Submission & Review Policy

1. Overview

This policy outlines the submission, review, and approval process for games submitted to GlitchRealm via the submission form. All submissions are stored in the game_submissions Firestore collection and undergo manual review by GlitchRealm staff or automated checks.

2. Submission Status Workflow

Each submission has one of the following statuses:

Developers can check submission status in their Developer Dashboard or via email notifications.

3. Required Submission Fields

The following fields are mandatory for all submissions (enforced by Firestore rules):

• title: Game title (2-100 characters)
• description: Short description (10-500 characters) displayed on game cards
• extendedDescription: Detailed description (50-5000 characters) shown on game detail pages
• howToPlay: Instructions for players (20-2000 characters)
• playUrl: URL where the game is hosted or played (must be valid HTTPS URL)
• coverImageUrl: Cover image URL (Supabase storage or external CDN; 16:9 aspect ratio recommended)
• screenshots: Array of at least 1 screenshot URL (max 5)
• tags: Array of genre/category tags (e.g., "Action", "Puzzle", "Strategy")
• ownerId: Firebase Auth UID of the submitter (auto-populated)
• status: "pending", "approved", or "rejected" (defaults to "pending")

4. Approval Criteria

Submissions are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Technical Requirements

• Game must load and run without critical errors in modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• No broken links, missing assets, or inaccessible URLs
• Game controls and instructions are clear and functional
• Reasonable performance (no excessive lag, crashes, or infinite loops)

Content Standards

• Complies with Code of Conduct (no hate speech, harassment, illegal content)
• No excessive violence, gore, or sexually explicit content (age-appropriate for 13+ audience)
• No malware, viruses, crypto miners, or malicious code
• No plagiarized content; all assets must be original or properly licensed

Quality Standards

• Game matches the description and screenshots
• Minimum playable experience (not a broken tech demo or unfinished project)
• Clear instructions and intuitive gameplay
• Professional presentation (no spam, low-effort submissions, or clickbait)

Legal Compliance

• No copyright infringement (use of copyrighted characters, music, or assets without permission)
• No trademark violations (unauthorized use of brand names or logos)
• Proper attribution for third-party libraries, assets, or collaborators
• Compliance with Developer Agreement

5. Review Timeline

Expected review times:

• Standard Review: 3-7 business days for most submissions
• Fast-Track Review: 1-2 business days for verified creators or resubmissions after fixes
• Delayed Review: Complex submissions, external hosting, or flagged content may take up to 14 business days

Developers receive email notifications when the review is complete.

6. Rejection Reasons

Common reasons for rejection include:

• Broken Links: Play URL or asset URLs are inaccessible or return errors
• Incomplete Submission: Missing required fields (description, screenshots, instructions)
• Content Violations: Hate speech, harassment, sexually explicit content, or illegal material
• Copyright Infringement: Unauthorized use of copyrighted characters, music, or assets
• Technical Issues: Game crashes, fails to load, or has critical bugs
• Low Quality: Spam, low-effort, or non-functional submissions
• Duplicate Submission: Game already exists on GlitchRealm under a different account

Rejected submissions include a detailed reason in the email notification. Developers may resubmit after addressing the issues.

7. Resubmission Process

If your submission is rejected, you may resubmit after making corrections:

1. Review the rejection email for specific issues
2. Fix the identified problems (broken links, content violations, missing fields)
3. Submit a new game via the submission form (or edit your existing submission if available)
4. Reference the original submission ID in the description (optional but helpful)

Resubmissions are prioritized for fast-track review (1-2 business days).

8. Post-Approval Monitoring

Approved games remain subject to ongoing moderation:

• User reports for inappropriate content or broken links
• DMCA takedown notices for copyright infringement
• Community feedback and rating system (planned feature)

Games may be removed from public display if they violate policies after approval. Developers will receive 48 hours' notice before removal (except for emergency takedowns).

9. Appeals Process

If you believe your submission was rejected in error, you may appeal the decision:

1. Email developers@glitchrealm.ca with subject line "Submission Appeal"
2. Include your submission ID and a detailed explanation of why the rejection was incorrect
3. Provide evidence (e.g., licenses for assets, clarification of misunderstood content)

Appeals are reviewed by senior staff within 5-7 business days. Final decisions are at GlitchRealm's discretion.

10. Featured Games and Promotions

GlitchRealm may feature select games on the homepage, social media, or newsletters. Featured games are chosen based on:

• Quality, originality, and polish
• Community engagement (plays, reviews, ratings)
• Seasonal themes or special events
• Diversity of genres and styles

Being featured does not guarantee additional promotion or revenue. No payment is required for featuring.

11. Changes to This Policy

GlitchRealm may update this Submission & Review Policy at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.

12. Contact Information

Questions about the submission process?

• Submission Support: developers@glitchrealm.ca
• Appeals: developers@glitchrealm.ca (subject: "Submission Appeal")
• Developer Agreement: Full Developer Agreement
• Submit a Game: Game Submission Form