Important update: We are extending the submission deadline to May 15th. We have been receiving quite a few requests for the extension. It seems evident that we have underestimated the time required for the jam. If you have already joined the jam, we have sent an email explaining this. We plan to make no further modifications to the schedule in the future. Thank you.

Hi everyone! We have just launched Spinoff, a place where you can create, play, and share interactive visual stories.
Feeling high, we thought, what better way to celebrate the launch than to share a Jam on itch.io?

So, here we are, with our first official Interactive Story Jam. The Jam will last for just over a month, with over $5,000 in rewards. 💸

The editor in Spinoff is a no-coding tool, i.e., there are no scripts to learn. This should allow you to pick it up quickly.

Below are some sample games showing what content you can create with Spinoff.

* A caveat before you rush on. Spinoff is only available as an iOS app at the moment. We are working on Android and web versions, but they will not be ready for this Jam.

1. You must use Spinoff to create your game.
    
2. You may work alone or as a team.
    
3. Use at least one ‘Choice’ or ‘Hotspot’ component in the game.
    
4. Do not include any offensive, discriminatory, or explicit content.
    
5. Contents must be in English.
    
6. Only use assets that you have the right to use.
    
7. Submission period will last for seven weeks. No additional submission after the deadline.
   Two weeks of public voting period will follow.
    
8. While multiple submissions are allowed, one participant will only be eligible for a single prize.
   An exception to this rule is the Best Streaming Performance award.
    
9. Any personnel directly or indirectly related to Spinoff Interactive are not allowed to participate.

• 1st Place

  $2,500 USD

• 2nd Place

  $1,500 USD

• 3rd Place

  $1,000 USD

• Runners-up

  $100 USD each, up to 10 participants

• Best Streaming Performance

  $500 USD

The top three winners will be chosen as below.

• Once the submission period ends, the games will be open to the public for voting for two weeks.

• Once the voting period ends, we will evaluate the top-ranked games and announce the top three winners within 24 hours, combining the public votes with our own assessments. We will penalize abnormal voting behaviors, such as use of bots, during the assessments.

• You need at least 10 ratings to be considered for winning. If there are less than twenty independent submissions, we reserve right to decrease the number of winners.

In addition, we will choose up to ten submissions as the runners-up. Fore these, we will try to find and reward the hidden gems that did not get favorable public ratings for various reasons.

We will sent the rewards using Paypal. If you do not have access to Paypal, please let us know. You are responsible for the transaction fees and taxes.

Step 1. Download the Spinoff app from the App Store.

Step 2. Create an awesome game.

Step 3. Publish your game in the Spinoff app. Make sure to set it public and add the hashtag #Spinoffevent2022.

Step 4. Optional: Post a message on Twitter that includes the hashtag #Spinoffevent2022 and the game URL.
                [Spinoff app - My - published - game detail page - share icon - 'Share game URL'].

Step 5. Download the HTML file for your game.
                Now for a small challenge. Not being too sure about this feature, we hid it as an easter egg in the app. 😱
                Let's see what you've got. Hint: try shaking your phone in [Spinoff app - My - published - game detail page].

Step 6. Submit the HTML file to Jam on this page.

Step 7. All set! Share your game with your friends and encourage them to vote.

Games will be rated based on the following criteria.

• The Fun Factor

 Did you enjoy the game?

• Originality/Creativity

Was the story interesting and creative?

• Presentation

Was the story delivered cohesively?

• How does the "Best Streaming Performance" work?

During the two-week voting period, broadcast or submit a video of the gameplay for any submitted games on YouTube, Twitch, or Twitter. Upload the link to the [Community - Streaming submission] section on this page. Please make sure that the link you submit is playable at any time. Anyone can participate, regardless of whether you have submitted a game or not.

• Can I charge for my submission?

Your games must be available for free during the Jam. You can add a price once the Jam is over.

• Who owns my game or submission?

We claim no ownership of the games that you submit. However, we reserve the right to use all or part of your submission for promotional purposes.

• How does the voting work?

First, the games will be voted by the public. Then, we will pick the winners from the top-ranked games by combining the ratings with our assessments. We will penalize abnormal voting behaviors, such as use of bots, during the assessments.

• Where can I go for help?

Post your question to the Q&A topic pinned on the Community tap. Feel free to create a new topic if needed. You will find other useful information such as team building, feedback, and other topics as well.

• Is there a place where I can learn more about using the editor?

There is a detailed help section in the app [Spinoff app - Editor - menu - help]. Also, there is an interactive tutorial in the app that walks through all major features of the editor.

• Submissions: Sunday the March 27th at 7:00pm ~ Sunday the May 15th 7:00pm (PT)

• Rating / Streaming: Sunday the May 15th at 7:00pm ~ Sunday the May 29th 7:00pm (PT)

• Winners Announced: Once the Rating period ends, we will announce the top three winners within 24 hours.