'So Bad it's Good' Jam 2023'
Update:
Our modifier, as voted on by the community, and chosen at random, has been picked! And it is.... 'Every suggestion combined'! As always, the modifier can be taken literally, or figuratively, and you can choose to interpret (or misinterpret) it however you want!
See the bottom of the page for a full list of every suggestion that was voted upon this year (there were 172 different suggestions 😳).
TLDR: 9 days, bad games, and a whole lotta fun!
For better or for worse, we are hosting the 7th annual "So Bad it's Good" Jam! Make a game that is by no means "well-made" or "polished", but has a unique charm to it. The aim is to create a game that isn't perfect, or extravagant, but is jank to the point where it becomes enjoyable!
Unsure what to do? View our 2022 Jam, 2021 Jam, 2020 Jam, 2019 Jam, 2018 Jam and our 2017 Jam.
The Criteria:
You know the rules…. Oh wait?? You don’t!?!? Welp here they are!
- Rule 1: "It has to be fun to play"
- This is arguably the hardest category to get right. There is a sweet spot with these types of games. Games that are unplayable, or mediocre to the point of boredom, are not fun. In order to make a true SBIG game, there has to be a level of enjoyment. With that said, it is up to you exactly how you choose to achieve this!
- Rule 2: "It can be original or based off an existing IP"
- You can be as original or shamelessly unoriginal as you want. Just don't use any trademarked or copyrighted material. If you want to do an existing IP, at least think of a funny name for it. See Low Budget Quantum Tunnelling or Freedom the Eagle for inspiration.
- Rule 3: "Use whatever engine, whatever genre, however many people"
- Just go nuts. If you want to make your game in Unity, Gamemaker, Unreal, Construct: do it! One person, Two people, Ten people: do it! Hell, if you and your gang of 300 game developers want to create a game for the Neo Geo Pocket, more power to you! Use what you feel most comfortable with, or try something new, and see how it turns out. The only way you could fail is by not releasing a game at all.
- Rule 4: "Games must be made during the jam period".
- In order to make it a level playing field, you can't submit a game that you've worked on/released before the start of the jam. Once the jam starts, you can work on your game as much as you want, but keep your ideas in your head until the jam begins!
Modifier:
For this year's jam, as with last year's, there will be a modifier. The modifier is a special theme or item that could be added for extra points. For example, our previous modifiers have been “Ssh! The tortoise might hear!”, "one button", "impossible", "retro" and "cyberpunk". The modifier has been chosen and it is 'Every suggestion combined'! As always, the modifier can be taken literally, or figuratively, and you can choose to interpret (or misinterpret) it however you want!
Voting for the modifier started in May in the Discord Server, and my (not-so) trusty Discord bot, VoteBot, announced the modifier randomly, two days before the start of the Jam.
Voting/Prizes:
As with last year’s jam, games will be voted on the following categories:
- Graphics
- Sound
- Gameplay
- Overall Bad
- Overall Good
- Modifier
Remember, the individual categories will be judged on whether they are so bad it's good. The voting isn't a measure of quality, but a measure of how well they fit the brief of the jam.
In previous years, we’ve created a "Best of the Worst" compilation for the top 10 winners, and the overall winner can choose whether the bundle is free or paid, and if so, what charity the proceeds will be sent to. If you would like to see the previous compilations, you can see our 2020 "Best of the Worst" Compilation, the 2018 Compilation and the 2017 Compilation.
Find a team:
We have a dedicated Discord channel for finding teams together. If you'd like to find some people to make a game with, the Discord is the best place to do so! You can join the Discord here:
Links:
As mentioned before, we have a Discord server, where you can see the latest updates, and vote on the modifier: https://discord.gg/rn7amBk
We strongly recommend you join the Discord to get a full SBIGJam experience! Over there you can vote for the modifier, and meet your fellow contestants!
And that is all, Good luck everyone!
Every 2023 Modifier Suggestion:
Here is a list of every single modifier that was voted on this year!
| tiny open world | i hope nothing bad happens | whatever !suggest says | let us conduct the ritual |
| 🎷🦖 | 🤨 | crash | destruction derby |
| haunted toothbrush | patent infringement | stained glass | haven't we been here already? |
| bad translation | 2010 youtube | ballpit | number 9 |
| janky physics | boomer humour | bone app; the teeth | chaotic lawn mowing |
| the pizza underground | plaid for a fool | linus tech tips | they stole it!? |
| tax evasion | all or nothing | the future of sportsball | g |
| kevin, 34 | randomized gravity | how to mix napalm | the letter i is required |
| it's all about speed | ludonarrative dissonance | lying | financial compensation |
| the letter h is banned | sunk cost fallacy | maniacal laughter | animate all textures |
| comedically large spoon | fishing | you're the bad guy | endless rotation |
| excessively non-violent | wacky graphics | amogus | overpressure |
| simulator | 13-bit | out of my head | non-existent 4th wall |
| every suggestion combined | my brother is a flamingo!?! | the wages of procrastination | shameless product placement |
| 1000 monkeys with keyboards | wave function collapse | dietary supplements | deja vu |
| kick the baby! | even the odds | all the snails | michael jackson |
| explosive butter | odd the evens | more tea, vicar? | muntjacs |
| quantum quackery | submarine | rock it! | Nicolas cage |
| osha violations | lying bot | bogos binted | observant otter |
| votebot | bizarre banana bash | multiple instances | no. |
| unusually deep lore | out of the box | medieval trader | it's not a phase, mum! |
| fantasy console | everyn't many book | shooting... the messenger!? | cats everywhere |
| but why tho | bouncing monsters | twitter arguments | i like those odds |
| not a lot of nice | blurple | so brave! | plumb |
| canonical game crashes | fuck it we'll do it live | players program the game | lead contamination |
| poor sales numbers | vending machine takeover | shoot the moon! | chonk |
| comic motherfuckin' sans | industrial epsionage | jetpack sex | i hope i don't get sued |
| the depths of hell | something to prove | it's just a prank bro | s.p.i.n.a.c.h |
| unending growth | multiplayer | gacha simulator | too many barrels |
| cats everywhere! | railway jargon | st. david tennant | misuse of mirrors |
| industrial espionage | savage comebacks | giant flying sheep | overthrow the school board |
| let's rotate the board | kill all robots | it's about time | nixon 2024 |
| unapologetically furry | it's going... backwards!? | a day in the life | i object! |
| tumblr shipfics | moist | the taxman cometh | funf minuten |
| blood and gore | unix epoch overflow | kick the baby | toilet unicorn |
| fishy business | the turtle always wins. | sisyphean | just a minute! |
| stick! | powerless | change the change | moment |
| bees (many) | exactly as planned | artificial stupidity | $ |
| obsession | there is only progress. | the least worst choice | grimace shake |
| the uncomfy | (un)necessary censorship | the barrel. | it's dangerous to go alone |
| killing votebot | certified luton moment | attraction | kafka |
| votebot's revenge | sql injection | giant insects | futility |
| impractical joke | 🤡🤡🤡 | disco inferno | washed up |
Submissions(35)
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