Official 3D Jam Discussion

[AlexColgan]

Hey everyone,

Starting on September 28th, we’re kicking off our second annual 3D Jam, for developers building with everything from VR and mobile to desktop computing and IoT. Here are the key places you need to know about:

• Register at developer.leapmotion.com/3djam
• Official contest rules

On this thread, we’ll be providing developer support and answering any questions you have about the competition.

Note: While you can apply for the competition anytime from now to Nov. 9th, build submissions won’t start until we launch our new itch.io page in September. We’ll post here (and on our other 3D Jam channels) as soon as it’s up, so you can get your builds in early!

[N3ms]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for this great contest! I hope to build something interesting and valuable for VR.

Just to signal that there is an error in the text of the contest rules, at point 6:

Winners will be announced on or around January 15, 2015.

This probably should be:

Winners will be announced on or around January 15, 2016.

Best regards

[VoxelStorm]

In the rules, it states:

The potential winning Entrants may be required to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release (“Affidavit”) in accordance with the instructions listed in the notification correspondence. Any Entrant who fails or refuses to sign and return the required documentation within the time period as specified by Leap Motion will be disqualified.

Could you please clarify what precisely is meant by "release" in this context, and ideally show us the document? Is there any possibility that submitting teams may be required to release their source code or any other rights over their entry to Leap Motion as a condition for claiming their prizes?

[AlexColgan]

Good question! The release basically confirms that the winner has complied with the contest rules (for example, that the work is your own) and carries over other parts of the official rules, like the publicity section. It doesn't add anything not set out in the rules as a condition of receiving the prize -- and we definitely don't require source to be released!

@N3ms Thanks for pointing that out, the error has been fixed.

[BeyondthePixel]

Hi All, I am an artist looking for a team for the 3D Jam! check out my website here: behance.net/artisan4hire and connect with me to talk about working together! please leave your email so I can contact you

[VoxelStorm]

@AlexColgan Thanks for the fast response. We were just a little concerned about the potential implications of that wording in conjunction with the nebulous:

If a winning Team or Entrant is determined by Leap Motion to be unqualified to participate ... the potential winning Team or Entrant will be disqualified

...which seemed to imply that there were some potentially unpublished conditions that could lead to a prize being withheld from the winning team.

Thank you for clearing that up for us!

[grantmoore3d]

Is it acceptable to start this competition from a current work in progress? I've recently started re-writing code from my previous 3DJam attempt (only spent a week on a very rough prototype, no polish) when this competition popped up. I'm assuming this clause is basically saying this is allowed?

USER GENERATED CONTENT: All Experiences must have never been
previously published; unpublished prior art is acceptable, but only if
significant changes are made.

Also, if an experience were submitted to this project, the creator would be able to go on to create a full commercial experience without issue, correct? Obviously, the experience submitted would be available to Leap (video, download on website, etc...) for the duration defined in the rules, but just wanted to verify ownership stays with the creator.

Looking forward to getting some serious game jam going!

[AlexColgan]

Yes and yes. The early announcement is a benefit for all devs, and as long as projects are not published before 9/28, it's fair game. Your new project would have to be significantly different, with new features, from your previous 3D Jam submission. And ownership absolutely remains with the creator.

[grantmoore3d]

Perfect, thank you for clarifying. Excited to dust off this project and make something awesome!

[Jabinc]

What constitutes "previously published?"

I initially created my concept for a different competition with a different peripheral. It was submitted and selected as a winner. It is entirely my own work and the previous competition has no rights beyond displaying the submitted materials. I would like to iterate on the concept, rewriting most the code from scratch and changing the visual aesthetic as well. I learned a lot from the first build but would like to take it to the next level and take advantage the more precise nature of the leap motion peripheral. Other than being entered in the contest and visible as a demo video it has never been published. Is that an acceptable project to be entered for this competition?

Thanks!

[AlexColgan]

Thanks for bringing up this question. Can you go into more detail about what you plan to carry over, and what you're looking to change?

[Jabinc]

The name will likely carry over and the core concept of the play and interaction mechanics. However, the new concept will take on an entirely fresh flavor. It will have a new visual theme, an added story component, some additional mechanics to the game play, and it will be more of a story based puzzler and less of an education tool. The two iterations of the concept are similar perhaps in the way that Mario Kart and Gran Turismo are similar. Both are racing around a track with familiar controls, but still totally different experiences.

[psyb0rg]

Are multiple submissions per team permitted? If permissible, was interested in submitting two different ideas. one for the VR category, and one for open (but two completely different concepts)

[AlexColgan]

@psyb0rg Yup, multiple submissions are acceptable. In fact, two of the semi-finalist submissions from last year's jam (Hauhet and Paper Plane) were created by a single entrant -- VRARlab. Of course they'll each need to stand very much on their own as separate and unique experiences, but it sounds like that's what you have in mind.

@Jabinc That definitely sounds like it will meet the requirements, especially given that you're rewriting most of the code from scratch and reusing your IP in a meaningful and fundamentally different way. The rule in question is there to ensure that we don't get ports of experiences from other platforms.

[Jabinc]

Are submissions allowed to incorporate assets that are purchased from the Unity store?

e.g. models, textures, physics packages, volumetric lights.

Thanks

[AlexColgan]

Certainly! As long as your submission represents an original creation, you can use whatever assets you have at your disposal. Here's a really good example of a 2014 semi-finalist who used stock models to treat Unity "like a box of Lego": http://blog.leapmotion.com/press-bird-play-pirate-mini-games-thieving-seagulls/

[theby]

Is there any country restrictions for this game jam? I'm from Chile and I would really like to participate, I own a Leap Motion and a Oculuss Rift.

[CadePeterson]

You're welcome to enter!

[theby]

Thanks! @CadePeterson

[fl4res]

Just wanted to ask if we are bounded to any specific type of game theme (FPS, sidescroller, etc.) or are we allowed to develop any type of game?

Thanks for the competition btw ^_^