Deadline extended to encompass the North American three day weekend!

Touch those 64 big juicy pixels!

This jam is powered by a quadplay✜ in a web browser, connected to an 8x8 grid RGB pad USB MIDI controller.

The midi_8x8.pyxl API abstracts quadplay✜'s MIDI API to make it easy to develop and play on all of the supported physical devices, or with touch screen emulation on phones and tablets.

See the sample program in examples/midi_8x8 and play it in your browser.

Some jumping off points to think about when creating your game: Snake, Minesweeper, Simon Says, Twister, Drum Hero, Draughts, Life, Othello, LiteBrite, Drum Machines, Tamagochi, 2048, Tetris, Match 3, Pente, Abraxas, Tic-Tac-Toe, Scorched Earth, Falling Sand. Check out "lightshow" controller demos such as this one for more inspiration.

Encouraged:

• Make gameplay primarily use the device touch input and output plus computer audio, with the computer screen used mainly for instructions or emulation on touch screens instead of gameplay
• Support emulation on screen, for players with tablets and phones instead of without physical MIDI devices. device_visualize() and device_send_output() simplify emulation.
• Provide a single player mode
• Explore directions other than freeform music synthesis

Permitted:

• You may use other tools than quadplay✜ and other APIs than midi_8x8.pyxl. However, they are the easy way to satisfy the requirements, and the goal of this jam is supporting quadplay✜!
• You may use additional I/O devices (gamepads, mouse, keyboard, other MIDI) so long as the game also uses an 8×8 RGB LED MIDI controller. Embracing the limitations and possibilities of the 8×8 grid is the best way to fulfill the theme of the jam.
• You may support additional features of a particular device (e.g., knobs, additional lights, note velocity, MPE) so long as the game is playable without them.

Required:

These are all satisfied for you by using the provided quadplay + midi_8x8 framework. You can use another framework if it also provides these features.

• Must use 8×8 RGB LED touch grid for both input and display
  
• Must run in a web browser
• Must be playable on machines that have only a MIDI controller, speakers, and computer keyboard
  
• Must support the following physical I/O devices to the same level provided by midi_8x8.pyxl:
  • Novation Launchpad Pro MK3
  • Novation Launchpad X
  • Novation Launchpad Mini MK3
  • Akai APC Mini mk2
  • Ableton Push 1
  • Ableton Push 2
  • Ableton Push 3
  • LinnStrument 128

Q&A

Q. How do I get one of these wild physical controllers for the full experience?

A. They're common at music stores and online retailers. Rent, or buy used equipment for a steep discount at places like Reverb, Sweetwater, and L&M. For new devices, the Akai APC Mini mk2 and Novation Launchpad Mini MK3 are the most affordable ones at US$100 or less. 

Q. Can I participate without a MIDI device?

A. Yes! The API includes one-function support for emulation using touch screen, mouse, game controller, or computer keyboard. You can make games using these, and will be able to play any game that supports the touch screen emulation API.

Q. What is the API?

A. It couldn't be simpler: a 2D array of input buttons and output pixel colors. There are optional functions for automating emulation and common graphics tasks. 

Q. How do I get quadplay✜?

A. It is free on github, with install scripts, bundled assets, and an easy-to-use Python like programming language. It just uses Python and a web browser--no binary, nothing big installed.