It all began with a pumpkin... or so the legend says...

For the past two years, Allakhazam has hosted a pumpkin carving contest, beginning as a small, spur of the moment event that ballooned in 2008 when Square Enix offered a Wings of the Goddess PC as a grand prize. Now, in 2009, the contest has gone global and reached the shores of Vana'diel!

This year's Pumpkin Carving Contest will be open to players around the world and everyone will be eligible for all prizes. The grand prize this year is the ominous and intimidating Shadow Lord Statue, provided by Square Enix. Second, third, and fourth place winners will receive Star Onion and Piano Collection CDs. However, being in the top four will not be the only way contestants can win prizes!

We are very happy to announce that the development and operations team at Square Enix has created two special in-game items just for this contest. The first 500 approved entries will receive a small in-game pumpkin and the top 25 finalists will also receive a large in-game pumpkin, both available only through the Allakhazam Pumpkin Carving Contest!

Want to know what these in-game items look like?

The small in-game pumpkin, shown on the left, is a green carved kabocha or Japanese winter squash. A lamp within the pumpkin gives off an eerie purple glow. The large in-game pumpkin, shown on the right, is so huge that it appears to be more than twice as tall as a Tarutaru!! Imagine this monstrous lamp in your Mog House!! What a way to entertain your guests on Halloween!

Click the image to see a larger screenshot!

Speed will also be a factor in this contest, as the first 10 approved entries will be awarded with a nation keychain of their choice, courtesy of Square Enix.

Surely this plethora of prizes is enough to convince you to enter! If so, please read through our rules and submission guidelines, which are available in English, French, German, and Japanese.* If you have any questions, please contact us. We're all very excited about this year's contest and can't wait to see all the entries submitted! Bust out those knives and scrapers and win yourselves some great Harvest Festival loot!

Discuss this contest on the forums!

* Please note that there is an additional page of legal rules that you must read through as well, available on the rules page.