The Bonus Theme for KeysToTheJam 2021 is Education. Can you make a game which uses the keyboard in an innovative way, that is both fun and educational? An example would be a game where the player learns to code by quickly typing in lines to activate powers in-game. There are many places you can go with this: interpret the theme how you wish and bring your most creative idea to life! Remember, this bonus theme is optional. If you do not want to incorporate it, simply make a game that is not educational but still makes unique use of the keyboard. Full rules can be found below.

PC gamers have long been accustomed to the keyboard: a shiny plate of buttons that empowers them to dive into new worlds and create new things. At the same time, we’ve gotten used to our comfort control schemes. Why are only a few favourite keys used when there is unlimited potential for innovation right in front of us?

It’s time for a change. It’s time to take back the keyboard!

The theme of this jam is Unique Use of the Keyboard. Your game / project must use the keyboard in a unique, innovative, or fun way. Your interpretation could be literal, or it could use the physical layout of the board in a new fashion. Get creative and tap away!

There will also be an optional Bonus Theme which will be revealed here at the start of the event. Taking on this bonus challenge will not land your team a better chance of winning the jam, as there is no rating criteria for this. However, teams who indicate that they have included the Bonus Theme in their submission will be eligible to win the Bonus Prize! More details can be found below and are still coming.

The criteria for each submission will be as follows:

• Creativity: Did the project harness the power of the keyboard in a unique way? Have we seen a project like this before?
• Continuity: Do the creators of the game use the keyboard in a way that makes sense to their goal and the game world? A bad example would be binding the Slash key to giving a character a hug.
• Technical Achievement: Does this project make the player think: How was that created?
• Polish: Is the game easy for the user to understand? Does it contain minimal bugs? Is the product finished?
• Entertainment / Gameplay: Is the final product engaging to the player? Is the gameplay loop deeper than surface level?

All submissions will be rated with the same criteria, including those who take on the Bonus Theme. The winners of the Bonus Track will be the team with the highest overall rating who also included the bonus challenge in their final product. Additionally, there will be a separate award for the game with the highest overall rating. If the best-rated submission also happens to have included the bonus challenge, then that team will take home two prizes!

1st Place Overall: Copy of GTA V for PC (Steam)

Plus:

- Names of project creators in the Special Mentions section of Mash Backslash Studio's game, Backend Bruno

- Exclusive Jam Champion Role in Discord

- Bragging Rights!

Bonus Track Winner: Copy of The Witness for PC (Steam)

Plus:

- Names of project creators in the Special Mentions section of Mash Backslash Studio's game, Backend Bruno

- Exclusive Challenge Conqueror role in our Discord

- Additional bragging rights!

Remember: You can win both First Place Overall and the Bonus Challenge prize. We encourage jammers to create an awesome project and shoot for both!

• All people are welcome to join the jam!
• Teams are allowed in any size.
• You are allowed to use any engine, tool, assets, code that you have the legal rights to.
• Your creation must be made during the time frame of the jam. Outside assets are an exception to this.
• Your creation may be targeted for any platform but must include a build that can run on Windows or the web.
• Your creation must be clearly discernible from any past project.
• Your creation must be submitted on this Itch.io page. You may make multiple submissions.
• No NSFW-related content.
• Have fun!

Rules for Voting:

• You must vote on at least 5 other submissions which you are capable of playtesting.
• If there are less than 5 submissions you can playtest, vote on as many as you can.
• Try to leave comments on every game you playtest to give feedback to the creator and to let them know an actual person played it.
• Do not attempt to manipulate the voting system. Vote fairly on your fellow creator’s submissions. All team members should not vote on their own submission. Exploiters will be disqualified from the jam.