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GitHub Game Off 2023’s theme was “SCALE.” GitHub announced it on November 1, 2023, at 13:37 Pacific Time, opening a month-long game jam that closed on December 1. The event is over, but its announcement, entries and results remain available online.
What did “SCALE” mean?
GitHub chose a deliberately broad theme, not a rule that every game had to feature a literal measuring scale. The word can suggest climbing, changing size, increasing difficulty, measuring weight, musical sequences, or the scales on fish and reptiles. That gave developers room to approach it through a game’s mechanics, setting, story, sound or wordplay.
For example, a game might make its character grow or shrink, send a climber up a building, or increase the number and strength of enemies over time. A puzzle could use weights and balance; a music game could ask players to match a scale by voice. A networked game could explore multiplayer at different scales, while a fish-themed game could use literal scales. GitHub’s announcement offered examples along these lines, including an escalating tower-defense game, a Sokoban-style puzzle with weighted boxes, and a factory game about scaling supply chains. These were prompts, not required formats or judging criteria.
GitHub’s examples also played with “SCALE” as an acronym, including a reference to the Southern California Linux Expo. The point was the theme’s flexibility: a convincing interpretation could be literal, mechanical, technological, musical or conceptual.
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Read GitHub’s original theme announcement for its definitions and example concepts.
How the 2023 jam worked
Game Off 2023 welcomed solo developers and teams, beginners and experienced creators. The announcement allowed any programming language, game engine or library, and explicitly said participants could use AI tools to generate code, assets or other game components. That permission was specific to the 2023 announcement; it does not by itself settle the licensing, redistribution or disclosure terms of a particular AI service or asset.
Rank #2
- TRUSTED BICYCLE QUALITY: Experience the superior feel and durability of Bicycle playing cards, trusted by professionals and casual players alike for over 130 years. These classic Bicycle cards are built to last through every shuffle.
- TWO CLASSIC DECKS: RED & BLUE: Includes 2 standard decks of cards, one red, one blue, for timeless style and easy gameplay. Each card deck is designed for smooth play.
- STANDARD POKER SIZE: These poker-size playing cards are perfect for Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, Solitaire, Rummy, Bridge, and more. Whether you need reliable poker cards or a versatile set for every card game, this pack delivers.
- SMOOTH SHUFFLE, LONG-LASTING PLAY: The air-cushion finish ensures easy handling, smooth shuffling, and consistent performance, whether you’re hosting game night, practicing magic tricks, or learning a new card game.
- GREAT FOR ALL AGES & OCCASIONS: Ideal for card games with friends, family game night, stocking stuffers, Secret Santa, party favors, or casino-themed events. These decks make the perfect gift for players of all ages.
The stated participation steps were to join the jam on itch.io, create a game inspired by the theme, make a new public GitHub repository for the source code and assets the participant could share, and submit the game through the jam page. The announcement did not mean every third-party asset had to be made open source. Developers still needed to check the licenses and terms for things such as music, fonts, sound effects, asset packs, libraries and generated materials.
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| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2023, 13:37 PT | GitHub announced “SCALE”; the jam began. |
| December 1, 2023, 13:37 PT | GitHub’s announced submission deadline. |
| December 1, 2023, 21:37 UTC | End time displayed on the itch.io event page. |
| January 8, 2024, 13:37 PT | Voting deadline given in GitHub’s announcement. |
| January 9, 2024 | GitHub published its Game Off 2023 results article. |
The original announcement used Pacific Time, while itch.io shows UTC timestamps. The itch.io page records the jam as running from November 1 at 20:37 UTC to December 1 at 21:37 UTC. GitHub’s announcement appears to have a typo in its voting deadline (“January 8t 2024”); the date is January 8, 2024.
Rank #3
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- VERSATILE CARD GAMES: From poker and blackjack to rummy, canasta, euchre, and more, these jumbo cards work for countless card games. A must-have deck of cards for both casual play and serious competition.
- TRUSTED BICYCLE QUALITY: Crafted with Bicycle’s signature Air Cushion Finish, this deck of playing cards delivers smooth shuffling, flexible handling, and durability.
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Voting and categories
After submissions closed, people who had submitted an entry could play and vote on other games. The announced categories were Overall, Gameplay, Graphics, Audio, Innovation and Theme Interpretation. The broad theme meant participants could interpret “SCALE” in different ways; the category recognized interpretation without requiring one literal reading.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How many games entered?
The completed itch.io Game Off 2023 page lists 611 entries and 8,765 ratings. GitHub described the event as producing more than 600 games, a rounded summary consistent with the archive’s entry count.
Rank #4
- Customizable for Various Uses: These blank playing cards are versatile, allowing users to create custom card games, flashcards, tarot cards, and art projects.
- Durability and Quality: Blank playing cards to write on are durable and sturdy. They hold up well under different uses, including shuffling and handling.
- Waterproof and Smear-proof: These blank game cards are resistant to smearing when written on with permanent markers, and support most writing instruments.
- Convenient Size and Packaging: These cards come in a convenient size (2.5x3.5 inches), suitable for many applications, and are packaged in boxes, which helps in organizing and storing them.
- Vibrant White Core Cards: Crafted with high contrast, vibrant white paper core, providing the ideal blank canvas for your artistic expression.
Where to see the entries and results
The itch.io jam archive is the place to browse submissions and the event’s results navigation. GitHub’s Game Off article archive includes the results article published January 9, 2024. The 2023 jam is closed; these pages are archives, not an open submission form. They concern the 2023 event and should not be confused with later Game Off editions.
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