Skip to main content

On Sale: GamesAssetsToolsTabletopComics
Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
TagsGame Engines

what is the minimum age to join a game jam?

A topic by infinitygamerz created Oct 17, 2020 Views: 1,478 Replies: 10
Viewing posts 1 to 5

just wanna know 

Moderator(+2)

On Itch? The same as for using the website: 13 years old in most countries, or 16 in the EU. But you can start making games much earlier, say at the age of 7.

(+1)

phew i am 13 i can join a jam then thnx

Deleted post
(+2)

In my opinion you can join a game jam at any age and if you are a child you should ask your parents can you join a jam

Moderator(+2)

The problem here is that you have to be a minimum age to join and use the site. It's not about game jams. They're usually very friendly.

Deleted 1 day ago

I agree!

With 1 exception. Inappropriate jams. Like,  okay! Go join a 12 day game jam! But if it is made to have a theme around bad stuff, then no!

i think there isn't a minimal age to join a jam, and if there is, the jam itself will say that (e.g., adult jams and jams with money prizes will specifically say they are for ppl over 18). And i already saw accounts of people in itch with less than 13 years sooo... as long as you can make the game, go in ig

The thread is old and incidentally OP should now be of legal age ;-)

But that's actually tos territory and not something of opinion. It's a legal problem. https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms#2-users-and-publishers 

It's basically the same issue that's with opening a youtube channel. You just can't do that without parental consent as a minor, and under a certain age not even then.

There are game sites for younger developers. 

But what if someone doesn't want to use those sites?

If you want to release projects into the general public, you have to play by the rules.

Itch is a store. Even if you do not collect payments. If you publish you need to be able to enter contracts. Minors cannot do that. This is not a thing about wanting or not. It is not legally possible. Exceptions apply, like if you are at least 13 years of age and have parental consent (on Itch). Which basically says, your parents will take legal responsibility and go to jail, if you screw up.

Imagine an underage developer releasing stolen assets. Another developer buys that in good faith and uses the assets in a game, but it turns out a 10 year old sold it. Who is responsible? Who pays the damages?

Of course you do not have to go to sites geared for small children. But using a site like Itch as a publisher is still not allowed. Also there is the whole social interaction with strangers on the internet. You need a safeish environment for that. Those sites geared at children have that. Itch does not. And I am not speaking about nsfw content. I am speaking about mundane things like a project getting a 1 star rating or a bad comment. Or people getting into an argument. Talking politics. Being a nuisance for grown ups by acting like a child (remember, we are talking about kids here)

So, if you want to publish games as a kid, you need to go to sites that allow this.