TECH FEST OF NIELIT IMPHAL

MISSION BRIEFING: 72-Hour Development Challenge
CORE DIRECTIVE: Culture Meets Technology
OPERATIONAL TIMEZONE: IST (Indian Standard Time)

[00] MISSION_TIMELINE

[REGISTRATION_OPENS]     February 10, 2026 
[REGISTRATION_CLOSES]    February 17, 2026 | 11:59 PM IST 
[JAM_INITIATION]         February 18, 2026 | 12:00 AM IST (Midnight) 
[SECRET_ASSET_DROP]      February 18, 2026 | 12:00 AM IST 
[DEVELOPMENT_WINDOW]     72 Hours (Feb 18-21) 
[SUBMISSION_DEADLINE]    February 21, 2026 | 12:00 AM IST (Midnight) 
[GRACE_PROTOCOL]         +15 minutes for technical errors only 
[VOTING_PHASE]           February 21-24, 2026 
[RESULTS_BROADCAST]      February 24, 2026 | 12:00 AM IST 

All times are in Indian Standard Time (IST). Convert to your local timezone accordingly.

[01] ELIGIBLE_ENGINES

To ensure a fair playing field and industry-standard output, participants are restricted to:

• Unity (any version)
• Godot (any version)
• GameMaker (any version)

Not Permitted: Unreal Engine, RPG Maker, Scratch, Construct, Roblox Studio, or any "No-Code" builders.

[02] ASSET_MANIFEST

SECRET_ASSETS [CLASSIFIED]

• Asset Type: 2D sprites/graphics (revealed at mission start)
• Deployment: Can be integrated into 2D OR 3D projects
• Mandatory Integration: At least ONE asset must serve a functional gameplay role
• Valid Integration: Character sprites, interactive objects, textures, UI elements, billboards, collectibles, power-ups
• Invalid Integration: Hidden placement, credits-only appearance, non-interactive background decoration

ACQUISITION PROTOCOL:
Secret Assets will be transmitted via itch.io jam page and registered participant emails at February 18, 12:00 AM IST.

THIRD-PARTY_RESOURCES

• Permitted Licenses: CC0, CC-BY, MIT, Apache, GPL, or similar open-source licenses
• Attribution Required: Credit all external sources in itch.io description with source links
• Acceptable Sources: OpenGameArt, Freesound, Google Fonts, Kenney.nl, itch.io licensed packs

CODE_ORIGINALITY

• Minimum Requirement: 70% of code must be written during the 72-hour jam period
• Allowed: Engine built-in APIs, standard libraries, documentation snippets (<20 lines), tutorial code (adapted)
• Prohibited: Pre-built game templates, code written before Feb 18, complete gameplay systems (500+ lines), wholesale project imports

[03] UPLOAD_PROTOCOLS

SUBMISSION_PLATFORM

• Primary Host: itch.io (Official CYBRELLA 2026 Jam Page)
• Deadline: February 21, 2026 at 12:00 AM IST
• Grace Period: 15 minutes (until 12:15 AM IST) for technical upload issues only

APPROVED_FORMATS

• Option A: Windows Standalone (.exe or .zip) — Maximum 500 MB
• Option B: Web/HTML5 (Browser playable) — Must load within 60 seconds
• Recommendation: Provide both formats for maximum judge/player accessibility

REQUIRED_DOCUMENTATION

Your itch.io submission page must include:

1. Theme Integration: Brief description (2-5 sentences) of how your game interprets "Culture Meets Technology"
2. Controls/Instructions: Clear gameplay instructions and control schemes
3. Secret Asset Usage: Note where/how the mandatory Secret Asset was integrated
4. Third-Party Credits: Complete list of external assets with sources, licenses, and links
5. Known Issues: (Optional) List of bugs to set player expectations

Example Documentation:

THEME: This game merges traditional Rangoli patterns with  cyberpunk runner mechanics, celebrating geometric heritage  through futuristic gameplay.  
CONTROLS: Arrow Keys = Move | Spacebar = Jump | E = Interact  
SECRET ASSET: Used as the main character sprite throughout.  
CREDITS:  • Music: "Neon Dreams" by Artist (CC-BY) - [link] 
          • Font: Pixel Font (OFL License) - [link] 

[04] EVALUATION_METRICS

Ratings determined on a scale of 1–5 by industry experts and community voting:

INNOVATION [25%]

Creative interpretation of "Culture Meets Technology." Unique gameplay concepts, fresh cultural perspectives, and originality.

MECHANICS [25%]

Fun, functional, and intuitive gameplay. Core loop quality, responsive controls, game feel, and player engagement.

TECHNICAL [25%]

Code quality, performance optimization, and game stability. Minor bugs expected; game-breaking bugs heavily penalized.

INTEGRATION [25%]

Creative and functional use of the Secret Assets. Asset should feel essential to the experience, not forced for compliance.

Judging Panel: Experienced game developers and industry professionals evaluate all submissions during the voting period.

