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Questions! V2 Sticky

A topic by Lone Rabbit created Mar 29, 2021 Views: 2,298 Replies: 90
Viewing posts 1 to 38
Host (10 edits) (+1)

Feel free to ask questions about the jam here!

The old thread was locked because there was a rule change on 30/3/21 which is:

You can now choose to use the new or old rule.

Host (3 edits)

Here is a sum of what the new rule change changes:

Old rule (a):

  • Only use the colors black (#000000) and white (#FFFFFF) 
  • Transparency, gradient, and anti-aliasing is not allowed

New rule (b):

  • Use any colors in the greyscale. (Any colors in between black and white)
  • Transparency, gradient, and anti-aliasing is allowed

You can pick between using the old rule or the new rule.

(+2)

Wait so we can make gradients now?

Submitted(+1)

Yes...like a LIMBO pallete

Host
Wait so we can make gradients now?

Yes, if you chose to follow the new rule (b).

Submitted(+2)

Yes, for rule B. But c’mon! Rule A all the waaaay :) I really like the simple restrictions for this jam ^^

Submitted(+1)

Same, I want to make something like undertale, but without the occasional color.

Would you like the game in a windows mac or Linux file OR should I export it to the web?

Host(+1)

Any, it’s up to you. Though exporting it to the web will let the most people be able to play your game. You can also upload the files as well.

hello, can we discuss the idea, but not make the game? is that rule breaking? just discussing what we will make, but not making it. just brainstorming. is this breaking any rules?

Host

Nope, that's perfectly fine!

Is it ok to use other scripts that I have made before?

Host

Do you have any examples? (E.g. movement, controls?)

Its just a movement script

Host

Then sure!

Submitted

Just trying to see if my idea fits in with rule option A... If my game is a high enough resolution (like 1024x576), can I use hinted anti-aliasing just to make lines look smooth like your B&W image in the Jam details? I just don't want to make my game something like 16-gazzilion x 9-gazzilion just to make lines appear smooth without anti-aliasing lol. 

I'll draw everything as vector images that only use true black and white, then export as PNGs with hinted anti-aliasing turned on. In spirit, the player will still only be able to see #000000 and #FFFFFF just like this hinted anti-aliased image. If that's a deal breaker I'm happy to submit under option B. 

(This image has hinted anti-aliasing)
Host(-1)

That was what I was trying to explain here, but it’s kind of confusing.

To put it in short, yes that is allowed.

Submitted

Ah I didn't see that post. My bad! Thank you for the clarity!

(1 edit) (-1)

How do I export the game iil make?

Do I need to create a setup file?

Host

Up to you.

(1 edit)

Will there be a theme to Strictly follow or a optional theme

Host(+1)

There will be optional themes added later before the start of the jam.

hmm that means we can just stick to rule a or b (following themes is not necessary)?

Host

Yep!

one more question : can we have some cutscenes with color?

Host

Nope, sorry. Everything needs to be black and white (or greyscale if you choose b)

ok :)

Can I submit the game I make here to another game jam as well? It’ll be made within the jam’s time period

Host(+1)

Yep! As long as you follow both jam's rules as well.

How do you ensure that the game is made during the jam?

Host(+1)

I cannot ensure anything. It's the entrees' own responsibility to follow the rules and not break them.

Thanks!

can we start the game before the jam?

Host

No. You can plan though.

k

Hello, this is my first time taking part in a game jam, and I have a query: using the timestamp from this YouTube video as context, does the dithering there equate to a gradient (that would not be allowed in option A)?

Host

Hi! You are allowed to use dithering for A since it uses only the colors black and white, by gradient I meant ones that uses the colors in between black and white, which is not allowed for A.

Thank you! --a. meanswell

you are allowed to do that for A or B because you are only using the colors black and white. 

Submitted

Hello! 

I just want some clarification about "transparency" in A. If we are making a visual novel, is dissolving from one scene to another fine? It would seem unnatural if there's no transition.

Thanks.

Host (2 edits) (+1)

Hi! I'm afraid you can't, though there are many other transitions other than dissolving that you can use that does not require transparency. Here are some examples of transitions (only look at the ones that does not need transparency), for example the windowslice one or maybe even this one.

(+1)

Since the answer appears to be no, I have some advice as somebody working on a low colour-depth (48 colours max on screen) visual novel. If possible, see if you can implement a dithering transition instead of a transparency based one. On anything 1080p or below on a display greater than 12 inches in size will see it's clearly a pixelated effect, but if you render your game at half resolution, the chunky pixels will make it look pretty neat, akin to a PC-98 visual novel.

Submitted

Got it. Thanks for the answers and tips!

Is this just for video games, or can we do TTRPGs, boardgames, etc?

Host

Unfortunately this jam is for video games only, but I'm not going to disallow it if you really want to submit a ttrpg/physical game entry, it's just that there will be less people who can play it and rate it.

I tried testing with Godot v3.2.3 with all my previous projects and whenever I export them to an application through the "Windows Desktop" export template, the .exe isn't empty. ...But once I run them, this kind of message always pops up below. If I submit my entry when the jam has already started and this happens, am I allowed to send the folder with the resources that require the engine editor?

Fix "This app can't run on your PC" on Windows - gHacks Tech News
(3 edits)

Why not upload an in-browser version? This message appears when (i guess) SmartScreen is turned back on after an update. Turn it off, or add exception. It worked before on your pc. Or maybe some export setting got screwed in Godot.
Nobody's gonna download extra things from anywhere else, put every requied things in the uploaded zip if you have to.

