Vibe Camp is back for Season 2!
Same idea as before. You build an original game with MapleStory IP in MSU Space and compete for a share of the prize pool. What’s different this time is the theme. Season 1 was open, but Season 2 asks you to make one specific kind of game, and it comes down to three words. Short, simple, and tense.
The Theme (Short, Simple, Tense)
Your game should fit three words.
- Short: Pick it up and put it down in a minute, on the bus or in a queue.
- Simple: Anyone gets it in about three seconds, no tutorial needed. Easy to pick up, hard to master.
- Tense: You’re hands-on the whole time, and one wrong move costs you on the spot.
The full theme guide, with what fits, what doesn’t, and design tips, is in the [Vibe Camp Season 2 Guide].
Campaign Schedule
- Build and Submission Period: August 18, 2026, 06:00 (UTC) to September 15, 2026, 06:00 (UTC)
- Winners Announcement: October 8, 2026
Prize Pool
The total prize pool is USD 15,000 in value. All prizes are awarded in $NXPC. Every prize goes to a game in the Official Selection. Winners must complete KYC verification to receive a prize; the notes below have the details.
| Award | Description | Winners | Prize (USD value) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Selection | The shortlist every prize is drawn from. Judges decide it by weighing the scores together with each game’s metrics | All Selection | 4,000 split (per-game amount depends on how many make it) |
| Grand Prize | Highest overall score | 1 | 2,500 |
| First Runner-Up | Second overall | 1 | 1,500 |
| Second Runner-Up | Third overall | 1 | 1,000 |
| Top Fun | Best in Fun (1st / 2nd / 3rd) | 3 | 800 / 500 / 300 |
| Top Creativity | Best in Creativity (1st / 2nd / 3rd) | 3 | 800 / 500 / 300 |
| Top Quality | Best in Quality (1st / 2nd / 3rd) | 3 | 800 / 500 / 300 |
| The Golden Jank | Well-made jank that makes you laugh, oddly addictive in its weirdness | 1 | 200 |
| Community Favorite | The Selection games that win players over most across the whole range of engagement | 10 | 100 per winner |
※ One award per game. Apart from its Official Selection share, a game takes only one award. Where a game qualifies for several, it keeps the largest and passes each one it gives up to the next game in line. Where no eligible game is left for an award, that award lapses. The order, largest first: Grand Prize, First Runner-Up, Second Runner-Up, then the first places in the three categories (Top Fun, Top Creativity, Top Quality, in that order), then the second places in the same order, then the third places, then The Golden Jank, then Community Favorite.
※ KYC verification. Prizes are paid only after the winner completes KYC verification. Verification takes place after the Winners Announcement, and no $NXPC is released until it is complete. This applies to every winner, a team’s designated representative included.
※ Eligibility restrictions. Participation in Vibe Camp and receipt of a $NXPC prize are not available to persons who are citizens or residents of the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Myanmar, Sudan, or the Crimea, Donetsk, or Luhansk regions of Ukraine, or of any other country or region in which participation or the receipt of a prize is restricted by law, or who appear on an applicable sanctions list. Further eligibility conditions, including a minimum age of nineteen (19), are set out in the Terms.
※ Disclaimer. The U.S. dollar figures serve only as a unit of account for determining the quantity of $NXPC comprising each award.
How We Judge
After the jam closes, the judges play every entry from start to finish.
First, two must-haves. Without both, we can’t score your entry.
- No game-breaking bugs. Anything that stops a player from finishing a run is out.
- Built with MSU resources (art, effects, sound, whatever you like).
Clear those, and every game is scored 0 to 5 on three things.
- Fun (40%): How much you enjoy it. A game you can’t put down beats one that’s merely clever or polished.
- Creativity (30%): How original the idea is. A new mechanic or an unexpected twist stands out, while a straight copy of a game we all know scores low, even if beautifully made.
- Quality (30%): How good the game feels to play. Designers call this juice, meaning controls that respond in a blink, clean visuals you can read at a glance, and actions that land with a satisfying punch.
Theme fit is not a must-have. The theme is what we hope to see, and a game that fits it has a good chance of scoring well, but missing it doesn’t put you out.
If you can, make it playable on a phone too. It’s not part of the score, but when two games are neck and neck for a prize, the one that also shines on mobile gets the nod.
How to Participate
- Access MSU Space by signing in to Verse8.
- Register and/or link your MSU Builder account. Linking it gives you a free Verse8 credit allowance that resets every week.
- Build and publish your game in MSU Space.
- Complete the official submission form before the deadline, with all required game information, contact details, and wallet information.
※ For account setup, creating your game, and publishing, see Getting Started with MSU Space.
※ KYC verification is not required to participate. It’s only required once you become eligible to receive a prize.
Submission Requirement
Publishing a game in MSU Space alone does not constitute a valid entry. Only projects submitted through the official submission form before the deadline (September 15, 2026, 06:00 UTC) will be evaluated. Acceptance of the Terms is required as part of the submission process.
Submit your project using the official submission form below:
Builder Resources
- Getting Started with MSU Space
- MapleStory Resources Search Guide
- Vibe Camp Season 2 Guide (full theme and design tips)
Additional resources and guides may be added throughout the campaign.
FAQ
Do I need to submit my game separately after publishing it?
Yes. Publishing alone is not a valid entry. You must also complete the official submission form before the deadline.
Can I submit more than one game?
Yes. If a second idea grabs you, build and submit that one too.
Can I resubmit a game from Season 1?
Yes, if it fits the theme. You have four weeks, so use them to sharpen it rather than resubmitting it as is. One limit: a game that won The Campfire, The Base Camp, The Summoner, or The Top Traffic Games in Season 1 cannot win anything this season, the Official Selection included. That keeps those spots open for new games. Every other Season 1 game can win, including one that took The True Camper. If you built one of the four, bring a new game this season.
Can I keep updating my game after the deadline?
Yes. Judges score the live version at the moment they play it, so you can keep polishing afterward. That said, aim to finish within the period rather than shipping something rough and finishing later. Changes that go beyond polishing and make it a different game may be evaluated as at the deadline, or excluded.
Can I participate as an individual or a team?
Please refer to the Vibe Camp Terms & Conditions. Team prizes are distributed to the designated representative who completes KYC verification.
How do I get additional Verse8 credits?
Connect your MSU Builder account to Verse8 and you’ll get a free credit allowance that resets every week. For the current allowance and how it works, see the weekly credit allowance notice for details.
If you only have a regular MSU user account, sign up for a Builder account first at msu.io/builder. Then sign in to Verse8, go to verse8.io/settings, and connect your MSU Builder account from there.
Important Notes
- Participation is subject to the Vibe Camp Terms & Conditions, and the MSU Space Terms of Service also apply.
- Prizes are distributed based on the information you submit, and incorrect or invalid wallet or account details may make you ineligible. This is the participant’s responsibility.
- Linking your MSU Builder account to Verse8 shares your wallet address with Verse Eight, Inc. (United States) to enable Verse8 Credits and related linked-account services.
- Official Vibe Camp updates are shared through official channels, including Verse8’s X, Discord and social media.
- Additional details on judging and reward distribution may be announced separately.
Support
If you run into any issues, reach out to us at Verse8
We look forward to seeing the games you build in MSU Space.