This is my first jam , and also my first video game ever. I wanted to learn a specific game mechanic so i did just that , i wanted to learn a software and making basic pixel art and i did it as well. This experience is incredible, it's already a success for me BUT i have to admit that my game is not fun. It's beyond saving and the more i change the less the theme fits, and i cant afford to restart from the beginning (not enough time). My question is : Would you submit it knowing that ? After polishing and goofing around a bit more of course. 

You have nothing to lose by submitting, so I say go for it. At the end of the day, game jams are about having fun and learning in the process.

The theme is not a requirement, more a suggestion.

If you think there things you can do to improve your game, and you want to do it, then do it.

There's no real prize for winning, just as there's no real penalty for losing.

Your game is your creation, you can do as much or as little as you want.

I would always aim to submit, so long as I have a playable build.  I find doing these jams is about the experience of making a game, and getting feedback that can help me focus for the future.

Good luck!

so long as there is a basic loop there just submit it. I've done like 7 or 8 jams now and I learn every time. Plus you'll get a course and you use that to improve.

Still lots of time to remake (or even try something completely new)

I think i just needed a break , talking about it made me motivated again! I never considered the reward (course) a single time since the challenge alone was my engine to begin with but gaining more knowledge seems like a good idea lol. I'm committing and i will submit my game , even if it's more a technical achievement than a fun game to play ! Thanks y'all and i'm looking forward to testing your project, i hope that you having fun and good luck !

Fun is only one category. You can focus on, and achieve, in other areas

I will say, I began developing my game with a game idea that I was almost CONFIDENT that not everyone, not even a large majority, might enjoy.

So it depends on what you are making the game for.

• Do you want to make a successful game?
• Do you want to maximize how many people have fun?
• Do you want to draw in the largest possible crowd?

Give more thought to the fun aspect.

• Are you making it to learn?
• Are you making it to explore your idea?
• Are you looking to have +1 thing out there that you made?
• Are YOU HAVING FUN?

I say go ahead.

Good luck!

ps: It is a part and parcel of gamejams to have the product deviate from your original vision and/or the objectives of the game jam. But that will come easily to you as you gain experience. Hopefully in future jams, you will be able to start with a more cohesive and fun idea, as well as keep it in a proper direction!

The point of jams and similar challenges is participate at all, not to do it good.

I had multiple successful entries that can be barely called games.

Many people seem to seriously misunderstand the expectations of jam games and compare themselves with full teams with budgets, professional experience and months of work. Yes, I’ve seen fantastic jam games even in short jams, but they were done by very experienced people who were good at team & time management, among other things.

For reference, this was my first gdtv jam entry that got me the course. Maybe the level is expected to be higher nowadays, but it is still lower than newcomers assume.

My first game Jam game was also in the same boat, but almost in the opposite direction where I tried to tie too many things to the theme and it just wasn't fun to play.

I still submitted though, because the feedback I got, even though I knew it wasn't going to be great, helped narrow down the "why" so I learned a lot from it.

Don't expect your first game jam to be amazing. As long as you learned something, you succeeded. Even if that something was what doesn't work or that you over scoped.