princess

Glie
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zawa113



Joined: 19 Jan 2008
Posts: 7358
PostPosted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:16 pm Reply with quote
D-9: Metropolis
D-10: Legend of GH Milky Way
Yeah, gotta be this for me. It's a well crafted universe with its own complete history, the series literally has an episode where Julian looks through historical stuff in a library or something and the audience gets to learn the history of its world. It also has very detailed politics with a distinct political struggle that is never black and white. It also has strategy take place based on the physical locations of planets or space fortresses. It's a very detailed world with lots of nooks and crannies to explore, and that the series does. It also has an entire force of people who storm battle ships with axes, just sayin'
D-11: Laputa
D-12: Spice & Wolf
D-13: Gaea
D-14: Pokemon
Thanks in no small part to the games expansion on mythos all over the place. And the series follows the games, really. Well at least in terms of mythos and gym leaders and such. Even if they've had to retcon generation 1 things because they didn't think it'd become the behemoth it is, I don't think it hampers it too hard here, at least not in this stage of the game.
D-15: Daikuuriku
D-16: Dustbin
I feel like this might be getting short-changed because it's up against Glie, a place that never gets an explanation, but has a nice atmosphere. Dustbin does get a full explanation by the end of the series and you can see how the world affected its citizens greatly as there is some politics going on there as well. Everyone in Glie just does fairly ordinary things imo, it wouldn't be much different from any other quaint town except for the walls if you ask me. It's hard for me to vote for something prettier over something more realized, thus I vote Dustbin
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One-Eye



Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Posts: 2261
PostPosted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 7:12 am Reply with quote
Dorcas_Aurelia wrote:
Mini-game link fixed. Reposting here because the original link is on the previous page.
Uh, Dorcas I just looked at the minigame and I maybe confused about something so I'm going to PM you about it.
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Key
Moderator


Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 18189
Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley)
PostPosted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:52 am Reply with quote
As I was typing this up, it occurred to me that one of the glaring omissions in this tournament is Uddiyana, the setting of Flag, which I think could have been one of the top modern-day settings had it been nominated. Not sure how that one slipped by me.

It also occurred to me that six of the ten titles on my Best of the 2000s list from last year's ANNcast special are represented in this tournament, including three in this group. Coincidence? I think not.

Group D-9
Metropolis, Metropolis
vs.
Neo-Verona, Romeo x Juliet

Tough call here because both of these are spectacular examples of multilayered city design and the presence of pegasi in the latter offsets the androids in the former. I am giving a slight edge to Neo-Verona here because its setting is a little broader and its traditions are better-developed; ultimately Metropolis just doesn't have anything which equates to the situation with the tree Escalus in RxJ.

Group D-10
Kingdom of Honneamise, Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise
vs.
World of Attack on Titan, Attack on Titan
vs.
Legend of GH Milky Way, Legend of the Galactic Heroes

For me this is a Honneamise vs. LoGH pick. I am willing to give LogH Milky Way the benefit of the doubt here based on its Guide entry and what I have heard people say about it because it is an expansive and well-developed setting which features a lot of cultural diversity. Neither Honneamise or AoT is as much of a push-over as the vote total is likely to show here, though.

Group D-11
World of Castle in the Sky, Laputa: Castle in the Sky
vs.
Japan 2113, Psycho-Pass

Haven't actually seen either, so I am ambivalent on this one. May change my vote if I see convincing arguments, but what little I saw of Psycho-Pass convinces me that Japan 2113 is still a worthy choice here.

Group D-12
World of Spice and Wolf, Spice and Wolf
vs.
Japan 2030, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex franchise

Another tough one. Despite my high regard for S&W, I am actually going with Japan 2030 here because the future world of cybertechnology envisioned there feels more distinctive than S&W's setting does. Despite more than a decade passing since the original series concluded (and more than seven years since that side of the franchise's last installment), nothing else in anime has even come close to topping or equaling GitS:SAC's rendition of what a true cyberpunk world could realistically look and feel like. Besides, S&W's greatness is more in the character interactions than in the world it builds.

(Or, to put it another way, this puts my #2 title of the 2000s against my #9 title of the 2000s, so the higher-ranked one wins out.)

Group D-13
World of Natsume’s Book of Friends, Natsume’s Book of Friends franchise
vs.
Saubure, Gosick
vs.
Gaea, The Vision of Escaflowne (TV series)

Boy, none of these choices stand out to me as a strong one, as Gaea has too much of a "generic fantasy world" feel despite the presence of mecha. (And it's hardly the only fantasy setting which uses mecha; see Maze: the Mega-Burst Space and Utawarerumono and the flashback parts of Gasaraki, amongst possibly others.) In the absence of one clearly stepping forward, I will go with Saubure because its peculiarities on a standard 1920s European setting are just enough to distinguish it, but I'm open to convincing here.

Group D-14
World of Pokemon, Pokemon franchise
vs.
Italy, Gunslinger Girl franchise

World of Pokemon because I still maintain that there isn't much actual world-building in GG and what little I have seen of Pokemon suggests that it makes a more distinct effort.

Group D-15
Aincard, Sword Art Online Aincard arc
vs.
Daikuuriku, Simoun

Aincard is a fantastic imagining of an immersive VR MMO world, and it deserves recognition for having fine details such as a robust taste engine, exploring details such as sleep-PKing, and delving at least somewhat into the psychology behind how being stuck in such an environment might affect players. (It also deserves recognition for having something as incredible in design as the Skull Reaper for its Level 75 boss.) Of the other 17 contenders left in this Group, I would definitely put it ahead of at least ten of them. But what Simoun does in developing its setting is simply even more incredible, as Aincard has nothing to match the gender and religious identity issues which lie at the core of that series. As an ardent fan of both, Daikuuriku deserves it more.

Group D-16
Glie, Haibane Renmei
vs.
Dustbin, Scrapped Princess

Another case where I dearly love both series. Here, though, there is no contest; Glie wins because its series primarily is an exercise in world-building, one which goes down to the finest details on some points while leaving other points as well-measured mysteries.
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Dorcas_Aurelia



Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 5344
Location: Philly
PostPosted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:43 pm Reply with quote
Minigame results, relatively on time this week. Hopefully I uploaded the right file this week.

Rosebrook has a decent lead at this point, but I think we've seen comebacks in similar situations in the past. There are a lot of people grouped right around fourth and fifth place, which isn't very far behind third, so the field is still wide open.
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Unicorn_Blade



Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 1153
Location: UK
PostPosted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 4:48 pm Reply with quote
I will try to add more arguments when less tired Smile

Group D-9
Metropolis, Metropolis
I'm going with the one I am more familiar with, but also the one I keep on coming back to with a great sentiment. Metropolis has such an amazing ambience, with the mixture of old (character design and music making you think of the swinging '30's) and the futuristic architecture and advanced science.

Group D-10
World of Attack on Titan, Attack on Titan


Group D-11
World of Castle in the Sky, Laputa: Castle in the Sky


Group D-12
Japan 2030, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex franchise
I found Spice and Wolf charming, GITS:SAC's universe still drew me in more. The series does a great job at portraying how the development of cybernetics can produce results that surprise even major Kusanagi who is a cyborg herself. The combination of cyber body parts and 'regular' human bodies (although it seems that regular bodies seem to have more and more enhancements) offer an interesting perspective at what can be considered a normal body and where limits to those enhancements (should?) lie.

Group D-13
Gaea, The Vision of Escaflowne (TV series)

Group D-14
World of Pokemon, Pokemon franchise


Group D-15
Aincard, Sword Art Online Aincard arc


Group D-16
Glie, Haibane Renmei
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