Visual novel jam: Difference between revisions
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A VN Jam, or a '''Visual Novel Jam''', is a type of [[game jam]], an event in which participants try to make a game from scratch within a limited duration of time. VN Jams are game jams that exclusively focus on visual novels or visual novel-like games. | A VN Jam, or a '''Visual Novel Jam''', is a type of [[game jam]], an event in which participants try to make a game from scratch within a limited duration of time. VN Jams are game jams that exclusively focus on visual novels or visual novel-like games. | ||
==Duration== | |||
Visual novel jams are commonly one to two months long events with exceptions that may last for shorter or longer periods of time (e.g., O2A2). Many VN jams start as one-offs, but upon success often convert to annual events. Occasionally jams may also come back after a break of some years based on renewed interest, or a new group of hosts. | Visual novel jams are commonly one to two months long events with exceptions that may last for shorter or longer periods of time (e.g., O2A2). Many VN jams start as one-offs, but upon success often convert to annual events. Occasionally jams may also come back after a break of some years based on renewed interest, or a new group of hosts. | ||
==Joining and participating== | |||
Jams usually don't require any formal statement of participation. Though it's often encouraged to join a jam (i.e. click the "join jam" button as a logged in user) on platforms like itch.io before the submission period, it is also possible to join the jam while the submission period is open. At the very latest this needs to be done before the actual submission, as it is not possible to submit a VN to a jam without joining it first. | Jams usually don't require any formal statement of participation. Though it's often encouraged to join a jam (i.e. click the "join jam" button as a logged in user) on platforms like itch.io before the submission period, it is also possible to join the jam while the submission period is open. At the very latest this needs to be done before the actual submission, as it is not possible to submit a VN to a jam without joining it first. | ||
===Submission period=== | |||
When talking about jams hosted on itch.io, the jam's duration is effectively the jam's "submission period", which is the window of time during which people can submit their works to the jam page. This is signified by a countdown until submissions are open (before the jam), and another countdown until submissions close (while the jam is ongoing). | When talking about jams hosted on itch.io, the jam's duration is effectively the jam's "submission period", which is the window of time during which people can submit their works to the jam page. This is signified by a countdown until submissions are open (before the jam), and another countdown until submissions close (while the jam is ongoing). | ||
===Time zones=== | |||
Centralized jam platforms use one specific time zone (that of the jam host) and recalculate deadlines for other participants around the world. This will lead to jams starting a few hours "earlier" or "later" (occasionally giving the false impression that the jam is starting a day off) depending on the time zone, however on the other end those time zones will have their deadline be adjusted to compensate for this effect, leading to an equal amount of hours for each time zone. | Centralized jam platforms use one specific time zone (that of the jam host) and recalculate deadlines for other participants around the world. This will lead to jams starting a few hours "earlier" or "later" (occasionally giving the false impression that the jam is starting a day off) depending on the time zone, however on the other end those time zones will have their deadline be adjusted to compensate for this effect, leading to an equal amount of hours for each time zone. | ||
==Common Rules== | |||
One of the main selling points of jams is their limited time and often artistic or other constraints within which the participants must operate. Rules are therefore one of the key elements of jams, and their specifics will differ significantly from jam to jam. | |||
===Pre-Jam=== | ===Pre-Jam=== | ||
In case VN jams do not specify that participants can submit previously worked on projects (e.g., Winter VN Jam) and the jams request creating a VN from scratch, there are a few activities that most jams will allow: | |||
* Team recruitment | * Team recruitment | ||
* Story outlines | * Story outlines | ||
* Character sketches | * Character sketches | ||
* Searching for readily available or Creative Commons assets | |||
* Project planning | |||
Often the formula used to describe these general restriction is that "no work which directly leads to the the creation of final assets is allowed". | |||
===Themes=== | ===Themes=== | ||
Visual novel jams are not necessarily themed. Some jams such as [[NaNoRenO]] do not restrict participant game topics. Others such as [[Spooktober VN Jam]] maintain rules on allowable content and topics (in the case of this example, "spooky or Halloween themed"). Check the specific jam's rules to double check on genres, themes, rules on adult content, and other potential restrictions. | Visual novel jams are not necessarily themed. Some jams such as [[NaNoRenO]] do not restrict participant game topics. Others such as [[Spooktober VN Jam]] maintain rules on allowable content and topics (in the case of this example, "spooky or Halloween themed"). Check the specific jam's rules to double check on genres, themes, rules on adult content, and other potential restrictions. | ||
Themes can be varied, and often are based on categories like: | |||
* Genre (horror, romance...), e.g. Valentine's VN Jam, Spooktober VN Jam | |||
* Mood / Visuals (seasonal, areas of interest...), e.g. WinterJam, Shoot for the Stars Jam | |||
* Characters (identity, representation...), e.g. AceJam, AroJam | |||
* Relationship (FxF, friendship...), e.g. YuriJam, OtomeJam | |||
* Technical restriction (assets, engines...), e.g. TyranoJam, O2A2 | |||
===Engines=== | ===Engines=== | ||
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[[Category:VN Jams]] | [[Category:VN Jams]] | ||
== | ==Jams== | ||
==List of VN Jams== | ===List of VN Jams=== | ||
{{Main|List of VN jams}} | {{Main|List of VN jams}} | ||
Overview of all relevant VN jams, organized by month. | Overview of all relevant VN jams, organized by month. | ||
==Significant VN Jams== | ===Significant VN Jams=== | ||
Simplified overview of 10 jams whose events have produced most amounts of entries. For details and exceptions check individual jam pages. | Simplified overview of 10 jams whose events have produced most amounts of entries. For details and exceptions check individual jam pages. | ||
Revision as of 00:36, 18 June 2022
A VN Jam, or a Visual Novel Jam, is a type of game jam, an event in which participants try to make a game from scratch within a limited duration of time. VN Jams are game jams that exclusively focus on visual novels or visual novel-like games.
