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m3Atl0afman

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Hey gang, it's been a while, and it's most certainly been a hell of a lot that I can only imagine a lot of you have been through since the last update in regards to this. I hope that all of you guys are doing okay and have been safe during these difficult times.


Timmy vs Twilight thumb

So let's cut right to the chase... what's the status on this?


To be frank, it's still pretty much in the state I left it in as before. As you can imagine, a lot of has been piling up on my plate in terms of tasks and priorities this year, and with the rise of ongoing world events, it's been pretty difficult to work on this. Never the less, I intend to stick to my guns and hopefully have this project out and completed before the end of the year.


As I've said before, the outcome for while now has been locked in and all that matters now is finishing up the final portions of the fight, working on the results and getting visualizations of the story prepared. The first two things along with some of the visuals are already tangible things that I've made and prepared over the past couple of years, but there are still things I need to have made and make sure they are up to par with what I'd like to tell in the story.


That being said... let's address the elephant in the room.


If you're reading this in mid-2020, take a look around this webpage right now. As you can see, DeviantArt has finally made the long-intended switch to Eclipse. Evidently, the change to this new website layout has made it a bit difficult for fellow versus writers to continue making new entries in their respective written series, and unfortunately the same goes for me as well. I can no longer create new written text entries as regular "art submissions" on here, making it impossible to upload the fight or results for Timmy VS Twilight. It is always possible to overwrite past Sta.sh files I've made for other things, but I'd rather not do that. Especially given that, in all honestly, I was never really a big fan of the limitations presented here on the website when it came to submitting written work. While it definitely is a decent platform to get your work seen (thank you to everyone who have followed me for either my fights or my art over the years), I can't say now it's a great place to be submitting fights as meticulously lengthy and detailed as Timmy VS Twilight. Especially given the size limitations of what you can upload (Bowser Jr VS Spike's fight from way back was never intended to be 2 parts, but Sta.sh's limitations unfortunately made it that way; and even then, I had to later reupload the results elsewhere). So you can only imagine how many parts TvT would've been given its surpassed that fight in length. The prelude alone had to be divided in two.


All that being said... what now? ...Fortunately, like with my fellow colleagues, I was well-prepared in advanced for this situation, and I have the solution.


Unknown (2)

The Gauntlet is making the move over to WordPress. In retrospect, I'd been thinking about making something like this for a while as I was searching for alternatives for writers such as myself. I'd like to thank my CX-coworkers who had already made WordPress blogs in advance as well for bringing this to my attention.


WordPress's writing system, from my experience so far, has definitely shown much more promise compared to what Sta.sh was able to allow previously. I can use as much images as necessary without overloading pages or breaking a file-storage limit. I can divide portions of my writing into segments on the same blog post without having everything on completely separate pages. Most of all, Timmy VS Twilight can be better realized on here, as its much more fit for what I intended.


In that past few weeks, I have been working on making the site presentable and a good home for The Gauntlet in general. Due to my busy tasks, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update the site, but best know any project relating to this series will find a place on here from now on. In fact, the prelude for Timmy VS Twilight has already made the move on there as well, though it is not currently live.


Something I should make all you aware of is that when it does go live, you will notice some significant changes. Aesthetically, the entire prelude's assets have received an update in design (with much thanks to my best friend and business partner, DJTiki). I figured this would be appropriate mainly because of the jump from DeviantArt to WordPress allowing The Gauntlet to become its own thing. While it is still very much a DB-inspired project, and while it was a blast getting to use the assets I recreated from the early seasons of the show, I feel it's time to move on and graduate past those assets to really set it apart. (It's also worth nothing it was starting to become incredibly harder to add new information with the font being used before making everything illegible as text shrunk, and trying to make new slates to make space for it would look weird; also, the information I would be presenting would differ significantly than that of Death Battle's; this is particularly why I did not want to utilize Wiz and Boomstick or refer to this as a traditional Death Battle.)


On top of that, both Timmy and Twilight have received updates to their preludes. Timmy's information is more or less the same (just revising and also correcting a few misconstrued tidbits from the previous version; not much has really come out since The Fairly OddParents ended a while back), while Twilight now has information from Season 9 of FiM (given the show having ended last year, I figured to cover bases, it'd be appropriate; it also allowed me to add extra info I wasn't able to include last time and give closure to Twilight's story).


