Where the muse takes you · 2:03pm Apr 3rd, 2017
A few people have asked me why I don't have a crossover tag on Catalyst. It's a valid question, and while I acknowledge that the story is technically a crossover, I don't feel that it's enough of one to warnet the tag. I prefer to reserve the tags for the major parts of the story after all, and I generally don't like to spoil things for people through the character tags and the like so I'll often tag things in later after it's happened in a chapter.
While the story is heavily inspired by the recent love of my gaming life, ARK, well, ARK has absolutely no lore behind it. For a world builder like me, when you see something interesting but lacking an explanation for any part of it, you need to fill in those gaps. I've spent a lot of time in game just sitting around in a watchtower, and had time to think about the many, many questions I had about the game world. In order to fill you in on how much there's unexplained in ARK, I will now tell you the sum total of all ARK lore.
Sometime before you arrived on the ARK four people with names left notes about the things they discovered on the ARK, or their own experiences. These notes are in character, but are super duper short, are scattered randomly about the map, and realy are there to tell you about in game things like what a species of dino is good for, or how to cook an in game food item.
Yep. That's it. Not one other thing explained. They explain who wrote the in game "X does Y" tips you can find. And not one thing more.
This was driving me crazy, so I came up with my own ideas, which spilled out into a science fiction universe to explain things. Which is why I can't really call this a crossover. The only ideas I am using which come from Studio Wildcard is the basic concept of "A technological facility full of dinosaurs where people survive and have access to tech ranging from stone to space-future." as well as a few names and the general kinds of tech available to the inmates (Though I've got ideas there too).
All of the characters seen so far are my creation. The idea of the ARK being a prison that experiments on the inmates is mine. Everything but the dossier pictures I've linked to (Cuz how many of us know dinosaurs by their vague descriptions?) is my own creation.
Which is why I can't realy call this a crossover. It's more like a setting heavily inspired by another work, or the result of a story starter but for a setting. There isn't enough canon info for ARK to be more than a template for a setting.
That said, if enough of you think I should put the crossover tag on, I will. But I still say there really isn't enough lore on ARK's end to warrant a crossover tag. Especially since the core idea behind ARK is made up fo stuff that's all public domain, and is the kind of thing I write anyways, just minus ponies. (And there's no pony mod for ARK :c I had to get ones in there somehow!)
In short, rather than creating a new setting from scratch, my muse only cared to develop the ideas which ARK had given me. I came up with a cool idea, I wanted to share it with you guys, and well I'd already planned on Twilight being banished for a time. Since I have established my AU is set in a multiverse of infinite possibilities I decided to change it from "Twilight is banished Luna style" to "Twilight has a universe hopping adventure".
Don't worry though! Despite the setting seeming lie a harsh and crule place, I have a fun and enjoyable story planed 
Twi wont be compelatly misserable for long.
You made me want to go back and play Ark again.... lol
Fair.
I can vouch agreement with Meep here. ARK is awesome fun, and has excellent gameplay, there is almost no lore. And the four survivors you find notes from aren'the so much lore as flavor text.
I have only found notes from three of the four.
One seems to be a modern day biologist, her notes only reference specific creatures in dry, scientific fashion as though she were writing a research paper.
One seems to be an 18th or 19th century explorer, his notes only reference specific locations on the map for their scenic or resource value and are written in the manner of a personal correspondence to the reader.
The last I have found seems to be a Hellene, that is a Greek from pre-Roman times, and his notes are mostly trying to explain more esoteric parts of the setting, like the beacons and obelisks, through his mythos.
Perhaps more lore will be added later, but as to your story; I say don't add the tag. While I don't know the specifics, obviously, you gave your reasoning and it is good. Also starting to really hate touch screen phones.
Ahh, I was wondering about the backstory as presented, if that was from ARK or not.
4482062 And Timuri failed to mention that the Greek guy's notes... are actualy written in anachronistic greek and you need to translate them/ google translations :/
4482105 The only lore I'm using is the terrain itself and the critters found therein :P
Upside if you have the game, Twi came in at 79.5 30.6
4482638
Nice, it's out!
I'm having problems with the Xbox, it may or not be able to be saved, will have someone look at it/internet search a solution. I forgot to buy the game because I was still unsure (found some sweet games :P)