(Note that you can find all documents concerning the Winnitron here)

The Winnitron Game Requirements

Below are a list of requirements that your game must match before we can even review it to be put on the Winnitron 1000 arcade machine. If you feel your game fits all the requirements, and you would like to see it on the machine, please e-mail us at games@winnitron.ca

Complete Game

Only complete games will be featured on the Winnitron. “Complete” doesn’t mean that the game won’t be updated in future, but means that in its current form, the game provides a complete arcade experience. Games can be any length, but shorter games are more likely to be finished and are generally preferred.

Arcade Pressures in Design

Games that encourage short play times are preferred, so that many different players will take turns on the machine. Adding finite lives or a timer are some “pressures” that you may want to apply to limit the play time of a given player.

Aspect Ratio and Resolution

Winnitron 1000 games must be 4:3, 1024×768. The game should play in fullscreen.

Controls

The controls of your game must be the following, and no other keys may be used:

Player 1
Directions: Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, Down Arrow
Buttons: Z, X

Player 2
Directions: J (left), K (down), I (up), L (right)
Buttons: N, M

Home Button
Buttons: 1

Game ID

The game’s ID is the name of your game. (e.g. “Paper Moon”) Your EXE and ZIP file must use the same name.
e.g. Game Name: “Paper Moon” Exe: “Paper Moon.exe” Zip: “Paper Moon.zip”
e.g. Game Name: “4fourths” Exe: “4fourths.exe” Zip: “4fourths.zip”

The EXE must be in the root of the ZIP file.

Executable Format

Winnitron 1000 games will be running on Windows XP or Windows 7. Most EXEs should work fine. The EXE/Game should start directly into the game engine. (we don’t want to see windows appearing/disappearing more than we have to). Executable file name must be the same as the Game ID. (see above)

Flash

To make an EXE of a flash game, you need to make a projection of it. To do this, when running the game in flash player, click File >> Projection, and save as an .EXE.

Game Maker

Game Maker games run fine on the Winnitron, as long as you make sure that it runs in fullscreen mode.

Hiding Cursor

All games should hide the cursor (as there are chances that the cursor could be in front of the screen).

Submitting the Game

Please submit all games to games@winnitron.ca, and be sure to include

• Two (2) 1024×768 screenshots
• Link to the game as a zip file
• One (1) line description of the game
• Full description of the game
• Developer/Team Name

Highscore API

Highscores are optional, you do not need them to submit your game. However, if you wish to store highscores, have them synced to the online database and featured on the Winnitron 1000 website, you will want to use the methods described below.

Send Highscore

http://localhost/winnitron/highscores/send.php?id=ID_GAME&name=ABC&value=123

• ID String The game ID to submit the scores
• Name String The Name of the person who obtained the score (if any)
• Value Int The highscore value

Get Highscore

http://localhost/winnotron/highscores/get.php?id=ID_GAME&type=TYPE&order=DESC&limit=0

• ID String The game ID to get the scores
• Type String xml or json file to be returned
• Order String ASC or DESC: Return scores low to high/high to low
• Limit Int The amount of highscores to get (set limit=0 to receive all)

Example JSON return:
{“scores”: [{"name": "ABC", "score": "100"}, {"name": "ABC2", "score": "84"}, {"name": "ABC2", "score": "72"}]}

Example XML return:

Send Tweet

http://localhost/winnitron/tweet.php?message=msg

Message String Message to send to the Winnitron Twitter (max. 140 characters)