Hosting a Game Jam Contest

[Studio Blue]

Hey everyone, Steel and Teal with Studio Blue here. Since we've reached 100 subscribers, we've decided to host a Game Jam Contest next week. This is an RPG Maker contest open to everyone.

We have a few rules we'd like to go over, so please listen up. We also posted a short video going over the rules more in depth.

Here are the rules for the Studio Blue Game Jam Contest:

1. Prize Categories: Game Mechanics, Story and Characters, Overall Fun.
2. Completely new project. No demos of other projects, no entrants in other contests. Completely new.
3. Must be self-contained and completed. No Chapter 1 of a larger, longer work.
4. RPG Maker VX, VX-Ace, or MV only.
5. If we cannot run the game on Windows 10, it's disqualified.
6. The game must be in deployed state. Be sure to test it!
7. The game must be rated 'M' or lower; no adult games! Basically, we need to be able to post it on YouTube.
8. No copyrighted music or assets! Default/RTP is obviously allowed, so are non-commercial assets that are free to use, and so are assets that you paid for.
9. The final game must be between 30 and 60 minutes. There will be some leeway in case we take a little longer to play.
10. Send us the file through Google Drive or Dropbox Direct.
11. The game must include a text file with your username and contact email.
12. Contest begins June 5th when we release the theme.
13. The game must follow the theme!
14. Contest is two weeks long. Entries are due June 20th at midnight Eastern Time.

We've been getting lots of questions on the assets rule (Rule #8), so here is some clarification. We mean no assets from a commercial source (anime music, Super Mario Sprites, Final Fantasy tiles, etc). If you paid for the asset, if the asset is free to use for non-commercial games, or if the asset is custom created by you or your team, you're fine. A good rule of thumb: If you aren't sure if it's OK to use an asset, don't use it! Hopefully, that helps clear things up.

Prizes: Steam Keys and a major Shout Out. Runners up will also get a minor shout out.

Most importantly... HAVE FUN!

If you have ANY questions or need any clarification, please ask them in this thread or over private message.

We look forward to seeing what wonderful things come from this contest!

 

[bgillisp]

PS: Just wish to add this before anyone inquires...they have asked us moderators and gotten permission to host this. So this is not in violation of forum rules. Just a clarification before we get 1000+ inquires about this.

 

[umbralshadows]

We can have teams ?? (if so I'm a character artist who needs more experience with busts n CGs n sprites animations etc. so hit me up if ya wanta team with me anyone- in PMs, I can help ideas an writing to)

 

[Frogboy]

Oh, cool. Can you drop any general hints in the theme? Is it going to be serious or more lighthearted?

 

[GoodSelf]

I'll participate! I need a jump-start after a couple of weeks since working on my game.
Can't wait for the theme to be revealed on the fifth!

 

[fiddlesticks]

QQ I will go solo and test my timing'managed skill !

 

[Studio Blue]

We can have teams ?? (if so I'm a character artist who needs more experience with busts n CGs n sprites animations etc. so hit me up if ya wanta team with me anyone- in PMs, I can help ideas an writing to)

Teal and I talked about this at length, and we've decided that it's best it be a solo endeavor this time around. We really didn't create the contest or the rules with teams in mind, and the combined effort of a team would put them in an unfair advantage over an individual.

Sorry. Maybe next time we do a contest we'll create a team category.

Oh, cool. Can you drop any general hints in the theme? Is it going to be serious or more lighthearted?

We're not sure ourselves what the theme is yet. We have a list that we're considering, and it's all over the map. We'll have an answer for June 5th.

 

[Scrylite]

Considering how interesting your channel is, shouldn't be long till you are a long way past the 100 subscribers marks.

Game Jams are awesome, its only the clause saying the resulting game should be less than an X length that would catch me out completely. Especially if you want to run around grabbing all the alchemical components.

 

[Studio Blue]

Considering how interesting your channel is, shouldn't be long till you are a long way past the 100 subscribers marks.

Game Jams are awesome, its only the clause saying the resulting game should be less than an X length that would catch me out completely. Especially if you want to run around grabbing all the alchemical components.

We're not going to be tyrants about the game length. We just don't want someone creating a long game when we only want to record about an hour or so at max for viewability (and our sanity).

 

[Studio Blue]

And the theme for the Game Jam has been announced. The contest officially begins!

 

[GoodSelf]

"Working together, we can accomplish anything"

So, I'm wondering what we have to do to make this theme apparent in our game without going over the top. For example, four friends with unique abilities can save the world, but what about two friends trapped in a house trying to escape, or a warrior who can't fight certain monster, but each party member has their own strengths that help to complete the battle challenges?

Each of my characters are going to do something small to help complete the story, but I don't want one of them to say out loud "See? Together we can do anything!"

I guess I'll just hope that my story, characters, and gameplay reflect "working together". Interesting theme, let's hope I can finish the game working two jobs!

 

[umbralshadows]

Funny enouh. .. I have blue hair (an eyes) (an I'm all about tha teamwork). ... time ta make myself into a game chara.

 

[Studio Blue]

"Working together, we can accomplish anything"

So, I'm wondering what we have to do to make this theme apparent in our game without going over the top. For example, four friends with unique abilities can save the world, but what about two friends trapped in a house trying to escape, or a warrior who can't fight certain monster, but each party member has their own strengths that help to complete the battle challenges?

Each of my characters are going to do something small to help complete the story, but I don't want one of them to say out loud "See? Together we can do anything!"

I guess I'll just hope that my story, characters, and gameplay reflect "working together". Interesting theme, let's hope I can finish the game working two jobs!

I think you have the right idea. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do fine.

 

[HexMozart88]

@Foreverwhere So wait, at midnight meaning it has to be done before the 20th?

 

[Studio Blue]

@HexMozart88 At midnight as when the 20th turns into the 21st.

 

[Raijinn]

Okay, time to take a pause on my project~!
Default resources are allowed right?

 

[umbralshadows]

Okay, time to take a pause on my project~!
Default resources are allowed right?

"8. No copyrighted music or assets! Default/RTP is obviously allowed, so are non-commercial assets that are free to use, and so are assets that you paid for."

It says its alloud.

 

[sabao]

Giving this a go, I suppose.

 

[Frogboy]

Me too although I'm not sure I can swing a game in two weeks. Worth a shot, though.

 

[GoodSelf]

Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to enter a submission for this Game Jam, but best of luck to everyone!