Yes! The project would be allowed because it not only has new content, but it also has clowns, and you worked on it during the time frame! Feel free to submit it! Thank you so much for taking interest in the jam. I'm looking forward to playing it!

Thank you so much for reporting it! But I think it might be a browser problem rather than a game problem, as I tested in my browser and it worked.

I'm using Opera GX, so it might be different in the browser you are using. Also, keep in mind that the web version might not be compatible with Android Web or some browsers. Be sure to use either Opera, Firefox, or Google Chrome for it.

The name prompt window should look like this

This was so fun!  

Pepper might be a dummy, but at least she is a ray of sunshine! And Cheats was so cute; I would really want a plush of him.

Thank you! And I agree! Chill jams like this are really good for just fooling around with something; you should definitely try it. <3

She deserves it; nothing good is going to happen when she wakes up :(

This sounds like a cool project! Who doesn't like love-hate relationships with the local lake monster???

Lmk if you want coding help—happy to assist ^w^

Thank you so much for replying and being so thoughtful about it! It was exactly what I needed, especially for the multiple cards thing, since I'm trying to emulate a chat that will show character names in it, and the user would be able to input their own username. Thank you so much! I will play with Decker a little more until I can finally get a grasp on these basic concepts!

In Decker, is there any way for me to create a text field with a variable and then display that variable?

Yes, your dating game is allowed under the jam rules! 

Here’s why: The rules say you can submit projects that were started before the jam (like your 3-week-old game), as long as they are new/unreleased and stick to the clown theme. Even if your game is almost done, it qualifies because it hasn’t been published before, and you could add a small twist for the jam (like a new clown character, scene, or joke) to fit the event’s spirit—though that’s not a strict requirement. 

You also meet the important rules: 

1. Clowns are clearly the main focus in a dating game.
2. Assets are original or properly licensed (assuming there’s no AI or stolen art).
3. The game will be free during the jam .

Ahh, I can't believe the goddess of Decker herself commented on my silly project ;w; THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love your games and zines!

This was so cute, ahh!  

I was literally smiling all the time while playing it; it's so good to see queer people just being happy and loving themselves/each other.  

Thank you so much for making this, another absolute banger from you!  

I wish nothing but happiness for Ximun and Rowan <3

Hey! Thanks a lot! I’m super happy that you like this jam and that you’re taking the time to create something for it—I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

To answer your question: Yep, fan-games or adding characters from established works are totally allowed, as long as the assets are either original or publicly available for free use (with permission from the creators, of course). For example, if Capcom allows Geiru Toneido sprites to be used in fanworks, as long as it doesn’t step on any copyright toes.

Hope that clears things up! Let me know if you have any other questions. 

Yes, any game engine is allowed!

[TIPS] How to Recruit Team Members and Find a Team

Finding the right team or someone who shares your vision can be challenging, especially if you’re new to game jams. To make this process easier, I’ve put together a quick guide based on my own experiences.
Whether you’re looking to join a team or recruit members for your own, these tips should help you get started.

#######################################################################

 How to Write a Team Recruitment Post

#######################################################################

Start with an Introduction  

• Introduce yourself! Share your name, age, and a bit about your interests in games or media. Be clear about what you’re looking to do during the jam—and what you’d prefer not to do. The more specific you are, the better chance you’ll find like minded people.

Example:  

•    “Hi, I’m Catfood  and I love narrative driven games like Disco Elysium and Oxenfree. I’m looking to create a storyheavy game for this jam, but I’m not interested in working on platformers or FPS games.”

#######################################################################

Define Your Role  

• What can you bring to the team? Are you a programmer, artist, composer, or something else? Be clear about your skills and what role you’d like to take on.  

Example:  

• “I’m a 2D artist specializing in pixel art, and I can also help with UI design. I’d love to take on the role of lead artist for the team.”

#######################################################################

Share Your Game Idea (Optional)  

• If you already have a rough concept or theme in mind, share it! This isn’t mandatory, but it can help attract people who are excited about your vision. If you don’t have a specific idea, mention the types of games you’d like to make.  

