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Hosting a Game Jam
Raccreative Games offers the option to host game jams on our platform. To create a jam, simply go to the "Create Jam" form, where you'll find a step-by-step process designed to make setup quick and easy.Additionally, you can customize your jam with an unparalleled level of detail, ensuring your event is as successful as possible.
The form allows you to upload images for the icon and banner, choose the name and description of your jam, set start and end dates, add tags, custom fields, URL, configure the voting and winner systems, invite co-hosts, privacy settings, and much more!
Each section of the form includes information icons that provide additional details about each field. If you need more information about game jams, just scroll down to explore the other sections on this page.
Please, take in consideration that Game Jams are still in beta version, there will be updates and more features will be added in the future!
Joining a Game Jam
To join a game jam, simply log in and go to the page of the jam you want to participate in. Once there, just click the "Join" button.You can join the jam as long as it is public. If it's a private jam, you may need an invitation code or to wait for manual approval from the hosts.
You won't be able to join the jam once the submission period has ended and voting (if any) has started.
You can leave the jam at any time, but keep in mind that doing so will remove your participation, votes, and any potential prizes you may have earned.
Submit a Game to a Jam
You can submit a game to a Game Jam during the period between the start date and the submission deadline, which is displayed at the top of the jam page with a countdown:
Once on the jam page, simply click the "Submit Game" button, which will open a dialog box with two options: - Upload a new game: This option will redirect you to the Raccreative Games upload page, automatically selecting the current jam for submission. If the jam has custom fields, they will be displayed for you to fill out. Once the game is uploaded, it will automatically be registered as a submission to the jam.
- Submit an existing game: This option allows you to select a game you've previously uploaded to submit it to the jam. You'll just need to fill out the custom fields, if any, and your game will be ready for the jam. Please note that, for obvious reasons, you cannot submit games that were uploaded before the start date of the jam.
After completing the process, your game will be listed in the Game Jam submissions section. Additionally, a badge will appear on your game's page indicating that it is a submission to a specific jam.
You can remove the submission from the jam at any moment, but this will mean that the game will no longer be part of the jam Voting in a Game Jam
To vote on the submissions of a Game Jam, simply go to the submissions section of the jam during the voting period.A jam can customize its voting system in the following ways:
- No Voting: The jam will not have a voting system or winners. It will be an event focused on sharing good moments, fostering community, and contributing to the industry.
- Individual Voting: In this system, submissions can be voted on with a single vote per user, similar to a traditional voting process. The number of votes each user can cast depends on the number of winners the hosts have decided on. For example, if there are three winners, each user can distribute three votes among the submissions.
- Category-Based Voting: Users can vote on the games based on specific categories defined by the hosts. Votes are cast on a scale of 1 to 5 stars for each category.
The visibility of the votes depends on the hosts. Votes can be kept hidden until the winners are announced or made public, allowing real-time tracking of the progress. Regarding who can vote, there are several approaches:
- Public Voting: Anyone with an account on Raccreative Games can cast votes in the jam. This option can be risky and susceptible to manipulation, such as the use of multiple accounts or bots, so it is recommended to use it with caution.
- Participants Only: In this case, only those who are part of the jam can vote, whether they have submitted a game or not. (We are working on an option where only users who have submitted games can vote).
- Hosts Only: Here, only the hosts of the jam can vote, creating a closed jury environment, allowing for the inclusion of external judges.
Viewing my Game Jams
To track the jams you organize or participate in, visit the "My Jams" page, where you can easily find them.On the main jams page, you'll also find a section that displays your most recent jams in which you're participating.
Game Jam Winners
Once voting is complete, the jam can conclude either automatically or manually, depending on the settings chosen by the hosts. In the case of a manual conclusion, the hosts can preview the results before finalizing the jam.After the jam is finalized, the results will be calculated and published. All winners will receive a notification, and their game will be awarded a Game Jam badge, as well as appearing on the jam's podium.
The Game Jam badge can be customized; hosts can upload an image to be used as the badge, otherwise, a default badge using the jam's colors will be displayed. 
Ties
In the event of a tie, hosts have the option to either keep the results as they are or break the tie by selecting one of the games for the contested position. Currently, a second round of voting to break a tie is not available, but this feature will be added in the future.If there is a tie, all games in the tied position will receive the corresponding badge until a tie-breaker is decided.
