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FAQ ( Frequently Asked Questions) Sticky

A topic by Lee Reilly created Oct 21, 2022 Views: 4,843 Replies: 66
Viewing posts 1 to 20 of 33 · Next page · Last page
Jam Host (1 edit) (+6)

Hi there!

In no particular order, here are answers to some frequently asked questions. Please let me know if anything's unclear or you have more questions and I'll keep this updated.

Can we use Unity or Unreal Engine?

Yes!

> Can we use blueprints in Unreal Engine?

Yes.

Can we use pre-made assets?

Absolutely, although many people will create their own. I'd recommend adding some attribution in your GitHub repository's README.

> Can we use pre-made code?

The use of game engines, libraries, templates for new games, etc. is fine. In fact, it's highly encouraged! Taking a game you've been working on for months, or forking a game and changing some pixels is probably not in the spirit of the jam :)

> Can we sell the games (for the jam or post jam)?

Absolutely!

> Is there a twitter hashtag?

The official hashtag is #GitHubGameOff. We 💜 seeing work-in-progress screenshots throughout the month! <3

> Are games allowed if they contain 18+ content?

No restrictions on content, but if it's something I wouldn't show my kids or grandparents... then it may be less likely that it'll appear on our blog 😎 Please also see itch.io's note on adult content.

> What are the voting categories?

Similar to last year, games will be rated on the following: Overall, Gameplay, Graphics, Audio, Innovation and Theme Interpretation.

> What kinds of licenses are required/accepted for the public GitHub repo?

You're welcome to use whatever kind of license you wish! See this documentation for tips on choosing / applying a license.

> Can I edit the game after the submission period?

Please don't change the game on the itch.io page until after the voting period ends. If there's a bug that seriously affects/prevents playability that's a "quick fix", please feel free to address it. Just leave a note on the itch.io page saying what you changed and why. Since the code is not being judged, you can update the GitHub repository any time.

> Can I join multiple teams?

Yes.

> Is there a maximum team size?

No.

(+6)

Just curious, There will be way more submissions than I will get a chance to see. That makes the early popular submissions typically more popular. Are the submissions going to be forcibly randomized during judging? Or at least hide the popularity sort function?  It may help the ratings get more spread out. 

Jam Host(+3)

Great question! No entries will be able to be judged until the voting period begins on Dec 1st, so the first concern is eliminated. Historically, the entries that get the most votes tend to be the ones that are available on the web, windows and multiple other platforms + the ones that include screenshots, instructions, etc.

I'm not sure if it's possible to hide the 'sort by ...' functionality for the submissions, but I agree that might help. I'll investigate - thanks!

Submitted(+2)

Is there some type of ‘forced’ voting (having to jugde 10 random games first before being able to jugde the ones you like). In the last jam I did that helped a lot, so every game had at least some votes?

Submitted

Out of curiosity, during that system, were you ever forced to rate a game that you, personally, couldn't run? e.g. it was a Mac-only game? Were you given the option of a few random games so you didn't have to just pick the first one given to you? Or did that jam have specific rules for what platforms your game could be submitted for?

Submitted

You could choose from 5 games + 1 reshuffle. I think you could say on which platform you would like to rate and the jam had at least either windows or html upload as a requirement.

Submitted

Hm... the issue is that this jam has no such platform requirements, plenty of people have done mobile-only, VR-only, or Mac-only games. Those games usually don't get many ratings, but at that point that's their choice to make lol.

But, I suppose it could be done with more reshuffles, plus letting u lock platforms more.

(+1)

Do you need a team to join?

Jam Host(+4)

Nope - lots of folks (most?) participate by themselves.

(+1)(-1)

Are we allowed to use a game we already created and submit it, or do we have to create a new one?

Jam Host(+2)

You'll have to create a new one I'm afraid.

What is the prize?

Submitted(+3)

The pride of a job well done (:

And, a portfolio piece, if that's something you're interested in lol

Submitted (1 edit)

Can we make the Github repository before the start date (no work, just initial commit) - so we can things set up with teammates

I think  so.

Jam Host

That's perfectly fine 👍🏻

Submitted

Can we use assets bought from the marketplace? And if so, can we exclude those from the Github repository? 🤔 

Jam Host

That's fine - only share the assets that you're permitted to. I'd recommend making that clear in the repository's README. It'd be great if there were placeholders assets there in their place.

Hi, you said there was no limit to the number of teams, so I put together a team, but they come from all over the world, and want to know what the prizes are? Is it a certificate? Or a prize or something or just no reward? Student: If it's a certificate, is it the team that entered the competition will each team have it or will it only be the highly rated work? If you win, will everyone on the team get it or? Please answer, thank you

Submitted(+2)

There is no reward!

Is their a specific theme for this jam?

First line reads: "The theme for Game Off will be announced on November 1st at 13:37 PDT. Join now and be amongst the first to know the theme!" 1.5 days until start

Do you have to upload source to github?

Jam Host(+1)

Yes, but don't worry - nobody will be judging your code 🙂

Hi, can i code in scratch?

Jam Host(+3)

I think that's fine - as long as you export and share it in a GitHub repository. We once had someone submit a game in a PowerPoint file! 🤯

Really one in PowerPoint?

Ok, thanks

I am sure this has been asked before, but are no-code engines like Construct 3 and Game Maker allowed?

Jam Host(+1)

Yeah. They should have an option to export the projects so you can share the in a GitHub repository.

can i use game maker?

Jam Host

Yes you may.

Some questions for those of us who have never used Github and are stressed about the requirements:

- How do we link the repository to the jam submission on itch.io, do we mention the repository link on the itch.io page?
- Will my submission be disqualified if I mess up the Github repository step? (I'll try not to)

Jam Host

Hi there - great questions!

On the submission page, there'll be a link to enter your GitHub repository URL. Nobody will be disqualified for anything like that. Myself and a lot of others can help if you run into problems 👍🏻

Perfect, thanks a lot!

Are we required to upload our files to GitHub and would it just be the project folder? What if I want to place secrets in it (< most important)?!

Jam Host(+1)

Yeah, but if you have secrets (assuming you're talking about passwords / other credentials) you can leave them blank in the code/config files and maybe just leave a note in the README file. Ideally, people will be able to take entries and build them themselves.

It's probably overkill for a game jam, but GitHub has concept of secrets that you can tie to a repository depending on how you decide to build/deploy your game. My guess is that you can skip it for this though.

(1 edit) (+1)

Does the theme of clichés only apply to language, like the examples on the main page imply with the use of cliché idioms, or is it clichés in general, like game tropes and mechanics?

Jam Host

No - interpret it however you like. Game tropes and mechanics are great examples 👍🏻

Submitted(+1)

Is a non english cliché allowed? given  that I will put some explanation and context in the description section.

Jam Host

Absolutely!

I'm making a game with unity and I have a question about it 

Do i have to put only the build on the github or  my entire unity project ? 

Jam Host

I would recommend just the Unity project :)

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