GAME JAM: Meme War

Join us for a Game Jam in The Sandbox and step into a vibrant ecosystem where gaming meets culture, and your wildest dreams aren’t just imagined but become your new reality.

Work alongside your favorite brands and a diverse group of creators, from fresh-faced UGC builders and artists to professional studios! The Sandbox is by anyone, for everyone — Let’s build the metaverse together!

Jump into the Meme War: A Game Jam Challenge

So meme. Many coins. Very culture… Wow! 🌟

This is your chance to transform internet sensations into interactive adventures or epic battles for MEME SUPREMACY — the Game Jam stage is yours to own.

Channel your creativity and immerse yourself in meme coin culture. Strap in for a rollercoaster ride (or let your players take the plunge!) and see where it leads. Up or down… who knows? But rest assured, PEPE, DOGE, DEGEN, BONK, and SHIBA will be right there, making every twist and turn an electrifying gaming experience like no other.

Stay tuned for the theme reveal — it’s going to be as wild and unpredictable as the memes themselves!

[New Update] Theme Reveal: The Meme War

We’re excited to reveal the theme for this Game Jam — The Meme War!

Step into the chaos of the Meme War — a multiplayer, team-based, or battle royale experience where players harness the power of legendary internet memes. Battle for supremacy through inventive strategies, surprising challenges, and epic meme-fueled showdowns.

Why Join the Meme War?

Enter the wild world of the Meme War, where internet legends collide in a race for digital dominance! This is your chance to bring memes to life in epic multiplayer competitions. Whether you’re designing intense team-based challenges or chaotic battle royales, the competition and stakes are yours to create.

How to Make Sure Your Game Fits the Theme:

To ensure your game aligns with the Meme War theme, it must meet the following criteria:

• Multiplayer: The game must be designed for multiplayer gameplay.
• Competitive: The game must be competitive, whether through team-based challenges, a battle royale format, 1vAll modes, or other innovative multiplayer formats where players vie for supremacy.
• Meme-Themed: The game must focus on memes and meme culture. You can create your own memes, interpret existing ones, or use popular memes — just be mindful of copyright issues.

⚠️ Refer to our copyright guidelines at the bottom of this article for more guidance on copyrights!

Ideas to Get You Started:

• Meme Faction Wars: Create teams that represent famous internet memes, each with unique abilities and traits. Will your faction rise to the top, or be out-memed by the competition?
• Battle Royale Chaos: Drop players into an ever-shrinking arena where they must collect meme coins, avoid pitfalls, and outmaneuver opponents’ tricks and traps to be the last meme standing.
• Dynamic Arenas: Design arenas that evolve with trending memes and internet culture, forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly.
• Unpredictable Power-Ups: Add hilarious and unpredictable power-ups that can turn the tide of competition, keeping players on their toes.

In this clash of digital titans, only one meme can rule them all. Your creativity will determine who is crowned King or Queen of the Meme and who fades into internet obscurity.

Why Participate in the Meme War Game Jam?

💎 Exciting Prizes: Win a share of 60,000 SAND, 20 LANDs, and exclusive CATALYST Packs, plus special Memecoin rewards for the first 100 valid submissions. The first 100 valid experiences also receive 100 SAND each as a participation reward!

📸 Gain Exposure: Showcase your game development skills and become a recognized creator within The Sandbox’s ecosystem.

📋 Build Your Portfolio: Rapidly expand your resume by creating and submitting a game within a limited timeframe.

⚙️ Skill Enhancement: Sharpen your Game Maker skills, experiment with new ideas, and grow as a creator.

🤝 Community: Join a vibrant community of fellow creators to share progress, exchange ideas, and collaborate.

Whether you’re a noob or a pro in the art of game creation, we can’t wait to see players swept away by your unique whirlwind of challenges, surprises, and hilarious fun!