As a Game Jam host, you can go to the winners' podium and click on the "Select as winner for position X" button next to the tied game to choose it as the winner for that position. The other games that were tied will then move to the next position below.
Customizing Game Jams
Just like game pages and user profiles, jam pages can be easily customized with a high level of detail.You can fully customize the page background, titles, buttons, the jam container, and the submission selection container.
If you have permission to customize the jam, simply go to the page and click on "Edit Appearance." This will open an editing tool that provides an intuitive graphical interface for modifying the page, as well as an advanced interface for editing it using our "CSS JSON" system.
While the tool is still in beta and more customization options and improvements are on the way, it already offers countless possibilities to create a unique page.
Moderation of Game Jams
Jam hosts can moderate the event according to their rules and policies, ensuring a fair and enjoyable environment for all participants.The moderation section of a jam is divided into three main areas:
- Participants: In this section, hosts can view the complete list of users participating in the jam and remove those who violate the event's rules. Hosts and co-hosts are also displayed here, and they can approve participants if the jam is private. (We are also working on adding participation requirements and third-party app integrations).
- Submitted Games: This section allows hosts to review the games submitted to the jam and remove any that do not comply with the rules.
- Email Communication: This tool enables hosts to communicate directly with participants, sending emails to all participants, only to other hosts, or to specific users of their choice.
Updating Game Jams
Jams can be updated at any time, allowing for easy modifications to all fields in the jam's editing section. You can edit all the main information, images, voting system, hosts, visibility of the jam, and more.However, there are some restrictions on editing a jam:
- Once a date, whether it's a start or end date, has passed, it can no longer be edited and will be considered final. Therefore, it's important to choose all dates carefully and allow enough time between them for greater flexibility. If a date has not yet passed, it can always be extended.
- Once voting has begun, the following cannot be edited: voting categories, the voting scope (who can vote), the start date of the voting period, or the type of voting. Everything else, such as the voting end date or the number of winners, can still be edited.
- Once the jam has concluded and winners have been chosen, only the main information and images of the jam can be edited. Other details, such as votings or custom fields, can no longer be changed.
Game Jams Editions
If you're preparing a new edition of a Game Jam that you've already created, you can mark it in the creation form as an edition of an existing jam. A list of jams for which you have permissions will appear, and you can select the previous jam as the prior edition.On the new jam's page, a link at the footer will display the previous edition, informing participants that this jam is a continuation of an earlier edition.
On the previous jam's page, a list of all subsequent editions will also appear at the footer, serving as a reference to the original "parent" jam and allowing users to easily navigate between all editions. 
You can update the edition of a Jam at any time from the edit panel. Game Jams Submissions Selections
Submissions selections are a special feature of Game Jams that allow hosts to highlight a set of games submitted to the jam. This selection will be prominently displayed on the jam's main page and can be used to prepare games for external judges, showcase the best games, or simply create a list of favorites.
Only hosts can create this selection by accessing the "Submissions Selection" option within the jam's edit page. 
Banned Game Jams
Game Jams, like any other user-generated content, are subject to review, and users can report them. If the platform moderators deem it necessary and the Game Jam violates Raccreative Games' rules or policies, the jam may be banned.When a Game Jam is banned, it is hidden from the public, and the start and end dates are reset.
Banned jams can be given a second chance if the hosts address the issues outlined by the moderators in a comment box. This is applicable only for minor infractions, such as minor offenses or inappropriate content that can be corrected.
In serious cases, such as illegal content or copyright violations, the jam will be banned without a second chance and subsequently deleted.
Hosts can request a second review by clicking the "Submit for Review" button on the jam's page.
We aim to create a safe and inclusive environment and want to ensure the community is respected, so if you encounter anything malicious, don't hesitate to report it!
Future of Game Jams
At Raccreative Games, we're excited to share our vision for the future of Game Jams. Our goal is to create the ultimate environment and tools to help everyone host unforgettable events.Among the upcoming features and ideas we're working on are: translation of jam and game pages into multiple languages, integration with third-party apps to enhance participation security, participation requirements (such as verified email, account age, etc.), additional voting scopes, second voting rounds for tie-breakers, and much more!
We hope your event is truly memorable. If you have any questions, feedback, or encounter any issues, feel free to reach out to us!
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