Update: THE JAM IS NOW COMPLETE! PLEASE PLAY EACH OTHERS GAMES AND WRITE FEEDBACK! Thanks for taking part, I genuinely appreciate it!

Submission FAQs

Q: I missed the deadline, can I still submit?  A: Yes! Get in touch with a link to your itch project, so I can generate you a late-submission link.

Q: Can I hotfix a bug? A: Yes, please state on the game page what you've changed since submission. The general rule is: don't misrepresent your efforts. So you can update the game, but do it to fix issues that's stopping people play your game - not to add content or polish that you didn't fit inside of the jam. If you want to make a post-jam version, that's totally cool!

Q: When will you play my game? A: I intend to start playing through the games on streams, starting next weekend. The specifics are yet to be confirmed due to some IRL plans, but I'll email all users who submitted a game when I know something more concrete. I'll be uploading the footage to my YouTube channel too.

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Update: THE JAM IS NOW LIVE! ENJOY AND GOODLUCK!

FAQ

Question: Do I have to make a non-violent / peaceful game?
Answer: There is no hard-rules or disqualification, but ideally entries should be driven by the theme, rather than the theme just be an after-thought.

Question: Is <insert idea> considered violent?
Answer: Try and consider if the idea revolves around violence. For example: If you made a game where a character gets shot as part of your game's story - that is fine. However, if the gameplay revolves around shooting people, then it is not fine.  Another example: If you have a racing game, it is okay that cars can collide. However, it shouldn't be encouraged or rewarded, if anything it should be disadvantageous to collide with other cars.

Question: Can I use a 3d model / audio asset pack made by someone else?
Answer: As mentioned earlier in the email, if you are unable to do so yourself - yes you can but you must state it clearly when submitting your game.

Question: Should I still take part if I'm busy for half the jam duration?
Answer: YES! That's the point of it being 9 days, to allow people to take part around their busy lives! Entrants aren't expected to work flat out for 9 days.

THE JAM

• The theme is already announced: The "Pacifist" Jam's restriction is to create games that avoid violence as a core mechanic in your game. 
  • See the FAQ below for questions about "is my game idea considered violent?!".
• You are encouraged to create your game from scratch! Naturally you can copy-paste some generic code you've written in the past. If you want to use an asset pack to fill a gap you can't fulfil yourself, then go ahead - but please state it clearly on the submission page. The key thing here is: be respectful and do not misrepresent your efforts.
• I will stream and play every game submitted ( providing the game files aren't suspicious - to avoid potential disappointment, the safest bet is to create a web build). If you submit concept art or game designs, I will read through it on stream.
• Everyone who submits a game is a winner. People are encouraged to play each others games and give feedback, but there is no individual "winner".

SUBMISSIONS

• You are encouraged to submit your efforts, even if you didn't finish on time! Even if unplayable, feel free to share a design doc or share a video of any game footage you've got.  Be proud of your effort!
• Do your best to submit before the jam deadline. If you miss the deadline, get in touch with me via Discord so I can provide you with a late submission link!
• Do not submit games you have made outside of the game jam's duration. Sounds pretty obvious, but from previous experience this regrettably has to be said! 
• If you created a game for another game jam during the jam's duration and it still fits the Pacifist jam theme - then you are welcome to submit it

STREAMING & DISCORD

• There is no official announcement stream! Feel free to start once the jam has officially started!
• I will be streaming my own game jam entry on Twitch , throughout both weekends and a few hours during the weekday evenings.
• Feel free to stream your own development! Use the tag #gamejam and choose the Software and Game Development category on Twitch.
• If you want to share your progress, there's a channel just for jam on the Discord for text chat, progress pictures and videos!

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This jam is a special jam - "The Pacifist" jam! Recently I've spent time reflecting on the sheer amount of violence/combat orientated video games. Whilst I do not think this is a problem especially, I'm interested in seeing how hard it is to come up with fun game ideas that avoid violence, combat or physical confrontation. The term "enemies" or "baddies" has become such standard terms in gaming - I wonder how many games we can design and make without goodies vs baddies, or designated entities that we are justified in killing!

The Honest Jam returns for its Summer Edition - and will be known as The Pacifist Jam! As usual, this is a non-cram jam, where we discourage working flat-out for the jam duration, but instead have a generous 9-day jam duration to allow people to  take part around their busy schedules / lives! Please don't burn yourself out, and submit whatever you make - no shame in not finishing! Game Designs and Prototypes are welcome, along with board games! 

All entries should focus on creating a game where violent interactions are not the core mechanic of the game.  This isn't black and white, and should be used as a guideline not a hard rule! It's doesn't have to be a "cute" or "cozy" game. To help, here are some examples:

Avoid:

• A shooter game where the objective is to shoot enemies / other players
• A beat-em-up game where you must punch / kick / use special moves on opponents
• A hack-n-slash game where you defeat enemies in order to open a door to the next area.
• A platformer where you jump on enemies to earn coins / remove threats
• A card game where you play cards that represent monsters to fight against an opposing players set of monsters.
• A stealth game where you sneak around and kill / physically take out enemies

Acceptable:

• Games that cover the topics of death / war
• Mechanics where you interact with out players physically, such as "bumping into each other", but where it isn't the primary game mechanic.
• A game where you bounce off other characters' heads in order to make a jumping puzzles
• Games that handle confrontation in a non physical manifestation

Due to the natural limitation of the Pacifist Jam, I will not be setting any additional jam theme - which hopefully helps people be creative and make games on themes and topics that they are passionate about / excited to explore.

Any suggestions, questions or if you're excited to join - let me know!

Join the Honest Dan community discord  here https://discord.gg/Zmp5f5ARqQ. 

You can catch me on Twitch Monday evenings at https://www.twitch.tv/honestdangames. 

Finally, tutorials, game dev interviews, jam highlights and more can be found on my YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/honestdangames. 

FAQ

Question: Is it ok if I do concept art / rough story planning before the jam? Answer: Ideally it'd be done during the jam window, but as long as you're not creating assets / content for your game. So maybe think out a story, but don't write the script? and draw things but don't use them in-game?

Question: Can I continue a game I already started?
Answer: No, the point of the jam is to start a project and end it within the 9 day period! The same goes for using existing code / assets - ideally avoid it, but if its the difference between you being able to take part or not - then you can. If you do use existing assets / code, please state it on your game page clearly.