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First game jam dumb question: what "pre-work" are you allowed to do for your entry before the date submissions open?

A topic by plinth created 48 days ago Views: 94 Replies: 2
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Submitted

Hey, game jam newb here. I couldn't find a clear answer for this anywhere, but my assumption had been that for a game jam you're not supposed to begin work until the date that submissions open (I guess meaning that's when the game jam actually starts). But, what does that mean? I decided to work on a game idea that had sat on my backlog for 10 years. In some future game jams I might want to re-use some code or assets from other projects. What is allowed/not allowed? I've seen some people (admittedly) started on their prototypes before the date submissions opened for this jam. I assumed that at the very least starting actual work building the project, writing code, creating/generating/gathering assets, would probably go against the spirit of a game jam, so I waited. But, now I'm wondering... what are the assumed "rules" if they aren't specified in the actual game jam rules? I'm good either way. I am on schedule, but I constrained my project plan to what I believed was achievable in a 2 week period. Thanks!

HostSubmitted

Hey, thanks for joining our jam, welcome to the world of game jams.

It really depends on the jam, basically it is the honor system for most. for our jam it is built in to the rules...

Continuing an existing project is allowed, only if the majority of the submission is new content.

This allows a way for people to continue projects or reuse parts of previous without feeling like they are cheating. 

I will say though, a big part of what is great about a jam is starting fresh on a new idea or major rework of an old idea. Also, two weeks is plenty of time to make something great and forces you to keep things focused.

My main advice with game jams is to experiment and try to make a fun cool new game.

Submitted(+1)

Gosh, I should learn to read, thanks for pointing that out. And appreciate the welcome. Cool. That is what I am trying to do. My first game was about traveling through the solar system. I decided to switch gears and make a game about mowing lawns for your summer vacation (an old idea I had, but drastically different from anything I've done so far). Thanks for hosting this game jam, looking forward to finishing this and sharing. And seeing all the other great submissions!