Bandai Namco announced the second GYAAR Studio Indie Game Contest to be accepting entries this September, providing active support for aspiring indie game creators. 

The contest is held by Bandai Namco Studios’ indie game label, GYAAR Studio, and is scheduled to start accepting entries from September 21st, 2023 to December, 4th, 2023, 11:59 PM (JST).

This will be the second GYAAR Studio Indie Game Contest and Bandai Namco hope to further stimulate the video game market by actively providing support for indie game developers.

Bandai Namco has prepared a variety of support programs to offer to indie game developers much like the previous contest, allowing numerous game titles to shine brighter.

Contesters who are interested can enter the contest by providing the necessary submissions, such as a playable demo of their game.

The Awards

The best title entry is eligible to receive up to 100 million JPY in support funding, as well as a variety of support programs.

In addition to Platinum Award and Winning Award, Bandai Namco also prepared a new award called Honorable Mention for the first time.

The Honorable Mention award will have winners receive a prize of 1 million JPY per entry, for up to 10 title entries.

Winners will also be awarded free access to the development center, GYAAR Studio Base, located at Monzen-Naka-cho, Tokyo.

Bandai Namco hopes that with the new awards, they can encourage more indie game developers to enter the contest.

The total amount of prizes will be the same as the first GYAAR Studio Indie Game Contest and those interested can check the details on their official website.

The winners of the contest are slated to be announced during the TOKYO INDIE GAMES SUMMIT 2024 held between March 2nd, 2024, to March 3rd, 2024.

Support Programs 

As previously mentioned, winners will be awarded support programs from Bandai Namco Studios where their professionals would share technical information and development know-how through sessions.

Additionally, Bandai Namco Studios would lend equipment and environment that is necessary for development for the winning indie game creators as well as marketing support from Bandai Namco Entertainment.

In addition to all that, contest winners are also given free access to GYAAR Studio Base as previously mentioned, allowing real-time communication between professional developers and aspiring game creators.

During the visit to GYAAR Studio Base, participants will also be able to engage in topic-based talk sessions with Bandai Namco’s creators regularly.

Furthermore, Bandai Namco Group companies will also be providing IP development support to winners, and Phoenixx, who is also participating as an administrative partner, will be assisting with publishing.

How to Enter

To enter the contest, the applicant must submit their application through the entry form on the official website from September 21st, 2023 to December, 4th, 2023, 11:59 PM (JST).

Contesters must also prepare the following items to enter the contest:

• Gaming ROM (playable demos or prototypes are also acceptable)
• Game proposal
• User’s manual
• A letter of consent from a legal guardian such as a person with parental authority, if the applicant is a minor.

Furthermore, applicants must all register separately with their BANDAI NAMCO ID.

Bandai Namco notes that the entry to the GYAAR Studio Indie Game Contest must be made at the applicant’s own discretion and responsibility, thus they shall be solely responsible for costs or expenses that may be incurred in the participation in the contest.

Entry Terms 

Bandai Namco and GYAAR Studio have outlined the eligibility for entry as follows:

• Corporations, organizations, or individuals may enter the contest.
• Applicants who are not the age of majority in their country of residence at the time of participating in the contest must acquire consent from their legal guardian.
• The contest is open to applicants that are residents or have its principal office registered in the following areas:
  • Japan, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States
• For group applicants, one representative must be appointed, and they must agree to the terms with all other members before application submission. If any member is a minor, consent of the minor’s legal guardian is required.
• For corporations, the person who has the authority to enter into agreements on behalf of the corporation, including agreeing to the terms, shall submit the application.

Information Session

Bandai Namco will be holding an information session for indie game creators who are interested in applying for the contest at GYAAR Studio Base, Monzen-Naka-cho, Tokyo, on September 6th, 2023.

During the session, Bandai Namco will be sharing precautions for entry and updates on the winners from the first contest.