[05] MISSION_TERMS

SQUAD_CONFIGURATION

• Team Size: Maximum of 3 members per team
• Solo Operations: Fully supported and encouraged
• Location: Remote/international collaboration permitted
• Registration: All team members must register by February 17, 11:59 PM IST

ETHICS_CODE

• Prohibited Content: No NSFW material, hate speech, or offensive depictions of regional cultures
• Cultural Respect: Theme requires thoughtful, respectful portrayals of traditions and heritage
• Accessibility: Colorblind-friendly palettes, subtitles, and difficulty options encouraged (not required)

OWNERSHIP_RIGHTS

• IP Ownership: You retain full intellectual property rights to your game
• Promotional Use: NIELIT/Cybrella reserves the right to use gameplay footage, screenshots, and titles for marketing purposes
• Post-Jam Freedom: Continue development, monetize, or enter other competitions without restriction

[06] BOUNTY

Total Prize Pool: ₹75,000 INR

RANK	RECOGNITION
1st Place	Cash Prize + Featured Promotion
2nd Place	Cash Prize + Featured Promotion
3rd Place	Cash Prize + Featured Promotion
Honorable Mention	Cash Prize + Judge's Choice
Best Solo Entry	Cash Prize + Highest Solo Dev Rating
Theme Purist	Cash Prize + Best Theme Interpretation

Prize Disbursement: Within 30 days of results announcement
USD Conversion: Approximate, based on current exchange rates
Tax Compliance: Winner's responsibility per local regulations

[07] TERM_PROTOCOL: DISQUALIFICATION

Your submission will be terminated if found guilty of:

• PRE-JAM DEVELOPMENT: Submitting a game started before February 18, 12:00 AM IST
• UNAUTHORIZED ENGINE: Failing to use Unity, Godot, or GameMaker
• PLAGIARISM: Copying code or art assets without proper attribution/permission
• LATE SUBMISSION: Uploading after grace period (February 21, 12:15 AM IST)
• ASSET VIOLATION: Not integrating the mandatory Secret Asset into gameplay
• CONTENT BREACH: Including NSFW, hate speech, or offensive cultural depictions
• MISREPRESENTATION: False claims about team composition or development timeline

Appeal Protocol: Submit disputes to official@cybrella.in within 24 hours of disqualification notice. Review committee decisions are final.

[08] SUPPORT_CHANNELS

COMMUNICATIONS_HUB

• Primary Contact: official@cybrella.in
• Response Time: 2-4 hours during jam period (Feb 18-21)
• 24/7 Support: Available via itch.io Community throughout the 72-hour window

FREQUENTLY_DECODED_QUERIES

Q: Can I use AI coding assistants (ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot)?
A: Affirmative. AI tools permitted. The 70% code originality rule still applies to AI-generated output.

Q: What if the Secret Asset doesn't fit my game concept?
A: Adaptation is the challenge. Best developers find creative integration solutions. Contact organizers if truly stuck.

Q: Can I update my game after submission?
A: Minor bug fixes allowed during voting period. Major feature additions prohibited. When uncertain, ask organizers.

Q: I've never made a game before. Can I participate?
A: Absolutely. Game jams are learning experiences. Start small, focus on one polished mechanic. Community help available.

Q: Can I work on ideas/design docs before the jam?
A: Planning allowed. No code, assets, or actual development until February 18, 12:00 AM IST.

[09] THEME_INTEL: "CULTURE MEETS TECHNOLOGY"

Mission Objective: Create games that blend regional heritage, traditions, and cultural elements with futuristic digital mechanics or technological concepts.

CULTURAL_ELEMENTS [Explore]

• Arts & Crafts: Traditional textiles, pottery patterns, folk art, calligraphy, rangoli, mandala
• Music & Dance: Folk instruments, classical forms, tribal rhythms, ceremonial music
• Festivals: Harvest celebrations, religious traditions, seasonal ceremonies
• Mythology: Creation myths, legendary heroes, folk tales, ancient wisdom
• Architecture: Traditional building styles, sacred geometry, symbolic motifs
• Daily Life: Traditional games, cooking methods, storytelling, social customs

TECHNOLOGY_ANGLES [Integrate]

• Futuristic: AR/VR, AI, robotics, holograms, cybernetics
• Aesthetic: Cyberpunk, neon futures, digital dystopia/utopia
• Concepts: Digital preservation, blockchain, space tech, time manipulation

INTERPRETATION_EXAMPLES

✓ Folk tale reimagined with cyberpunk visual style 
✓ Traditional patterns controlling futuristic puzzle mechanics 
✓ Ancient instruments as digital interface controllers 
✓ Regional festivals experienced through holographic projection 
✓ Mythology retold through AI/robot characters 
✓ Cultural architecture merged with sci-fi environments 

[10] TACTICAL_RECOMMENDATIONS

TIME_MANAGEMENT_PROTOCOL

[HOURS 00-08]  Core planning, mechanic prototype, Secret Asset integration 
[HOURS 08-56]  Gameplay build, content creation, iteration cycles 
[HOURS 56-72]  Polish phase, bug fixing, playtesting, export prep 

SCOPE_DISCIPLINE

Mission Priority: Polished 3-minute experience > Unfinished ambitious project

Focus Targets:

• One core mechanic (executed flawlessly)
• Simple, cohesive art style
• Minimal but functional UI
• 2-5 minutes of engaging gameplay

AVOID_THESE_FAILURES

• Changing entire concept 24 hours before deadline
• Over-investing time in art/visual polish early
• Delaying playtesting until final hours
• Forgetting to build/export until deadline
• Overcomplicating the theme interpretation

[11] REGISTRATION_PROTOCOL

How to Register:

1. Visit Registration Link
2. Submit team details and member information
3. Join the official itch.io jam page
4. Await Secret Asset transmission on February 18 

Registration Window: February 10 - February 17, 2026 (11:59 PM IST)

MISSION AWAITS. GOOD LUCK, DEVELOPERS.

SYS_ADMIN // NIELIT IMPHAL // CYBRELLA_2026