Crazy Web Game Jam 2024’s Guide

Welcome to Crazy Web Game Jam 2024!

We have created this guide to help you during the event. Feel free to review it as many times as necessary! Our summary is linked to the topics, so you can just click whatever you need to know more about and it’ll redirect you straight to it!

Terms and Rules of Participation

Important Information and Dates

Theme

Contacts

Get ready for an exciting week of creativity, collaboration, and game development! The Crazy Web Game Jam 2024 is a unique opportunity for indie developers, hobbyists, and professionals to come together and create amazing games using Unity. Whether you’re a seasoned game designer or just starting your journey, this jam offers an immersive experience focused on innovation, fun, and the business of gaming.

Our goal is to grow the creative economy by fostering new talent, discovering innovative games, and supporting studios with fresh ideas. Over the course of the jam, you’ll not only build a game from scratch but also have the chance to connect with mentors, engage with fellow developers, and compete for a chance to win exciting publishing deals.

The Crazy Web Game Jam is more than just a competition—it’s a stepping stone towards showcasing your game globally through the CrazyGames platform, where millions of players can experience your creation. With a focus on player engagement, creative mechanics, and high-quality design, this is your chance to take your project to the next level.

This guide set out the rules and conditions of participation in the Crazy Web Game Jam 2024 to ensure the success of our event.

Join us for this exciting journey where creativity meets opportunity. 

The theme announcement will be made on the jam website, Game Jam Discord, and via email on November 1st at 4:00 pm CET. 

Let’s jam!

About CrazyGames

CrazyGames is a leading online platform for web-based games, reaching 35 million monthly players worldwide. We support indie developers by providing a global stage to showcase their creativity and offering tools to help them succeed through our developer portal.

In 2024, we’re thrilled to team up with Unity to make Unity-powered games shine on the web during the Crazy Web Game Jam. Together, we aim to highlight innovative and engaging games, helping developers reach a broader audience.

Thanks for being here. Now, let’s make gaming a little crazier together!

— The CrazyGames Team

Terms and Rules of Participation

Be sure to check the following instructions and rules related to the event! The following topics describe what we expect from you and your team during the competition.

The Teams and Participants:

  1. Follow all Game Jam rules and guidelines.
  2. Respecting mentors, participants, and organizers is mandatory. Behaviors understood as acts of discrimination regarding gender, color, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion, among other things will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification for the Event. Report any misconduct to the organizers immediately.
  3. Every participant must register on the main Organizers platform, Registration for the Event is free of charge.
  4. To participate in the event, every participant must register on the main Organizers platform.
  5. For the submission, it is mandatory to select a person responsible for representing the team. 
  6. Prizes will be awarded to the team representative, who will be responsible for distributing them among the team members. The organizers are not liable for any disputes regarding prize distribution within teams.
  7. Open to individuals, indie teams, and established companies
  8. There are no restrictions on the number of members in a team. You can work alone or collaborate with others.
  9. Team formation is flexible, and you can assemble or modify your team anytime during the event.
  10.  All intellectual property rights to the game remain with the team. The organizers will not claim ownership of your game but may use it for promotional purposes related to the event.

The Game:

  1.  Games must be developed exclusively and entirely during the Event period, and Games may be disqualified at any time if premature development is suspected.
  2.  The game needs to comply with all legal and ethical standards.
  3.  The game must be developed using Unity and be a web game (Unity Web / WebGL). We highly recommend Unity 6 for optimal web performance. 
  4.  Participants must use Unity (game engine) for their Game. 
    1. The Organizers do not restrict the use of ready-made and/or paid assets during the Event as long as they are credited.
    2. The Organizers do not restrict the use of graphic materials, audio files, etc., provided they hold the economic copyright or have obtained the necessary licenses.
  5.  The Organizers will not be responsible for technical problems that arise during the Event. 
  6. A submission will be considered valid only if it meets the following requirements: (“Valid Project”):
    1. The Game must adhere to the Terms and Conditions and the Guidelines;
    2. The Game must be delivered within the deadlines as communicated by the Organizers;
    3. The Game must have a game build submitted to the CrazyGames developers portal;
    4. The participant must complete the submission with all required info regarding the Game. 
    5. The game is suitable for players aged 12+ and suits the PEGI 12 label criteria. 
    6. Additionally, the file must be within the 250MB size limit.
  7.  The game must adhere to the theme announced at the beginning of the Jam
  8.  Only selected projects from the incubation phase will be invited to publish on CrazyGames. Developers and teams can submit the game to CrazyGames, but participation in the jam does not guarantee publication.
  9.  The organizers will not assume responsibility for the legality of the materials used in the games or the software used by the participants to create them.
    1. The Organizers will also not be responsible for losses resulting from participants’ use of illegal software or material during the Event.
  10.  The Organizers have the right to disqualify a Game and the participants who created it, especially if the content presented in it violates (a) the law, (b) another person’s property rights, (c) fair practice or (d) is inconsistent with Organizer’s values and/or Guidelines.
  11.  It is prohibited to implement codes or algorithms in the Game that are potentially harmful, invasive, or intended to damage or hijack the operation of, or to monitor the use of, any hardware, software or equipment on which the Game is launched.
  12.  Accept the terms and conditions when submitting the game to CrazyGames.
  13.  Submission of the game is mandatory.

