History Main / AscendedFanFic

* ''Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey'' used to be a ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' {{Mundan|ization}}e-AU fanfic named ''Master of the Universe''.
* Examples of "pulled to publish" fanfics plague the ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' fandom: [[http://www.sharetermpapers.com/general-b35/twilight-fanfiction-13292/90/?PHPSESSID=9e62d70df2aa96e733031d7e70f5b498#msg115742 here is the list]].

Compare SpiritualAdaptation, where a work doesn't violate copyright law, but fans consider it to be very similar to some preexisting work. See also HumbleBeginnings, of which this can be considered a subtrope.

* One of the most prominent examples in all of video gaming: ''VideoGame/MsPacMan'' was originally an unofficial GameMod of ''VideoGame/PacMan'' named "Crazy Otto", which introduced more complex mazes and semi-randomized elements into the ghost's AI. The mod creators, General Computer Corporation, thinking they might have had a succesful game in its own right at their hands, ended up approaching ''Pac-Man'''s American distribution, Creator/MidwayGames to show off their project. Midway was impressed the modders' work and struck a deal with them, converting it into an out-and-out sequel, and were also the ones to come up with the idea of having the game feature a DistaffCounterpart of Pac-Man. Although this was originally done without Namco's consent, Namco president Masaya Nakamura was eventually brought in on the project by Midway and would provide feedback on the player character's design. The character and others inspired by her would later appear in various official Pac-Man media.

* ''Webcomic/{{D|anAndMabsFurryAdventures}}MFA'' was originally set in the ''VideoGame/{{Furcadia}}'' online chat/roleplaying client, which would technically make it a fanfic. Early strips have a lot of reference to Roleplaying-terms, internet fads, etc.

* ''Manga/PetitIdolmaster'' was originally a fan comic published on the author's website. It would later become an official spinoff of ''VideoGame/TheIdolMaster''.

* ''Manga/PetitIdolmaster'' was originally a fan comic published on the author's website. It would later become an official spinoff of ''VideoGame/TheIdolmaster''.

* [=Dennis L. McKiernan=]'s Literature/{{Mithgar}} novels (''The Iron Tower'', ''The Silver Call'', ''Hel's Crucible'') started off as ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' fanfic. Doomsday wanted to publish. Tolkien Estate said "no". Changing the names and filing the numbers off for the "Silver Call" duology required inventing a new backstory of a great war against evil to replace ''The Lord Of The Rings'', and thus the Iron Tower trilogy came about. The rest of the series grew more divergent from there, but the Moria-analogue in those first books is unmistakable.

* The ''International Super Teams'' setting for ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' had its genesis in an unused timeline and history written for a ''TabletopGame/VillainsAndVigilantes'' campaign in which [[@/LooneyToons the author]] was a player.

** The fanmade ''{{WebAnimation/Astartes}}'' was not only made an official GW product, the original Retributors chapter was made canon as well.

* One of the most prominent examples in all of video gaming: ''VideoGame/MsPacMan'' was originally an unofficial GameMod of ''VideoGame/PacMan'' named "Crazy Otto", which introduced more complex mazes and semi-randomized elements into the ghost's AI. The mod creators, General Computer Corporation, thinking they might have had a succesful game in its own right at their hands, ended up approaching ''Pac-Man''[='s=] American distribution, Creator/MidwayGames to show off their project. Midway was impressed the modders' work and struck a deal with them, converting it into an out-and-out sequel, and were also the ones to come up with the idea of having the game feature a DistaffCounterpart of Pac-Man. Although this was originally done without Namco's consent, Namco president Masaya Nakamura was eventually brought in on the project by Midway and would provide feedback on the player character's design. The character and others inspired by her would later appear in various official Pac-Man media.

** The Translocator in ''[[VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004 Unreal Tournament 2003]]'' and later has a remote camera within the transport-destination disk. This idea was taken from "Translocam", a mod that added this functionality to the classic Translocator.

* ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace'' is based on ''King Arthur In Time And Space'', which in turn was based on ''Franchise/StarTrek''[=/=]''Series/DoctorWho'' crossover fanfic cartoons with the proper names search-and-replaced (Arthur, Lancelot and Guenevere replacing Kirk, Spock and [=McCoy=]; Merlin and Nimue subbing for the Doctor and various companions).
* ''WebComic/MicoVerse'' started life as an ''WebAnimation/{{Eddsworld}}'' fancomic.

* ''Manga/NyoronChuruyaSan'' started from a {{doujinshi}}.

* ''Manga/PetitIdolmaster'' was originally a fan comic published on the author's website.

