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Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s a game jam?
A game jam is an event where participants try to make a video game as quickly as possible.
Most game jams take place over the course of a weekend—24 to 48 hours is a typical length for a game jam, and they can take place online or in person. This particular jam is completely online—you sign up and submit entirely on itch.io. Jams usually have a theme, may have team restrictions, and sometimes can include a competition with voting, but overall the idea is to create a functional game or prototype in a short length of time. LDJam is probably one of the more popular ones, and you can browse currently running jams on itch.io if you want to get a better idea of what jams can be about.
- So what do I need to do for this game jam?
Make a game (or some kind of functional interactive work) in two weeks! While weekend-long game jams can be exciting and terrifying for experienced game developers, this jam’s length is meant to encourage absolute beginners to take the time to learn how to make a game. Even if you have development experience, you should be learning something new—whether engine, language, or creating a kind of game you’ve never tried to make before.
- Who can join?
Anyone! This jam is especially welcoming for people who have never made games before—you just may find that it’s not that terrifying or difficult with the right resources and commitment. Experienced devs are encouraged to learn something new–whether it’s an engine, language, or type of game they’ve never created before. In addition, you may enter solo or with a team of people. For the sake of the jam, we encourage everyone to be learning something new in their field!
- What if I don’t finish? What if my game is terrible?
You might not! That’s okay. Terrible games are also completely fine! We encourage you to submit anyway. The goal is that by the end of the two week period, you will have learned a useful skill in some area of game design. Even better, you just might have a really cool prototype that people would love to play.
- Sounds pretty cool, actually. Where can I sign up?
Click the "Join" button on the jam's official blog. It'll redirect you to our most recent game jam on itch.io. You’ll have to sign up to join and submit a game.
- I’ve participated in this game jam before! Can I do it again?
Sure! We encourage repeat jammers, as long as you’re trying something new.
- The information on my pre-jam poll form is no longer accurate! Do I need to notify anyone?
Nope! Just let us know what changes were made in the exit poll. We only use these to get an idea of how to best help the jammers, so it’s not urgent that you change your information. This includes changes to teams, game genre, engine, etc.
- If I'm working on a team, do we all need to fill the form out?
Only one person needs to fill it out.
- Can I start working before the jam?
Brainstorming, planning, and outlining before the jam starts is completely fine! However, actual game assets should be created within the jam timeframe.
- The jam dates don’t work for me. Are you guys planning to do another jam?
We host this jam biannually! (But don’t let that be an excuse for you to put it off!) If you can’t make the current jam, follow us and check back in the summer or winter.
- I work a job/I’m busy! Is there enough time for me to participate in the jam?
The amount of time you put into your game is entirely up to you, so yes. Keep in mind that if you’re on a limited schedule, you may want to make something proportionate to the time you’re able to spend making it. If you’re a very busy person, don’t make something big— instead, aim small.
- Can I get some friends to work with me?
Absolutely! Team work makes game jamming a ton of fun, and plenty of devs work together in teams!
- Is there a limit for team size?
Nope! However, we recommend you keep your team size relatively small so that communication is less likely to break down.
- Can I make a tabletop, card, or analog game?
Yes! Jammers have made these games before and itch.io is very open to different game media!
- Can I make a mobile game?
Mobile games are tricky to distribute through itch.io but we won’t discourage you from submitting them! At the moment, iOS can only be distributed through the app store. You can, however, upload Android application packages.
- Can I use _____ to make a game?
There are no strict limitations on what engines you can use to create a game. You just need to be able to upload it to Itch.
- Can I join the jam after it’s started?
Yes! Just sign up on itch.io and submit your project when it’s done!
- I can’t draw/pixel/compose/etc. Can I use someone else’s work or asset packs? Are contestants allowed to use already made assets?
Yes, but only if you have the rights to it. It depends on the copyright attached to the resource you have in question. Make sure you are 100% sure a resource is free for use, or is under a Creative Commons License. If you’re not sure, it’s always safe to ask the content creator! However, your best bet is to use resources in the public domain.
