We’re keeping it simple for our first ranked jam by using itch’s built-in scoring system. It’s not perfect, but it lets us get started without overcomplicating things.
Of course, the opposite problem isn’t ideal either, where a game with just one “perfect” rating ends up ranking higher than a game that received many high ratings but averaged slightly lower. So rest assured that we have, at least, thought deeply about how to balance many aspects of the jam.
For games that have received a low number of ratings, we suggest playing and rating other entries and leaving a comment. When you post a comment on the rating page, your entry is automatically linked below, and other creators are more likely to return the favor. And as noted by Ryan, web builds are much more likely to be played as well.
That said, we’re absolutely open to improving the system for future jams, so feel free to share your feedback. The more we learn from this one, the better we can make next year’s event!