Important Information and Dates

  • It’s important to keep in mind that all times and dates in this guide are based on the CET time zone.
  • Crazy Web Game Jam 2024 will begin on Friday, November 1st, 2024, at 4:00 pm, and the themes will be revealed at the opening both on the jam website, Discord server and via email.
  • The deadline for submitting the game in the official submission form is Friday, November 8th, 2024, at 11:59:59 pm.
  • To be considered valid, the game link must be submitted through the official submission form before the deadline.
  • We will have mentors available throughout Crazy Web Game Jam 2024 on our Discord server to help you with any questions you may have.

Event Roadmap

  1. Registration
    1. Opens on September 19th, 2024, at 9:00 am (Unite announcement);
    2. Closes on November 8th, 2024, at 11:59 pm.
  2. First stage – Game Jam Starts November 1st, 2024, at 4:00 pm;
    1. Ends on November 8th, 2024, at 11:59 pm;
    2. Develop your game in a week. Make sure the game follows the theme announced at the start of the event. Game projects must be developed exclusively during the first stage of Crazy Web Game Jam 2024, and may be disqualified if it is discovered that they started production earlier.
  3. Judging Period Jam
    1. Starts November 9th, 2024;
    2. Ends November 28th, 2024.
  4. Announcement of 10 selected incubators
    1. November 29th, 2024.
  5. Second Stage – Incubation (Only for the 10 selected teams)
    1. Starts December 1th, 2024;
    2. Ends February 28th, 2025, at 11:59 pm;
    3. The 10 finalist games will enter an incubation period, where they will receive support and mentoring to refine their projects;
    4. Three 1:1 mentorship sessions with professionals from CrazyGames;
    5. Three masterclasses with CrazyGames partners
    6. Support from professionals at Indie Hero.
  6. Second Stage – Final submission 
    1. Starts March, 1st;
    2. Ends March 9th, at 11:59 pm (deadline submission);
    3. This is when teams can improve/finalize their game before submission.
  7. Judging Period Incubation 
    1. Starts March 10th, 2025;
    2. Ends March 14th, 2025.
  8. Third Stage – The Final Announcement
    1. On March 18th, 2025, during GDC;
    2. Finalists will be announced during the Grand Final, an online event where streamers will play the games and announce the finalists. The event will include a $75,000 prize pool in Publishing Deals.

How to participate

  1. Register: Sign up for free via this form.
  2. Join our Discord: it is not mandatory, but we will have a space for participants there.
  3. Develop: Create your game using Unity during the exclusive development period (November 1st, 2024, to November 8th, 2024).
  4. Submit: Upload your game to the CrazyGames developer portal and complete the official submission form by Friday, November 8th, 2024, at 11:59 pm.

About the Game Submission

Submission form: 

  • Visit the dedicated Crazy Web Game Jam 2024 website.
  • Fill in the required information, including your name, email, team details, and play link (available once a game is uploaded to CrazyGames).

     

Submission Guidelines:

  • Ensure your game is functional and free of major bugs.
  • Upload your game through the CrazyGames platform by the deadline. 
  • Fill out the required info on the Crazy Web Game Jam 2024 website.

     

How to Submit:

  • Create/log in to your CrazyGames account via the CG developers portal.
  • Upload your game files (Unity WebGL only).
  • Fill out the required info on the Crazy Web Game Jam 2024 website before the deadline.

     

Important:

  • You don’t need to include the CrazyGames SDK in your game jam submission.
  • Your game jam submission will not be published on CrazyGames.
  • However, our team is always looking for great games, and if we determine that your game has commercial potential, we will contact you with further instructions, even if your project is not among the ten selected projects for incubation. 

How to submit your jam game to CrazyGames

Congratulations on completing your game jam project! Now it’s time to upload your game to CrazyGames so our team and judges can review and enjoy what you’ve created. The upload process is simple, and once completed, you’ll receive a sharable link that you’ll need to include in your submission form.

