Dates

The timeline for VelociCode is designed to give you time to explore, experiment, and execute your best work—without the crunch of a weekend jam.

  • Theme Reveal + Coding Begins: June 1, 2025 @ 1:00 PM

  • Submissions Due: June 27, 2025 @ 11:59 PM

  • Project Showcase + Judging: June 28, 2025 @4:00 PM

  • Winners Announced: June 28, 2025

⚠️ All projects must be created during the event window. No fossilized codebases allowed.

Eligibility

Whether you’re a code hatchling or a full-stack dinosaur, this challenge is open to:

  • Individuals or teams of up to four members

  • Participants of all experience levels

  • Anyone able to attend the on-site event on the 28th

  • Creators aged 13+ (under 18s will need parent/guardian permission)

  • Must be your own creation (AI-guided is ok, AI-generated is not)

No prior game dev experience required—this is about learning, experimenting, and having fun. If you’re passionate about tech, dinos, or both, you’re welcome here.

Project and Submission Requirements

To be considered, your project must meet the following criteria:

  1. Original Work:
    All code and assets must be created during the jam (unless using open-source or licensed materials—credit them properly).

  2. Playable/Usable Demo:
    You must provide either:

    • A web-based demo

    • A downloadable executable

    • A walkthrough video if your project can’t be hosted

  3. Project Page Submission:

    • Title and short description

    • Screenshots or demo link

    • A short write-up explaining how your project ties into the theme

    • GitHub or source code link (optional but encouraged)

  4. Submitted by Deadline:
    Late entries will not be judged—don’t let the comet hit before you're done!

Prizes

Winners will be selected in multiple categories. Prizes include (AND STILL TO BE FINALIZED):

  • Best Overall Project – Main prize + community glory

  • Most Creative Concept – For bold, out-of-the-box ideas

  • Technical Excellence – For clever code or innovative engineering

  • Funniest or Silliest Project – Because dinos should be fun

  • Community Favorite – Voted on by fellow participants

Prizes will include:
Digital Swag, select custom trophies, and memberships. (All to be announced during the event.)

All prizes listed are awarded per person, not as a total team amount. Each eligible team member will receive the full prize value associated with their placement or award category.

For example, if a team of three wins 1st Place, each team member will receive $60, not a shared $60 prize.

This applies to all categories:

  • 1st Place – $60 per person

  • 2nd Place – $50 per person

  • Best Theme Utilization – $40 per person

  • Crowd Favorite – $40 per person

 

If you have any questions about prize eligibility or distribution, please contact the event organizers at team@acmsa.org.

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection

Projects will be judged by a panel of developers, designers, and community organizers using the following criteria:

Category Description
Creativity Is the idea unique or imaginative? Does it feel fresh or unexpected?
Execution How well was the project implemented given the scope and time?
Theme Utilization Based on the announced theme, how well was it incorporated into the project?
Technical Skill Are there impressive mechanics, clever code, or complex systems under the hood?
Presentation Is the project page well put together? Screenshots, descriptions, and clarity help a lot.

Each project will be scored, and winners will be selected based on a combination of judge scores and community feedback (where applicable).