Showcase your talent by submitting your art  in the VGDO Creative Jam!

(This Jam is exclusive for only University of Texas at Arlington students and alumni)

DETAILS 

Create [visual and/or musical] art inspired by the theme: MIMICRY. Your art can take any form or genre, whether it's a (Visual); painting, drawing, modeling, (Musical) instrumental, vocal, single, album, or SOMETHING EXPERIMENTAL . Use this theme as a foundation to create an experience that reflects your unique vision and creativity.

Submission Requirements:

• Only one submission per category per team.
• Your game must be an original creation developed specifically for this jam.
• Submit your art on itch.io in an accessible format(png, jpg, gifs, mp3, mp4, etc).
• Alongside your submission, provide a brief description of how your art reflects the theme and any key inspirations behind it.
• You can include progress shots, concept art, or notes to showcase your creative process.
• No 18+ Content.
• Your team is not allowed to cross-team with other teams. Your team may give suggestions or opinions on certain aspects, but assets will NOT be developed for them.
• Your team's submission must be your team's work and free of any copyrighted material. NO AI USAGE ALLOWED.

THEME

MIMICRY

Note: The theme is more of an inspiration to guide your creativity. Remember, there are multiple ways that the theme may be interpreted.

Submitting Your Game to the VGDO GameJam

Follow this step-by-step guide to create, upload, and submit your game on itch.io.

1. Go to Your Dashboard: (Make sure you are signed up and logged in to itch.io.)
2. Create a New Project: Click on Create new project.
3. Enter the Title: Put your team name as well as the title of your game in the title field. (There’s no need to add “Game Jam” or any additional phrases here!)
   1. Example: Sega - Sonic the Hedgehog
4. Select the Classification: Choose the appropriate classification for your project (in this case, choose "Visual" or "Music").
5. Upload Your Cover Image (optional but recommended):
   1. Upload your cover image file in .png file type
6. Use the Add Screenshots button to include any relevant progress shots or videos.
7. Scroll down, upload your art using the "Upload Files" button.
   1. Please also name your files properly! Like your project name, the filename should contain both your team name and the name of the art. (Example: Team Name - Art Name)
8. Add a Description: 
   1. Write a brief description of your art, explaining how it relates to the theme and any inspirations behind it.
9. Set Visibility: Scroll down and click Save & view page to ensure everything looks correct. Then, go back to the "Edit project" page and set Visibility & access to "Public." Click Save.
10. Submit Your Project: Go back to the jam page, click Submit your project, select the correct project, and fill in the required details! (Remember, the submission page does not save your inputs until you click submit, so don’t close the page until you’re done!)
11. Take Your Time: This process may take some time, so allow yourself plenty of time to complete your submission. Don’t leave it until the last minute! If you encounter any issues uploading or submitting on itch.io, feel free ask in our Discord server.

MUSIC RATING

The rating period will last for a following weekendafter the jam ends and is open to everyone, including participants. Your track(s) will be judged on the following criteria:

• Impression: Does the music catch the listener’s attention, or does it feel repetitive or boring?
• Originality: Does the submission bring something new and unique? Did the composer try to innovate or push boundaries?
• Composition: How well-written is the music? Does it have cohesive leitmotifs, pacing, and catchiness?
• Production Quality: How well-produced are the track(s)? Are the mixing, mastering, and sound design appropriate for the genre and intended effect?
• Theme Adherence: How well does the track(s) reflect or interpret the theme?

VISUAL RATING

The rating period will last for a day after the jam ends and is open to everyone, including participants. Your artwork will be judged on the following criteria:

• Originality: Does it bring something fresh or unexpected?
• Composition: How well are the visual elements arranged? Is there balance, harmony, and a clear focal point?
• Color Balance: How effectively are colors used in the artwork? Do the hues work well together to create an appealing or impactful visual?
• Emotional Value: Does the artwork evoke strong feelings or tell a compelling story? How well does it connect with the viewer on an emotional level?
• Theme Adherence: How well does the artwork reflect or interpret the theme? Does it explore the concept creatively?

Files will be locked during the voting period, but feel free to continue working on or finishing your art after the jam ends

After the rating period, the winners of the VGDO Creative Jam will be announced during the VGDO general body meeting on October 14th! We will reveal the First, Second, and Third place winners for each category, celebrating the best Music and Visuals of the theme.

VGDO Website