Game Submission Guide

Version 1.0 — College of Charleston Indie Arcade

Overview

The CofC Indie Arcade is a showcase platform for student-created games. This guide explains how to submit your game and what to expect from the submission process.

Important: Version 1 of the arcade is currently in a showcase-only mode. Public users can view game information and play web builds, but cannot download executable builds.

Submission Types

We support three types of game submissions:

1. Web Build (WebGL/HTML5)

Best for: Games built with Unity (WebGL), Godot (HTML5), or HTML5 game engines
Public Access: Yes — your game will be playable directly in the browser
File Types: .zip containing index.html and game assets
Recommended for: Maximum reach and accessibility

2. Downloadable Build

Best for: PC/Mac games that cannot run in a browser
Public Access: No — downloads are admin-only in Version 1
File Types: .zip containing executables (.exe, .app, .sh)
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Note: These builds will be showcased but not publicly downloadable until Version 2

3. External Link

Best for: Games hosted on itch.io, Steam, or other platforms
Public Access: Yes — users will be redirected to your external page
Usage: Provide a full URL to your game's page

Version 1 Access Rules

What Users CAN Do:

✅ Browse all games in the arcade
✅ Play web builds in their browser
✅ Visit external links (itch.io, Steam, etc.)
✅ View game descriptions, screenshots, and developer profiles

What Users CANNOT Do:

❌ Download executable builds (.exe, .zip for PC/Mac/Linux)
❌ Access build files directly

What Admins CAN Do:

✅ Upload all build types
✅ Download and test builds
✅ Manage game listings

Submission Process

Step 1: Prepare Your Game

For Web Builds:

Export your game as WebGL (Unity) or HTML5 (Godot, Phaser, etc.)
Ensure the build includes an index.html file
Test locally to confirm it works
Compress into a .zip file

For Downloadable Builds:

Build for your target platform(s): Windows, macOS, Linux
Include all necessary runtime files (.dll, .so, etc.)
Compress each platform build into a separate .zip
Test on a clean machine to verify it runs

For External Links:

Publish your game on itch.io, Steam, or another platform
Copy the full public URL

Step 2: Gather Required Information

Before submitting, have the following ready:

Game Title — The name of your game
Short Description — 1-2 sentence pitch (max 200 characters)
Full Description — Detailed overview of gameplay, story, features
Developer Name(s) — Your name or team name
Major — Your field of study at CofC
Graduation Year — Expected or actual year
Tags — Genre, engine, themes (e.g., Puzzle, Unity, Pixel Art)
Screenshots — At least 3-5 high-quality images (1920x1080 recommended)
Cover Image — Main artwork for your game (16:9 aspect ratio)

Step 3: Contact the Arcade Admin

Currently, game submissions are handled manually by the arcade administrators. To submit your game:

Email: arcade@cofc.edu
Subject: "Game Submission: [Your Game Title]"
Include:
- All information from Step 2
- Attached files or download links
- Preferred submission type (web, download, or external)

Step 4: Review and Approval

The admin team will:

Review your submission for completeness
Test your game (if applicable)
Verify file integrity and compatibility
Upload and publish your game to the arcade

Typical turnaround: 3-5 business days

Technical Requirements

Web Builds

Max File Size: 500 MB (uncompressed)
Required Files: Must include index.html
Supported Formats: WebGL, HTML5, Phaser, PixiJS
Browser Compatibility: Must run in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge

Downloadable Builds

Max File Size per Build: 2 GB
Platforms: Windows (.exe), macOS (.app), Linux (.sh, .AppImage)
Archive Format: .zip only
Naming Convention: GameName_Platform_Version.zip
- Example: MyGame_Windows_v1.0.zip

External Links

Must be a publicly accessible URL
Preferred platforms: itch.io, Steam, Game Jolt

Guidelines and Best Practices

Content Guidelines

✅ Original work or properly licensed assets
✅ Appropriate for a college audience
✅ Free of malicious code or exploits
❌ No plagiarism or copyright infringement
❌ No hate speech, harassment, or explicit content

Quality Standards

Game must be playable from start to finish
No critical bugs that prevent completion
Clear instructions or tutorial
Proper credits for team members and assets

Metadata Tips

Titles: Keep under 50 characters
Descriptions: Be concise but descriptive
Tags: Use 5-10 relevant tags
Screenshots: Show gameplay, not just menus

FAQ

Q: Can I submit a game I made before attending CofC?
A: Yes, as long as you're currently a CofC student.

Q: Can I update my game after submission?
A: Yes! Contact the admin team with updated files and version notes.

Q: Why can't users download my game in Version 1?
A: Version 1 focuses on showcasing games in a controlled environment. Public downloads will be enabled in a future update once proper infrastructure (CDN, bandwidth, legal agreements) is in place.

Q: Can I submit a game made with my team?
A: Absolutely! List all team members and their roles in the submission.

Q: What if my game is too large for email?
A: Use Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer and include the link in your email.

Q: Can I submit multiple games?
A: Yes! Submit each game separately.

Q: Is there a submission fee?
A: No, submissions are completely free for CofC students.

Contact and Support

Email: arcade@cofc.edu
Discord: [CofC Game Dev Community] (link TBD)
Office Hours: TBD

For technical issues or questions about the arcade platform itself, please contact the admin team.

Roadmap

Version 1 (Current)

Showcase all games
Playable web builds
External links supported
Admin-only downloads

Version 2 (Planned)

✅ Public downloads for verified builds
✅ Self-service submission portal
✅ CDN integration for faster delivery
✅ Analytics dashboard for developers

Thank you for contributing to the CofC Indie Arcade!

We're excited to showcase your work and support the game development community at the College of Charleston.

Last updated: January 28, 2026