In the annual NESmaker Byte-Off competition, users are given a month to create a playable demo based on a common theme, and the event culminates in an awards show.
THEME REVEAL
A NOTE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S THEME
I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for keeping this alive for all this time, and making each year better than the last. Because I understand some peoples' minds process very literal reads of things like this, I wanted to take a moment to clarify exactly what I mean with this year's theme.
The single most important thing to remember about the Byte-Off is that it should be fun. It should be a reason to jettison the pressures of trying to create commercially viable projects or your magnum opus. It should be about experimenting, trying new things, getting creative, collaborating with new people, learning new skills, and employing critical and creative thought. If things go wrong, come back to this mantra. THIS is the reason all of this exists.
IMPORTANT
DATES
KICKOFF EVENT
SUNDAY, FEB 23, 6pm Eastern
This year's Byte-Off will begin with a kickoff video premiere on YouTube with an accompanying live chat with the community.
SUBMISSIONS DUE
MONDAY, MAR 24, 11:59pm Eastern
To be considered for the competition, final version of games must be submitted on TheRetroverse by Monday, March 24th at 11:59 Eastern. In the coming weeks, when uploading a game to TheRetroverse, you will be able to select Byte Off V as an event. We will be posting a video here on how to submit for anyone who may have confusion.
AWARDS SHOW
FRIDAY, APR 4th, 7pm CTD
The Awards show will be on Friday, April 4th as part of the first night of the Midwest Gaming Classic. We encourage everyone who can to make the pilgrimage to the event and check out the show live. For those who can not make it, we will be streaming the awards show, and will likely put together an official cut of the awards show after the fact, too.
GENERAL INFO
WHO CAN COMPETE?
Anyone with a valid license for NESmaker can compete. This includes anyone who already has a license, and also anyone who obtains a license during the course of the competition month.
SUBMISSION QUESTIONS
Q: Do I have to follow the theme?
A: Well, the theme is a guide to get everyone started and give each year a sort of identity. There is no consequence for not following the theme - we're just happy that new games are being created! However, some awards will absolutely be tied to clever or appropriate use of the theme. **But this is important, understand the *theme* is not the same thing as the tone of the theme video. The theme should be interpreted and evaluated for what it means to you, which should then be expressed in your game.
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Q: Can I submit games I've already been working on?
A: This can get tricky. The official answer is no. In the spirit of the awards show, these games should be created and submitted between the announcement video and the submission deadline. However, there may be components that you have created or that may exist that makes this a bit more gray. For instance, if you've created a custom module for a particular genre with a detailed script base, there is no problem using that as a sandbox to begin creating your Byte-Off game. Obviously, it can get tricky with assets such as art and music, so the charge is that proper judgement is used. If you have already been working on a game, that should not be your Byte-Off submission. Broadly, if you utilize assets you've created to make a new game, it's probably ok. But use common sense.
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Q: Can we work in teams? On more than one project?
A: Absolutely! You can work in teams, and you can be part of as many projects as you'd like.
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Q: What if I'm just a beginner?
A: That's fine! We've had first-timers use the Byte-Off as a learning event, since the community is so engaged in helping each other out, and sometimes those newcomers even win certain categories for the awards! Don't count yourself out just because you're a beginner.
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Q: Can I use AI / copyrighted material?
A: Please refrain from using copyrighted material. In fact, it's a violation of the terms of service for the software to use NESmaker in that way. AI is a trickier subject. We encourage that no AI is used - there are people in the community who would love to be part of projects, use them instead. For transparency, any use of AI should be explicitly stated, and AI assets will be ineligible for awards. However, in cases it would not disqualify a whole game for use of AI. For instance, if AI is used to make box art, that does not affect the music or character or narrative, only the box art, etc. But to keep it completely clean, it is my recommendation that you simply refrain from using AI for any competition entry.
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Q: Who owns the rights to games submitted?
A: The person who created the game retains 100% of all rights with games submitted, with the acknowledgement we may use footage and images from the game in promotional material in the future. I like to show off the awesome stuff you guys create, and it helps give new users ideas!
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Q: Do I have to make a finished game?
A: No. Your game does not have to be a complete game - it can be a proof of concept or a demo. However, I do strongly suggest that you have a cauterized version of it - it should feel like it has a logical beginning and logical ending, even if it feels like the game is to-be-continued.
AWARD CATEGORIES
BEST PACKAGE
This award goes to the game with the best non-game collateral. This could mean things like box art and manual, but can also be so much more. In the past, users have created websites, comics, trailers, 3d figures and physical representations of their games, and so much more. Put together your best cohesive package that helps your game be fully realized.
BEST CHARACTER
This award goes to the game that shows off a charactery worthy of inclusion on a NESmaker Mount Rushmore. Why is your character unique, interesting, or compelling? Maybe it's the look or style, maybe it's a backstory or the context of the character in his or her world. The winner of this award will create the most memorable new character.
BEST PIXEL ART
This award goes to the game with the best pixel art. The backgrounds, the characters, the animations, the HUD graphics, the cut scenes...if they're in game graphics, they count towards this category!
BEST SOUNDTRACK
This award will go to the best music and sound effects. Maybe it's haunting melodies, maybe it's clever use of samples, maybe it's motifs that get stuck in your head for days. The winner of this award will demonstrate mastery of making something awesome out of four voices.
BEST NARRATIVE
Tell us a story. This award will go the game with the best narrative. Now, when it comes to 8-bit games, story is not always story in a traditional sense. Stories are also told through visuals and game mechanics. So don't think you have to fill every memory bank with text to be considered for this category. But if you plan to win this award, make sure your game tells a solid story.
THE WOMBAT
This is for the weird ones. The wild ones. The ones with the ideas so out there, that it causes us, the creators of the software, to say "how did they even do that?". Maybe, we might even ask why! Whether it be a genre we haven't seen done before or a completely absurd premise or something so technically awesome that our jaws hit the floor. These are the sorts of games that will be in the running for The Wombat.
THE EMISSARY
This is a special category. It's a team up, specifically between someone who grew up in the NES era and someone who did not. Likely, it'll be a father / son or mother / daughter or teacher / student type scenario, where one member of the team opened NES games on Christmas morning back in the 80s, and the other thinks Radiohead is classic rock. This award is given to the best game created by this sort of combo, as a thank you for inspiring the next generation to keep this passion alive!
AUDIENCE CHOICE
There will be a vote on The Retroverse for players' favorite game. In the end, we'll just look at the numbers, and the people will have spoken. The person with the highest number of votes will win the audience choice award.
BEST GAME
This is the game that wins it all. Chances are, it has a combination of many of the categories above - great art, great music, great narrative, great character, a bit unique, and loved by the audience. This sort of game should feel like one that may have even gotten a commercial release back in the end of the eighties.