The Basics
There are three types of Alternative Universes:
Pocketverse / Altverse / Megaverse
In order to be a Alternative Universe, the Verse in question must fulfill these requirements:
- Have a World Apart – The Verse needs to be open to all takers. If the Verse is only applicable to the characters the storyteller is writing, then it is not a true verse. Characters much enter and exit the Verse successfully, and continue on within the scope of the Verse.
- Fail to Meet Our Established Scientific Reality – The Verse must have science that simply doesn’t fit into our universe, ie magic, aliens, jumpdrives, talking animals, etc.
- Have at Least Three Entries into One Medium – It needs to have established cannon in at least three movies, books, comic book arcs, video games, or show seasons. If the Verse does not have at least three entries into one medium, then the Verse may be considered a Pocketverse, providing that it meets the other two requirements. The mediums are as follows:
- Movies
- Books
- Comic Books
- Mangas
- Video Games
- TV Show Seasons
The damn things can't get their stories straight. Since ancient legends and mythologies may well contribute to an Altverse, they have been excluded as potential Altverses themselves. To find examples of ways that legends and mythologies have contributed to Altverses, look no further than The Mists of Avalon and the Percy Jackson series.
The Pocketverse
Pocketverses are rightful Altverses with an unfortunate handicap: they do not have three entries into one medium. A Pocketverse may be very robust, but it just doesn't have enough meat on the bones for fans to sink their teeth into. It may very well be riotously popular and absolutely flaunt its blatant disregard of our science and morals, yet it was a veritable one-hit-wonder and therefore does not invite enough fan fiction and themed marriages to qualify for Altverse status.
That is not to say a new movie or book is not pending to bump it up to Altverse status, but until then, it has a little corner of our geeky hearts as a Pocketverse.
Examples include James Cameron's Avatar and Lois Lowry's The Giver.
The Altverse
The Altverse meets all basic requirements of the Alternative Universe. Whether on the cusp of obscurity or so popular it hurts our feelings, it's still squarely normal on the richter scale of alternative realities.
The Megaverse
There are three contributing factors to the size of a Megaverse:
Popularity / Cross-Mediums / Number of Story Arcs
These factors combine to create three classifications of Megaverse:
- A Class Megaverse – Very popular, all or nearly all mediums covered, multiple developed story arcs. No matter how popular, how many mediums, or how many story arcs, a Megaverse must rate high in all categories to be considered A Class.
- B Class Megaverse – Popular, many mediums covered, a few developed story arcs. This category may also be fitting for Megaverses that score high in two categories but low in one.
- C Class Megaverse – Nichy, the minimum three mediums covered, one or two story arcs. This category may also be fitting for Megaverses that score high in one category but low in two.