As I've said, in spite of the updates to the analysis, the results are still more or less the same. Though being able to get those last pieces of info in on both of them really helped to further solidify my thought process. It'll definitely be an interesting (and hopefully more streamlined) overview when we cross that path.


I should also note I unfortunately will not be updating the prelude here on DeviantArt. While I still love what I was able to publish on here, it would be too much work to go in and fix everything to be uniform with WordPress, and ultimately, it wouldn't matter anyway. But at least it can be looked at like a time capsule of sorts.


That said, I implore you guys to read the new prelude when it is up as it'll definitely be a familiar yet entirely new and enriching experience while getting you accustomed to what WordPress is like.


In general, if you are a follower of my DeviantArt specifically for my researched/written battles, I encourage you to go onto The Gauntlet's WordPress (https://crossgauntlet.wordpress.com/) and give it a follow so you can be up to date with stuff on there, as that'll be where the action is from now on. I'm sorry I couldn't have the fight ready in time for DeviantArt, but ultimately, I feel as though this is for the best. (I also wanna stress that if you want real-time updates from me, follow me on Twitter @m3Atl0afman.)


As for what's going to happen with this account... to be honest I'm not sure at the moment. While I'm not big on the changes here, it is still at least a decent platform for art, so if it interests me, maybe I'll put some stuff up on here later on. Until then, I'll try to at least update anyone still on here about when new stuff is coming, if I'm able to.


That said, thank you everyone for reading this and look forward to reading the prelude when it's out. Like I said, be on the lookout. It may hit sooner than you think. Cheers fam, be safe.

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Sooo... it's been quite a while since I've last updated on here in particular, and undoubtedly a number of you who regularly followed me on this platform have noticed the radio silence. I wanna start by issuing an apology, as I did keep this place active for a number of weeks, posting regular status updates in regards to how far the story has gotten. It wasn't my intention to leave you guys hanging rather abruptly, and I'm hoping in due time to rectify that.

That said, what exactly have I've been up to in said time? Those who follow me elsewhere (such as Twitter and YouTube) probably already have a good idea of where I've been since the last DA status update. But for those who don't know (first of all, please do yourself a favor and follow me on the other platforms, thanks love you), here's a laundry list of everything I've been doing in the past couple of months...


1. Going to work every week (those bills don't pay themselves ya know).


2. Going on vacation with family.


3. Exploring Boston for the first time with my lifelong friends.


4. Celebrating my birthday with the gang.


5. Going to this thing for the first (and last) time since 2012. (Rest in peace, BC.)


6. Attending LCAC with my crew from Crossover X (as well as meeting fans & friends, familiar and new for the first time).


7. Hosting 3 individual panels back-to-back that weekend.

2019-08-25 23-29-15 by m3Atl0afman
8. Helping my team get this long-awaited behemoth of an episode out in time for both the con and eventually for YouTube (you're welcome internet).


9. Dealing with an ongoing personal situation at home that I would rather not get into. (I'm fine right now, but I will say it has been a harsh past couple of weeks for me after the aforementioned.)


10. Coping with the fact that this show is literally ending in less than 10 days.

So yeah, it's been pretty up and down over the summer. Did some good things, experienced some bad things, went through a ton of hardships (still am) and am trying to hold myself together emotionally to push forward with my current goals. All-in-all, I hope you guys are able to forgive the lack of attention on here.

To be clear, the story is still where I last left it in terms of page count. We're nearing the end of the actual battle, there's just a few more things I gotta write as well as an epilogue of sorts, and then after some proofreading and making sure I'm content with it, I can begin putting some visuals together as well as finish the results portion (which has actually been underway for quite some time). I was previously confident in making my 2019 due year, but as of this moment, I'm not quite sure if I can still make this happen before the end of the year. I wanna say never say never, but you never do know what can happen. I'm saddened that I will not be able to release this before the end of MLP, and I'm certainly already disappointed that this was going to be released after the disappointment that was Fairly OddParents' Season 10 and its abrupt series end (granted, it being put to rest finally is probably a good thing depending on who you talk to). Still, I'm gonna do my best to make the most out of this and give this project, its characters and their series a good send-off of sorts within the narrative. Even if it means a 2020 release. I'm hoping everyone if not as many people as possible find content with it.

