Welcome

Whether you call it the Advent Calendar or the Holiday Bundle, gathering together as a community to make games that reflect the joys and anxieties of the winter holiday season is a much beloved tradition among PICO-8 users and players.   We've made so  many great games over the years: 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023, 

This year we're inviting you to don your elf cap early and get to work making games and demos for the 2024 Advent Calendar.  The games will be packaged in a special menu cart, the Advent Calendar, and released on the Lexaloffle BBS.  This high profile bundle is a great way to get your game noticed and played.

Seven Year Itch

For this, our seventh year, we're using Itch's game jam facilities to better manage the project and to help with recruiting devs elves. 

Entries submitted to this jam will remain hidden on Itch until December 24th when Santa delivers all the presents at once to delight the Itch audience.   On Lexaloffle, games will be released one by one throughout the month of December, advent calendar style, providing a fun surprise each day.  

Rules 

Don't get on Santa's naughty list. Entries that do not comply with the rules  below will be removed and that's no fun. 

1. Be nice to each other.  We elves are here to have fun and spread joy.
2. Entries must be made in PICO-8.
3. Entries must reflect the spirit of the winter holiday season as you define it.
4. Entries must be safe for work. We elves are here to spread joy. Please, no hateful content.  
5. Entries may be of any size.  Small games, demos, and other stocking stuffer sized content are welcome.
6. More than one entry per elf is allowed.
7. Teams submissions are allowed.
8. The vast majority of entries must be submitted by the soft deadline of November 30th.  While we will continue to accept entries through December 23rd, we cannot guarantee that late entries will make it into the Advent Calendar and that's no fun.
9. Entries should remain unlisted on Itch and Lexaloffle until released in the Advent Calendar because surprises are fun.  (See submission instructions.) 
10. Do not publish progress gifs gifts on Itch or Lexaloffle prior to the entry's release in the Advent Calendar because surprises are fun. Do join the Discord and post progress reports there.  It's a fun elf hang out. (See notice in the Community tab for the URL.)

Submitting

IMPORTANT! Prior to submitting your game to the jam, you must make an unlisted post of your game on Lexaloffle: 

1. Click your Lexaloffle profile.
2. Select POSTS from the menu bar.
3. Click New Unlisted Post.
4. Upload your game cart and a 16x16 png to be used as an icon in the Advent Calendar.
5. Include a title, brief description and your preferred credit

IMPORTANT! When you upload your game to Itch, be sure to make your game unlisted:

1. Click Edit Game.
2. Scroll down to Visibility & Access.
3. Click the Public radio button.
4. Click Configure Settings  (To the right of Public).
5. Click Unlisted in search & browse.
6. Next, go to your profile page and click Edit Theme.
7. Click HIDE next to your game.

You may switch your entry to listed after it has been released in the Advent Calendar.

Failing to follow these steps may lead to your game being omitted from the Advent Calendar bundle cart, which would be no fun!