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Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about the YGD competition? Check out our FAQs below...

Q: Who can enter?

The competition is open to all UK residents (including residents of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) who are aged 10 - 18 years old during the school year that begins on Monday 4 September 2023 (Monday 12 August 2023 in Scotland).

For more in-depth detail about who can enter dependent on age, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.

Entrant Criteria:

  • Entrants must be resident in the UK.
  • Entrants under the age of 16 must have at least one parent or legal guardian resident in the UK.
  • Entrants must not be closely related to a BAFTA staff member or any other person or figure involved in the competition. 

Entering as a team:

  • Entrants can apply as an individual, in a pair, or in a team of three, but only one entry per individual per category can be submitted – i.e. if you are entering as part of one pair or a team, you cannot enter as part of another one.
  • If entering as part of a team, all members must be in the same age bracket (10-14yrs or 15-18yrs).
  • Teams and individuals can enter both Game Making and Game Concept Categories, but they must enter with different game ideas (you cannot enter both categories with the same game). 

Please note: BAFTA reserves the right to request proof of age for entrants as well as parent’s or guardian’s consent and necessary state of health.

Q: When does the competition close?

The deadline for all entries is 17:00 on Monday 18 March 2024.

Q: Can I send you my entry in the post?

All entries need to be done via the online submission form.

Q: Can I enter both the Game Making and Game Concept awards?

You may enter both Game Making and Game Concept awards, but you must enter both separately using a different Game idea.

Q. Can I enter a category as an individual AND as part of a team?

No. You may only enter each strand of the competition once (either as an individual or as part of a team).

Q: How many people can I have in my team?

You can have up to 3 people enter as part of a team.

Entrants can apply as an individual, in a pair, or in a team of three, but only one entry per individual per category can be submitted – i.e. if you are entering as part of one pair or a team, you cannot enter as part of another one.

If entering as part of a team all members must be in the same age bracket (10-14yrs or 15-18yrs)

Teams and individuals can enter both Game Making and Game Concept Categories, but they must enter with different game ideas (you cannot enter both categories with the same game). 

Q. I am entering the Game Making strand of the competition – what file types do you accept?

Entries for the Game Making award category are to be submitted in a computer executable file format (preferably .exe) and must be playable. 

All submitted games must run advert free, and free from any third party-owned brands and logos to allow them to be shown in a family friendly public space. 

Whilst every effort should be made to submit an executable file format, other acceptable file formats may include: 

Desktop

  • Algodoo (.phz)
  • Flash (.swf)
  • GameMaker (.gmx)
  • GameMaker (Please compile and submit as a .exe file)
  • HTML5 (Javascript, CSS, html and twine made .html files)
    • If submitting a web game, all the necessary game files should be collected together in a single .zip file
  • Java (.java)
  • Kodu (.kodu)
    • Kodu games must be playable with a keyboard/mouse
  • MissionMaker (.mission)
  • Scratch (.sb) (.sb2) (.sb3)

Please note:  if your game is made up of more than one file, then you will need to compress it and create a .zip file to upload.

iOS/Android

Please note:  if you are submitting via Testflight or Google Play, project builds must not be updated once the competition deadline has passed. Any build updated after 18 March 2024 whilst juries are still in progress will be disqualified from the competition. 

Dreams accepted with the following specifications:

  • Release the dream and any sub-dreams contained as either ‘Playable’ or ‘Public’. Anything with private sub-dreams will be disqualified.
  • In your submission provide: Name of Dream, PSN Online ID, and indreams.me link to the creation.
  • Please note: as Dreams is rated PEGI 12, all entrants submitting via Dreams must be aged 12 and over.  Creation dates will be verified.
  • Please note:  if you are submitting via Dreams, new versions of your dream must not be released once the competition deadline has passed. Any dream updated after 18 March 2024 whilst juries are still in progress will be disqualified from the competition. 

BAFTA is unable to accept games created in the following file formats: 

  • .unity3d (if you develop your game using Unity you must submit a .zip file containing the project data and a .exe) 
  • .webloc
  • .blend
  • .py (Python games can only be accepted if compiled and submitted as an .exe file)

Q. My game file is too big (over 250mb) – what should I do?

Often game files can be compressed and reduced. There are a number of articles on the web that give advice on this and we would recommend you check out the company website of the software package you are using to create the game, as often they have tips and tricks on how to reduce file size!

You can try the following:

  • zip up the folder
  • copy the zip file it to another computer (e.g. using a USB drive)
  • unzip the file and try to run the game
  • if it works on the other computer then the zip file should be fine to send.