Prizes 🏆

🥇 1ST PLACE
15,000 SAND* + 1x1 LAND + Gold CATALYST Pack

🥈 2ND PLACE
8,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Silver CATALYST Pack

🥉 3RD PLACE
5,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Silver CATALYST Pack

🎖️ 4TH PLACE
3,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Silver CATALYST Pack

🎖️ 5TH — 10TH PLACE
1,500 SAND + 1x1 LAND + Bronze CATALYST Pack

⭐ Honorable Mentions (up to 10)
1,000 SAND + 1x1 LAND!

💥 Memecoin Specials! 💥
The first 100 valid submissions linked to a wallet that owns a Memecoin Avatar win 100 memecoins (type depends on the Avatar). Plus, the Top 10 experiences will be eligible for the Rise of The Memecoins Live Event with additional rewards!

Larn more about the Rise of the Memecoins event & Avatars here.

Participation Reward: The first 100 valid experiences will receive 100 SAND each, so don’t miss out on your chance to be rewarded!

Learn more about SAND, The Sandbox’s native token here.

How Do I Participate?

You must create your Game Jam entry using our free, no-code Game Maker software.

⏰ REGISTER HERE!

(❗) The event is online.

Once You Register

Please check your emails throughout the Game Jam — this is where your submission form will be sent. We will also check in with you weekly with resources, reminders, opportunities, and more!

Pro Tip: If you’re new or have questions, join our Creators Forum to connect with other creators and get support!

⚠️ Important Note: If a new version of the Game Maker is released during the Game Jam submission phase, do not update your game! Judges will use the version available at kick-off to evaluate entries. Updating may cause bugs that could affect your score.

Key Dates 🗓️

• August 1: Registrations Open — 10:00 AM UTC
• August 14: Kick-Off AMA & Theme reveal — 12:30 PM UTC on Twitch!
• August 14: Live Workshop — 1:30 PM UTC on Twitch!
• August 15: Registrations Close — 11:59 PM UTC
• September 3: Submission Deadline — 5:00 PM UTC
• September 21: Live Awards Ceremony on Twitch — 7 PM UTC

Make sure to join the Awards Ceremony for celebration and giveaways! 🎉

Checklist: Get Ready for the Game Jam!

☑️ Create a The Sandbox account by following these steps.
☑️ Download our no-code Game Maker software (required).
☑️ Download our no-code VoxEdit software (optional).
☑️ Join our Creators Forum to stay up to date and connect with other creators!
☑️ Form your team of 1–4 people.
☑️ Register for the Game Jam.
☑️ Stay ready for the Game Jam Kick-Off and check your emails!
☑️ Plan and build your game with our Production Guide!
☑️ Share your completed game to the Game Maker Gallery. Further instructions will be emailed.
☑️ Submit to the submission form emailed to you with the instructions.

Important Rules ⚠️

Please read all the rules HERE! It’s crucial to ensure your submission is valid.

Please note that if a rule stated in this Game Jam differs from one stated in our official documentation, the rule stated for this Game Jam takes precedence.

Some key rules to keep in mind:

• Game Maker Version: Use the version available on kick-off day. Updating may cause issues during judging.
• Creation Date: Your experience must be created on or after the kick-off date.
• Size: Your experience must be no larger than 1x1.
• Multiple Entries: You may submit more than one entry, but the same team cannot place twice in the Top 10.
• Staff: The Sandbox Staff is not permitted to enter Game Jams.
• KYC: To receive prizes, you must complete KYC for the wallet provided in the submission form.

Read more about KYC and our other Terms and Conditions.

Rules & Conditions — Prizes & Rewards

Please note that the following conditions apply in order to receive participation rewards:

• You must submit a valid entry to the Submission Form sent to you by email, following all of our rules & guidelines.
• Entries that are considered “spam” are disqualified at the discretion of The Sandbox staff.
• Top 10 and Honorable Mentions are not eligible for participation rewards (this does not include memecoin rewards in this event).
• If you submit more than one entry, you will only receive participation rewards for one.
• You must complete your Experience Page at least 1 week before the Awards Ceremony.

Please note that the following conditions apply in order to receive SAND, LAND, CATALYSTs, and any other prizes included in the Game Jam.

