Hey everyone, Stanpai here with another update for the Newgrounds Summer Festival!

If you haven't already, be sure to read Update #1 before continuing!

Attendee Registration is Now Open!

The Newgrounds Summer Festival attendee registration form is now open, and that means you can now formally sign up as an event attendee. Your invitation to the event Discord will be processed by one of our team members after verifying your information, so please keep an eye on your email inbox!

As mentioned in previous updates, you must be 18 or older to gain access to the event Discord. Those who are unable to verify their age are still welcome to watch the public YouTube livestream.

Register for the Newgrounds Summer Festival Here!

NGSF Animation Project

Would you like to collaborate on an original animation to help promote the Newgrounds Summer Festival?

Back in the 80s, two original animations were produced to commemorate the opening of the DAICON Science Fiction convention. While I certainly do not have ambitions for anything as extravagant as these productions, given the overwhelming number of talented animators, illustrators, musicians and more here on Newgrounds, it doesn't seem totally impossible to build a team that can put something fun together. Participants would be expected to produce only a few seconds of animation apiece that would, when combined, represent the spirit of the Newgrounds Summer Festival. Other forms of contribution could include backgrounds, still-images, pixel art and otherwise.

Because this will require a great number of talent and coordination, I am currently scouting potential collaborators for this endeavor. Send me a DM to declare your interest with the subject "NGSF Animation - [Animator/Illustrator/Etc]" , and I'll review your existing body of work to see if it's a good fit. Put your best foot forward and let's make something magical!

Creators of all ages are welcome to apply. What matters most is your existing portfolio of work, so show me what you've got!

A decision on whether or not this is happening will be made a week from now based on participant turnout, so please do not delay in reaching out as soon as possible.

Gamedev Showcase Registration Now Open!

Are you working on a video game and looking to get some eyes on your project? The Newgrounds Summer Festival is accepting applicants for our very own Gamedev Showcase. We're looking for titles that are far enough along to have a trailer or brief gameplay demo to be shown during the event. They can be web-based titles like you find here on Newgrounds or something with plans for a commercial release.

As for what games are applicable, we are welcoming applications for titles ranging across all potential age ratings, but said games must be compliant with Newgrounds and Discord terms of service. We are prioritizing working titles and not just conceptual prototypes, so please keep this in mind when applying.

NSFW submissions are also welcome, but please note that games with prospective ratings of M or AO will require age verification. Games too mature for the main showcase will be showcased in a Discord-exclusive after-hours feature instead.

Click here to apply for the Gamedev Showcase!

Panels & Special Events

With a variety of different panels already on the table, we have also seen some interesting proposals for events during the festival ranging from concerts to drawpiles. The creativity of those who want to bring something to share with the community has been refreshing to see.

For those who are still unsure about what kind of panels to host, I suggest taking a look at some of your local conventions and perusing their schedules to get an idea of what sort of content gets submitted. For example, here's the schedule from one of my favorite events to staff and panel at- Holiday Matsuri. Bringing something fun to the table is what matters most, so if you're interested in participating, do not hesitate to fill out the panel application!

Note: You must be 18 years of age or older to host a panel.

Click here to fill out the Panel Application Form

The Panel Submission Deadline is June 1st- only two weeks away!

Art & Assets

As always, we're still keeping an eye out for submissions to the #NGSummerFest2021 tag on the Art Portal. A handful of you have done your part to contribute to the collection, and I'm absolutely thrilled to see the pieces you've been uploading. Remember to aim for a 1920 x 1080 canvas size to ensure it will fit into the rotation neatly!

This update's bangin' banner art is by @ImKevin. See it in its full glory below!

Outside of banners and wallpapers, I'm also interested in seeing some transparent PNGs of characters doing various things that we can use during the event and on promotional posts like these. I'm always excited to see what you all have to share, so don't hesitate to reach out as always!

That's all for this update! As always, thank you for reading. Can't wait to see what amazing things are in store for this event. Its success sits on the shoulders of the users of our wonderful site, and that means you.

As always, feel free to leave any questions, suggestions or comments below.

-Stanpai