Short version:
Question: Can I-
Answer: Yes.
But: Be nice and respectful. Don't be hurtful or harmful. Breaking this rule will get you banned.
Long version:
Will there be voting/judging/ranking/prizes?
None of the sort. Just people making games and stuff :)
This jam is 100% non-competitive. There is enough crunch in the world already, and we believe prizes and competition are terrible motivators. Taking part and making something is a reward in itself.
Wait, what's Famicase anyway?
It's the annual My Famicase Exhibition, organized and hosted by Super Meteor in Japan. They accept submissions for fictional famicom-style game cartridge designs and descriptions every year and then display them in their shop and on their website. This jam is meant to a) bring attention to this amazing little thing and b) to turn these fictional cartridge designs into real little videogames!
Can I start early?
Yes! Feel free to start early if you like. This is supposed to be a very relaxed jam with very few restrictions.
Is there a deadline?
Submissions are open all through July. Maybe longer, we'll see.
Can I work on an old project?
Yes!
You can work on anything even if you didn't start it during the jam.
Does my game have to follow the Famicase entry's description?
No! You're free to adhere to the provided description, but you don't have to.
Do I have to name my game after its inspirational Famicase entry?
Nope.
Do I have to pick a cart from 2019?
No, you're free to pick any Famicase design regardless of year. This is the 2019 exhibition. They also have this cool page listing every Famicase design ever made, they call it Chronicle. (If you're having trouble picking one, try this handy randomizer)
Can I call dibs on a design?
No reservations. And yes, there can be multiple games based on the same cart. There have been some in the past, and it was always super interesting to see different interpretations of the same theme.
Do I have to work solo or can I work as a team?
You can work however you want to!
If you're looking for collaborators, check out the Teams part of the jam community or the #teamfinding channel of our discord server.
Where can I share my progress?
This jam community has a section where you can share your progress. If forums are not your thing, you can also join our discord and post in the #progress channel.
You're welcome to share your progress anywhere else as well. If you're on Twitter, use the #AGBIC hashtag so people can find it.
What about copyright? / Is it legal to use these covers as inspiration? / Can I use parts of the graphic in my game? / Can I turn this into a commercial project?
These questions come up every year, so:
(IANAL) First of all, you always should try to look up and contact the original designer of the Famicase cart you've picked. We know that isn't always easy or might even be impossible, but you should make an effort anyway, because it's the Right Thing To Do.
Copyright unfortunately is A Thing and there is something called Fair Use (at least in the US) but, if a famicase designer should ask you not to turn their design into a game, please respect their wishes and choose another cart. This jam is all about a relaxed atmosphere and there's nothing chill about legal issues.
This is obviously a grey area, like fanart. At the end of the day, you are definitely working off of someone else's work, but if it doesn't develop into a commercial project that just straight-up uses their assets, you should be ok.
OK but how do I contact the Famicase artists?
Krystian (@Krystman) has done the work for us this year and has prepared this big spreadsheet.
--
If you have any other questions, please ask below.
I hope you'll have a great time jamming! Stay hydrated and take regular breaks!