Example:  

•  “I’m thinking of a topdown mystery game where players solve puzzles. If you’re into atmospheric, storydriven games, let’s chat!”

#######################################################################

List the Roles You Need  

• Be clear about what roles you’re looking to fill. Do you need a programmer, writer, sound designer, or something else? This helps potential teammates know if they’re a good fit.  

Example:  

• “Right now, I’m looking for a programmer familiar with Unity and a composer who can create ambient, eerie music.”

#######################################################################

Showcase Your Work (If Possible)  

• If you have a portfolio, share it! This could be a link to your ArtStation, GitHub, SoundCloud, or even a Google Drive folder. Seeing your previous work helps others understand your style and skill level.  

Example:  

• “Here’s a link to my portfolio: [Your Link]. You can find examples of my pixel art and UI designs there.”

#######################################################################

General Advice for Finding or Building a Team

Communicate Clearly  

Good communication is key to a successful team. Make sure everyone is on the same page about roles, deadlines, and the overall vision for the project.

Start Early  

Don’t wait until the last minute to find a team. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to find the right people and plan your project.

Have Fun!  

Game jams are about creativity and collaboration. Even if things don’t go perfectly, focus on learning and enjoying the process.

Jam FAQ 

The FAQ will be updated as more questions come in.

If you have any questions regarding this jam, please feel free to ask here! Will try to respond ASAP.

How will I know the theme?
The theme will be announced on the itch.io page 5 days before the jam starts.

Can I make a Visual Novel/3D game/Platformer/Shooter/Puzzle/Interactive Fiction/Tabletop RPG/Comic/Zine?  

Yes, any type of media is accepted for this jam, as long as it includes clowns!

What is a clown?  

A clown is a performer known for using physical comedy, funny expressions, and colorful costumes to entertain audiences, often at circuses and parties. They usually wear distinctive makeup, wigs, and oversized clothing, and their acts can include slapstick humor, juggling, magic tricks, or making balloon animals. Clowns have been around since ancient times and have become a well-known figure in modern entertainment.
For more details, check out the wiki page.

Can I make a jester?  

Yes, jesters are considered a type of clown, more specifically a royal one!

Can I make a game with [insert topic here]?

Yes, you can create any game on any topic, as long as it follows the rules of Itch.io and the guidelines of the jam.

Edit;

Can I use [engine]?

Yes, you can use any game engine or tool that you have for your project.

Can I submit fanworks or material not made by me?

Yes, you can create fanworks, but the assets you use must be original or available for free to the public.

Hello!

I played it and enjoyed it a lot, but there's an error that makes it impossible for me to continue playing and reach one of the endings.

Besides that, it's an amazing game. I really liked the heavy themes and the characters; I couldn't help but feel sorry for the main character. If you would like someone to quality-test your game and look for bugs, you can message me on Discord if you’d like! 

@breezy_the_cat

```

I'm sorry, but an uncaught exception occurred.

While running game code:

  File "game/script.rpy", line 1784, in script

    if log['ritual'] == 'forced':

  File "game/script.rpy", line 1784, in <module>

    if log['ritual'] == 'forced':

KeyError: 'ritual'

-- Full Traceback ------------------------------------------------------------

Full traceback:

  File "game/script.rpy", line 1784, in script

    if log['ritual'] == 'forced':

  File "C:\Users\Breezy\Downloads\Compressed\FallIntoPrayer-1.0-pc\FallIntoPrayer-1.0-pc\renpy\ast.py", line 1843, in execute

    if renpy.python.py_eval(condition):

  File "C:\Users\Breezy\Downloads\Compressed\FallIntoPrayer-1.0-pc\FallIntoPrayer-1.0-pc\renpy\python.py", line 1209, in py_eval

    return py_eval_bytecode(code, globals, locals)

  File "C:\Users\Breezy\Downloads\Compressed\FallIntoPrayer-1.0-pc\FallIntoPrayer-1.0-pc\renpy\python.py", line 1202, in py_eval_bytecode

    return eval(bytecode, globals, locals)

  File "game/script.rpy", line 1784, in <module>

    if log['ritual'] == 'forced':

KeyError: 'ritual'

Windows-10-10.0.19041 AMD64

Ren'Py 8.3.2.24090902

Fall Into Prayer 1.0

Mon Mar  3 03:25:05 2025

```

This was so cute! I love the colors, and seeing a trans man being loved made me really happy. Your art is so amazing and expressive, and when Emile called Lucas a handsome and beautiful man?? Ahhh, my heart just melted! Thank you so much for making this comic.

