GAME JAM: Join Us for a Sweet & Spooky Adventure ๐ŸŽƒ

The Sandbox
7 min readOct 25, 2024

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Join the Halloween Fun: A Sweet & Spooky Adventure Awaits! ๐ŸŽƒ

Whether youโ€™re a first-time creator or a seasoned pro, the Halloween Game Jam with Chupa Chups in The Sandbox invites you to dive into a world of sugary delights and spooky chills. No experience? No problem!

With our no-code Game Maker tool, anyone can create games โ€” and this is your chance to bring something magical to life in a world where gaming meets culture. Letโ€™s build the metaverse together! ๐Ÿ•ธ๏ธ

Picture this ๐Ÿ’ก

Youโ€™re trapped in a cursed maze, haunted by the mischievous Pumpkin King. Your only hope for escape? Collect enchanted treats before he catches you! ๐ŸŽƒ
Or maybe youโ€™ll design a game where players defend a haunted village from a horde of candy-crazed zombies to protect their last remaining sweets. ๐ŸงŸโ€โ™‚๏ธ
And what if trick-or-treaters stumble into a cursed pumpkin patch, where each glowing pumpkin holds either a wish or a terrifying creature waiting to pounce? ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

The possibilities are endless:

  • ๐Ÿฌ Every candy could hold a dark secret
  • ๐Ÿ‘ป Every ghost a hidden past
  • ๐ŸŽƒ Every turn a new surprise

Your creation could be the next big hit in the metaverse, showcasing your unique take on Halloween to players around the world! ๐Ÿคฉ

UPDATE: Theme Reveal!

The theme for this Game Jam is โ€œTrick or Treat Gone Wrong.โ€ We challenge you to twist Halloweenโ€™s playful spirit into something spooky! Whether itโ€™s navigating haunted houses, surviving a cursed trick-or-treating night, or outwitting mischievous spirits, let your imagination run wild. With Chupa Chups in the mix, your creations are sure to be frightfully sweet!

REGISTER HERE and start creating your Halloween masterpiece! ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿ‘ป

Never built a game before? โ€” weโ€™ll support you every step of the way with workshops, resources, and community help. ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ’ป

We recommend that you start with our quick beginner video tutorials for Game Maker to get familiar with key concepts! ๐Ÿค

(!) The event is online. ๐Ÿ’ป

Gameplay Guidelines & Inspiration to Get You Started

No specific requirements โ€” just let the theme inspire you! Here are a few ideas to get you started.

  • Horror Survival: ๐Ÿฌ๐ŸงŸ Keep your sugar levels up by collecting candy, fighting monsters, and crafting spooky disguises to survive the night! (Multiplayer upgrade: Survive with friends!)
  • Haunted Backrooms: ๐Ÿš๏ธ๐Ÿ‘พ Navigate an eerie maze and find hidden candies to escape the horrifying entity before itโ€™s too late. (Multiplayer upgrade: Only one escapesโ€ฆ trick your competitors!)
  • Ghastly Obby Race: ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ป Race through the neighborhood, dodge monsters, and avoid sticky slime puddles while grabbing as much candy as possible! (Multiplayer upgrade: Race against other trick-or-treaters!)
  • Spooky Tower Defense: ๐ŸŽƒ๐Ÿฐ Defend the Pumpkin Kingโ€™s Castle from candy-crazed children by setting up spooky decorations to scare them off! (Multiplayer upgrade: Defend or attackโ€ฆ which side will you choose?)
  • Thrilling Resource Management: ๐Ÿฌ๐ŸŽƒ Recruit trick-or-treaters, gather candy, and level up your team as the night goes on. (Multiplayer upgrade: Who can collect more candy before the sun comes up?)

Prizes ๐Ÿ†

You stand a chance at a share of ๐Ÿ’ฐ100,000 SAND, ๐ŸŒ 20 LANDs, and exclusive ๐Ÿ’ŽCATALYST Packs!

