Like others have stated, the visual theme image will be posted on the page when the jam starts. We are also planning a live stream for questions and kick-off!
Q: How do I add collaborators? Does everyone need to join the jam? A: Yes—everyone on your team needs to officially join the jam on Itch.io. When you create your game submission page, you can add collaborators by inviting them in the project settings. This ensures everyone is properly credited.
Q: How do I find a team? A: You can connect with other participants in our Discord, forums, or Facebook group. Many people are looking to collaborate—don’t hesitate to post your skills and interests!
Assets & Tools
Q: What does “free assets” mean? Can I use tools that cost money? A: You can use any free assets provided by us or ones you’ve found elsewhere, as long as you have the right to use them.
Free assets = anything that costs nothing, including “name your own price” assets downloaded for $0.
Paid tools = allowed, but you must legally own them (e.g., licensed software like Photoshop, plug-ins, etc.).
Q: Can I use AI tools? A: Yes—AI is allowed as long as it’s used ethically and legally. This means:
Don’t use outputs that infringe on copyright or trademarks.
Clearly disclose if AI was used in your submission.
Avoid passing off others’ work as your own.
Game Engines & Builds
Q: Do I have to use a specific game engine? A: Nope! You can use any engine you like—Unity, Unreal, Godot, or something else entirely.
Q: Do I have to make a web build? A: No, but it’s recommended if possible. Web builds (HTML5/WebGL) allow judges and other participants to play your game instantly without downloads, which usually means more plays and feedback.
Submissions
Q: How do I actually submit my game? A:
Create a project page on Itch.io.
Add screenshots, a description, and your downloadable files or web build. (For image sizing tips to make your page shine, check out this guide).
On the jam page, click Submit your project and select your game.
Verify your game is in the jam by checking your game page → top right corner should show “Submissions to” with our jam listed.
Q: Can I edit my submission after submitting? A: Yes! You can update your game page with bug fixes, new builds, or extra screenshots. After the deadline, though, you may only fix bugs—no adding new features.
Theme & Scope
Q: What is a visual theme? A: The visual theme is an image we provide to spark creativity. You’ll need to incorporate this image into your game in some way. You can use it directly or interpret its elements creatively. Only the visual theme counts toward your theme score.
Q: What is a mechanic twist? A: For this jam, we’re running a Trick-or-Treat mechanic twist. You’ll be given two abstract mechanics to choose from. You can do neither, one, or both—it’s purely for fun and won’t affect scoring.
Q: How should I scope my game? A: Aim for something you can finish in about 4 days. Keep it simple, leave time to polish, and fix bugs. A small, complete game will always beat a big, unfinished one.
Stream Announcement Schedule for GameDev.tv Community Stream!
May 24, 2024 @ 5:00 PM EDT - Post First Poll
Ready to kick things off? Join us as we post our FIRST POLL to decide the theme of our game! Your vote matters and shapes our creative journey. Don’t miss out—cast your vote and let’s make something extraordinary together!
May 26, 2024 @ 1:00 PM EDT - Opening Stream
Let’s get this party started! We’ll be setting up the basic game input and functionality, including movement and firing. Watch the magic happen live, and help us steer the ship with your ideas and feedback!
May 27, 2024 @ 4:00 PM EDT - Feature 1
Time to dive deeper! We’re implementing our first major feature, and we need your input to make it awesome. Join us for some serious coding and creative fun!
May 29, 2024 @ 4:00 PM EDT - Feature 2
Things are heating up! Watch as we bring our second major feature to life. Your suggestions and votes will guide us through every twist and turn. Don’t miss out on the excitement!
May 30, 2024 @ 4:00 PM EDT - Feature 3
We’re nearing the home stretch! Feature three is coming up, and we need your brilliance to make it shine. Be part of the action and see your ideas come to life in real-time!
June 2, 2024 @ 1:00 PM EDT - Final Stream
The grand finale! It’s time to bring in play testers and put our game to the test. Join us for a thrilling end to an amazing journey. Your feedback is crucial, and your presence makes it special!
So, forward the email to your friend, and have them add your itch email in the form. We are going through and checking teammates when they submit so we should see them, we just need their account email and the course they want.
So we've been getting questions about why some submissions are being removed. I'm here to shed some light on that and fill you in on why this way have happened and what to do about it.
First off, if your submission was removed, it was removed for one or more of the following reasons:
No playable build of your game was visible
No source code was included for download
You used Paid assets in your game
Your game was published before the start of the jam
Your account was flagged by itch for suspicious activity
Your game had a virus or malware in it
If your game had been a part of the jam, and it no longer is, one of the above reasons is likely why.
If you think your game was removed in error, please comment here with a link to your game and we can either shed some light on your situation or help you with the next steps.