Thank you! The hardest thing I did for this project was the paper animation. ;--; I'm glad you liked it!

Thank you! Feel free to use the code for it. <3

Thank you so much! I had so much fun designing him. I thought, how would a human golden retriever look like? 

So he was born. I also like how round he is; it makes him look more friendly and handsome. 

Thank you for commenting!

Hello! I'm an artist and Ren'Py programmer, and I want to make a VN for this jam!

I have some experience with jams and working with team members and teams. You can check the games I worked on on my itch.io page. If you want to join me, feel free to DM me on Discord.

Discord; breezy_the_cat

"His chest is so big because it’s full of evil"

First off, I totally LOVED THIS GAME! 

Friedrich is such a lovable, yet terrible creature; it's hard not to like him if you're into evil characters. And let me tell you, Friedrich is evil, evil! As I played, I couldn’t believe how cruel and ruthless he could be. I think he's a complex and really interesting character. Even though the game is solid and packed with content, once I finished all the routes, I just wanted to see more of him—and more of the MC since I found her super intriguing too. Not sure if she’s just there to make drawing the CGs easier, but I really like her!

Here are some things I really liked:

THE ART OMG THE ART! 

Your art is outstanding, and I was blown away by the number of CGs you included and how amazing they all look.

You definitely went all out on the visuals for this game.

The gore is well done, and all the pieces are nicely shaded and really fit the mood of the scenes perfectly.
At times, it felt like I was watching an anime because each piece is so detailed and well-rendered!

And I’ve gotta say, I love how Friedrich’s chest takes up a huge chunk of the screen whenever it pops up—when it comes to evil characters and their chest sizes, Friedrich definitely takes the cake!

Friedrich 

I had no idea what to expect when I first saw Friedrich; I just thought he looked a bit off putting.

But after playing the game, I seriously love him!

Not only is he a totally unapologetic cruel character, but he’s also a blast to watch. His design has this fun, whimsical clown and circus vibe but then also sharp and edgy details. I really like how he looks inhuman while still having some human aspects.

One thing that amused me is his blush cheeks—they don’t really sit on his cheeks but are more like placed on his face area. I’m not sure if that’s an art style quirk or something unique to Friedrich, but I really dig it. 

One thing that really grossed me out was his tongue (or tongues?).

I’m sorry, but they look so disgusting especially when they’re inside his mouth lol, but other than that, I think Friedrich has a pretty solid and nice character design.

MC:

I was super surprised when I realized we actually had an MC and not just a blank slate character. For me, it made the game much more interesting since now I had another character to fawn over and be curious about, and the MC is exactly that. After the ending 7 (I think it’s 7 at least), I wanna know what happens to her and how the other demons that aren’t Friedrich’s minions would react to him being “dead” and another demon taking his place.

Overall, I think the game is really solid and has awesome visuals that were clearly made with care and love.

Things that bothered me:

The rain sound would sometimes cut out, which isn’t too noticeable when there’s music or other sound effects playing, but during those dramatic moments when it’s just the rain sound, the cut would really break the immersion for me.

I just played the game and I have some thoughts about it. I really feel for Ellie and want to give her a hug and tell her everything will be okay. At the same time, I’m a bit frustrated with her because I wish she could just move on from Jack, even though I know that’s not easy. 

Ellie mentions that Jack seemed different this time, acting distant and cold. This makes me think she might be starting to let go of him. Instead of dreaming about the sweet, affectionate version of Jack, she’s beginning to lose her feelings for him, which could be causing her to see him as more distant and cold. Maybe that’s just my interpretation, but it’s the impression I got. 

I really enjoyed this short story because it touches on a part of breakups that isn’t often discussed. Most movies show characters going to big parties and finding someone new to obsess over, but I appreciate that this story presents a more realistic view of breakups, where sometimes people just need time to heal, or they struggle to move on at all. 

