Thanks sharing your perspective and detailing your journey. I respect the dedication you've put into your craft, and I agree that there's immense satisfaction in mastering a skill through effort.
However, the belief that "putting in the work" and using generative AI are mutually exclusive is a significant misconception, often held by those with limited exposure to GenAI-assisted workflows.
To be clear, in my case, I'm actively learning and improving my traditional coding, art, and writing skills alongside my generative AI skills. I too have aways to go. In my view, generative tools are a new type of brush; they don't replace the old ones, but add to the toolkit.
One path does not invalidate the other.
This binary view also assumes everyone has the same reservoir of time. As a single father with three children, my time is (very) finite. I know I am not the only one with a life outside of games, and everyone has something big in life that keeps them busy, be it family, work, disabilities etc. But it must be said, for me, and for many others with significant life constraints, GenAI tools aren't a shortcut to avoid work; they are an essential form of accessibility that makes game creation possible whatsoever at any sort of reasonable time-scale.
A truly inclusive space must also understand that neurodivergence isn't a single category, but a blanket term for a wide spectrum of experiences. Like you, I have immense respect for the neurodivergent folks who have managed to beat the odds and achieve success at the previous game jams. However, an inclusive community must also welcome the creator for whom - due to their specific neurotype - generative AI is an absolute lifesaver.
This is the nuance that Rule 13 misses. My earlier suggestion for a separate 'AI-Assisted' category was intended as a practical solution to this, preserving the traditional challenge while also making a dedicated space for these new workflows. I sincerely hope the organisers will consider it.
It may be worth aligning the public messaging with this rule. I was drawn to this jam by the welcoming and inclusive marketing I saw on social media, only to find that I am in fact excluded. For future events, clarifying the stance on AI-assisted development upfront would help manage expectations for the many creators who now consider these tools a standard part of their kit.
And I totally feel you on the "It's not about the money but the learning and the community" thing. This is precisely why I am being upfront about my workflow and seeking clarification -even though my work is borderline, and definitely IS commercially viable and copyrightable. Even so I respect the spirit of the jam and as such am taking myself out the running.