GBA Game Development Competition

SimonB writes "gbadev.org is hosting its yearly game development competition (for the GameBoy Advance), with a deadline in just under a month from now. What is different (and exciting!) about this competition is the fact that the winning entries will be made into a multi-game compilation and 500 cartridges will be manufactured complete with cartridge label, full color box, and manual. The finalized game will be sold to break-even and the aim is for the game to cost just under $14US with shipping included. Visit 2004mbit.gbadev.org for more information."

Comments

Pretty cool

[mixtape5]

Its awesome how they are giving the programmers in the competition the opportunity for their game to be sold in a real market...However, 500 cartridges when you think about it isn't a whole lot. If more than 500 people buy them will they make more?

Re:Pretty cool

[mixtape5]

Oh wait, the fine print...


* real as in the color gold, not the element AU ** "Video games collector" is defined by the fact that this person owned at least 5 video games**** *** Estimation was done by a random video games collector and should not be considered to be the real value for this game **** "Video games" may be imaginary

Poor programers :(

Re:Pretty cool

[Anonymous Coward]

The fineprint was just a joke...I think most people got that though. Of course no one (I hope) expected to get carts made with real gold :D
Even if the cart was made in solid gold it wouldnt be worth 50,000$ :)

SimonB [BAT] gbadev.org
Posting as Anonymous Coward

Re:Pretty cool

[Anonymous Coward]

There is no element "AU" -- there is, however, "Au." This is an important distinction!

Dammit!

[CommanderData]

I wish I had heard about this sooner (or had more free time right now). Game programming has always been a fascinating topic for me, and on a platform like the GBA you can actually still produce something respectable with a one-man army. For those looking to dabble- I downloaded a copy of Dragon BASIC a while ago and it seemed like a very nice GBA development system. You'd never get your games published by Nintendo using it, but this contest would have been a great way to get your skills recognized.

Re:Dammit!

[Anonymous Coward]

For some reason, it seems like Slashdot always posts information about development contests after it is too late to bother entering. Of course, they're johnny-on-the-stick whenever Paul what's his face posts anything about how LISP is the spoken word of God.

Hum!

[mistersooreams]

Some of the Game Boy homebrews available are really excellent, although most of us are stuck with playing them through an emulator. Anyone know where one can get hold of the hardware to make these into real GBA carts?

Re:Hum!

[OMGtehRed]

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=51&produ cts_id=1415& Lik-sang has something that can do that. But it's only for small apps (256 KB or less). http://www.linker4u.com/pp/linker4u.asp This site though has some Flash based cartridges you could probably use to upload homebrew ROMs onto it.

Re:Hum!

[Anonymous Coward]

I got mine from www.jandaman.com They have several different sizes and brands to choose from

Welcome to Nintendos Radar

[Anonymous Coward]

Publishing a cart just got you noticed by Nintendo. Prepare for being shut down!

Buh-Bye!

Re:Welcome to Nintendos Radar

[Anonymous Coward]

back in the original b&w Gameboy days it was completely legal

There were countless religious bible games availible. The carts were odd shaped and showed no nintendo logo what-so-ever

Its unfortunate that its now illegal, considering they are home grown games only using Nintendo's hardware to run and not actually infringing rights of logos or nintendo trademarks in terms of software

im too late

[chuckfucter]

man, i downloaded the game boy sdk last summer and never used it, if would have known earlier i would have worked on a game during the summer.

While I appreciate knowing about this I wish I would have known sooner.

Is there a contest next year? - i did not rtfa

Re:im too late

[agent dero]

"I wish I would have known sooner. Is there a contest next year? - i did not rtfa"

Maybe you should rtfa then....

Re:im too late

[spir0]

Is there a contest next year? - i did not rtfa

you didn't need to rtfa. it's written in the blurb right here on /.

Game Rules

[Anonymous Coward]

General information/rules - GBADEV.ORG Development competition 2004

- NOT FINAL -

-+-+-+-+-+ INFORMATION
This year we have something different in mind for our annual development competition.
Instead of giving out cash and flash cartridges the aim is to manufacture a batch of
500 cartridges with the top entries (a "multi-cart"); complete with cart sticker, manual
and box. The cartridges will be manufactured by an "independent party" (read: not Nintendo).

The cartridges will be 32Mbit and equipped with SRAM. A size limit of 4Mbit is needed
to fit enough entries on the cartridge to make it appeal to the public. With 4Mbit space
reserved for intro, menu and credits this leaves 28Mbit on the cartridge for games. The
top 7 games will be guaranteed to make the cartridge. Additional games MAY be considered
if space permits. Spare space on the cartridge MAY also be given to the 7 guaranteed
entries to allow for additional content. Use of any spare space will be handled at my [Simon]
discretion.

Intro, Menu, Credits, Game Cartridge Sticker-art and Boxart will be made by a 3rd party
and is not part of this competition.

The GBADEV.ORG development compos usually "cost" ~1000$usd in cash. The original plan was to
subsidise the games so that it would be cheaper for the consumer. This meant that the games would be
sold at a loss of about 1.5$usd/game. After a poll on http://forum.gbadev.org we noted that
the people taking the poll would not like to see us loose money on this project. Thanks!? :=)
Instead, the games will now be sold to break even, nothing more, nothing less.

The prize for entrants is to have their game on a published (but unlicenced) game cartridge.
Neither you or GBADEV.ORG will make ANY money on this cartridge. Tough luck! :=)

After close calculations, taking in consideration import taxes, distribution costs, and the ever weaker
$usd, we now believe the end-customer price will be around 14$usd. We will however do everything we
can to keep costs down!

-+-+-+-+ RULES
The rules are simple:

You have 4Mbit (512Kbyte) to work with.
This is a game only competition.
Have your game ready by DECEMBER 5TH (before Dec 6th, exact timezone will be announced).

ALL entries must be COMPLETE and make use of music/sound effects, unless the nature of
the game is one that such content is not to strive for. Games such as RPG's must have an
ending. ALL content must be original. You may not use any gfx/sound that are not free to use
in commercial projects. YOU are solely responsible for ensuring that your entry is legal.
Entrants of selected entries MUST be prepared to sign legal documents to this affect.

ALL selected entries are guaranteed the use of 4.5KByte of SRAM space. Since all entries are not
expected to make use of SRAM, you will probably be able to use more if needed.

No unnecessary splash screens. If you MUST show a splash screen, please contact simonb[CAT]gbadev.org.
Titlescreen and intro is OK. Instructions are also OK. Even though you can include credits in your
game it is not a necessary since credits for all games will be placed in the main credits.

Entries selected to be on the cartridge must be prepared to submit all source/scripts/graphics etc
necessary to compile/assemble your to the project coordinator. NO parts of your source will leave the
project coordinator's computer. Your shoddy coding is safe with us! erm..nevermind (it was a joke, relax)
Read "prepared", ie we might not ask you at all.

Your game MUST be extensively tested (GBA/GBA SP) to ensure that "no" bugs are noticeable.

You ARE allowed to send in updated versions of previously released games. The changes however must
be significant & clearly noticeable.

You/your team are allowed to submit a maximum of 3 games. If several of your submitted games are selected
they will all be