Short version:
Question: Can I-
Answer: Yes.
But: Be nice and respectful. Don't be hurtful or harmful. Breaking this rule will get you banned.
Long version:
Do I need permission from the original artist?
YES! Find a way to contact the original Famicase artist and ask for permission. If they deny it, feel free to choose a different cart.
Will there be voting/judging/ranking/prizes?
None of the sort. Just people making games and stuff :)
This jam is 100% non-competitive. There is enough crunch in the world already, and we believe prizes and competition are terrible motivators. Taking part and making something is a reward in itself.
Wait, what's Famicase anyway?
It's the annual My Famicase Exhibition, organized and hosted by Super Meteor in Japan. They accept submissions for fictional famicom-style game cartridge designs and descriptions every year and then display them in their shop and on their website. This jam is meant to a) bring attention to this amazing little thing and b) to turn these fictional cartridge designs into real little videogames!
Can I start early?
Yes! Feel free to start early if you like. This is supposed to be a very relaxed jam with very few restrictions.
Is there a deadline?
Submissions are open between July 1 and July 31. Maybe longer, we'll see .;) Take care of yourself.
Can I work on an old project?
Yes!
You can work on anything even if you didn't start it during the jam.
Are multiple entries allowed?
There is no magic number when it comes to a limit. We obviously wouldn't want anyone flooding the page with hundreds of submissions. Making multiple projects is totally fine, just don't spam. Maybe just make a collection of your games if they are short and fit together (like me)
Does my game have to follow the Famicase entry's description?
No! You're free to adhere to the provided description, but you don't have to.
Do I have to name my game after its inspirational Famicase entry?
Nope.
Do I have to pick a cart from 2024?
No, you're free to pick any Famicase design regardless of year.
Can I call dibs on a design?
No reservations. And yes, there can be multiple games based on the same cart. There have been some in the past, and it was always super interesting to see different interpretations of the same theme.
Do I have to work solo or can I work as a team?
You can work however you want to!
If you're looking for collaborators, check out the Teams part of the jam community or the #teamfinding channel of our discord server.
Where can I share my progress?
Feel free to post it here in the community section. If forums are not your thing, you can also join our discord and post in the #progress channel.
You're welcome to share your progress anywhere else as well. If you're on Twitter, use the #AGBIC hashtag so people can find it.
What about copyright? / Is it legal to use these covers as inspiration? / Can I use parts of the graphic in my game? / Can I turn this into a commercial project?
Copyright unfortunately is A Thing and there is something called Fair Use (at least in the US) but, if a famicase designer does not want you to turn it into a game, please respect their wishes and choose another cart. This jam is all about a relaxed atmosphere, and there's nothing chill about legal issues.
If you got any questions about the will of the original author concerning for example copying the art style, then ask them about it. We may disqualify you if there are any hassles with the original author, so ask them before you start working on your game.