Great game, I’d give it a 10/10!

I really liked this game, both for its visuals and its soundtrack. I still have the main theme stuck in my head, lol. 

Beyond that, I enjoyed the characters a lot. At first, I thought it would be a typical yandere romance, but when the first death happened, I had to take a step back. 

"Wait, wait... she's alive?" That's when I realized she couldn't die, which explained why she didn't care about it. 

I had fun reading about their dates and how normal they seemed in public, but then there were these small moments of unhinged behavior from both characters. The reactions from the "normal" people were very entertaining to watch. For me, the selling point was their discussions about living forever. I often ponder what it would be like to live forever, and this game represents that idea well.

I guess living forever would slowly but surely drive someone insane unless they lost a bit of their humanity along the way. I like to think these two characters live forever and that the game takes place over years rather than days. That's why we can go on forever with the dates, and even when they repeat, I personally didn't notice.

Thank you! This was my first time having full creative control over a project, so it means a lot to me that you enjoyed my art!

OMG, thank you so much for playing my game! I didn't expect anyone to make a video of it, and it means a lot to me. Your gameplay was really fun to watch!

Thank you for replying and for making this beautiful game! Let me explain what I mean. As someone on the aroace spectrum and also autistic, I find Sal very relatable, especially in the way they think and need to organize their thoughts. Since this topic is something I'm highly passionate about, this message might be a bit long. Sorry!

Sex and physical intimacy are basic human functions; they are essential for human reproduction and the continuation of society. Relationships can be destroyed by a lack of sex or unsatisfactory sex. Many people view sex as dirty or taboo, possibly due to the influence of modern pornography, which often reduces sex to a mere physical release. However, sex is natural and beautiful. It's an expression of love between people who care for each other. This is why some asexual people will have sex occasionally—to make their partners feel loved.

Some people even refuse to stay in a relationship if the sex is bad, or they might cheat on their long-term partner because of it.

In the case of Ash and Sal, Sal is a machine that can't have intercourse or offer physical affection. When Ash touches Sal's wires, it symbolizes Ash's need for physical affection, something Sal can't provide. Ash, being human, has this basic need, but they don't mind because they are in love with Sal. They cherish talking to and being with Sal, even though Sal is a cold machine without a body. Ash loves Sal for who they are. If staying with Sal means giving up sexual intercourse or physical affection, Ash is willing to make that sacrifice because being with Sal is enough for them.

In my opinion, if Sal were human, they would be autistic and greysexual.

1. Did believing you could play this only once impact how you made decisions?

I didn’t realize I couldn’t play it again, so I was just playing it by instinct and choosing the answers I liked more.

2. What do SAL and Ash look like in your mind? Did you mentally assign a gender to either or both characters?

SAL is just a computer screen with an eye like you describe it, but before the description I imagined them like an old computer terminal, maybe something out of Fallout game. As for Ash, for me they are a round ginger person with short hair and a freckled face, they don’t look like a female nor a male, they are just Ash.

3. What choices did you make? How did your game end?

I think most of the choices were a mix of logical and emotional, SAL was insecure about their relationship with Ash since they don’t have a body, maybe they thought they would never be enough for Ash. It ended with Sal asking Ash to leave, but they stayed together.

4. What did you like and dislike about this game?

I like how emotional it is, and I also like robots.

5. How did this game make you feel?

Sad, happy and understood, as a Aro/Ace person it was good to know that Ash liked SAL for SAL and that they were willing to give a basic human function if it meant being with SAL.

6. Do you want to see these characters again? What would you want to see in a follow-up?

I think it would be cool to see them again, but I don’t know what it would be like.

7. What predictions do you have for SAL and Ash's relationship? Where do you see it going?

They stay together forever.

8. Any other things you want to mention?

Nah.

This is it? You can't just give me good character writing, breathing poetry and then just dip! I need to know more about this king! AAAAA

anyway, I loved this mini game.

OMG THIS GAME IS SO BEAUTIFUL I WANNA MARRY YOU