When I resume the project, I will be sure to continue updating you all on what's up. Thank you all for your continued support and patience, and please look forward to what's to come. (Please make sure to follow me m3Atl0afman on Twitter and YouTube and also check out the latest content coming to Crossover X soon.)

P.S. For those wondering, yes I will be factoring in whatever Season 9 of MLP brings to the table. I don't know if I'm gonna re-update the prelude again to account for the new info, and I also have not seen any of the leaked episodes, but either which way, I will address anything significant the season introduces in there along with a spoiler warning.
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Hey guys! I've gotten this question from time to time, but I just wanted to say that if anybody wishes to use any of the information included in my bios/preludes, you're totally allowed to. Under a few conditions, of course:
  • Ask me first. It can be a comment on the corresponding bio, a private note to me, etc. As long as you only send ONE in (and you're not being annoying about it), I'll get back to you as soon as I can and give you official approval to use it. (I will need to know where this info will be used, after all! Don't want any of my research taken out of context, interpreted weirdly or used for the wrong reasons.)
  • Please credit me, and also link back to the original bio you pulled the information from. This can either be in the description or the bio itself. While I am the owner of my bios, I can't possibly take all the credit for every piece of information I've learned about and showcased over the years. Which is a big reason why I credit a big number of people and sources at the end of these bios. Not to mention these are personal passion projects of mine, and I would hate for my hard work to be plagiarized or stolen. (And in a way yeah, it can be seen as complimentary that one's work was so good that they had to copy/paste it for themselves, but really if you're not going to ask, at least credit the rightful owners/researchers.)
Now without me having to openly address this, there are people who have contacted me in the past to use info from my work, and I gave them permission because I trusted them and they actually even gave shout-outs to where their information is derived from.

But the main reason I bring this up is because the other day, while I was gathering up images to use for the updated Timmy/Twilight prelude, I came across this by complete chance on Google Images:
aminoapps.com/c/cartoon-fight-…

At first this just looks like an ordinary Timmy bio someone made on their own. But if you examine everything closely, you'll notice pretty much everything on the analysis slates have been copied off of my Timmy prelude, even copying/pasting the exact sentences I wrote. (What's even worse is that the Vs Battles Wiki-like statistics they have accompanying it (which are also copied from elsewhere) aren't exactly accurate. I won't go into too much detail here, but let's just say a lot of what you'll see written there are based on assumptions, over-exaggerations, and a ton of misconstrued information with no solid backing. So having that weirdness alongside stuff basically stolen from my bio... doesn't really sit right with me.)

And again, I probably would be less harsh and let it be if they had at least given credit or linked back to the source. Because gathering information and resources for Timmy was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my time on the internet. (It's partly the reason why one of my previous computers got infected with viruses, which is a story for another day.) So seeing someone basically slacking off and not putting their own work into something like this feels a bit like a kick in the groan for me. I wouldn't say it bothers me immensely (ultimately this post I linked isn't something worth fighting against and I don't really wish any ill-will on whoever made that), but this isn't the first time my work was reposted without asking.

And I do believe with it being 2019 (and with recent incidents involving certain individuals plagiarizing others coming to light), people need to really mature and step-up. It's okay to admit that you didn't put something together entirely on your own, in fact I believe it makes people more of an upstanding individual. People on here do it all the time when borrowing bios and info from others. And as I've said, I give credit back to those I have borrowed from. There will be cases where we will forget to name everybody, but it's not like we do that out of spite, it's just human error. But we shouldn't be claiming that we did everything on our own. (Even if someone had no direct involvement in what you were making besides supplying information and acknowledging that it will accompany other people's opinions.) And if you do create a bio entirely on your own (without copying or borrowing from others), well... just get ready to show your work.

Anyways, that's all I have to say on the matter. I don't expect it to really change anything, but I do hope it made some people more aware of stuff like this, and to also be careful or mindful in regards to it. Either way, thank you for reading and I hope your 2019 is spectacular!
If you haven't already, make sure to go back to Timmy and Twilight's bios and check out the new updated information and quality-of-life changes added on there. I've been working on these updates for a long time and I'd love to hear what you guys think of them. To those who already have, thank you so much! Looking forward to finishing the project as soon as I can. ^^

Timmy: Timmy VS Twilight | The Gauntlet (Prelude 1/2)
Twilight: Timmy VS Twilight | The Gauntlet (Prelude 2/2)

(P.S. In the future, I might make a more proper Timmy bio suitable for use by others. There are important things I have learned about the character and his series that needs to be expressed in order to properly represent him in versus. So look forward to that in due time.)
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By the way, for those wondering, I'm still working on it.

