🎄✨ Bookmark Microgame-Jam 2024: Holiday Edition! 🎅🎁 

Get ready to unwrap your creativity this festive season with the Bookmark Microgame-Jam 2024! From December 1st, 2024 to January 6th, 2025, we’re bringing a holiday twist to microgame design. Whether you're a seasoned game dev or a total beginner, come join the fun and make a mini-game that fits right on a bookmark! 🎨🎮

This year, we’re celebrating the spirit of the holidays! 🎅 Your microgame can be inspired by cozy winter nights, festive feasts, or even New Year’s adventures. How will you fit all that holiday cheer on a tiny bookmark? That’s part of the fun! 🎁✨

So grab a cup of cocoa ☕, break out your creativity, and let’s spread some game-making joy together! 🎉 We can’t wait to see what you’ll create—whether it’s a magical winter tale, a festive party game, or something totally unexpected. Let’s make this the merriest game jam yet! 🎄

💡 Themes to Spark Your Creativity! 💡 

 This year, we’ve got some fresh, seasonal themes to warm up your game-making skills. Feel free to interpret these however you like:

1. Winter Wonders – Create a game about winter landscapes, magical snowstorms, or frosty adventures.
2. Tales by the Fireplace – Make a game about storytelling by the fire, where each player contributes to a shared winter tale.
3. Chimneys and Magic – Focus your game on magical deliveries or sneaky holiday surprises.
4. Mystical Forest – Set your game in an enchanted winter forest filled with hidden creatures or magical plants.
5. Festival of Lights – Focus on celebrations that involve lights, like Christmas, Hanukkah, or Diwali.
6. Cozy Cabin – Make a game set inside a warm, inviting cabin during a snowstorm.
7. Holiday Heroes – Design a game where characters save or celebrate a festive season.
8. Holiday Mischief – Design a game where players must outwit mischievous elves, holiday tricksters, or magical creatures.
9. If you have any ideas beyond this theme feel free to submit it as well or keep it for the next gamejam 2025 which will happen at the end of the year as always.

How to Join the Fun! 🎮 It’s super simple to participate:

1. Create an itch.io account (if you haven’t already)—use Google, Facebook, or email to sign up.
2. Join the jam right here and get those creative gears turning! 🧠💡
3. Design a microgame that fits on a bookmark. The smaller, the better! 📏🖍️
4. Submit your game by the deadline: January 6th, 2025. ⏳

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👩‍💻 Collaborate & Create! 👨‍🎨 Solo but want a teammate? We’re encouraging collaborative entries this year! Head over to the community board and find your perfect match—whether you need a coder, artist, or writer, this is the place to team up! 👫🎨👾

Accessibility Matters When creating your game, think about making it accessible! Consider using larger fonts, high-contrast colors, or simplified language so everyone can enjoy your microgame experience! 💪🎮

🏆 Trophies & Celebrations! 🏆 At the end of the jam, every participant will receive a custom virtual trophy/badge (128x128 and 256x256)🏅—perfect to display on your project or profile page. But that’s not all! Join us for the Post-Jam Celebration, where we’ll hang out, show off our games, and cheer each other on. 🎉 It’s all about fun, friendship, and creative energy!

🚀 Check out last year’s amazing entries for inspiration here! 🚀

2022. https://itch.io/jam/bookmark-microgame-jam?ac=UuPaKp8pgvG
2023. https://itch.io/jam/bookmark-microgame-jam-2023

So, what are you waiting for? The Bookmark Microgame-jam 2024 is the perfect way to close out the year and start 2025 with some fun, creativity, and a little extra challenge. Let's make some tiny games with big ideas together! 💡🎮💥

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🎉 Help—I’ve Never Created a Game Before! 🎉

Hey there! 👋 If you’re new to game making, don’t worry—you’re in the right place! 😄 The Bookmark Microgame-jam 2024 is perfect for beginners, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Ready to jump in? Here’s how to get started:

💡 What’s a Bookmark Game? 💡 A bookmark microgame is a fun, bite-sized game that fits right on a bookmark! 📏 Think of it like a tiny adventure packed into a small space, front and back. You can create any type of game you want—like a mini RPG, a card game, a dice game, or even something entirely new! 🌟

The challenge is to be super creative with the limited space. How can you make your game clear, engaging, and fun with just a small piece of paper? 🤔🎮 How can you add art or visuals to make it pop? 🎨 These are some of the questions you’ll answer while making your bookmark masterpiece. The good news is—it’s all about having fun! 💪🎉

🔧 Tools to Get You Started If you’re thinking, “But I’ve never made a game before!”—don’t sweat it! 😎 There are loads of free tools and guides out there to help you. Here are a few to explore:

• Twine: A simple tool for interactive stories 🖋️
• Canva: For making game visuals and layout ✏️
• Google Docs: Great for organizing your ideas 📄

And if you ever feel stuck, don’t hesitate to ask questions on our community page—we’re here to help, and chances are, someone’s got a tip or trick to share. Maybe we can even give you a few pointers! 💬✨

🔍 Bookmark Microgame-Jam FAQ 🔍

We know you’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers! Here’s a quick guide to get you started.

General Questions

Who can participate in the BMGJ? 🎉 Everyone can join—whether you're brand new or a seasoned pro! We welcome creators from all around the world, no matter your skill level. 🌍✌️

Where does the jam take place? 🖥️ The jam happens right on itch.io! All you need to do is hop over to the jam page, and everything you need will be there—including the community tab for discussions, tips, and more. 💬

When does the jam start and end? 📅 The jam runs from December 1st, 2024, until January 6th, 2025. But don't worry, you can join at any time before the deadline. ⏳

Game Design Questions

What exactly is a Bookmark Microgame? 📝 A Bookmark Microgame is a game that fits on a bookmark-sized piece of paper. It can be single-sided or double-sided, but the goal is to keep things short and sweet. 🎯 Think of it like an interactive story or adventure that fits between the pages of your favorite book! 📚

What about game components? 🎲 You can use dice, cards, or any other tools that help enhance your game, as long as your instructions fit on the bookmark. You could even have the player use a specific book to play the game! How cool is that? 😎

Does it have to be a standalone game? Nope! 👍 Your bookmark game could be part of another module or a handy tool for a bigger game. Just make sure you point that out on your bookmark so players know how it all works together! 🔗

How big should the bookmark be? 📏 The recommended size is around 2.5” x 8.5” inches—but hey, feel free to go smaller or mix things up with different shapes. 🎨 The challenge is all about being creative with space!

What types of games are accepted? Anything you can dream up! 🎮 Whether it’s a TTRPG, a solo game, a co-op adventure, or a quick 1-on-1 game—if it fits on a bookmark, it’s game on! 💥

Can I Use Existing Assets?

Absolutely! 🙌 You can use any public domain assets, Creative Commons material, or your own original work. Just make sure to give credit where it’s due. 🎨📝

What if I Need to Update My Game?

Good news—you can update your game after submission! 🎉 Just let us know what changes you made in the description or comments section. We love seeing games evolve and improve. 🌱✨

🛠️ Extra Tips for First-Timers

• Start small. Don’t stress about creating a huge, complex game—sometimes simple ideas are the most fun! 🎯
• Playtest often. The earlier you test your game, the better. You’ll learn a lot from seeing how others interact with it! 🎮👀
• Have fun. Seriously, that’s the most important part! Enjoy the process, experiment with new ideas, and don’t be afraid to get creative. 💡

Thanks for reading! We can’t wait to see what you come up with! ✨ And remember to share your work using #BMGJ2024 when you post on social media!