The Toledo.codes March Game Jam: Forward Motion
Don’t overthink it. Just keep moving.
- Dates: March 15 – March 29 (2 Weeks)
- Location: Virtual (Discord/Itch.io)
- Theme: Announced Sunday, March 15 @ Noon!
*pssst*—You don't have to be within the Toledo area to participate.
👋 The "Anti-Crunch" Jam
We know you have a life, a job, and a need for sleep. This isn't about building a massive project; it’s about momentum. Whether you’re a 20-year veteran, a student, or a "vibe-coder" using LLMs—you belong here. The goal is to finish something small, focused, and fun.
🏃 The Golden Rule: Forward Motion
To keep your scope tight and eliminate the "feature creep" of branching paths or complex level design, every entry must follow one constraint:
The gameplay must be driven by continuous Forward Motion.
- The Inspiration: Think Pac-Man, Galaga, Flappy Bird, or an endless runner.
- The "Why": If the game never stops moving, you don't have to build 50 rooms or complex dialogue trees. You focus on the mechanic, the vibe, and the flow.
- The Goal: Keep the player moving toward the objective. No backtracking, no branching—just pure momentum.
🤖 Tech Stack & AI Policy
Use whatever tools you like—Unity, Godot, JavaScript, Python—if it runs in a browser, it’s fair game. We embrace the modern coding landscape, but we ask for transparency. Label your submission:
- 🛠️ Category A: Human-Driven (Assisted)
- You wrote the core logic. You might have used AI for autocomplete or assets, but you built the engine.
- ✨ Category B: Vibe-Coded (Generated)
- You prompted your way to a build. You used Cursor, Replit Agent, or ChatGPT to handle the heavy lifting. You "vibed" the game into existence.
🤝 Teams & Solo Devs
- Solo: A great way to learn a new stack at your own pace.
- Teams: Grab a partner from the Toledo.codes Discord. Split the "Art vs. Code" duties and see how fast you can move.
🚀 How to Start
- Join the Discord:
- https://discord.gg/Jje5zWPfnh
- Wait for the Theme: The Secret Theme drops March 15th at Noon.
- Prep Your Tools: Get your environment ready, but the clock doesn't start until the theme is live.
See you on the Maumee! 🚢❄️
