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Jam Rules! (README.txt) Sticky

A topic by 🕹️swagshaw created 44 days ago Views: 863 Replies: 22
Viewing posts 1 to 10
Jam Host (2 edits)

Breaking these rules won't disqualify you from the jam, but they will keep you from being eligible for prizes. Ineligible games that make it into the Top 20 will be treated as though they don't exist -- so, for example, if the game in 3rd place in the community vote is ineligible, then the game in 21st place in the community vote becomes eligible.


1. The theme is mandatory and will be a factor in voting.

2. You cannot work on your game before the jam starts. The majority of code and assets must be made during the jam.

2a. Premade assets (e.g., art, shaders, music, etc.) are allowed as long as you have the right to use them and were not specifically made for the jam.

3. You are free to submit your games to other jams.

4. All games must have at least one boss, but 3 or more are recommended.

5. Game engines are allowed.

6. Teams are allowed and encouraged! No max size.

7. Games with mature themes are allowed, but games with explicitly sexual content are not.

8. A Windows or web build is required to be eligible for the main prizes. Sponsor Awards may require a web build and/or use of sponsor API.

9. We won't be very lenient on late submissions, as the jam lasts a month. We highly recommend submitting early so that you don't accidentally miss the deadline. You'll still be able to update your game up until the deadline of the game jam, even if you submit early.

10. Anything you make during BRJ is your property. We claim no rights or ownership of your game. 

11. Any game submitted to BRJ may appear in material/media covering the event without your express permission.

12. You must own the IP of your game. No fan games.

13. Genre mashing is allowed! If the game is still mainly a boss rush, feel free to introduce roguelike/RPG/etc elements!

14. To be eligible for the cash prizes, you must have Paypal, Venmo, or some other way for us to get our money to you, such as a bank account. You must also supply a Discord account or email so we can contact you.

15. Games made or heavily contributed to by judges are not eligible for the prizes. Games made by judges will be treated as if they do not exist - for example, if there is one judge game in the Top 20, then non-judge games that placed 1 to 21 will all be eligible rather than 1 to 20, to not take any opportunities away from non-judge participants.

16. Individuals can only join one team, thus only 1 submission per team.

17. Hosts and Moderators reserve the right to disqualify any malicious actors from the jam using discretion and common sense to apply rulings on a case-by-case basis.

What is the maximum number of people in a team? 

Jam Host

No max on teams. Thank you for asking
I'll update the rules to better reflect this

does it matter what engine is used?

Jam Host(+2)

It does not -- feel free to use any engine you see fit!

I want to say that, for common sense, while you can use anything, this should exclude stuff like Roblox, Fornite, and Mario Maker, which require purchases or external downloads to play. But we haven't had anyone try that yet.

For argument's sake and to expand my answer for you. 
If some did make a game in another game, we wouldn't want to ban them or exclude them from the jam; we just most likely wouldn't be able to play it to judge, and the public voting period wouldn't be able to play easily either.

Than can I just join this jam made in roblox?

Jam Host

You can. I don't recommend it as people probably won't see it, and it won't be eligible for prizes.

But yes! If you want to make a Roblox game, go ahead.

(1 edit)

HI! I hope you are doing well. This is my first jam. So, i would really appreciate it if you can guide be by giving me some of your time.

Jam Host

I'm happy to help guide and push you in the right direction, I could also do a short call. I think the best place for this conversation is in the discord!

There's a ton of super wholesome people that want to see your growth.

Hmu I'm swagshaw there as well

Maybe I'll do an event where people can ask questions.

https://discord.gg/uzKPF4NjfJ

Thanks for your response.

Hi! I know you can't work on your game before the jam starts, but can you start creating ideas for it? or is it like everything to be made ONLY during the jam

Jam Host(+1)

Brainstorming is a creative process that we encourage as jams are a good time to try something new or test your skills, but trying to decide what game you'll make is going to have deminishing returns due to the theme being an important part of this jam.

Games should be made during the jam. But logistics is pretty fair game: for example, personally I like to figure out if I'm going to be working in 2D or 3D, the engine I'll use, team assembly, the version of the engine the game will be made on, what source control is needed for the team (github), any asset packs that might be helpful in a pinch, how the team is communicating, time zones, discord servers, trello boards, file sharing, --- and.. in the past I've also decided certain genre/mechanics with teams we'd find interesting to make, it's just fun to say "hey no matter what let's make it multiplayer" but we don't hook anything up until the jam starts. Teammates should be assembled ahead of time and you should all be ready to start when the clock starts, but nothing about the game itself should be started.


Brainstorming, imo is going to yield the best results when the theme is revealed as you'll build a game around the theme mechanically.


Hope that helps!

Thanks! It did help.

Can you use IP's in the public domain? Like steamboat willie

Jam Host

A silly but great question! Public domain is fine. As long as you have the rights to something, we encourage you to be creative when making your boss rush game.

Can you use assets from online, as long as its open for commercial use?

Jam Host(+1)

Yup!

what is the theme?

(+2)

It will be announced when the jam starts

(+2)

ok sorry

(+1)(-7)

Can I use A.I-made-stuff ?

how Can I participate

Host

Just joining the jam is enough --


Once the jam starts, there'll be a "Submit" button on the jam page you can use to submit your entry.


Though be aware that you can't actually begin working on your game until the jam starts!