NaNoRenO

NaNoRenO (often capitalized as just Nanoreno or shortened to Nano) is a visual novel jam started in 2005 that takes place in March (starting on the 1st and ending on the 31st) where VN devs are challenged to create a VN, start to finish, in the span of a month. It was originally based on NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).

In general, a VN developer means NaNoRenO when using “Nano”, though as many VN writers participate in NaNoWriMo, they may be referring to that event if using the term around November.

Rules

The following rules are taken from the NaNoRenO 2021 itch.io jam page:

• Takes place during the month of March.
• Final visual novel must be finished on or before April first. The jam deadline is slightly longer to allow for internet outages or other emergencies that prevent you from uploading your finished visual novel.
• You can only begin actual production of your game in March.
• Allowed before NaNoRenO begins:
  • Brainstorming
  • Plot Outlining
  • Sketches that do not lead to direct production of assets
  • Team Building
• Not Allowed until NaNoRenO begins:
  • Sketches of sprites, CGs, backgrounds, or anything else that leads to production of assets
  • Writing or coding any portion of the game
  • Production of assets to be used in the game
• Use of Creative Commons material is okay.
• There are no "winners" here. Everyone who manages to release their game has completed NaNoRenO!
• You may release a buggy version of your game by the deadline and fix it up later or release a demo for NaNoRenO.
• While other game elements may be present, the final piece should be largely identified as a "visual novel."

History

2020

Due to global circumstances at the time, several participants requested an extension on the jam and the submission deadline for NaNoRenO 2020 on itch.io was shifted back by 2 weeks. This is the first instance of an extension to NaNoRenO, with the intent to give participants more time to complete their game.

External Links

NaNoRenO website: https://www.nanoreno.org