ABOUT
Welcome to the "Not A Game" Jam!
Have a game idea that you're rotating in your mind? A visual itch that's begging to be scratched? A want to experiment with art styles and UI elements?
This June 21-23, we're inviting you to join us in:
- Concepting,
- exploring game art and UI elements, and
- Making a game that doesn't exist!
As a deliverable, we'll be asking you to submit an image or video of your "game". We encourage everyone from beginners to veterans to participate! Help us make "games" that nobody has ever seen before.
This year's theme is: ....
TRINKET!
RULES
- Your submission can be any kind of upload, as long as it's NOT interactive! We'll accept videos, GIFs, and images.
- Teams are allowed.
- Outside assets and previous work are allowed, but your submission should significantly alter/build on any assets/previous work used.
- Please include credit for any outside assets.
- Following the theme is optional, but theme adherence is one of the criteria people can vote on during the post-jam voting period.
- Submissions with racist, sexist, or otherwise offensive content will be disqualified from the jam.
- Generative AI (for images or text) is not allowed.
VOTING
After you submit your entry, you can get to work on voting on others'. Entries will be rated from three criteria:
- Would you play this game?
- How well does it adhere to the theme?
- How original are the proposed/inferred mechanics?
Voting will end on 06/25/2024, at 5:00PM PST.
FAQ
| Q: Should I spend all weekend working on my entry? | A: Actually, it would be epic if you didn't. You're welcome to spend as much time as you want on the jam itself, but take care of yourself. Eat meals and rest. |
| Q: Can I turn my submitted concept into a full game eventually? | A: Yes, and if you do, we would love to hear about it! |
| Q: Can I submit something that I've already made? | A: Try to keep most of the work original. You're welcome to use ideas, characters, or locations that you've worked with previously, though. |
| Q: Can I use assets created by anyone else? | A: Yes, but please make sure to add credit. |
| Q: Can I submit multiple games? | A: Yes! |
| Q; Can I include audio in my game? | A: Yes! Since you can submit a video, a GIF, or a still image, you're welcome to use animation, audio, or any other assets that would fit in those submissions. |
| Q: What should my final submission look like? | A: Well...anything! It could be a fake screenshot, a fake product manual, an image of an arcade machine or a CRT TV, enshrouded in darkness... |
| Q: Can I submit a Game Design Doc, game loop, or narrative material? | A: While you can add elements of narrative design, or hint at the game loop/present it through UI elements, please don't submit an outright game design document. Prioritize images. |
| Q: Are there any prizes? | A: .....the glory of winning....... and the friends we all made along the way. |
If you have any questions that aren't covered here, reach out to Stargyaru or Oatvercast on Discord!
GET INVOLVED
If you're interested in working in a team or work jamming with others, sharing your WIP creations, or talking about your proposed game worlds, you can join us on discord here!
FURTHER READING
If you're interested in learning more about the world of fake games, please check out @thegamesarefake and Super Eyepatch Wolf, whose ideas about fake games got us talking, and inspired us to run this jam.
Credit and thanks are also due to:
- Patrik-arts on itch for the "Low Gothic" Font;
- Mounir Tohami on itch for the Pixel Art GUI Elements used in the Cover Image;
- Francois Birard, "Sudden Squall at Sea"; used in the Cover Image
- Overcast for the delightful Jam BG and header image (including UI from Tekken 7 and Duck Hunt);
- Riko, Autumn, and Ken for proofreading jam rules :) <3 ! Thank you!
Submissions(27)
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