While the process should be straightforward, we’ve also prepared a video tutorial to guide you through each step in case you need assistance.

How to be successful on CrazyGames

To stand out on CrazyGames, creating an engaging and enjoyable player experience is essential. Here are key factors that contribute to the success of games on our platform:

  1. High Retention: Games that keep players coming back for more are the most successful. Focus on fun gameplay mechanics, clear progression, and a rewarding experience to maintain a high session rate.
  2. Fast Load Times: Web-based games need to load quickly to retain players. Optimize your game’s performance to ensure fast load times, particularly in browsers.
  3. Simple and Intuitive Controls: Games with straightforward and easy-to-learn controls are more likely to succeed. Avoid complexity that could frustrate players early on.
  4. Engaging Visuals and Audio: Visually appealing graphics and well-integrated audio can elevate a game’s experience. Focus on creating a cohesive style that draws players in.
  5. Polish and Bug-Free: Ensure your game is polished, has smooth performance, and has no major bugs. A well-tested game that runs smoothly will perform better and attract positive player reviews.
  6. Replayability: Games with replay value, such as leaderboards, unlockable content, or endless levels, tend to perform better by encouraging players to come back for more.

Resources

The Unity 6 Toolkit - Unity Asset Store

The Unity 6 Toolkit offers a robust collection of tools and assets tailored for web game development, with the first discounted tier specifically curated for the Crazy Web Game Jam 2024. Developers can now access top art assets at up to 94% off, providing high-quality 3D models, textures, and other resources optimized for WebGL games. 

This makes it easier than ever to enhance your game’s visual appeal while keeping costs low. Take advantage of this limited-time offer to elevate your web game development with Unity 6’s best tools and assets. Get it here!

Going multiplayer with support during the jam

Multiplayer games create engaging experiences by allowing players to interact and compete in real-time. They foster collaboration, competition, and social interaction, making them highly replayable. With tools like Photon, making multiplayer Unity Web games is now easier than ever.

The Photon team is happy to help jammers who want to integrate multiplayer in their Unity Web games during the jam. They will provide support on Discord, so this is your chance to get all questions answered.  

To get an idea of it, check out the Quantum Web Asteroid (with the CrazySDK) or Quantum Karts multiplayer samples.

All Resources

Theme

The theme will be released on November 1st.

Evaluation Criteria

Games will be judged based on the following criteria:

  1. Gameplay: Fun, engaging, and innovative gameplay mechanics.
  2. Creativity: Originality and creativity in the game’s concept and execution.
  3. Theme Adherence: How well the game incorporates the announced theme.
  4. Technical Achievement: Effective use of Unity and partner features and smooth performance.
  5. Visuals and Audio: Aesthetic quality and audio integration.

Awards

🥇 1st Place: $20,000 in Publishing Deals* + $2,500**
🥈 2nd Place: $10,000 in Publishing Deals* + $2,500**
🥉 3rd Place: $5,000 in Publishing Deals* + $2,500**
🎖 4th–10th Place: $2,500 in Publishing Deals* each + $2,500**

All teams/projects selected for the incubation phase will be featured on CrazyGames and rewarded with an exclusive CrazyGames goodie bag, including our iconic funky hat! 🎩

*These deals are recoupable advances provided upon the game’s release. This means that the advance will be recovered from the revenue generated by the game post-launch, with any additional earnings being shared according to the terms outlined in the publishing agreement.

**Alongside the publishing deal amounts, all projects that join the incubation program will receive a welcome bonus of $2,500, paid at the signing of the publishing agreement.

Notes on Publishing Deals:

  • Launch and Payment: The Publishing Deal amount will only be paid when the game is launched on CrazyGames.
  • Intellectual Property: The game’s intellectual property (IP) remains with the developer in all cases.
  • Exclusivity: If your game is chosen for publication and/or incubation by the CrazyGames team, the web version will remain exclusive to CrazyGames for a set period. However, you are free to release or port the game to non-web platforms independently during this time.
    • Accepting the publishing deal is optional. However, declining the deal will also mean forfeiting any associated prizes.
  • Revenue Share: Once costs are recouped, developers will receive 60% of the in-game advertisement revenue generated, with CrazyGames receiving 40%. For in-app purchases (IAP), the revenue share after recoup is 70% to the developer and 30% to CrazyGames.
  • Welcome Bonus: All projects that join the incubation program will receive a welcome bonus of $2,500. This bonus is paid upon acceptance and does not require repayment or deduction from future earnings.

Contacts

Talk to our team!

You can reach us through the following contacts:

  • Discord roles to tag: Indie Hero team, CrazyGames Team.

For more information and support, join our Jam Discord community
or send your question by e-mail [email protected].

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