Nothing in this universe will stop me from finishing it.

I've come too far not to conclude it...

And to not give everyone who's been waiting for so long what they truly deserve.

And the characters here who have touched my heart...

Need me now more than ever in their time of somber.

To everyone who has encouraged me...

To everyone who has inspired me...

To everyone who has told me to hold on tight and be strong...

Thank you. All of you. And I'm sorry I couldn't finish it sooner.

For years I've wanted to make this a reality.

And so it shall be. No matter what.

Everyone. This is for you.

...

“I don't know what’s going on here... but know this:
I will find out who you are and whatever your source of magic is, whether you want me to or not."

“Yeah? Well don't count on it, nerd horse!”

“Are you sure about this, Timmy?”

“Relax Wanda… with you guys by my side, there's no way I can lose. Let’s fight magic with magic!”

“I won't lose… I can't… Celestia, everyone, please watch over me and give me faith…”


Timmy Vs Twilight Fight Screen Angry by m3Atl0afman

Coming when it's ready...

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Hey guys! Time for an update journal!

Before anything, go check out this awesome Bowser Jr bio made by the awesome :iconzoomdooge123:! This is technically a collaboration between us both, as I helped contribute a good portion of information from my prior prelude with the little guy. Big thanks to him for making it, using the info I had, and finally giving Junior the bio he's deserved for quite some time. ^_^
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Moving on! It's finally that time. Timmy vs Twilight, research-wise, is nearing completion. (Or at least as complete as I could make it.) Had to look through a lot of material (the shows, films, books, comics, games, tie-in material, etc). Surprisingly, these characters have a lot to offer in the context of a vs match, and there's a lot of stuff I won't even be able to mention, mostly because they either wouldn't really fit into a Death Battle, no longer have it, etc. Besides obviously trying to figure out how I want to go about creating this fight and managing other obligations both online and personally, it stands to reason why this took over five years.

Timmy vs Twilight thumb e1 by m3Atl0afman

[Timmy art: abracatastrophes ; Twilight art: NineDoodles]

(Huge shout out to abracatastophes for allowing me to use the art! Be sure to check out his awesome (& adorable) work in the link above! Also check out NineDoodles' work above, who's doing commissions!)

For those unaware, I mentioned last month that because of how long both bios ended up becoming, I had to split them off into two separate bios. With that said, should all go according to plan and I don't feel the need to add anything more to it, Timmy's portion of the prelude will be releasing first this coming Friday, October 27th.

I would release both Timmy and Twilight at the same time, but I'm doing this way for two reasons:
  1. So that there is an adequate amount of spacing in-between releases, giving each character their own day to shine. I wouldn't want one or the other to be overshadowed or have barren comment sections while the other attains more because of the reader reading them back-to-back. At least not upon release.
  2. The season 7 finale for My Little Pony has yet to air on American television as of this journal, and I wouldn't want to release Twilight's bio one day before it does since it will reference the events of this finale. I'm aware that these episodes have been leaked and can be publicly viewed anytime online, but I would rather stick to supporting the official airing. That said, I have not yet seen these episodes, and will wait until I do to completely finish Twilight's portion. But for the most part, it is pretty much finished minus a few necessary touch-ups. (Also yes I have seen the Movie in theaters, and accounted for events from that too.)
As for when Twilight's portion will be out, I'm gonna make an educated guess and say sometime between Saturday, October 28th and Friday, November 4th. Depends on when I can get it done and if enough time has passed since Timmy's came out. After that, my focus will be on the fight itself, and I got a lot of ideas planned for that. It may or may not also involve some collaborations if I'm able to make it happen.

One last thing, check this out:


The Gauntlet now has an official opening video! It's gained the approval of a couple friends of mine and I think that it came out great! Check it out when possible! :)

That's pretty much it for now! Thanks guys! Hope you enjoy the upcoming prelude!
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