* ''Literature/DivineBloodNovels'' was originally a MegaCrossOver fanfic of several anime (most notably ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', and ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'') which eventually developed enough mythos and themes of its own that the author decided to [[SerialNumbersFiledOff file off the serial numbers]] on the characters and make it into its own novel.

* The ''Roleplay/RecordOfLodossWar'' franchise began with edited accounts of a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' campaign, quickly becoming popular enough to spawn its own [[RecursiveAdaptation game system]], novels, manga, multiple {{OVA}}s, and a television anime.

Contrast AscendedMeme and AscendedFanon, where derivative material is later incorporated into the canon material, and the similar RunningTheAsylum, where fans gradually take control of the original franchise as time goes on and start publishing [[{{Canon}} official material]] that looks like fan fiction. Also compare CanonImmigrant and RetCanon, where the new elements stem from official sources. See also SerialNumbersFiledOff, DivorcedInstallment, UpliftedSideStory, and CaptainErsatz.

* Hours before the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' modification WAD "Evilution" was set to be released, the creators, Team TNT, were emailed by Creator/JohnRomero offering a publishing deal. It ended up as half of ''VideoGame/FinalDoom''. This decision, however, resulted in a BrokenBase: many players were thrilled to see a fan production become canon, while others accused Team TNT for "selling out" their fans.

** The Glory Kill mechanic in ''VideoGame/Doom2016'' is obviously based on the execution mechanic from ''VideoGame/BrutalDoom''. Mods to upgrade and improve weapons are hidden around the levels, similar to ''VideoGame/DoomTheRoguelike''. Argent Energy, Earth's reliance on it as a clean and bountiful source, and the UAC harvesting it leading into the demon invasion is extremely similar to the lore in ''VideoGame/HideousDestructor''.

* The "Fudge Pack" and "10th Anniversary" releases of ''VideoGame/{{Postal}} 1'' and ''VideoGame/Postal2'' include the ''Eternal Damnation'' and ''A Week in Paradise'' mods for the second game.

* One of the most popular types of mods for multiplayer first-person shooters is "zombie mode". For ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: World at War'', Treyarch decided to skip a step and just implement a zombie mode from the get-go - hence VideoGame/NaziZombies.

Contrast AscendedMeme and AscendedFanon, where derivative material is later incorporated into the canon material, and the similar RunningTheAsylum, where fans gradually take control of the original franchise as time goes on and start publishing [[{{Canon}} official material]] that looks like fan fiction. Also compare CanonImmigrant and RetCanon, where the new elements stem from official sources. See also SerialNumbersFiledOff, DivorcedInstallment, and CaptainErsatz.

* ''The Last Hope'' was an unlicensed Film/{{Gamera}} dōjinshi made as a fan prequel to the Heisei Gamera films. The Japanese translation of ''ComicBook/GameraTheGuardianOfTheUniverse'' in 2018 included ''The Last Hope'' as a bonus (on top of also having the cover illustrated by the same artist), and [[https://spankzilla85.tumblr.com/post/175359229255/oh-oh-thats-right-im-an-official-gamera-artist the studio that releases Gamera films considers the story canonical]] (also meaning that the previously unused Showa kaiju Garasharp, which features in the comic, is retroactively made canon as well).

** "Negri's Boys" by Charles Coleman Finlay, which was originally fanfic of Bujold's work, was rewritten with the serial numbers filed off as "The Political Officer". It was published in ''The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction'' and nominated for the {{UsefulNotes/Hugo|Award}} and UsefulNotes/NebulaAward.

* ''Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey'' used to be a ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' [[{{Mundanization}} Mundane-AU]] fanfic named ''Master of the Universe''.

** Creator/BarbaraHambly's novel ''Literature/{{Ishmael 1985}}'' is a crossover between ''Trek'' and the Western TV show ''Series/HereComeTheBrides'' (1968-1970). (It's inspired entirely by the fact that actor Mark Lenard appeared in both series.) [[http://barbara-hambly.livejournal.com/82721.html According to Hambly,]] she dug her original fanfic out of a drawer when she heard Pocket Books was looking for ''Star Trek'' authors, and in fact offered to rewrite the setting as a generic Western, but the editor told her it wasn't necessary.

* ''{{Fanfic/After}}'' by Anna Todd started out as a Music/OneDirection fanfiction about an OC falling in love with band member Harry Styles.

