Before you start building, please review the following guidelines.
By submitting a project, you agree to follow these rules.

1. Original Work and Intellectual Property Submit work that you created or have permission to use. You may use open-source code, libraries, tutorials, assets, and other third-party resources, provided you follow their applicable licenses and attribution requirements. Do not copy another participant's project or use copyrighted material without permission or an appropriate license. You retain ownership of your original work, subject to any third-party licenses and other applicable rights.

2. AI Tools and External Resources AI coding assistants and other development tools may be used without it substantially taking over the project. Do not submit AI-generated or externally sourced material that infringes on another person's rights. Disclose substantial use of AI-generated code or content in your project description.

3. Appropriate Content and Conduct Projects must be respectful and appropriate for a high school audience. Harassment, discrimination, hateful content, threats, and intentionally harmful or malicious software are prohibited. Games must not encourage illegal activity, endanger users, or collect sensitive personal information unnecessarily. Participants must treat fellow hackers, judges, and organizers respectfully.

4. Privacy and Security Do not include passwords, API keys, private credentials, or other confidential information in your submitted code or demo. Obtain appropriate permission before using identifiable images, recordings, or personal information belonging to others. If your game collects user data, explain what is collected and why, and handle it responsibly in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

5. Submission Accuracy and Deadlines All required materials must be submitted through Devpost before the published deadline. Your submission must accurately represent your project's functionality and your contributions. Do not misrepresent your work, fabricate results, or claim credit for another person's contributions. Incomplete, fraudulent, or rule-violating submissions may be disqualified.

6. Eligibility and Organizer Decisions Participants must meet the published eligibility requirements of ages 14–18 and be enrolled in high school. The organizers reserve the right to review submissions for compliance, request clarification, and disqualify projects that violate the rules. Judges will evaluate eligible projects according to the published rubric. Any tie-breaking decisions will follow the stated judging criteria.

7. Disclaimer Participants are responsible for their own projects, tools, and use of third-party resources. The organizers do not guarantee that submitted projects will be compatible with every device or platform. Participation does not transfer ownership of a participant's original work to the organizers. By submitting a project, you confirm that you have read and agree to follow these participation rules and any additional official event requirements.