Additionally, the first 100 valid entries are rewarded a participation prize of 100 SAND each! ๐ŸŽ‰

Top Prizes:

  • ๐Ÿฅ‡ 1st Place: 18,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Gold CATALYST Pack
  • ๐Ÿฅˆ 2nd Place: 14,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Silver CATALYST Pack
  • ๐Ÿฅ‰ 3rd Place: 10,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Silver CATALYST Pack
  • ๐ŸŽ–๏ธ 4th Place: 8,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Silver CATALYST Pack
  • ๐ŸŽ–๏ธ 5th Place: 6,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Silver CATALYST Pack
  • ๐ŸŽ–๏ธ 6thโ€“10th Place: 4,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Bronze CATALYST Pack
  • ๐ŸŒŸ Honorable Mentions (up to 10): 2,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND

๐Ÿฌ IP Special Prize:
Chupa Chups will hand-pick games to be featured on their official LAND and reward each with an additional 2,000 SAND!

Please note that rules & conditions apply to receive prizes and rewards in Game Jams. Learn more under โš ๏ธImportant Rules!

Key dates ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ

  • ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ October 25: Registrations Open
  • ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ November 6: Kick-Off AMA & Theme Reveal โ€” 12:30 PM UTC
  • ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ November 6: Live Workshop โ€” 1:30 PM UTC
  • ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ November 12: Registrations Close โ€” 11:59 PM UTC
  • ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ November 26: Submission Deadline โ€” 5:00 PM UTC
  • ๐Ÿ† December 14: Live Awards Ceremony on Twitch โ€” 7:00 PM UTC

Step-by-Step Checklist โ˜‘๏ธ

Follow these steps to prepare for the Game Jam:

  • โœ”๏ธ Create your The Sandbox account
  • โœ”๏ธ Download the no-code Game Maker tool to start building your game
  • โœ”๏ธ Jump start with our Beginner Game Maker video tutorials.
  • โœ”๏ธ Download VoxEdit to create custom assets (optional)
  • โœ”๏ธ Join the Creators Forum for updates and support
  • โœ”๏ธ Register for the Game Jam
  • โœ”๏ธ Check your email for Game Jam Kick-Off details
  • โœ”๏ธ Check ๐Ÿ“šResources to learn more about creating in The Sandbox
  • โœ”๏ธ Plan and build your game with our Production Guide ๐Ÿค
  • โœ”๏ธ Submit your game before deadline using the submission form, which will be sent to you via email ๐Ÿ—’๏ธ

๐ŸŽ‰ Donโ€™t Miss the Live Awards Ceremony! ๐ŸŽ‰

Join us on December 14 at 7:00 PM UTC on Twitch to celebrate the winners and take part in exciting giveaways! ๐ŸŽ

Canโ€™t make it to the ceremony? Donโ€™t worry โ€” winners will also be announced on Twitter/X.

๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Stay connected! For updates and announcements related to Game Jams and other creator contests, join our Creators Forum.

Why participate in The Sandbox Game Jams? ๐ŸŒ

The Sandbox is a vibrant ecosystem where creators and brands collaborate to build the future of gaming.

Whether youโ€™re dreaming of launching your own game franchise or collaborating with iconic brands like Chupa Chups, thereโ€™s a place for you here!

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Explore our Map here! ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ

Hereโ€™s why you should join:

  • ๐Ÿ’Ž Exciting Prizes: Win SAND, LAND, publishing opportunities, and recognition within our global community.
  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Gain Exposure: Share your game development skills, become a recognized creator, and receive feedback from players and industry experts.
  • ๐Ÿ“‹ Build Your Portfolio: Game Jams are an excellent way to rapidly create and showcase your work.
  • โš™๏ธ Improve Your Skills: Experiment, grow, and refine your game-making abilities with The Sandboxโ€™s easy-to-use tools.
  • ๐Ÿค Join the Community: Connect with fellow creators, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects in a supportive and passionate community.

