RPG in a Box FALL 2024 Game Jam

It is developed by Justin Arnold and is available on Itch.io and Steam, with lovely voxel assets by Sarah Arnold, and is supported by Slayer's wonderful Discord community full of passionate members!

Watch this page for updates -- and please read the following sections to learn more!

Let's build an environment in which old and new developers alike can create!

To allow plenty of time for development, submissions will begin October 21st, a month into Fall for the Northern Hemisphere! However, you can join and begin preparing your entry NOW, as long as you check the requirements below. In addition, you can also submit after the date, until the deadline on November 21st.

This development window is long, but I have found that this helps some developers conceive more ambitious projects, and gives other developers more time to consider their project. Please take your time in crafting an experience that you want to share!

In addition, newer users of RPG in a Box will find the extra time helpful as they navigate the powerful development tool, while gaining knowledge and feedback about their project in the community!

The jam is open to all participants who have RPG in a Box, and there are only six simple requirements to submit, listed below.

The goal is to get experienced as well as brand new RPG in a Box users to create works,
and continue strengthening the community of RPG in a Box!

RPG in a Box is a powerful and flexible tool to create RPGs, Adventure games, puzzle games, visual novels and many other kinds of games -- it is my hope that others will use it to create great experiences not only for others to enjoy, but to further their own game development understanding and confidence!

This first year there are two special themes that may be considered when creating a game for this jam!

Each theme is optional, and EITHER, BOTH or NEITHER may be used. However, the judgement phase will rate games on their use of the themes, so for competitive entries, it is strongly recommended to use them.

"TRICK OR TREAT!"

The 1st Theme is Trick or Treat.
An adolescent's wondrous yet ambitious view of an event
taking place only once a year; an opportunity to horde candy.
Spooky costumes and house parties, staying out late and walking amongst ghouls!
Feel free to interpret this theme however you like,
or consider any of the following story or mechanic examples for a submission!:
A character who can be Naughty or Nice.
Door to door subtle threats in exchange for symbolic offerings.
Preparing to go out into the neighborhood.
Gauging substantiation of the collected confectionaries.
Halloween party - let's dance!
"Mom, do I really have to bring my brother trick-or-treating?"
...or any interpretation you have; draw from experience if you wish!

"Harvest Time"

The 2nd Theme is Harvest Time.
The crops are ready, we may reap what we have sown.
We depend on these for our sustenance. We give thanks,
to the sky and to the earth for favorable conditions.
Away with you, crows!...
Feel free to interpret this theme however you like,
or consider any of the following story or mechanic examples for a submission!:
A family gathering.
Harvesting vegetables.
The loneliness of the scarecrow.
Get out of my crops, ya varmints!
The Festival is beginning soon.
...or any interpretation you have; draw from experience if you wish!

There are six rules your submission must follow to participate!

1. Your submission must be made using RPG in a Box.
What will be disqualified?: Submissions NOT made using RPG in a Box.

2. Your work is original for the jam and has not been published elsewhere before (i.e is not a re-submission or a remake of your game)
What will be disqualified?: Entries that have been published elsewhere before the jam, entries that are largely copy-pasted from published games.

3. Your submission to the jam must remain free and accessible.
(If you want to make a paid game but still enter, you can submit a free demo, with restrictions or limitations, to the jam.
What will be disqualified?: Entries that attempt to circumvent this rule; also, participants who remove their entry after the jam will be unable to join future jams hosted by Ash.

4. You must have license to use all of the assets that are contained within your game.
Everything that comes with the engine by default, official DLC, and your own created assets are always acceptable. Music and ambience from public domain or CC0 sources are also acceptable.
Any third party asset pack that you have the permission, license or ownership to use is also acceptable, if the tracks do not also require additional attribution to be played in a YouTube video (see restriction on some music below).
What will be disqualified?: Projects that use trademarked or copyrighted sound, imagery or other assets which are not licensed for third party use. All entries will be vetted during the judgement phase, and they MUST be disqualified if they are found to be (or are suspected of) using unauthorized assets.
Games with music or sound that is not licensed for use on platforms such as YouTube (i.e tracks that require a license to be shared on YouTube) will also be disqualified. (Research this thoroughly - ask ANY and ALL questions in the community tab if need be!)

5. Agree to allow the game to be played on video platforms!
AmalgamAsh (and possibly other judges!) will play your game for a video platform such as YouTube, Twitch, etc... by submitting, you agree to allow the gameplay footage to be published! Please look forward to a playing of your submission on the AmalgamAsh channel!

6. Pledge to not use AI.
You as a participant must pledge to have not used AI assets in your submission, and all assets used are, to the best of your knowledge, not generated by generative AI.

The Jam has three periods - Join, Submission, and Judgement.
All times and dates are listed above at the top of this page. A timer will assist in counting down how much time is left for each period.

Please note, that if the jam gets a very large amount of submissions, more time may be granted for the judgement phase. This decision will be at the host's discretion and will be announced if applicable!

If you want to JOIN and SUBMIT on the same day, it's OK!

Judgement will be done by a panel of judges -- there is NO COMMUNITY VOTING for this jam.

Finally, we get to the tasty part (not as tasty as the feeling of submitting a project)!

ALL qualifying participants of this jam will receive:

A video or series of videos by AmalgamAsh playing their submission! (is this more like a punishment!?)

The winner of this jam will receive:

This is a non-prize jam by default; however, a special video will be made celebrating the winning game.

(We are accepting sponsored prizes! So, this space may update!)

Now get to making!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q. Can I start working on my game now?

A. Yes!

Q. Are Non-English Games OK to submit?

A. Please submit games in English. (DeepL, machine or other translation method is fine!)

Q. Can I collaborate with someone else to make my game? Can we submit as a group?

A. Collaborations, teams and group projects are fine! Each separate participant is also allowed to submit their own project, even if they helped with someone else's!

Q. Are NSFW games OK to submit?

A. Games with NSFW themes may be submitted, however I will reserve the right to edit, limit or restrict the gameplay video for the submission in any way I deem appropriate!

Q. Do I have to use the theme?

A. The theme (or themes) is / are optional. However, Theme usage is judged, so participants may receive a lower judgement score if they do not use the theme(s).

Q. I bought (or got for free) third-party assets, such as plugins, characters, tools, animations, models, or music. Can I use them in my game?

A. Please be sure that the seller has authorized the use of their assets in your project. There should be explicit permission from them to use it, on the page where you buy the assets, or it will be included with them. Works with a CC0, CC-BY or MIT license are best. If you are not certain, you can ask AmalgamAsh!

An AmalgamAsh Studios, LLC event.