Especially when the prize is free game credits for a game's in-game store items.

I recently entered the Cosmic Break fanart contest. I normally avoid these but with my favourite genres of mechs, cleavage and lolis i just had to enter. Plus $200 worth of in game creds and bragging rights to have it included as in game loading screens was a bonus incentive.

I'm quite fortunate that the art communities are active in these threads. I already had an entrant blatantly copy elements from my entry with his own subtle changes.

http://www.cosmicbreak.com/commu/img.p hp?filename=tc_25298_1_1295275532.png&
m=pc

http://www.cosmicbreak.com/commu/img.p hp?filename=tc_25326_1_1295287092.jpg&
m=pc

I already placed this particular entry and a second one here to provide proof it's my own *sigh*

Of course detractors and supporters came in droves and pretty much what's supposed to be a fun thread to appreciate fanart entries turned into an art inquisition. Seriously messed up...

So, what are your experiences/stories of entering these things?