* ''VideoGame/ThemsFightinHerds'' started its life as ''[[VideoGame/MyLittlePonyFightingIsMagic Fighting Is Magic]]'', a FightingGame based on the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' cartoon, by a group of fans called [=Mane6=] using the ''[[GameMaker 2D Fighter Maker]]''. After a [[ScrewedByTheLawyers cease-and-desist]] sent by {{Creator/Hasbro}}, [=Mane6=] decided to continue the project, but [[DivorcedInstallment with original characters and a new universe]]. The creator of the MLP:FIM cartoon, Creator/LaurenFaust, was [[ApprovalOfGod hyped about the original game]] and offered her help in designing new characters to the new game. Additionally, Lab Zero Games gave them a license to use the [[VideoGame/SkullGirls Z-Engine]], a professional UsefulNotes/GameEngine, in substitution of ''2D Fighter Maker'', a GameMaker. Now the group of fans [[TookALevelInBadass constitute an actual company]], ''[=Mane6=], Inc'', and their game will be released commercially.

* [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-zagged]] with the ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' premium modules ''Darkness Over Daggerford'' and ''Tyrants of the Moonsea''. Originally slated to be ommercially released premium modules, they ended up released for free after the premium module program was canceled. However when the ''[[UpdatedRerelease Enhanced Edition]]'' of the game was released, the modules got an overhaul of their own with bugfixes and added content and were finally released as paid premium modules.

* Gun Game, a popular FPS gamemode mod where players progress through a list of in-game weapons, gaining a new weapon with every set amount of kills until they're at a final level (usually a melee weapon of some variety), has been a staple modded gamemode of most FPS games ever since the original Counter Strike. Eventually it was added as an official mode to CS:GO(), Valorant, and Halo Reach, Halo 4, and Halo 2 Anniversary's Multiplayer via the Master Chief Collection(renamed "Arms Race" for the former, and "Escalation" for the latter 4 games).

* ''[[Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures DMFA]]'' was originally set in the ''VideoGame/{{Furcadia}}'' online chat/roleplaying client, which would technically make it a fanfic. Early strips have a lot of reference to Roleplaying-terms, internet fads, etc.

* ''VideoGame/TheForgottenCity'' started as a popular quest mod for the elder scrolls game skyrim, then later got remade as a standalone title. Although the standalone version try's its best to recreate the gameplay and mechanics of skyrim, the story and setting was given a new roman coat of paint

* ''VideoGame/TheForgottenCity'' started as a popular mod for the elder scrolls game skyrim, then later got remade as a standalone title. Although the standalone version try's its best to recreate the gameplay and mechanics of skyrim, the story and setting was given a new roman coat of paint

* ''Literature/TheLoveHypothesis'' is about a Ph.D. candidate who fake-dates a moody professor, only for the two to fall in love for real. This started out as a [[Franchise/StarWars Kylo Ren/Rey]] MundaneAU fanfic.

* ''Literature/AngelOfTheCrows'' by [[Creator/SarahMonette Katherine Addison]] is very clearly a take-off of Sherlock Holmes, in which "Holmes" aka Crow is a fallen angel and "Watson" aka Doyle is a hellhound, but according to WordOfGod it started life specifically as a ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' fanfic.

* Hours before the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' modification WAD "Evilution" was set to be released, the creators, Team TNT, were emailed by Creator/JohnRomero offering a publishing deal. It ended up as half of ''Final Doom''. This decision, however, resulted in a BrokenBase: many players were thrilled to see a fan production become canon, while others accused Team TNT for "selling out" their fans.

* Similarly, this is Naomi Novik's origin story for the ''Literature/{{Temeraire}}'' series:

** ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' was inspired by the student project ''Narbacular Drop'', and the gel mechanic in ''VideoGame/Portal2'' was developed from ''Tag: The Power of Paint'' (Valve hired ''the entire'' programming team of the latter). Also, the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 UpdatedReRelease ''Portal: Still Alive'' contained some levels from the mod ''VideoGame/PortalTheFlashVersion [=MapPack=]''.

* One of the most prominent examples in all of video gaming: ''VideoGame/MsPacMan'' was originally an unofficial GameMod of ''VideoGame/PacMan'' named "Crazy Otto", which introduced more complex mazes and semi-randomized elements into the ghost's AI. The mod creators, thinking they might have had a succesful game in its own right at their hands, ended up approaching ''Pac-Man''[='s=] American distribution, Creator/MidwayGames to show off their project. Midway was impressed the modders' work and struck a deal with them, converting it into an out-and-out sequel, and were also the ones to come up with the idea of having the game feature a DistaffCounterpart of Pac-Man. Although this was originally done without Namco's consent, Namco president Masaya Nakamura was eventually brought in on the project by Midway and would provide feedback on the player character's design. The character and others inspired by her would later appear in various official Pac-Man media.