Welcome to the Trans Representation Jam 2023!

This is a two months long GameJam celebrating Trans Representation in gaming!

Get inspired! Here's a look at last year's entries 

About:

The Trans Representation Game Jam is a non ranked Jam without any pressure; just have fun making a cool game! The purpose of this jam is to create more games that have trans representation in them in a chill environment. There are a few rules though, so make sure you read through them.

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Theme:

The theme is all about  trans representation! That means at least one major character in your game has to be Transgender or a major part of the story has to be about the trans experience. There are no further themes that you have to incorporate; just let your imagination run wild! Any engine or type of game is allowed, as long as the final game abides by all the rules. Feel free to @TransRepJam and use the #transrepjam when posting about your games and work in progresses if you use  twitter! 

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Rules:

✧ You have to finish and upload the game/ a demo of your game within the jam period

✧ You can continue/ finish development on a game that you've already started working on before the start of the jam

✧ Games that have already finished development before the jam may only be submitted if you release a major content update for the game within the jam period

✧ Your game has to feature trans representation,  and this representation has to be referenced or acknowledged within the game. Just claiming that a character is trans in a small text in the description without any indications within the actual game is not enough. (more on this in the Q&A section) 

✧ Be respectful and informed. Games endorsing any form of racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia or transmedicalist gatekeeping/ bio-essentialism are not allowed. 

✧ Any games containing AI-generated content will be removed from the jam submissions. This includes painted-over. If you try to pass off your game as non-ai generated and we find out that you lied, you will be furthermore banned from participating in future TRJs. (Lying means that you are aware of the fact that you're breaking a rule and are trying to fool us. If you use AI on accident or were not aware of this rule and own up to your mistake that's something else. Your game will still not be accepted for the jam until all AI content has been removed, but you may rejoin in future jams.)

✧ If your game deals with topics that some may find uncomfortable, please include a content warning screen.

✧ Graphic displays and detailed descriptions of sexual scenes are  only allowed after they have been approved by one of the moderators. If you publish a nsfw game that has not been screened by a moderator of the jam, it will be disqualified and removed from the entries until a screening has taken place.

And most importantly:

✧ Have fun!

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Q&A:

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Q: Is there a discord?

A: Yes! https://discord.gg/S2xkNkSQRQ

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Q: Is there a hashtag that I can use to post my work?

A: The hashtag is #transrepjam. Please also @ the twitter account of TRJ so we can retweet your post! :) 

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Q: Can I submit my game to other jams aswell?

A: Sure! As long as it still abides by all the rules :)

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Q: Can I submit a ttrpg/tabletop/card game?

A: Yes. Any game. Any :D

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Q: Can I use assets that aren't mine?

A: Aslong as the assets are not AI, yes. But make sure you have the rights to use them and properly credit any third party assets that you use (unless they do not require you to)

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Q: What if I'm not sure if an asset pack I aquired is AI?

A: You can either join the discord, or open a thread on this jam page or write the TRJ Twitter account and ask about the Asset pack. We'll take a look and let you know, if it is AI created or not.

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Q: Can I work in a team?

A: Yes! 

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Q: Where can I find a team?

A: You could post about it in the community-tab or join our discord to find someone!

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Q: May I submit more than one game?

A: As many as you want!

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Q: Why can I start on my submission before the jam starts? Doesn't this defeat the purpose of a jam?

A: Since this jam doesn't have a theme besides trans representation, it would be impossible to verify that none of the submissions were worked on before the jam started anyway. It's also an unranked jam so there aren't any stakes in the first place. This jam is mostly here to encourage developers to finish their games and to inspire more trans characters and stories being told through gaming. :)

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Q: Does my character have to turn to the camera and say that they are trans?

A: No, and I would even discourage it if it doesn't fit naturally into your game. There are many ways of writing a character openly trans without having the character say it. (Openly means towards the player; the character does not have to be out within the context of the story. If you want to write a story about a closeted trans person, that is definitely allowed!) Visual clues are a good way; Like a trans flag in their room, pronoun pins or empty hrt bottles lying around. Good representation, in my opinion, is something that makes the minority being represented feel seen. So just make a game where someone on the trans spectrum feels seen, however you wish to interprete this  :)   

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Q: Why do nsfw games need to be screened before they are allowed entry? And what does screening even mean?

A:  We need to ensure that these games treat trans people and their bodies respectfully. Games fetishising the community are not allowed. If you want to make sure that your game gets approved, we encourage you to join our  discord  and share your progress in the appropriate channels so we can comment on it. Screening means that we need to talk to the developers, ask them a few questions about the game and play it before we can approve it for this jam.

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