(1 edit)

The HTML5 template works just fine, I'll do an in-browser version of it. And thank you for your solution! --a. meanswell

Submitted(+1)

how can i made upoad the game to summit it in the jam?? i just put the hashtag??? #??

Submitted

Also curious about this!

(4 edits) (+1)

Here you go: https://itch.io/jam/wowie-jam-3/topic/1234906/how-to-submit-your-game

Of course, the jam haven't started, so you cannot make/upload/submit the game yet.

The hashtag thing is for easier Twitter discovery/promotion. 

(1 edit)

Imagine a scenario, I submit a game with 5 days remaining till deadline.
I might want to do this in order to get some early feedback to polish it before deadline comes.
Is it ok to then update my game before the deadline, or submission itself needs to freeze the game?

Host

You can update your game as many times you want until the deadline. The submission will not freeze until the deadline.

Theme???

Deleted 1 year ago
Host (1 edit)
(translated by Google Translate): Can the game be delivered in (html5)? [Sorry for the question, I'm new to game jam. {like, this is my first time in one}.

Yes, the game can be delivered in html5. Welcome and have fun working on your first then. ^^

(translated by Google Translate, meaning might be different from original): 

Sim, o jogo pode ser entregue em html5. Bem-vindo e divirta-se trabalhando em seu primeiro então. ^^

Hi I'm confused about something, did Game Jam start now or will it start only tomorrow? I know that this question seems weird but on the game jam page ta saying that the game jam has already started

Submitted

I think it started now, I have started working on it so...

Thank you!

Host

Yep, it just started 30 minutes ago from when this reply is made. ^^

Submitted

hello,  just a quick question, pixel art is ok, right?  

Host

Yep!

Submitted

Hello!

I'm making a VN where you can unblock some story parts depending on your progress, like side plots. Is it fine if I include the optional theme in the side plot and not the main plot? So, the user will have to unblock it.

I can make the beginning of the side plot directly accessible for the Jam, but I'd love for the user to work a bit to unblock the rest of the story. I'll indicate where the theme is included.

Host (1 edit) (+1)

Yeah, if you indicate where/how the theme is included then it should be fine.

Submitted

Hello everyone....Any composer available to make a partner?

So I was thinking about have a secret boss in the game that has one difference to the game, so let me first tell you the inspiration for this secret boss Idea, Do you know what undertale is? Well The battles are black and white, but there is pretty much just one character that uses color, sans all he has is a Blue eye, I was thinking about something like that, just asking!

Submitted

Sans! That is cool that you are making an undertale styled game.

Submitted

Not sure if I am going to yet, but can I use other people's pathfinding materials? Like download an A* asset?

Host (3 edits)

From the FAQ:

Q: Can I use pre-made assets? A: Yes, but please ensure you have the legal rights to do so. Note that you will be asked if you or your team had created the art and/or audio for the game or not; this will be displayed publicly on your game's jam page.

I am not sure what you mean by an A* asset.

Submitted

As in someone who has already made a 2d pathfinding system using the A* algorithm, like the one used here:

Host (1 edit)

Yep, then you can use it because it counts as an asset.

Submitted

Is chromatic aberration allowed?

Host(+1)

Unfortunately no, since it uses red green and blue.

Submitted

ok

Submitted

Hello dear,

I will go with old rule A. Could I use transparency alpha 0 in the middle of my pixel arts? Total black, total white, dithering and alpha 0?

Host

Yes, as long as everything on screen is black and white it is allowed.

Submitted

Using the theme is not necessary right?

Host

Yes, it is an optional theme.

Submitted

Can we use swear words onto our game?

Host

Yes, just don't go overboard with it.

Submitted

Deadline Synchronization?

Hi! The deadline for this jam is April 25th 2021 at 12:00 PM, however I am also planning to enter another jam that ends on April 26th 2021 at 12:00 AM (https://itch.io/jam/spring-lisp-game-jam-2021). So, a 12 hour difference. Unfortunately as soon as your deadline closes, as I understand it, I won't be able to make any updates. However, from past experience, I know that the last few hours in the Jam are sometimes the difference between a bad tech demo and something that actually plays...

Could I request that the deadline be extended by another 12 hours to match the other jam?

This is only a request and I will still try to enter this one as long as I have something that plays. I have carefully followed the rules (rule "A", to be precise... ; - ), so I should have a workable entry. But those extra few hours would be very helpful!

For what it's worth, here's my most recent WIP of the game I plan to submit: https://oofoe.itch.io/zodetrip/devlog/245674/music-and-mood.

Thanks for your consideration!

Host

Hi! Although I can't extend the jam's deadline as a whole for everyone by another 12 hours, I can accept your submission as a late submission. Just DM me on Discord when you are finished, just don't go over 12 hours after the jam finishes. Good luck with the rest, looks good so far! :)

Submitted

Thanks very much! Will do just that!

Submitted

Uhm, so someone found a game-breaking bug and I deleted the old file without realizing that I can't re-upload it...so now it's only available for MAC. Is there some way I can fix that? 

Host

Yes, can you DM me on Discord?

Submitted

So, I accidentally left some color in my game, it was in some menus, so briefly that I didn't even realize it until someone told me. They're all default menus that the game engine includes by default that aren't really necessary to the game, hence why I never noticed it. If that's a problem for the contest, I can make a really minor fix on it.

Host
I can make a really minor fix on it.

Yes, that would be great if possible. Can you contact me on Discord once you are done fixing?

Submitted

Its done, but I don't use Discord.

Submitted

Can we post a community post for rate for rate? Is that allowed?

Host

Yeah

Submitted

Is there a certain number of ratings a game needs to be given a rank?

Host

Nope, all entries will be given a rank. But apart, the rating system here is similar to that of Ludum Dare's.