How do I upload a video to support my application?

You can now include a video pitch for Game Concept, Game Making and Game Mentor Entries.
Video uploads happen AFTER you have completed the application form. 

Once you have finished submitting, head to your homepage, click on the drop-down menu next to your submitted application, and select 'Upload a video'.

The video should be an MP4 or QuickTime file.
For some ideas on what to include in your supporting video, Please click here.

Q. How many files can I send as part of my ‘supporting materials’?

You can enter up to 3 files as part of your ‘Supporting Materials’ on your Game Concept application form as well as a supporting video. For Game Making we require a screenshot image of your game and there is an option to also upload a supporting video.  

For more advice on what you might like to include as part of your supporting materials, see our Help section!

Q. Do I really need to include a parental consent form?

Entrants under 18 years of age must submit a consent form signed by their parent or guardian. 

Entrants aged 18 do not need to provide a consent form, but we do ask them to provide an alternative contact whom can be used to confirm the applicant’s identity or to speak with during an emergency situation should BAFTA have any concerns over any of the material submitted via the application form. 

Please download the Consent form here

The consent form is available on the entry website and competition entries will not be accepted unless correctly accompanied by the required signed consent form.

Where schools are managing pupil entries, a School Consent Form may be submitted on behalf of all pupils entering the competition. Please see form for full terms and conditions. 

Please download the School Consent form here

Entrants who reach the final stage of the competition will have their name, town and age published on the BAFTA YGD website, Award Ceremony brochure and made available to the press in an official press release. This is to celebrate achievements and whilst BAFTA will take every precaution to protect a child’s identity.  BAFTA cannot be held responsible for any third party contact.  

If you would prefer details not to be published, please contact [email protected] during the submission process. We will also endeavour to contact all finalists before publishing any details in our finalist press announcement. 

Q. Do I retain the copyright of my game?

You retain full copyright of your game. Terms and conditions state:

By submitting an entry for the competition, the entrant’s parent/guardian is deemed to have given consent for the entry to be published free of charge by BAFTA in all media, including television and internet, for all purposes as it wishes. 

BAFTA may wish to display entries in a website gallery as they come in throughout the competition entry window. 

The winner will be deemed to have agreed that BAFTA may showcase their game online and at Award ceremonies, and share it with third parties for online distribution (subject always to any applicable software licensing terms which may apply to the software packaged used to create the content). All Finalist games are showcased at our YGD award ceremony and made available to download via our YGD website. For 2024 any finalists’ games created in Dreams will have a showcase video on the YGD website but only be playable in Dreams.

All entrants – including the winner – will retain the right to take their game to any studio in order to develop it commercially. 

BAFTA will only ever use personal details for the purposes of administering this competition, and will not publish them or provide them to anyone without permission. 

BAFTA cannot be held responsible for any third party contact.  If you would prefer details not to be published please contact [email protected] 

Entrant’s personal details will be removed from the BAFTA database after 18 months.

Q. How do you judge the entries?

All entries are assessed by industry experts. 

Entries for the Game Concept award will be judged on gameplay design, creativity and suitability for chosen games platform.

Entries for the Game Making award must have at least one playable level and will be judged on game build, gameplay experience, creativity and suitability for chosen platform.

For further Entry Requirements please refer to our Terms & Conditions.

Q. I am a teacher, parent or code club leader - how can I get involved?

Great! We have a collection of resources including session activities and worksheets available to support those entering the competition. Our worksheets are also suitable for entrants to enter them as part of their ‘supporting materials’. 

There are also separate Teacher Resources on our website that include a classroom poster, letter to parents and information about teacher workshops.  You can request an idea generator card pack from [email protected]

Check out our resource page Here

Q. What happens if I make the finals?

This means you’ve made it into the top ten games in your category! Amazing! Someone from our team will be in touch and let you know all the details you need to know about participation in the virtual Ceremony, prizes etc.

Telephone calls will be made to the short listed entrants and their parent/guardian in order to check eligibility. Telephone calls may be recorded for reference purposes.

Participants may be requested to provide proof of age before being allowed to proceed with the competition.

If an entrant is unable to be contacted after reasonable attempts have been made to do so, BAFTA reserves right to offer their place to the next best entrant. Unsuccessful entrants will receive an automatic notification after judging is completed.

Winners and shortlisted entrants will be expected to take part in post-competition publicity for BAFTA.

Q. Where can I find the full competition terms and conditions?

The full terms and conditions can be downloaded here (pdf)

Didn't find your answer above? Send us an email at [email protected] and we'll help you out.