Duration
Visual novel jams are commonly one to two months long events with exceptions that may last for shorter or longer periods of time (e.g., O2A2). Many VN jams start as one-offs, but upon success often convert to annual events. Occasionally jams may also come back after a break of some years based on renewed interest, or a new group of hosts.
Joining and participating
Jams usually don't require any formal statement of participation. Though it's often encouraged to join a jam (i.e. click the "join jam" button as a logged in user) on platforms like itch.io before the submission period, it is also possible to join the jam while the submission period is open. At the very latest this needs to be done before the actual submission, as it is not possible to submit a VN to a jam without joining it first.
Submission period
When talking about jams hosted on itch.io, the jam's duration is effectively the jam's "submission period", which is the window of time during which people can submit their works to the jam page. This is signified by a countdown until submissions are open (before the jam), and another countdown until submissions close (while the jam is ongoing).
Time zones
Centralized jam platforms use one specific time zone (that of the jam host) and recalculate deadlines for other participants around the world. This will lead to jams starting a few hours "earlier" or "later" (occasionally giving the false impression that the jam is starting a day off) depending on the time zone, however on the other end those time zones will have their deadline be adjusted to compensate for this effect, leading to an equal amount of hours for each time zone.
Common Rules
One of the main selling points of jams is their limited time and often artistic or other constraints within which the participants must operate. Rules are therefore one of the key elements of jams, and their specifics will differ significantly from jam to jam.
Pre-Jam
In case VN jams do not specify that participants can submit previously worked on projects (e.g., Winter VN Jam) and the jams request creating a VN from scratch, there are a few activities that most jams will allow:
- Team recruitment
- Story outlines
- Character sketches
- Searching for readily available or Creative Commons assets
- Project planning
Often the formula used to describe these general restriction is that "no work which directly leads to the the creation of final assets is allowed".
Themes
Visual novel jams are not necessarily themed. Some jams such as NaNoRenO do not restrict participant game topics. Others such as Spooktober VN Jam maintain rules on allowable content and topics (in the case of this example, "spooky or Halloween themed"). Check the specific jam's rules to double check on genres, themes, rules on adult content, and other potential restrictions.
Themes can be varied, and often are based on categories like:
- Genre (horror, romance...), e.g. Valentine's VN Jam, Spooktober VN Jam
- Mood / Visuals (seasonal, areas of interest...), e.g. WinterJam, Shoot for the Stars Jam
- Characters (identity, representation...), e.g. AceJam, AroJam
- Relationship (FxF, friendship...), e.g. YuriJam, OtomeJam
- Technical restriction (assets, engines...), e.g. TyranoJam, O2A2
Engines
- Main article: Visual Novel Engines
Engine choice (e.g., Ren'Py, NaniNovel) is typically not restricted in visual novel jams. Check the specific jam's rules to double check.
Jams
List of VN Jams
- Main article: List of VN jams
Overview of all relevant VN jams, organized by month.
Significant VN Jams
Simplified overview of 10 jams whose events have produced most amounts of entries. For details and exceptions check individual jam pages.
| Jam | Description | Game Types | Duration | Partial Completion | Prior Work | NSFW | Theme / Restriction | Most Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NaNoRenO | longest running VN jam, currently hosted by sakevisual, held annually between March and April. | VN | 1 month | allowed | not allowed | allowed | --- | 185 (2022) |
| Spooktober VN Jam | judged VN jam competition hosted by DevTalk, held annually in September in preparation for October | VN | 1 month | allowed | not allowed | not allowed | spooky, horror, Halloween | 112 (2021) |
| O2A2 VN Jam | VN | 1 week | not allowed | not allowed | allowed | --- | 96 (2021) | |
| Winter VN Jam | VN | 1 month | allowed | allowed | not allowed | winter, cold | 77 (2021) | |
| SuNoFes | low-pressure jam hosted by Alte, held annually in the summer | VN and narrative | 2 months | allowed | not allowed | not allowed | --- | 69 (2021) |
| Yuri Game Jam | any game | 2 months | allowed | allowed | allowed | yuri, FxF | 66 (2017) | |
| Valentine's Jam | VN | 1 month | allowed | allowed | allowed | romance, Valentine's | 51 (2021) | |
| TyranoJam | VN | 1-3 months | not allowed | not allowed | not allowed | TyranoBuilder engine | 44 (2021) | |
| Yaoi Game Jam | any game | 2 months | allowed | not allowed | allowed | yaoi, MxM | 36 (2020) | |
| Otome Jam | any game | 2 months | allowed | allowed | allowed | otome, FxM | 28 (2021) |
