WELCOME to the.....

A jam hosted by me, Ash!

Smile Game Builder is a 3D RPG making tool that is beginner-friendly and  requires no coding or scripting to learn and use. It was developed by SmileBoom and succeeded by RPG Developer Bakin which took the engine concepts to a powerful new level.

SGB is super accessible and this is the latest in a series of jams devoted to its use!

Please read the following sections to learn more!

Let's continue to build an environment in which old and new developers alike can create! To allow plenty of time for development, the submission phase is an entire month long; However, you can join and begin preparing your entry NOW.

The long development window helps developers conceive more ambitious projects, and gives others more time to consider their ideas  Please take your time in crafting an experience that you want to share!

In addition, newer users of the engine will find the extra time helpful as they navigate the powerful development tool, while gaining knowledge and feedback about their project in the community if they choose!

There are only seven rules!

ONE -- CREATION.  Get out that dusty ole SGB and make something!  It's so fast to throw together a simple RPG in minutes - and you can make other genres of game with some elbow grease!  Celebrate creativity with me and let's make some games!

TWO -- PRESENTATION AND FEEDBACK. The second goal is to create presentations in video format that will encourage and empower developers -- every qualifying submission will be featured in a Let's-Play style video (or videos) and the dev will see a genuine first impression!

This year there is a special challenge!:

RESCUE THE PRINCESS

The game's central theme, or MAJOR part of its story, is that there is a princess to rescue.
This is a classic fantasy staple -- however, feel free to turn this on its head by subjecting expectation; take inspiration from the following or come up with your own!:
-a classic, knight-rescues-princess-from-tower-or-dragon game
-a modern take
-the captors didn't know their hostage is actually a warrior princess (she rescues herself)
-Princess is a cat that just keeps yowling because her food bowl is empty (again)
-switch up roles, genders, whatever you want - heroines can rescue princesses, and so on!
-layers of political intrigue
-Your Princess Is In Another Castle (sdfhgsdfsdjfh)
-The MC is a guy who really loves his car (she's princess) and it's been stolen / headed for scrapyard!?

There are seven rules your submission must follow to participate!

1.  Your submission must be made using Smile Game Builder.

2.  Your work must be completely original for the jam. It cannot have been published elsewhere and may not contain the frameworks of previous games.  Please create a NEW project!

3.  Your submission to the jam must remain free and accessible.

4.  You must either own or have permission to use all of the assets that are contained within your game. Default assets, official DLC, and your own created assets are OK. Third party asset packs that you have the license or ownership to use are OK. (Exception: Do not use ANYTHING generated using AI, and do not use CC-BY licensed music.)

5.  Agree to allow the game to be played on video platforms. I, Ash (and possibly other judges!) will play your game for a video platform such as YouTube, Twitch, etc... by submitting, you agree to allow the gameplay footage to be published!

6. Pledge to not use AI. You as a participant must pledge to have not used AI assets in your submission, and agree that all assets used are, to the best of your knowledge, not created using generative AI.  This includes all visuals and audio as well as plugin code.  This is growing increasingly difficult to enforce, so unfortunately, if I even suspect AI was used, the entry will be disqualified.

7.  Follow Community Guidelines: ANYONE found guilty of harassing ANY participant of the jam and compromising my mission to provide a safe, engaging and fun event will be barred from participation in ANY future event that I host, associated Discords, and won't have their content played on the channel.   Please be awesome!

The host (me) is a human, not a robot -- so lease DON'T skirt or test the rules, but feel free to ask questions before the submission period ends, so you have time to revise your project if necessary.  After the judgement period begins, participants who have submissions disqualified will not be given a chance to re-enter revised work!

The Jam has three periods - Join, Submission, and Judgement. All times and dates are listed above at the top of this page.  A timer will assist in counting down how much time is left for each period, and it will be relevant to your time zone.

Please note, that if the jam gets a very large amount of submissions, more time may be granted for the judgement phase. This decision will be at the host's sole discretion.

If you want to JOIN and SUBMIT on the same day, it's OK!

To determine the prize winners at the end of the judgement period, each work will be judged in the categories of Fun Factor, Game Design,  Game Narrative, and Theme Presence.

Judgement will be done by host and / or panel of judges -- there is NO COMMUNITY VOTING for this jam.

ALL qualifying participants of this jam will receive:

A video or series of videos by AmalgamAsh playing their submission on YouTube; feedback, first impressions and Let's Play all inclusive.

The winner of this jam will receive:

Special recognition as the winner of the jam.

Watch this space for prize updates, and get in touch if you'd like to sponsor!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  SOMETIMES ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q.  Can I start working on my game now? A. Yes! 

Q.  I don't have time - can I submit my game unfinished or WIP state?  A.  Yes!!  Please consider submitting instead of not!

Q.  If I miss the submission deadline by a few seconds, can you let me submit?  A.  No; the deadline is firm, so please prepare accordingly!

Q. I made a battle system, crafting system, entire world etc. for a past game, can I use my frameworks in a new game for this jam?   A. Please do not use an existing game project as a template for your submission (unless it is one from the game engine's library)!

Q. Can I use plugins?  A.  Yes, you can use plugins for this event.

Q.  Are Non-English Games OK to submit?  A. Please submit games in English. (DeepL, machine or other translation method is fine!)

Q.  Can I collaborate with someone else to make my game?  Can we submit as a group?   A.  Collaborations, teams and group projects are fine!  Each separate participant is also allowed to submit their own project, even if they helped with someone else's!

Q. Are NSFW games OK to submit?  A.  No NSFW content is allowed for this jam.

Q. I bought (or got for free) third-party assets, such as plugins, characters, tools, animations, models, or music.  Can I use them in my game?  A.  Please be sure that the seller has authorized the use of their assets in your project.  There should be explicit permission from them to use it, on the page where you buy the assets, or it will be included with them.  Works with a CC0 or Public Domain license are best.  If you are not certain, you can ask me (Ash)!

An AmalgamAsh Studios, LLC event.