Before you get started
Here are a few things to know before submitting. We’ve gathered the questions we hear most often, including important details about submissions and judging.
Track 1. From zero to one: build with Codex FAQ
Q. Does my game need to stay playable during judging?
Yes. Your game should remain accessible and playable from submission through the end of the judging period.
If judges can’t access or play your game, it may not be eligible for review. Please check your link before submitting. You can also resubmit an updated link while submissions are open.
Q. What kind of link should I submit?
Please submit a web link that lets judges start playing right away, without installing anything.
Avoid submitting:
Mobile app installation links
GitHub repositories
Landing, intro or development pages without a playable game
Links where the game can’t be played on the web
Ideally, the game should launch directly from the submitted link.
Q. Can my game require login or payment?
No. Please submit a version that does not require login, account access, or payment to play. Mandatory Google login or purchases may prevent judges from evaluating your game.
Q. What should I know about copyrights and game assets?
You must have the necessary rights or permissions for all code, images, videos, music, fonts, data, open-source materials, AI-generated content, and third-party assets used in your game.
Your submission must not infringe third-party rights, including copyright, trademarks, privacy, likeness, or trade secrets.
Violations may result in:
Submission rejection
Disqualification from judging
Removal from the shortlist
Award cancellation
For parodies or references to existing games, avoid directly using protected names, characters, or trademarks where possible.
Example: Summoners War Angelmon → A round, cute angel monster
Q. Can I update my submission?
Yes. During the submission period, submit the updated version again.
If you submit multiple times, the latest version will generally be reviewed.
Q. Can I submit multiple games?
Yes. There is no limit on the number of games one participant can submit.
However, only one submission per participant may be shortlisted and eligible for an award. If multiple entries rank highly, only the highest-rated one may be selected.
Q. Can I continue updating my game after submitting the link?
Yes. There is no separate restriction preventing you from updating your game after submission.
However, if your project is updated after the judges have already completed their evaluation, they may not be able to review the changes. Therefore, we strongly recommend submitting your final, completed version whenever possible.
You must also ensure that your game remains fully functional and playable through the submitted link throughout the entire judging period.
Q. Is the elevator pitch required for shortlisted teams?
Yes. Shortlisted teams will need to present in person in Seoul to take part in the final judging.
The presentation will take the form of a short elevator pitch introducing your game, and you are free to choose the presentation format.
For example:
PPT presentation
Live game demo
A combination of PPT and a live demo
You can use the presentation to share your game’s concept and core idea, your experience developing it with Codex, and any insights, discoveries, or interesting moments you encountered during the development process.
Q. How are shortlisted teams selected?
Submissions will be evaluated holistically across the following five criteria.
01. Playability: Does the game work well and provide an enjoyable gameplay experience?
The game should launch properly and be genuinely playable.
Basic controls and gameplay progression should work without significant issues, and the overall gameplay flow should feel natural.
Beyond simply being functional, the game should also demonstrate a sufficient level of fun and polish as a complete game experience.
02. Originality: Is the game’s idea original?
This looks at how clearly the participant’s own ideas come through in the concept, rules, interactions, and gameplay mechanics.
Even if the game contains elements similar to existing games, we will consider whether those elements have been reinterpreted in a fresh way or transformed into a differentiated experience.
03. Codex Collaboration: How effectively was Codex used to bring the game to life?
This considers how effectively Codex helped turn ideas into real game features and gameplay experiences.
Rather than focusing simply on whether Codex was used or how much it was used, we look at how Codex helped expand the scope of implementation and raise the overall quality of the final game, including its features, interactions, and level of polish.
04. Release Potential: Can the game grow into a larger service through Hive?
This considers whether the project can grow beyond a one-time demo into a broader game or service.
This includes the game’s scalability, potential for continued content development, user experience, and opportunities to expand the service through Hive.
05. Presentation: Are the game’s core idea and gameplay experience communicated effectively?
The game’s core idea and intended fun should come through naturally during play.
Elements such as the quality of the core gameplay loop are important. Even without additional explanation, players should be able to understand the game’s objective, distinctive features, and most compelling aspects through the gameplay experience itself.
Shortlisting is not based on any single criterion. Each submission will be evaluated holistically based on its overall quality, gameplay experience, and potential.
Build with Codex, Play with Hive.