It’s just something us Java people do. We can use pre-made engines, (jMonkey, for example), but it just seems like we use libraries more than we use pre-built engines.
Ironically, the game is called Mono.
what are the remaining contenders for the theme?
Most Unity games are crap, so yes, it is unfair on them.
nvm, signed up to see the themes.
[b]10 Seconds[/b]
Alchemy
Alternative Reality
Connections
[b]Corruption[/b]
Darkness
[b]Death is Useful[/b]
Evil vs Evil
Glitch
Hunted
[b]Lifecycle[/b]
Machines
Multi-layered world
Parallel Worlds
Replication
Space
[b]Strange Power-ups[/b]
Surveillance
Survival
[b]You must leave it behind[/b]
interesting. can’t pick. bolded the ones that I find particularly fascinating.
Death is Useful sounds like a pretty neat concept. 
Reminds me of how Kenny always dies…
I upvoted:
10 Seconds (everyone seems to like it and I want it as a fallback to avoid another bad theme)
Darkness. So many interesting mechanics
Hunted. How can you not want this to be the theme.
You must leave it behind. Nice abstract theme. Can result in interesting storylines.
I neutral voted:
Alchemy
Corruption
Machines
Survival
The rest were downvoted.
+1:
10 Seconds
Death is Useful
Strange Power-ups
You must leave it behind
0:
Corruption
Lifecycle
-1:
(everything else)
I am not excited, because I’m kinda busy. But let’s see if I can contribute to LD’s annual submission record breaking.
are they going to reveal the theme only once the competition has started?
The announcing of the theme IS the start of the competition.
What the…
They topped another 12 hours on the time until the start. Now I have to start at lunchtime. >:(
This is not going well for me, as I can’t make up that time the next day.
Roger that.
Oh perfect, the competition starts at Saturday, 9AM my time.
If only I already had actual experience completing even one game; and, didn’t have to go to the office to implement something major at work this weekend, this would be perfect for me.
Is the theme explained in any way? Or is it just thrown out there, open to interpretation?
Thrown out there, open to interpretation.
I’ve even heard of a few people who didn’t like the theme, went with the 2nd highest rated theme for their game. They just got a lower Theme score, but they still placed fairly well.
Its really up to you how literal/subjective interpretation you want to take it.
^ hah, okay thanks 
10 Seconds can be interpreted as having seconds (meal-related) 10 times. You’d probably get a bonus for humor too.
The countdown on the site is broken.
It says ~8 hours past the start.
It is actually ~3 hours until the start.
Or 10 important nonconsecutive seconds each spaced 60 seconds apart.
I don’t plan on participating, but I like the following three subjects:
Strange Power-ups
Evil vs Evil
Corruption
My favourites:
- Survival
- Alchemy
- Glitch
- Multi-layered world
- Space
- Surveillance
And it’s “10 Seconds” oh yay.