I haven't been able to find a rule or guidline to answer my question: is it all right to work in teams, or is this a solo project only?

Thanks

Greg,

It's fine to work in teams - with multiple coders, artists, and even designers and audio creators if you want to go that far - as long as one person enters on behalf of everyone and ticks the rules box, uploads the final product, etc. We'll try to update the instructions to make that clear.

Regards,
Simon Carless.
[Dr Dobb's Publisher.]

I also have a rule question.

For the "Best One Button Game" category, is the game allowed to have non-button forms of input (such as mouse movement), or is it just one button and nothing else?

Hi Devan,

We've called it "one button" but we're looking for accessible games. Think of it as "one input" - we're going to judge each game on its merits and if the game is intended to be accessible we'll judge it as part of that category too.

Thanks for your question,

Mathew Kumar
Community Manager

Hmm, I'm a bit confused. The base game seems accessible enough to be considered for that category, no? At least without using the mouse (which I never used anyway). I'm just not quite sure what you mean, since most entries I'd imagine would be accessible.

Hi all

If possible I'd like to know whether this contest is available for residents in the UK? The registration form insisted I provide the 'state' in which I live.

Thanks in advance, looking forward to the competition

Scott

Hi Jason, Scott,

I'll tackle your questions one at a time.

1. A one button game is, generally, a game that has only one button input.

These kinds of games are often available on mobile phones to allow simple one handed gameplay, and they are also games which have been designed with the idea that it be accessible to all -- including players who are physically or developmentally disabled.

There are a lot of good resources of information for this style of game online, including OneSwitch.org.uk, but the general idea is that input be as simple as possible - using only one form of input. So, for example, a great example of a one button game is [url=http://www.starquail.com/Games/]Sky Puppy[/a]. The style of this game could easily be recreated in Dr. Dobbs - pushing or holding only one button allows you move Sky Puppy around the levels.

Dr. Dobbs, as it currently stands, is not an accessible game, for example. You have several buttons to hit (often at the same time) which is beyond the abilities of many users!

We generally expect the one button category to only feature games that use one button, but if games are created that use, for example, only mouse movement, or on the Windows Mobile version, only stylus input, even, we'd be very interested!

2. The contest is available to people all across the world. When we say "state" we really mean state/province/county/etc.! So don't worry about it.

Thanks,

Mathew Kumar
Community Manager

Mmk, I understand. I'll definitely be thinking up some ideas. Thanks!