🧃 Welcome to Drop Bear’s Byte Jam! 🐨

G'day devs and dreamers! Drop Bear’s Byte Jam is here to celebrate that true spirit of creativity, camaraderie, and a little bit of cheeky fun. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve got a portfolio of shipped titles, this  2 day sprint is designed to bring out your best and to remind you why we fell in love with game development in the first place.

📖 Overview

Drop Bear’s Byte Jam is a jam “bite-sized” for busy lives but still packed with opportunity:

• Duration: Friday 13/06/2025 10:00 AM AEST to Sunday 15/06/2025 3:00 PM AEST
• Voting Ends: Tuesday 17/06/2025 1:00 PM AEST
• Winner Announcement: Thursday 19/06/2025 on our Discord server
• Platform: HTML builds (downloadable builds are accepted but HTML/WebGL is preferred to reduce malware risk)
• Genre: Anything goes puzzles, shooters, narrative pieces, experiments, and more
• Team Size: Solo, duo but no more than 5.
• Skill Level: No prerequisites this jam is perfect for beginners, seasoned pros, and everyone in between
• Rules :
• If you use third party assets, or pre made assets please disclose this information in the description of the game and give the original creator's credit for their work
•  No NSFW Content allowed in your submission.
•  No profanity is allowed in your submission.
•  Pre-Made games will be immediately disqualified.
•  Games that do not follow the theme will be immediately disqualified.

🌀 Theme

The theme for this jam is ...... Hidden!

verb

1. past participle of hide¹.

adjective

1. kept out of sight; concealed. "hidden dangers"

🎮 Core Mechanic (Optional)

The mechanic is Lighting. 

Think about the theme and how this could work. Here are a few idea's.

1 : Your player could use a form of light to locate a item.

2 : You may need to use a multi colored light that reveals item's/decals etc. -that are not seen in the normal lighting!

3: You could add a night and day cycle.

The way you choose to use this mechanic is completely up to you! You do not have to add this theme, However this is a voting criteria and may cost you voting points.

🏆 Why You Should Jump In

• Fast-paced fun: Tight on time? No worries. This jam is perfect for building a quick prototype and seeing instant results.
• Learn by doing: Experience the full from concept to finished build within 2 days.
• Expand your network: Meet fellow Drop Bear developers in our Discord, share tips, and maybe form a long term collab.
• Boost your portfolio: A polished 2 day project can showcase your skills to future collaborators or employers.
• No prizes needed: This is all about the passion, the community, and the fun. Plus your game will be streamed live on our Twitch channel for everyone to see.

📅 Important Dates & Deadlines

• Jam Starts: 13/06/2025 10:00 AM AEST
• Jam Ends: 15/06/2025 3:00 PM AEST
• Voting Ends: 17/06/2025 1:00 PM AEST
• Winner Announcement: 19/06/2025 on our Discord server
• Live Stream: Winning game will be streamed live on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/dbsaustralia or https://www.twitch.tv/saryahm

🏅 Voting Criteria + Prizes

After submissions close, the judges will vote on each entry using these categories. Make sure your game shines in all these areas:

• Creativity: How well does your game show off your own creative flair
• Graphics: Are art assets cohesive, polished, and visually engaging?
• Audio: Does your music and sound design elevate the experience?
• Color Palette: Are your colors harmonious, distinctive, and mood setting?
• Mechanic: Did you implement the bonus mechanic and is it fun and well integrated?
• Originality: How unique or surprising is your concept? Would a drop bear dev cook this up?

The winner will be decided based on our judges ranking!

Including the bonus mechanic is optional but adds extra points in that category. A strong showing in creativity and other areas can still earn you top honors.

Prizes

This jam will include a PDF printable certificate of achievement rewarded to the winner of both The Game Jam and The Detective!

📥 How to Submit

• Create a new project page on Itch.io under the “Drop Bear’s Byte Jam” group.
• Upload a ZIP or HTML export of your game (WEBGL) (Downloads are accepted but HTML is the preferred method to reduce the risk of malware.).
• Tag your project with #DropBearByteJam2025 and include your game’s title and team members in the description.

🦘 Join the Mob on Discord

The heart of Drop Bear’s Byte Jam lives in our Discord server. Here’s what awaits you:

• Voice & Text Channels: Chat in real time with fellow developers, ask questions, and share screenshots.
• Developer Workshops: Quick how to sessions on Unity basics, 3D art tips, and audio design.
• Show & Tell: Post early builds and get feedback from the community.
• Shout-Outs: Exclusive roles for winners and social media features.

👉 Join our Discord – We are cooking SNAGS for yah!

Ready to chew through 2 days of pure creativity? Grab your favorite beverage, turn up the Outback playlist, and let’s make some games the world won’t forget.

🚀 Good luck, have fun, and may the Drop Bear’s spirit guide your code!