Important rules โš ๏ธ

Before submitting, make sure youโ€™ve read all the rules to ensure your game is eligible for prizes. By following these guidelines, youโ€™ll avoid issues that could affect your gameโ€™s chances of winning!

  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Game Maker Version: Use the version available on kick-off day. Updating could introduce bugs that affect your score.
  • ๐Ÿ“… Creation Date: Your game must be created after the kick-off date.
  • ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Size Limitation: Your game must not exceed 1x1 LAND in size.
  • ๐Ÿ“‘ Multiple Entries: If you submit more than one entry, only your highest-ranked entry will be eligible for prizes.
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ KYC Requirement: Complete KYC verification to receive prizes. Failing to meet these conditions may result in ineligibility for prizes.

For full rules, see our Official Game Jam Rules. โš ๏ธ

Rules & Conditions โ€” Prizes & Rewards

To qualify for participation rewards, please ensure you follow these key conditions:

  • โœ”๏ธ You must submit a valid entry through the submission form sent to you by email.
  • โŒ Spam entries will be disqualified at the discretion of The Sandbox staff.
  • ๐Ÿšซ The Top 10 and Honorable Mentions are not eligible for participation rewards.
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ KYC verification is required to receive SAND, LAND, CATALYSTs, and other prizes.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฅ Teams submitting multiple entries will only have their highest-ranked entry counted for Top 10 prizes, but other entries may be eligible for Honorable Mention.
  • ๐Ÿ’ป You must publish your gameโ€™s experience page before the awards ceremony.

Important: Failing to fulfill these conditions will make you ineligible for prizes and rewards. โš ๏ธ

Please refer to our Official Game Jam Rules.

Judges & Voting ๐Ÿฆ

Your game will be evaluated across five categories, with up to 22 points available from each judge. These categories include:

  • ๐Ÿ’ก Overall Creative Idea: How unique and engaging is your idea and how well does it apply the theme of the Game Jam?
  • ๐Ÿ๏ธ Level Design: Can players navigate seamlessly, does the game flow well, and is it visually immersive?
  • โš™๏ธ Game Design: Are your gameplay mechanics fun, engaging, and immersive?
  • ๐Ÿ˜€ Playability: Is the game intuitive, with minimal bugs that donโ€™t disrupt the player experience?
  • ๐Ÿคฉ BONUS: Wow Factor: Extra points are awarded for exceptional creativity, visual design, or innovative gameplay that takes the experience to the next level.

You can read about these categories in more detail here where you can also learn more about the judges.

Resources ๐Ÿ“š

Need help getting started? Weโ€™ve got you covered! Check out these essential tools and guides to help you build your game.

  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ New to Game Maker? Learn fast here: Quick tutorials to get you started!
  • ๐ŸŽจ Creating Custom Assets? Find all of our VoxEdit Resources: Everything you need to create assets.
  • ๐Ÿงฐ Production Guide: Detailed guidance on planning and building your game from concept to launch.
  • ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Marketplace: Purchase pre-made assets to save time.

FAQs โ€” โ“

Have questions about the Game Jam or our rewards? Weโ€™ve got you covered! Visit our FAQs page in Gitbook!

  • What are CATALYST Packs?
    CATALYST Packs add value and rarity to in-game assets in The Sandbox. Each pack contains components you can use to enhance your gameโ€™s ASSETS.

Learn more about CATALYSTs here.

CATALYST Pack Tiers:

  • Gold: 1 ๐ŸŸจ, 3 ๐ŸŸช, 10 ๐ŸŸฆ, 50 ๐ŸŸฉ, 100 โฌœ
  • Silver: 1 ๐ŸŸช, 5 ๐ŸŸฆ, 25 ๐ŸŸฉ, 50 โฌœ
  • Bronze: 3 ๐ŸŸฆ, 10 ๐ŸŸฉ, 25 โฌœ

If you have more questions, be sure to read our complete rules and FAQs or visit the Creators Forum where our team and community are ready with a helping hand.๐Ÿค

Good luck to all participants! We canโ€™t wait to see what you create. ๐ŸŽ‰

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