(UMC) Unknown Mission Challenge - AI Game Jam

Competition Rules

1. Concept: The "Blind" Challenge

The AI Game Jam is an on-the-spot rapid development competition. Inspired by the "Unknown Mission" format, the specific game mechanics and technical "hurdles" are strictly confidential until the official 15-minute countdown begins.

2. Learning Objectives

Participants in this challenge will develop and demonstrate the following skills:

• Advanced Prompt Engineering: Mastering the art of communicating complex logic, physics, and UI requirements to an AI to generate functional code.

  
  

• Computational Thinking: Breaking down high-level "Hurdles" into specific logical instructions that can be interpreted by a Large Language Model.

  
  

• Rapid Prototyping: Developing the agility to move from a mission briefing to a playable product within a strict 15-minute window.

  
  

• Iterative Problem Solving: Learning to use AI as a collaborative partner to debug, refine, and polish software through conversational feedback rather than manual editing.

  
  

3. Participant Requirements

• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Participants must provide their own laptop or computer.

  
  

• Connectivity: Participants are responsible for their own internet connection (Wi-Fi or Hotspot) for AI tool access.

  
  

• Tools: Participants may use any Large Language Model (LLM) or AI coding assistant (e.g., Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, GitHub Copilot).

  
  

4. The Mission Protocol

• The Reveal: At the start of the session, the "Mission Dossier" is revealed (e.g., "Mission: Neon Pong").

  
  

• The Hurdles: Three specific technical requirements are disclosed. For a successful submission, the final code must demonstrate all three hurdles (e.g., Precision Control, Acceleration Logic, Visual Feedback).

  
  

• The Countdown: Participants have exactly 15 minutes to prompt their AI to generate a single-file HTML/JS/CSS game.

5. Technical Regulations

• Single-File Format: The final output must be a single .html file containing all logic, styling, and assets (SVG/Base64/Emoji). No external dependencies or folder structures are permitted.

  
  

• No Manual Coding: This is a "Prompt Engineering" challenge. Participants are forbidden from manually typing or editing code. All changes must be requested through an AI prompt.

  
  

• Standard Environment: Games must run in a standard modern web browser (Chrome, Edge, or Safari) without specialized plugins.

6. Scoring & Evaluation Rubric

Submissions will be evaluated out of a total of 100 Points based on the following criteria:

• A. Technical Hurdle Completion (50 Points)

Hurdle 1 Mastery (15 pts): Full implementation of the primary mechanic.

Hurdle 2 Mastery (15 pts): Full implementation of the logic/physics requirement.

Hurdle 3 Mastery (15 pts): Full implementation of the visual/feedback requirement.

Stability (5 pts): The game is bug-free and runs smoothly without crashing.

• B. Gameplay Performance (30 Points)

  
  

Points are awarded based on the High Score achieved during a 2-minute "Live Run."

Scoring scales relative to the highest performer in the session.

• C. UI/UX & Aesthetic Appeal (20 Points)

  
  

Visual Design (10 pts): Adherence to the mission theme (e.g., "Neon Aesthetic") and overall polish.

UX Design (10 pts): Intuitive controls, clear score visibility, and effective feedback loops.

7. Disqualification

Any manual editing of the source code after AI generation.

Pre-writing code or templates before the mission is revealed.

Exceeding the 15-minute development window.

"Can you prompt your way to a High Score?"

Score Board