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Q&A Thread Sticky

A topic by Knickknack PJ created 34 days ago Views: 664 Replies: 26
Viewing posts 1 to 15
HostSubmitted(+1)

If you have any questions about the jam, post them here and we will try to get back to you ASAP! Check out the previous community tabs on the previous jam pages if in case someone asked a similar question in the past, but still feel free to ask away here! Chances are, you may have a question someone was wondering about too.

That being said, if your question is along the lines of "Can I use AI for-", I can already let you know the answer is either going to be a giant bass boosted No or sending you this post.

2024 Community Tab | 2025 Community Tab

Submitted

Are there any language restrictions?

HostSubmitted

Nope! You can write in any language(s) you prefer!

(1 edit)

Am I allowed to make my own VN engine (standalone and generic, so it'll probably work for other VN's) before the event or does that count for work into the VN?

HostSubmitted

Yes, you're allowed to make an engine to make your VN in before the start date, so long as you're not working on the VN itself beforehand! Like no working on art assets and dialogue that will go into the game before the jam starts, but making sure the engine doesn't immediately crash on startup is another thing entirely.

Am I allowed to mix in other genres? Like, can I make a visual novel with RPG elements or mini-games or does it strictly need to be a VN only?

Jam HostSubmitted (2 edits)

You’re allowed to put in other styles of gameplay as long as it’s primarily a visual novel. We don’t have a formal metric for that, so if you think it’s a visual novel with RPG elements rather than an RPG with visual novel elements, you’re probably fine!

Submitted

Do they announce the theme when the game jam starts, or is the theme simply ‘bad games’?

HostSubmitted

There's no theme, other than to make a really bad visual novel~!

How many people per team (if allowed)? Where can we find people to create cool games for this Jam?

Jam HostSubmitted (1 edit)

There’s no limit on how many people per team! If you can somehow have 100 people working on the same game, go for it. Both teams and solo developers are allowed.

You’re welcome to make a thread on this forum to use to look for teammates. Otherwise, if you already have friends who do game dev (or even better, friends who don’t), I suggest asking them.

Deleted 21 days ago
HostSubmitted (1 edit)

To us, if the game has visuals and text you primarily interact with, then its a visual novel! Omegabutton also gave a really good answer earlier: "We don’t have a formal metric for that, so if you think it’s a visual novel with RPG elements rather than an RPG with visual novel elements, you’re probably fine!" I also suggest playing not only bad visual novels submitted in the past, but also some good ones here on itchio so you have a better idea!

Deleted 21 days ago
Jam HostSubmitted

3 minutes of content! You can split the 3 minutes into as many branching paths as you want.

Submitted

To think that I waited for this to have a chance to freely make a trashy game, but now I can't because the more I write the more I feel like I can only do trash, even thought this is the worst visual novel jam. Any suggestion to get out of this "not enough" pitfall please, is terrible.

Submitted(+3)

Keep writing "trash" until it stops feeling like trash. If it still feels like trash, then so be it. At least you made something.

The fact that you're writing at all means that it's important to you on some level, so you should keep doing it.

Submitted(+1)

You're right, thank you for stating this, it's a must to remember everyday.

Are there any limitations on character types? Like species, for example, an anthropomorphic lizard or an elf or giants, or is it only for fully human characters?

Jam HostSubmitted

There’s no limits on character types, as long as the visual novel is bad!

Is there a discord server for these jams? I can’t join right now, but I’d love to when I have time in the future!

Jam HostSubmitted

There isn’t a Worst VN Jam Discord server, sorry to say. We wouldn’t be able to put in the time and effort needed to mod it.

Submitted

probably should have asked this before I coded an entire game (and not to give our project away) but as long as we have the relevant content warnings, are we good to get pretty edgy? like while the redpilled ""love interest"" (don't know if you could call him that) of this game is pretty obviously a loser and  in the wrong at all times as a matter of course, I don't want to accidentally go overboard.....

Jam HostSubmitted

Based on what you said, you should probably be okay! The relevant rules are:

No explicit NSFW content! You can get racy, horny, gross, and weird, but no explicit gore, sex, 18+ content, or anything that would warrant your game to be marked as 18+. Keep it PG-13

No content  that promotes bigotry(including but not limited to transphobia, racism, etc).

So depiction of bigotry is okay, as long as you don't promote it. In my personal opinion, depictions of bigotry can still be in poor taste even if it is acknowledged as bad, but I have no way of judging your project without seeing it. If you think it would help, you can include a disclaimer that you don't agree with the ""love interest"".


  • Are we allowed to use images that are copyright free?

    HostSubmitted (1 edit)

    From the rules:

    • No using assets or content that are not yours, are copyrighted, or are AI generated! Assets made by you or a friend, stuff you have bought, and assets licensed under something like Creative Commons etc. are all good, as long as you follow any eventual terms (like attribution and such) and said assets have not been touched by AI.

    So if the images are definitely in the Public Domain/CC0 (which is what I'm assuming you mean by copyright free) then yes you're good to use them so long as its not touched or generated by AI! However, unless the images are from well before the 1900s I would advise on making absolutely 100% sure the images are truly copyright free since there may be some attribution or other terms needed for stuff labeled "royalty free" or "copyright free" or may have been reuploaded against the original creator's wishes.

    Submitted (1 edit)

    I'm assuming if we want to continue updating the game after the jam is over, we would need to create a new non-jam-submitted version of the project to update?

    Also thanks for the jam, it's my first one and i had a lot of fun and learned a lot!

    HostSubmitted (1 edit) (+1)

    That's entirely up to you! I mean, its in the jam rules that you are allowed to submit unfinished stuff because it could add to the jank of your bad vn lol.

    I know some jams require designating what was made for the jam and I personally think that's a good idea so players can get an idea of what was made during the jam's run, but if you want to update your game after the jam you can still use the same page, provided the updated game still fits the jam. As in, don't make it a good visual novel~

    And no prob~! I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for participating ! :D

    Submitted

    Thank you so much!

    And it basically consists of adding all the low quality art and sprites I drew which I didn't have time to add into the game before time was up (completely my fault).

    The jankiness is kind of charming in its own way though, so I'll probably keep the current version of the game as the "game jam edition" haha