what is toy jam?
maybe you never realized you could make just the sandbox part of your sandbox game. perhaps you want to make art creation easier for yourself and others. maybe you want to offer a multimedia experience that anyone can enjoy, not just gamers. if you are any of these people, you might like this 9-day gameless jam where we get together to make toys, not games.
after the end of the jam, Ivy Sly will post a video showcasing all SFW entries that follow the rules. there will be no winners or losers.
what is a toy?
a toy is a tool for play. it is a means, not an end.
the term "toy" can be defined by its relationship to puzzles and games: while a puzzle has 1. a win condition and 2. no loss condition, and a game has 1. a loss condition and 2. sometimes a win condition, a toy can neither be won nor lost. it can't be played, only played with. this is an important restriction of toy jam relevant to game developers. the primary mode of play will not have a win or loss condition.
toys are not always mindless nor are they always shallow. for one, all forms of creative expression necessarily involve play. studio art software - photoshop, blender, davinci resolve, etc - would all be allowed in this jam, though people will probably like your toy more if it has a lower skill floor.
the rules
- your creation must allow for play. that is to say it should have interactivity and recreational value. if you submit a spreadsheet software, it better be fun to use
- the primary mode of your entry cannot have a win or a loss condition. this would transform it from a toy to a puzzle or a game.
- do note that an engine for creating puzzles or games is allowed.
- there is are no limitations on pre-existing resources. you can start new projects, or continue old ones. entries do not have to be finished during the jam.
- however, entries that were started during the jam will be shown first in their own category in the showcase. these entries can have pre-existing assets and framework, but the actual product must be put together during the jam.
i dont know where to start!
here are some ideas that would be valid entries:
- a playground where you can spawn different objects and see how they interact with one another
- a desktop pet
- an ecosystem simulator where you tweak the starting resources and watch virtual life grow
- a character creator that generates an avatar for use on social media
- a painting software
and this is a list of existing toys that would be valid entries:
- Algodoo
- Interactive Buddy
- picoCAD
- The Powder Toy
- John Conway's Game of Life (yes, this is a toy under our definition, despite the name)
- Minecraft (Creative Mode)
- Tux Paint
- objection.lol
- Pivot Animator
- Animal Crossing
- Virtual Circuit Board
if you have any questions, please make a thread or follow the above link to the discord server :) i hope to see your entry!
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