Rules

Terms

• Source Files – The editable source code and project files which are required to build a working version of the game.
• Assets – The audio, video, image, and data files which in combination with the Source Files can be used to build a fully working and playable version of the game.
• Team – A team is composed of one or more people. A team member is defined as any person who contributes privately to an entry. If the contribution to the entry is not freely available to every other entrant, then the contributer is part of the team for the entry they contributed to.

Rules of Eligibility

1. Only one entry per team is allowed. A person may contribute to multiple teams.
2. Teams must complete the uDevGames 2008 Contest Entry Form by January 18, 2009 at 11:59 PM GMT.
3. Each team must pay the $10 USD entry fee by January 19, 2009 at 11:59 PM GMT.
4. Entries with screenshots, movies, or any playable form (i.e. beta, demo, release, etc), released to the public or outside testers before December 2, 2008 at 12:01 AM GMT are ineligible.
5. All entries should be substantially the team’s original creation. Entries may use publicly available libraries, frameworks, engines, artwork, audio, and other resources as part of their projects. However, (a) such use must be acknowledged in the game’s credits, (b) the entry should have substantial original material apart from such public content.
6. Teams are required to submit the Source Files and Assets for their entry as described under the section “Source Submission” by March 2, 2009 at 11:59 PM GMT.
7. Entries are required to include the “uDevGames 2008 Read Me.pdf” file in the download.
8. Entries must be in a “double-clickable” form, and run on a fresh install of Mac OS X 10.5.5 on a 32-bit Intel-based Mac without the aid of translation software (such as Rosetta) and without requiring the installation of any libraries, frameworks, or plugins. Web browser-based entries (“web players”) are also not allowed.
9. Entries may not be sold during the contest.
10. All prize-winning entries must supply a written postmortem by March 25, 2009 at 11:59 PM GMT.

General Conditions

1. This contest is void where prohibited by law.
2. By participating in this contest, entrants agree to be bound by these rules and acknowledge that all decisions made by iDevGames are final.
3. Submission of an entry constitutes permission to use the entrant’s name, entry, hometown, likeness, and information regarding the entry by iDevGames and the uDevGames sponsors in promotion of the Contest, except where prohibited by law.
4. This contest does not convey an endorsement of any product or service, nor does a third party’s donation of any prize have any influence on iDevGames editorial coverage.
5. iDevGames and the uDevGames sponsors are not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes, or prizes damaged during transit.
6. Any prizes that have not been claimed by April 30, 2009 may be returned to the donating sponsor.
7. Failure to comply with the contest rules will result in the disqualification of the entry and the forfeiture of any prize. iDevGames reserves the right to change or alter these rules at any time without notice.
8. If, in iDevGames’ exclusive judgment, the contest becomes compromised in any way, iDevGames reserves the right to withdraw the contest, cancel any method of entry, to void any entries deemed to be submitted fraudulently, or select winners from all eligible entries received prior to act that compromised the contest.

Source Submission

All teams are required to supply the Source Files and Assets for their game to iDevGames by March 2, 2009 at 11:59 PM GMT. In preparing your source submission, the following points should be observed:

1. Entrants are required to submit the Source Files for their entry (excluding any 3rd party libraries or frameworks which may be copyrighted) under a license listed at http:// www.opensource.org/licenses/.
2. The Assets for the entry may be distributed under any terms the entrants choose, however the Assets must still be included in the submission with the Source Files.
3. The Source Files and Assets, in combination with the use of any required tools, should be able to successfully build a complete working version of the game. Such tools must be available to the public (freely or commercially) prior to the start of the contest.
4. The “uDevGames 2008 – Read Me.pdf” file must be included with your entry.
5. The license(s) governing distribution of the Source Files and Assets must be included.
6. The source submission should be archived in a compressed read-only Mac OS X Disk Image (dmg) file.

Scoring

The scoring period begins on March 3, 2009 at 12:01 AM GMT and ends on March 10, 2009 at 11:59 PM GMT. During that period anyone may download, play, and score the entries. Entries will be scored by the public (including entrants) for “Best Overall Game.” Entries will be scored by entrants only, in six additional categories:

1. Best Gameplay
2. Best Graphics
3. Best Audio
4. Best Story
5. Best Presentation (aka Polish)
6. Most Original

Players will assign a score of 1 to 10 for each game in each category. The highest average score will determine the winner of each category. For the six “peer” categories, each entrant will score every entry besides their own. However, the final score for an entry is calculated by the average of each team’s score. A team’s score is the average of the team members’ submitted scores. Teams who have not met all requirements of the competition will not be allowed to participate in the peer scoring process. Scoring results will be kept confidential until the scoring period has ended. Any attempt to artificially influence scores will result in immediate dis-qualification. See General Condition #8.

Prize Distribution

The contest winners will be announced on March 12, 2009. The prizes in the prize pool will be distributed in “rounds.” Each round consists of the following steps:

1. First place in the “Best Overall Game” category will select one prize from the pool.
2. Second place in the “Best Overall Game” category will select one prize from the pool.
3. Third place in the “Best Overall Game” category will select one prize from the pool.
4. The first place winners in each of the five categories will then each select one prize from the pool, in order of descending overall score.
5. The second place winners in each of the five categories will then each select one prize from the pool, in order of descending overall score.
6. The third place winners in each of the five categories will then each select one prize from the pool, in order of descending overall score.

No winner may select a prize from the pool more than once per “round.” The process will repeat for as many rounds are required until the prize pool has been exhausted. If there is a tie in the overall score, the tie will be broken by the highest average score in each category. If there is a tie in a category, the tie will be broken by the highest overall score.

Postmortems

Prize-winning entries must supply a postmortem to iDevGames before March 25, 2009 at 11:59 PM GMT. The postmortem should document what went right and what went wrong during the development process of the game, to communicate the lessons learned during development to others so that they can aim to mimic the successful parts of the development process, and avoid the pitfalls encountered during the project. The postmortem should:

• Be no less than 1,500 words
• Have a minimum of four screenshots (640×480 or larger) of your game or your development tool in action
• A listing of all software and hardware tools utilized in the development process
• Be submitted in UTF-8 Plain Text, HTML, or RTF, along with separate screen images.

Prize Reviews

Prize-winning developers must also review at least one of their prizes (if it is a reviewable good, i.e. not cash) for iDevGames by May 31, 2009. The review should:

• Be no less than 1,500 words
• Discuss the pros and cons of the product, and how it fits into your workflow
• Discuss the usefulness related to game development (if applicable)
• Have a minimum of four images (640×480 or larger) of the prize in use
• Be submitted in UTF-8 Plain Text, HTML, or RTF, along with separate screen images.

Questions about the uDevGames Rules? Please see the FAQ for more information.