**Welcome to ITCH! Game Jam**

**Theme: Unleash the Creativity**

**Introduction:**

Welcome, game developers and enthusiasts, to the ITCH! Game Jam! Get ready to scratch that creative itch and unleash your wildest game ideas. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a newcomer to the world of game development, this jam is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself, experiment, and let your imagination run wild. We encourage you to think outside the box and create games that leave players amazed, amused, and craving for more!

**How to Participate:**

1. **Registration:** To join the ITCH! Game Jam, simply head over to itch.io and sign up for an account if you don't have one already. Once you're registered, you can click the "Join Jam" button on our jam page to officially become a participant.

2. **Form Teams or Go Solo:** You have the option to work solo or team up with fellow developers. Collaboration can bring fresh ideas and unique perspectives to your game.

3. **Theme Interpretation:** The theme for this jam is "Unleash the Creativity." Feel free to interpret it in any way that sparks your creativity. Surprise us with your innovative approaches and designs!

4. **Create Your Game:** Use any game engine or programming language you prefer to craft your masterpiece. Whether it's a pixel art platformer, a text-based adventure, or a mind-bending puzzle game, the choice is yours!

5. **Stay Connected:** During the jam, we encourage you to share your progress, seek feedback, and engage with other participants on social media platforms using the hashtag #ITCHGameJam.

**Rules:**

1. **Original Content:** All assets, including graphics, audio, and code, must be original, created during the jam's duration. The only exception is that you can use existing game engines or libraries.

2. **No Harmful Content:** We expect all participants to adhere to ethical standards and avoid creating games with offensive, harmful, or discriminatory content.

3. **Team Size:** Teams can consist of one to five members. Everyone in the team should be properly credited for their contributions.

4. **Submission Limit:** Each participant or team can only submit one game to the jam.

**Judging Criteria:**

Our judging panel will evaluate the games based on the following criteria:

1. **Creativity and Originality:** How innovative and unique is the game concept? Does it stand out from the crowd?

2. **Gameplay and Mechanics:** Is the gameplay engaging, well-designed, and enjoyable? Do the mechanics complement the theme?

3. **Presentation:** How well is the game presented, including graphics, audio, and overall polish?

4. **Theme Integration:** How effectively does the game incorporate and interpret the theme "Unleash the Creativity"?

5. **Fun Factor:** Is the game fun to play and likely to keep players entertained?

**Conclusion:**

Get ready to let your creative sparks fly and join us in the ITCH! Game Jam. Whether you're an aspiring game developer, a seasoned pro, or somewhere in between, this jam is the perfect opportunity to showcase your talent, meet like-minded creators, and have a blast. Unleash the Creativity, and let's make some incredible games together!

Happy jamming!