Rule-O-Matic

Don't read too much into the results of these sample spins! The method of picking rules is yet to be tweaked to its full potential, and until a good selection of rules have been added, it's rather meaningless.

Once the Rule-O-Matic has been spun for a final time, the authors of the selected rules will be contacted in order to add clarifications and last minute twists. They won't be allowed to do anything drastic, and to limit their advantage of a heads up, they won't know for sure which of the rules atually were selected. (For example, they may be notified that one of three specific rules have been selected.)

Here is a sample spin, with the following rules being chosen:

1. Genre requirements

   Must.. Kill.. Moe (OK)

   Your entry must have something to do with hunting down something, this can be anything as long as it is a living being. This being must try to run away from the player, or whatever you want to use to track "it" down and destroy it.

2. Technical requirements

   There are 2 technical requirements:

   Relentless Scrolling (OK)

   Gameplay must include continual scrolling regardless of the users interactions. This rule applies only to main gameplay.

   No Keyboard (OK)

   The game must be completely playable without a keyboard. You can (and probably should) still allow one to use the keyboard, but it cannot be required for any part of the game.

3. Artistic requirements

   There are 2 artistic requirements:

   Food (Good)

   It must have food in the game, and when characters feel hunger, they must eat or die by starvation.

   Homebrew Sound Effects (OK)

   All sounds and music must be made with sound effects and audio recordings that can easily be made in your typical home. This includes banging on pots, pans, typing, or even your own voice. The sound effects are not to be edited beyond simple volume control (no pitch, speed, etc. adjustments).

4. Bonus rules

   There are 2 bonus rules:

   Act of Goatee (OK)

   If all characters in the game have a beard, you may opt out of one other rule.

   Act of Nerds (Mediocre)

   You can opt out one rule if the game features a main character speaking a fictional language and has an option to play in that language.
   
   The fictional language could be an already existend one like Klingon or Quenya or maybe Shyriiwook (it helps if you're fluent in it ;) ) or a self invented one. (in that case include a small lexicon containing the words you use in the game and explaining the basic gramma if there is one)
   
   For example you could have two dragons in your game talking about the last princess they captured and comparing wich one's more beautiful.
   Or if your game's about quantum dynamics and without much text you could include a tutorial where a Higgs explains the game mechanics (and quantum dynamics). Or you're the Higgs and some human has to explain you how to behave.. In the Higg's language of course.

5. Other Important Info

   All entries must comply with all requirements except where nullified by Act of Dog.

   All entries must be submitted on or before 12:00 UTC on Monday 25th July without fail. All entries must be supplied in a ZIP file equal to or less than 250 KB in size. All source code, makefiles, documentation, and references to additional libraries used must be supplied in the ZIP file.

   You can assume that everyone will have a copy of Allegro (standard installation) installed. You do not need to supply one. It is okay to use a more recent version of Allegro, but if someone is unable to compile your game because of that, it's your fault. You should consider uploading binaries for people who have problems compiling the source onto your own website. I will be checking that the binary and source match up, so adding enhancements to the 'competition binary' is not permitted..

   If source code is reused from legal sources (your own, GPLed, public domain) you should declare this and what changes have been made, so that your work can be assessed for the voting.

   People should keep a informative and interesting account of their development through the competition. This can be sent after the competition for those people with no Internet access over the weekend. This does not affect your space requirement.

   A web-based "blog" update page will be available. This will allow spectators to see what is going on :-)

   You can make use of all information sources, mailing lists as you see fit. This is not an exam! :-)