So I'm doing a week long Voice Apps based game jam.   The theme will be open for you to explore the platform using Voice Apps, which is a free to use (with pro options if you like it enough) too for making skills WITHOUT CODING and it really makes things fun.  

See the submissions details to understand the steps to get started through completing your game. 

Now what about the GET PAID part?  

Well during the month of November, Voice Apps is offering a deal where they will pay you a $10 amazon gift card for your first game and $5 for every skill after that in November.  There is no limit other than time.  

Plus every skill submitted goes into a drawing for a $1000 gift car with Amazon!

You can create any kind of skill for this offer, not just games, but this jam is of course about games so that's what we're looking for.  

Voice App skills are very easy to create.  There are videos to help you get started on something simple, but once you get that part down, you'll see that you can quickly get creative on your own.

Game Design Advice

Alexa Skills are different than traditional games because of the nature of the interaction.  Explore simple ideas over complex ones, or consider how to take complex experiences and consider how you could simplify it.  There are some great games out there for Alexa.  One I will suggest you check out is called "Yes Sire" to see how a game can be entertaining and yet simple. 

Can I monetize Voice App Skills?

Yes! Voice Apps is an incredibly powerful tool and gives you everything you need to make a great skill and one that could compete with any other skill out there.  For this jam and for your first game, don't get too caught up in that (unless you really want too) and just focus on learning and creating something you can finish.  Don't be afraid to explore other games and emulate them for the learning experience.  Just don't clone (that's just tacky) 

Is there support?

Yes just use the forums for this game jam if you have questions.  I'll answer what I can and other participants I'm sure will be able to help as well.  The more people who engage with this the better for everyone.  Let's have fun.  

Tips for Certification / Publishing

Avoid IP of other companies.  They will reject your skill if you use name brands and such.  I made a Minecraft fun facts skill before and had to make it "unofficial" to pass.  You can maybe get away with the unofficial thing like I did in that case, but overall I would advice you avoid that kind of thing and just keep your IP original or one that you do have permission to use.