COSPLAY
& COstume Contest
Cosplay Contest Rules
The PGX Cosplay Contest
Takes place on Sunday | October 6th
1. There are two divisions
of the cosplay contest
- Youth Divison -
Age 16 and Under
- Adult Divison -
Age 17 and Older
2. Judging will take place at
the Cosplay Booth on Sunday between
11:00AM to 2:00PM
3. Visit the cosplay booth, and fill out
the contest form to finalize your registration
ONCE YOU FINISH your registration
form and finalize check-in
4. Contest participants will grab
a complimentary photo from
compass rose photography
Following the REgistration and photo shoots
the cosplay judges will take a quick break to
prepare for the contest showcase to begin at 3:00PM
Cosplay Showcase
3:00PM to 4:30PM ON THE MAINSTAGE
5. On to the showcase!
Contestants will be called one-by-one to the
stage by their registered name
Strike your best pose!
Bust out your best impression!
SHOW off THE VIBE OF YOUR CHARACTER!
Make sure to give the best performance possible
so that the judges can assess your cosplay
Each entrant’s cosplay will be
judged on the following criteria
Craftsmanship
How well the costume is constructed- materials used,
manipulation and usage of said
materials, sewing work, assembly, paint, etc
Concept
Accuracy of the character/creature/other and/OR
Originality of the costume, how frequently
do you see this type of costume?
Presentation
How the portrayal of the character/creature/etc
is executed, poses, dialogue, movement,
attitude, mannerisms, and general vibe, etc.
Winning & Prizes
Prizes will be awarded after the Contest Showcase has ended.
Announced winners will be asked to go to the
Cosplay Contest booth to claim prize. Failure to
claim prize(s) by 5:00PM on Sunday (10/6/2024)
will be considered a forfeiture, and no prize
will be awarded. Prizes to be awarded are as follows:
First Place
Winner will receive a cash prize of $250.00,
a weekend badge for the 2025 Pittsburgh Gaming Expo,
and a $100 gift voucher for Compass Rose Photography.
Second place
Winner will receive a cash prize of $125.00, and
a weekend badge for the 2025 Pittsburgh Gaming Expo
Third Place
Winner will receive a cash prize of $50.00, and
a weekend badge for the 2025 Pittsburgh Gaming Expo
YOUTH WINNER
Winner will receive a cash prize of $50.00, and
a weekend badge for the 2025 Pittsburgh Gaming Expo
[Youth Division Winner must have aparent/legal guardian present to claim prize]
Judges Choice
Winner will receive a weekend badge
for the 2025 Pittsburgh Gaming Expo
PGX Costume Policy
Violation of any of the following rules, or
of the pgx code of conduct can result
in disqualification and/or removal from the event
1) Have fun
This is the most important rule,
but in order to maintain this one, we have
to follow a few more on the list below
2) Weapon Policy
No functional weapons are allowed on the premises. This includes: airsoft guns, cap guns, Personal defense weapons, real-steel firearms, knives, swords, daggers, etc.
Your prop weaponry should be clearly
fictional, and/or demonstrably fake at a glance
Any and all prop weapons will be inspected upon entry and will be tagged with a zip-tie prior to allowing entry fully into the venue.
This may be spot-checked by staff or security to
ensure the safety/comfort of staff and attendees
3) Avoid real-world uniforms
No real-world military forces, Present-Day or historical, no real-world religious or cultural garb worn just as a costume. No law enforcement, first-responder or professional uniforms—
In the unlikely event of an emergency, we don’t want to
create confusion and/or safety hazards
4) No Sexually Explicit Outfits
This show is for ALL AGES, which means there will be young children in attendance. Obviously no nudity, and Try to keep clothing and costumes in that PG-13 range, And keep all explicit parts of the human anatomy covered to an appropriate degree.
We’re not interested in policing outfit specifics, and
body shaming or harassment of
any kind will not be tolerated
5) Minimize Inappropriate Language
Once again, PGX is an ALL AGES event. Don’t cuss at kids, exhibitors or staff- or throw up the finger when you hit the high score
It always comes back to that PG-13 vibe
Just be cool. Your costume looks awesome
6) No glitter, confetti, smoke, Vaping, live flame, or pyrotechnics
The building has safety requirements,
and let’s be honest— we get it
If the sirens start ringing and the fire suppression system goes off, you’ll have ruined everyone’s fun and we’ll all be super disappointed in you. Be cool.
7) Fake Blood
The convention center floor is
carpeted and we try to not be big jerks
Be sure that any fake blood is suitably dry before entering the venue, and avoid applying any more during the show.
it’s a slippery slope (literally if someone slips on it) and even though We’re the awesome zombie city, we don’t want it to look like we had a whole bunch of them roaming the carpets.
8) Cosplay is NOT Consent
Cosplayers are not to be hugged, touched, groped, hit (or hit on) or photographed without their explicit permission.
Respect the personal boundaries of ALL
attendees, including those in cosplay