Hello everyone!
Just 22 hours left in GBJam before submissions are closed. Bullet points of information:
Please submit projects, even if they're unfinished or broken!
You've worked hard on art / music / programming, but the game is full of bugs or not programmed at all. It doesn't matter. Make a new project and upload the files you made to show people what you made in the jam period. Here is an example of an unfinished project I did last year. Only did music? Release a concept album. Only did art? Decorate your page with your artwork. Game is really buggy and only has a few screens? Upload a video of the parts that work.
To submit your game:
• Go to the jam page https://itch.io/jam/gbjam-12.
• Click the button "submit your project". This will show you a menu for uploading your project.
• Do not password your game.
• Do not require money to play your game (but asking for donations is fine).
• To check your game is submitted, visit the game page and look to see if it says "submission to GBJam 12" at the top. If it doesn't, revisit the above steps.
If you entered as a team:
• One person should submit the game using the process above.
•Make sure everyone has clicked "join jam" on the GBJam page.
•In the "edit game" function you can add a user as a game admin under the "more" button at the top. This will list them as a contributor.
•Follow the guide I wrote to add the game to everyone's itch profiles.
FAQ
Can I edit and reupload a game after I've submitted it?
Yes, right up until the deadline, where the entries will be locked for updates until the rating period has finished.
Will everyone in the team be able to vote in GBJam?
Yes, in theory - though we've had trouble with this before. Please follow the guide for teams above to give yourselves the best chance of success.
Can I exploit the rating process?
Exploiting the voting process will result in a ban of you, your team, and your entry. We are aware that no voting system is 100% fair, but please try to engage in the spirit of the celebration of the GameBoy, creativity, and love for your fellow creatives.
If my game is really broken when submissions are locked, can I reupload it?
No, but you can make another itch.io project and upload a fixed version there. Link to it in the description of your entry. This is to make it clear that it is a post-submission fix.
I'm planning on uploading my game at the very last minute, is this a good idea?
Do not do this. Every year we have about twenty people do this and it does not go well. We do not allow 'special circumstance' fixes for this.
But I'm special, so I can upload everything in four minutes.
You're not special. There is a high chance it will go wrong.
Can I edit my submission's page design after the deadline?
Yes, you can decorate the page and change the text after the submission deadline.
Is it a flex to upload my submission as late as possible?
No, uploading your submission late and risking all your work is really unattractive. Upload a version right now, even if it's not finished.
Can people see my entry before the deadline?
No, only the admin can see your entries, and we see so many that we don't have time to take a look at them before the deadline. Everyone's game is released at the same time.
Someone has uploaded something that breaks the rules / is distasteful / is a virus / is a gif of a cat eating cake and not relevant to the jam. What can I do?
Please report the submission. The moderators will be keeping an eye on the report queue and will take care of it as soon as possible. Reports go directly to us, not to Itch.io. If it is a matter of urgency please ping @moderator on our Discord.
Entries which are in the spirit of GBJam but technically breaking the rules will be given leniency. We much prefer people to try than not try at all.
Should I pull an all-nighter to finish my jam game?
No. Be healthy for your body and your mind. Add those extra features after the jam and put them in the notes of your description for now.
I'm going to upload in the last five minutes of the jam in spite of you giving everyone 12 hours of submission time and hope that my power doesn't go out.
Okay. Good luck.
How long do we have to rate games?
The rating period covers two weeks so as to allow two weekends for playing and rating games. Please try to rate as many games as possible and comment with helpful feedback and nice complements.
This year we've seen so many fresh new developers making their first games, and it makes me really proud. Well done to everyone who finished, or partially finished, a thing this year. Thank you also to the moderation team and our regulars, who have worked tirelessly to answer the many questions that come alongside GBJam.
-Polyducks