A list of free resources has been compiled here.
- Can I use purchased assets?
Yes, that's fine! We encourage you to try your hand at making your own, but you're absolutely allowed to use free assets or buy them.
- How do I credit third-party resources in my game?
In either the game credits or the game’s information page on itch.io, simply state what resources were used and the content-creator’s name, and a link to where they can be looked up. (i.e., Art by cool_artist)
- Can I make a fangame?
See the notes about copyright in the above questions. While we don’t boot fangames, we are not legally responsible.
- Can I submit my game to another jam?
In fairness to your fellow jammers, you may only submit your game to My First Game Jam! In addition, we boot games that have been created and submitted before the jam’s timeline.
- Is the jam ranked?
No, we don't rank games.
- Should I mention the game jam in my credits?
Yes! While you don’t absolutely have to, it is common practice to link the jam you create a game for.
- Can I sell my jam game? Do I give up any rights to my game?
You retain all rights to your game and are free to sell it. We recommend “pay what you want” as a payment model to make your game accessible but allow people to tip you if they want!
- What is a game engine?
A game engine is a program you use to make a game. For example, RPG Maker is a popular game engine used to create RPGs.
- I’m nervous! This all seems like a lot of work!
Don’t be afraid! Just relax and focus on having fun! Think of it as a 2 week time-span where you can focus on experimenting with a cool new medium! That’s what we’re all here for— to do something we haven’t done before!
- Are games rated or placed? Do you have prizes?
We don’t rate or place games or offer prizes. The jam isn’t a competition–it’s a community!
- Can I update my game after I’ve submitted it?
Yes! You can update your game after submitting it–even after the jam.
- Help! I’m late to submitting! What do I do?
If you’re on our Discord server, message one of the available mods with a link to your game’s page on itch.io (which means, you need to upload it to the site.) If you’re not on the server, you can also reach us via tumblr. If submitting by ask, make sure you’re logged in and do not submit as anonymous. We need to send you a link back to allow you to add your game to the jam collection. Alternatively, you can also reach us by email: myfirstgamejam[@]gmail[.]com
- Does this cost money?
The jam is completely free to join! Some tools to develop games can cost money, but there are still free options.
- Does (insert type of game) count for the jam?
If it is a game, it’s acceptable (though we won’t get into semantics here!) This includes interactive fiction, visual novels, physical games made by hand, etc.
- Can I get outside help from someone not in the jam?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: all of the tutorials and resources you’ll most likely be using to help you create were, in fact, created by someone else. It’s okay to reply on external aids to learn!
- Is the Jam going to have an theme?
There is an optional theme announced a few days before the jam, so yes. You don’t have to use it— it’s only there to help encourage ideas.
- Where is the theme? I don't see it!
Please be patient with us; the theme will be announced sometime before the jam starts.
- How am I supposed to interpret the theme?
Interpret it in any way you want! Be creative!
- Can I use AI art, music, or writing for my game?
Generative AI (as in machine learning) is not allowed for the total creation of game assets or ideas. This means you cannot have an AI create whole portions of your game for you, like backgrounds, music, art, portraits, writing, etc. We do not allow the use of exploitative generative AI-- AI art trained on content made by nonconsenting individuals.
However you may use AI to assist in tasks involved with the game creation process as long as you are doing the bulk of the work yourself, are using it to edit or add to an existing creative work, and the AI is trained on non-exploitative sources. We cannot judge every individual program, so please use your best judgment as to what is or isn't exploitative-- that is, using the content of nonconsenting individuals to generate content for you.
Here are some examples of appropriate uses of AI:
- Microsoft Sam, Vocaloids, etc.
- Content aware fills (like for tiling photogrammetry assets)
- Tools for assisting in authoring animation
Procedural generation is exempt from this rule and is not considered generative AI for the purposes of this jam.
- Still have a question?
Send us a message or comment on this thread!