I sent this Q&A with the recent email and thought I would repost it here for any late-comers or for future reference.
Q) How finished does a submission need to be?
A) It needs to stand on its own and be playable enough for someone who has only read the rules to pick it up and run it. We know that it won’t be perfect (yet), but it needs to be an understandable, playable draft.
Q) What are the judging criteria?
A) Every jam is a little different, but the criteria we will be giving our judges is, in order of importance:
1. How Enjoyable is the game?
2. How easy is it to understand the rules?
3. Use of Themes.
4. Use of Mechanics.
5. Use of Elements.
Enjoyability and playability are first, to make sure that we end up with great games not just great poems that really nail the themes or something like that. Following that we prioritize Themes (major overarching ideas), then Mechanics (the specific ways that players play the game), then Elements (smaller ideas that add some depth to the Themes).
Q) Will I be scored higher if I use more of the Themes, Mechanics, and Elements?
A) We expect you to use at least one of each of them, but we’re looking for quality of use not quantity when it comes to that.
Q) How much money should I expect to make from this?
A) Enough to buy a nice lunch. Maybe two. That’s what we hope to make from it, at least.
Q) Will you own anything I write after this process? A) No. We want you to keep control of your creative project. We will own the rights to the finished Zine and any art assets we secure for it, but absolutely no part of your design. If you take a game we print and sell it individually, develop it further, or anything else that’s totally fine. Please just remember us when you become famous!
Q) Do I have to do this work alone?
A) No! You can work by yourself or on a team of a dozen people if you want. Ultimately any advances/royalties are going to be paid on a per submission basis so if you have a team of 20 you may be splitting that lunch a little thin.
Q: You're talking a lot about Money and Business stuff?
A: Yeah! We want to help make a real product, and we want you to be there for as much of that process as you want. We'll be doing development, editing, layout, print, and kickstarting the project. We've got a big professional network, and we want to make sure that network is available to you if you have any questions. The idea is to get you through the whole process from beginning to end so you can do it on your own in the future.
Q) Are there any limits on who can enter?
A) Not really. If you have some local law that would get in the way we trust you to know that going in. That being said, we want this to be as open as possible.
Q) What if I have another question?
A) Come talk to us in our Discord (https://discord.gg/uTKC9XFaY8), or send us an email (grassrootsgamejam@gmail.com), or ask us in this thread!