This jam is now over. It ran from 2021-06-21 17:00:00 to 2021-07-22 07:00:00. View results

Touch the Stars with RPG Maker MZ

Show the world that your RPG Maker game can stand toe-to-toe with the big boys!

RPG Maker MZ is a powerful game engine that’s simple enough for anyone to use, but its critics don’t always see that. Now it’s time to change their perception. Blast off and touch the stars as you show everyone that any game can be top quality, regardless of what engine is used.

Why this Jam?

The goal of this Game Jam is simple: Create an RPG Maker MZ game that looks, sounds, and plays as good as the best of the best, to touch the stars. But even if you think you aren't capable yet, it's still important to reach for it! Join the game jam with the best game you can create. Because if we aren't always stretching for the highest highs, how will we ever reach the pinnacle of our abilities. 

Your game will need to include the theme of "touching the stars", but we're going to be extremely open on what that means. So... be original and think outside the box. You don’t have to create the next pixelated adventure or retro-style horror. You can do whatever you want. Let your creative wings free and soar to the heavens and beyond.

You don’t need to own RPG Maker MZ to participate, because during the run of the contest, until the end of July, you can download and use a fully featured version of the engine for free. That’s 100% free for the entire contest until more than a week after submissions close. You don’t have to pay a single cent to participate in this Game Jam.

Winners will be Published!

There will be three winners of this contest, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, as well as a Fan Favorite*. All three placed winners will have their game hosted on both the RPGMakerWeb website, as well as Steam, for the world to see. All three of them will retain full rights to their game in case they want to expand it into their own individual release (commercial or non-commercial); Also, whenever they update the Game Jam version of their game, we’ll make sure that update goes out to everyone else.

The four winners will also get a cash prize:

⭐ 1st Place: $1000 USD
⭐ 2nd Place: $500 USD
⭐ 3rd Place: $250 USD
⭐ Fan Favorite*: $250 USD

(*Please note that the Fan Favorite only gets the cash prize.)

Meet the Judges

The contest will be judged by four amazing and talented streamers from the RPG Maker Community.

    Drifty (from Driftwood Gaming): The Master of RPG Maker First Impressions and Tutorials, Drifty has years of working with the community on bringing their A-Game to the engine. (Drifty on YouTube)

    Teal (from Studio Blue): The Mistress of Level Design and Game Project Management, Teal pushes the community to learn the theory (the “why”) behind Game Development. (Teal on Twitch)

    HawkZombie (from Twitch): The Lord of RPG Maker Streams and Game Writing, Hawk provides a place of relaxation and enjoyment for the community to just chill. (Hawk on Twitch)

    Benny (from RPG Maker Cola): The Voice of everything RPG Maker, Benny connects the community with its creators, and the game engine with the world. (Benny on LinkTree)

Contest Rules and Conditions

  1. Development on contest entries MUST be started after the beginning of the contest (June 21st, 2021). Pre-existing assets (like DLC or custom created) can be used.
  2. Games MUST be submitted by the deadline (Midnight PST, July 22nd, 2021). NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED! Make sure not to submit at the last minute to avoid missing the deadline.
  3. Games MUST be created using only RPG Maker MZ (either the one distributed for free during the contest, or one that you've purchased). Plugins are fine, but no other game engine may be used.
  4. Games must be at least 20 minutes long. Judges will only be required to evaluate a game for 1 HOUR if it passes the screening stage. Any game over 1 hour will be judged only on its first hour, even if the Judge plays more than 1 hour.
  5. Games must include the theme of "Touching the Stars". This can be interpreted in any way the creator feels works.
  6. You must have the right to use all software, resources, and tools involved in the creation of the game. (The free version of RPG Maker MZ available through this game jam includes the rights to use the software and resources included for the purposes of this contest). That includes, but is not limited to, digital art creators, DAWs, debuggers, animation software, sprites, particle systems, models, plugins, code, and music. If you purchased an asset, check to make sure that the End User License Agreement allow for its usage in this manner.
  7. You may use resources sold through Komodo in the Degica Shop or via Steam.
  8. You may only use other user-created resources that are available for commercial use.
  9. All resources used must be properly credited.
  10. Your entry must not infringe on third party copyright or trademarks.
  11. There is no limit on the size of the development team. You can have one person or 10+ people. Keep in mind that prize winnings will only be awarded to the single user that submits the game (whoever uploaded the final file, even if using a team account).
  12. Contest participants can be involved in UP TO TWO submissions. This means you could work on a solo project and collaborate with another team, collaborate on two teams, or even submit two solo projects. If a team uses your resources, but you were not directly involved in the development of the game, then it won't count towards the TWO game limit. The same holds true with commissions.
  13. All files required to play the game MUST be included in the download. If the game's executable does not run (or crashes) because of missing files, it will be disqualified.
  14. No 18+ Content! This includes strong sexual themes and content, graphic nudity, or extreme portrayals of violence. If you're unsure, please follow ESRB guidelines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Software_Rating_Board
  15. Plagiarism and any other forms of CHEATING are grounds for disqualification. Let's make this a clean and fair competition for everyone!
  16. Games must be available in English, but you are welcome to include other translations (just make sure the default language is set to English).
  17. Your game submission must be able to be downloaded and run on Windows. You can include additional downloads for other platforms, but only the downloaded Windows version will be judged.
  18. No representation of current real life figures in your game. That includes, but is not limited to, political or religious leaders, celebrities or influencers, or people within the RPG Maker community or their personas. Basically, if the person exists in the real world, you may not represent them in your game.
  19. Contest Judges have the right to penalize or disqualify a submission for reasons including, but not limited to, any violation of the above rules. Judges' decisions are final.

Prize Conditions & Legal

Prizes will be awarded to the user who submitted the game. Winners will be responsible for all taxes and fees associated with their prize package. If working on a team, please discuss how prize winnings will be split before winners are announced to avoid potential legal issues. The Game Jam organizers are not responsible for splitting prize money.

No purchase necessary to participate in the contest. Must be at least 13 years of age to register and submit entries. Additional restrictions on age and nationality are subject to the contestant's local, state, and/or national laws.

Creators retain all rights to their respective works. The contest runners (Komodo) reserve the right to promote the game on the appropriate websites, blogs, social media, etc. as outlined in the prize packages.