Dwelling of Duels Monthly Compo - FREE MONTH

March is a Free Month!

This means that any song from any video game is acceptable as a source tune for this month.

This month's banner art is by Pokerus Project!

If you have any questions regarding if a game fits this theme, message a moderator/operations/evilsonic on the DoD Discord server!

Upload your submission for the month using our Submission form!

Dwelling of Duels entry rules:

Main Entries

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Previously accepted submissions do not always reflect the current submission policies.

Main entries are songs entered into the month's competition, which will be ranked at the end of the competition based on the voting results.

1. Main entries must be a cover, arrangement, or other reworking of one or more songs from any video game(s).
   • Unless specified in a particular month's conditions, you can't cover songs that were used in video games but written for other media (e.g. the iconic Star Wars theme, or the original Michael Jackson songs in Moonwalker).
     • Exception: Tetris, whose soundtrack uses Russian folk music, is much more widely recognizable as video game music. Main entries may be reworkings of Tetris songs.
2. Each month has a theme; all songs must fit that theme.
3. The main instrument of each song must be "played live", meaning that it must be a real guitar, real keyboard, real trombone, or other real instrument that you're actually playing.
   • Multiple takes that are edited together into an entry are allowed, as long as the edits do not drastically alter the recorded performance.
   • An instrument that is sequenced in a software synthesizer is only eligible if a MIDI controller keyboard is played live, and the output is not quantized or altered, in agreement with the bullet point above.
4. Main entries must be submitted in mp3 format, and have a duration of at least two minutes in length.
   • Silence at the beginning or end of a track, or extended silence in the middle of a track, will not count toward reaching the length requirement.
5. Main entries will be presented anonymously at the end of the month and tagged as "Anonymous DoD Contestant". Please do not compromise your anonymity in any way, and only submit songs that you've never released to the public.
6. All songs must either be submitted by the artist or by someone who has permission from the artist. Please include the following information with your submission:
   • Artist(s): The name that the artist wishes to be identified by.
   • Game(s): The games that the entry is covering songs from.
   • Title: The title of the arrangement.
     • Note: Anything in particularly bad taste (such as racial slurs) will be altered.
7. Optionally, you may also include the following information:
   • Text of the song's lyrics, if the song has them.
   • Names of the songs from the game's soundtrack.
   • Locations, stages, or scenarios in the game where the songs are used.
   • Which instruments in the song were played live and which were programmed/sequenced.
8. Songs are due on the due date and time listed on the Main Page in the "Submission Deadline" section.
9. You may not be the primary arranger and performer on more than one main entry per month.
   • You may, however, contribute to one main entry by other person, in addition to your own song. ("Contribute" meaning play an instrument on someone else's song, mix it, do a cameo solo, etc.)
10. Use of generative A.I. vocals or voice filters that attempt to impersonate someone are not allowed on main entries.

 

Alternate Entries

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Alternate entries are released at the same time as main entries, but are not included in the competition entries, voting, or results. Alternate entries are subject to the same rules as Main Entries, with the following alterations:

1. Unlike main entries, alternate entries may be songs that were written for other media but used in video games.
   • Exceptions:
   • Licensed soundtracks for music and rhythm games such as Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, etc.
   • Licensed soundtracks for games such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Need For Speed, Madden '19, etc.
   • You may not use any of the above songs.
2. Alternate entries have a minimum duration of thirty seconds in length.
3. Alternate entries may be presented anonymously or with the artist name attached. If you do not express a preference, the song will be presented anonymously.
   • While they do not have to be anonymous, your alternate entries should still be previously unreleased.
4. You may submit up to five alternate entries, whether you're submitting any main entries.
5. If a song is submitted as a main entry but only qualifies to be an alternate entry, it will be presented as an alternate entry.

Listening Party

Check out the entrees LIVE over at the Dwelling of Duels Twitch on Friday, March 29, 8:00 PM EST!