• You must fulfil the KYC requirements stated above.
• If you or your team submits multiple entries and 2 or more rank in the Top 10, that with the lowest score will be disregarded. This will still be eligible as an Honorable Mention.
• You must complete your Experience Page at least 1 week before the Awards Ceremony.

⚠️ Failing to fulfil the above conditions will render you ineligible to receive prizes and rewards during the Game Jam.

Resources 📚

• Learn to use the Game Maker here.
• Learn to use VoxEdit to create assets here.
• Use our Production Guide to plan and build your game!
• Save time and buy assets from our Marketplace here.

FAQs — ❓

What are CATALYST Packs?
Read more about CATALYSTs here!

Gold CATALYST Pack: 1 🟨, 3 🟪, 10 🟦, 50 🟩, 100 ⬜

Silver CATALYST Pack: 1 🟪, 5 🟦, 25 🟩, 50 ⬜

Bronze CATALYST Pack: 3 🟦, 10 🟩, 25 ⬜

If you have any questions or concerns, please read the rules and FAQs carefully first or consider whether the answer could be found in the resources linked above.

If you did not find an answer, we look forward to welcoming you to the Creators Forum where staff and fellow creators are happy to help you!

Judges & Voting

Games are judged based on five categories, amounting to a maximum of 22 points per judge.

Read more about how we rate your games here.

Good luck to all participants, and remember:

Let the Meme War begin, and may the best jokester win! 🎉

[NEW] Copyright Guidelines

As you dive into creating your Meme War experience, it’s important to remember that while memes are a staple of internet culture, some have specific creators who have taken steps to protect their intellectual property. To help you navigate these potential issues and ensure your game is both innovative and legally sound, here are some important guidelines to consider:

When using popular memes such as PEPE the Frog, DOGE, DEGEN, BONK, and SHIBA, be mindful of their origins and potential copyright protections. For instance, PEPE the Frog was created by artist Matt Furie, who has actively protected his character. If you wish to include PEPE, consider creative interpretations or transformations that add new meaning, which could qualify as fair use. This allows you to capture the meme’s essence while staying within legal boundaries.

Similarly, with DOGE, while widely recognized, specific images or artistic renditions might be protected. When incorporating DOGE, consider creating original artwork or significantly transforming existing images to avoid issues.

DEGEN, BONK, and SHIBA are generally less risky, but the same principles apply: avoid directly copying specific images or logos. Focus on creating content that reflects the spirit of these memes without infringing on someone else’s work.

General Guidelines for All Memes:

• Embrace Originality: Design your own versions of popular memes or create entirely new characters inspired by meme culture. This not only helps you avoid copyright issues but also adds a unique twist to your game that sets it apart.
• Parody and Transformation: Using memes in a way that adds new meaning, context, or commentary can be considered a transformative use, which often falls under fair use. This means you can creatively reinterpret or parody existing memes, making them your own.
• Avoid Exact Replication: While it’s tempting to use well-known meme images, it’s safer to steer clear of exact copies, especially those tied to specific copyrights. Instead, think of how you can capture the meme’s essence in a new, original way.
• Public Domain and Licensed Content: Explore using content that is in the public domain or licensed under Creative Commons, ensuring that you comply with the terms of the license.
• Research and Permissions: If you’re unsure about the copyright status of a meme you want to use, take the time to do some research. If necessary, seek permission from the copyright holder, particularly if your game might generate revenue.

Where to Find Information

Since copyright laws vary by country, it’s important to consult reliable resources that reflect your specific region. In the U.S., the U.S. Copyright Office is a valuable resource. For participants in other countries, consider consulting your national copyright office or an international resource like the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which provides information on copyright laws globally. Creative Commons and public domain databases (such as Project Gutenberg for text or Wikimedia Commons for images) are also helpful worldwide.

Final Note

Since the games you create during this Game Jam may be monetized on The Sandbox platform, following these guidelines is advised to avoid any legal issues. By focusing on original interpretations and creative uses of meme culture, you can develop a game that not only engages players but also respects the creative rights of others.