# Welcome to the second $2,500 Whalepass Game Jam! In this game jam, you’ll get to create a game based around a specific theme in just a single weekend! It's a fun challenge where you can showcase your creativity and see how others interpret the same theme! ## Why Game Jams are Awesome Game jams are a great way to learn new skills, challenge yourself, and most importantly, have fun! Whether you're a seasoned developer or a newcomer, game jams provide a space for creativity, experimentation, and connecting with others who share your passion. Plus, nothing beats the thrill of seeing your creation come to life in such a short time. ## Join Our Community We'd love for you to be part of our community! Join our Discord server here to chat with other participants, share progress, ask questions, and communicate with the organizers. It's also where we'll be sharing important updates during the jam, so make sure to hop in! ## Theme The theme for the game jam will be decided by a community vote! We’ll provide a link where you can cast your vote, and the winning theme will be revealed when the jam starts. Get ready to see how everyone interprets the same idea in different ways! ## Rules The main rule is simple: your game must not include any NSFW, offensive, or discriminatory content. We want the games to be fun and enjoyable for everyone! ## Other than that: You can use any game engine or framework you like. You must utilize Whalepass.gg to create a rewarding experience for your players via the API or unity SDK. You must utilize the rewards specifically on [moonbeam](https://moonbeam.network). This integration is required for promoting your game on the Discover.games website. Extra points will be granted for submissions that make excellent use of Whalepass features and capabilities, and extra points for games that can run in web. *You’re allowed to use assets not made by you, as long as you have the proper licenses and give credit where it’s due. Making everything from scratch is awesome, but not required! Teaming up is allowed and encouraged! We recommend teams of up to 4 people for smoother coordination over the weekend.* ## What is Whalepass? Whalepass is a game backend platform that allows developers to add rewards to their games, such as skins, boosters, or any assets they wish. With Whalepass integration, players can use, trade, and own these assets securely, as they are hosted on Moonbeam, and other networks, providing true asset ownership and a more engaging gaming experience. An example of [Whalepass](https://whalepass.gg) integration is showcased in "Where Dreams Take Flight," which won first place in our previous game jam. You can view the game here for inspiration on how [Whalepass](https://whalepass.gg) can enhance gameplay. ## Important Submission Guidelines: Once you’ve submitted your game, do not delete it. Deleting your game will disqualify you. Your game must be hosted on itch.io, and linking to external sites for your game files is not allowed. This jam will not include a 1-hour grace period for late submissions, so be sure to leave enough time to submit your game. If you find a major game-breaking issue after submission, you can update your game file, but only for critical fixes—not to make additional improvements before the rating period ends. Web Build Requirement: The submission must be a web build to ensure it can be integrated within the discover.games ecosystem. Judging and Results The judging panel will include esteemed industry professionals, game developers, and indie publishers who will rate and judge the submissions. Results will be released one week after the submission deadline. ## Prize Pool The total prize pool is $2,500, divided as follows: - 1st place: 40% ($1,000) - 2nd place: 25% ($625) - 3rd place: 15% ($375) - 4th place: 10% ($250) - 5th place: 10% ($250) A special section will showcase the finalists of the game jam prominently at the top of the [Discover.games](https://discover.games) homepage, giving their games the spotlight they deserve The prize pool will be distributed to the winners via stablecoins or PayPal, based on their preference.