I’ve been bitten by the indie game dev bug lately, which has ignited my interest in game jams. I just recently covered a few games that were showcased in MylineMedia’s 1-bit Jam and now I’m excited to cover a spooky game jam right from the very beginning!
DreadXP is a game publisher, media company, and an all-around horror junkie’s paradise. I’ve taken a large interest in their community and I’ve reached out to them regarding their upcoming game jam. Here is everything you need to know about the DreadXP End of Summer (abbreviated to EoS) Bone Jam.
Bone Jam theme and submission window
Hosted by DreadXP, the EoS Bone Jam challenges game developers to create a spooky experience in the theme of bones and horror. The rules state that it’s okay to deviate from the theme, as long as creators are having fun while racing to complete a game.
Submissions open on Sept. 13th at 9 AM (CST) and close on the 27th at 10 AM (CST), giving developers two weeks to create their projects. Check out the official DreadXP Bone Jam page for all of the details.
Bone Jam Rules
The ultimate goal of the EoS Bone Jam is to simply have fun while creating games. That being said, some rules must be taken into account to ensure fairness and healthy competitiveness.
DreadXPs EoS Bone Jam Rules:
- Make a game within the allotted time. Do not begin actual production before Sept. 13th.*
- You are only permitted to use assets that you have the right to use.
- Use good taste in your project. Inappropriate or extreme imagery is not permitted. For clarification of this rule, reach out on the DreadXP Discord in the Bone Jam channel.
*You may plan and gather assets before the official start date, but please do not work on the game before the official start date.
Prizes and Voting
A total of $175 in Steam credits are being given away to the top three highest-rated game submissions. The payouts to winners are as follows:
- 1st Place: $100 Steam Gift Card
- 2nd Place: $50 Steam Gift Card
- 3rd Place: $25 Steam Gift Card
You must be a minimum of 18 years of age to receive a prize if you place.
Only participants who have submitted a game to the Bone Jam are permitted to vote. After submissions close, there will be a window where eligible voters can try other developers’ submissions and place votes.
How to get involved
If you or your team want to participate in the Bone Jam, you can join via the Bone Jam itch.io page. If you want to collaborate with other developers interested in this game jam, you can either visit the DreadXP Discord or post on the DreadXP Bone Jam community page.
Don’t be shy to reach out to other creators in the Dread XP community! From my personal experience, everyone there is supportive and friendly, and we all share the same love for a good spook.
There are other ways to get involved If you aren’t a game developer and want to support the Bone Jam.
Play the games and share them
With the theme being generally spooky, you can probably expect some bite-sized horror submissions for the Bone Jam. Spread the spooky love by sharing any of the entries that you like with a friend or two. You may end up playing a game that ends up becoming fully fleshed out!
Check out DreadXP’s newest release: [I] Doesn’t Exist
Just before the Bone Jam begins, DreadXP will be releasing a new game named [I] Doesn’t Exist. Developed by LUAL Games, [I] Doesn’t Exist takes players on a dark and thought-provoking text adventure. Players will be challenged to use their wits to solve puzzles while piecing together a heavy and unnerving story.
I’ve covered [I] Doesn’t exist in a previous post, if you want a more in-depth look at the game. The game releases soon on Steam and itch.io with a demo available to play on each platform. I’m personally excited for [I] Doesn’t Exist and I’ll be playing it and reviewing it on my blog as soon as it drops!
Stay tuned for my Bone Jam picks
I’ll be covering the Bone Jam for the duration of the event. I’m excited to dig into several entries to scratch that indie horror itch. If anything special catches my eye, I’ll make a post or two to give it some extra love. I love rambling about games and sharing them with friends, so sign up for email notifications if you wanna stay in the loop on some sleeper indie hits.
It’s skeleton season,
~Greysyns