Guidelines for submitting SIDEKICK PRO FILES

Getting Started

We’re so excited that you want to submit a game to DYM! This guide will help you deliver a high-quality, ready-to-play Sidekick Pro file that leaders can use in youth rooms everywhere.

Sidekick Pro games start at $4 and scale up based on AI, video, and feature use. Games that also include a standard, non-Sidekick Pro version are priced like comparable products.

Jump to:

• What to Include in Your Submission
• Additional Guidelines
• How to Submit

What to Include in Your Submission

1. A .sidekick file exported from Sidekick Pro. Sidekick Pro runs on macOS (M1 chip or newer, macOS 26 or newer). Open your game and click Export in the toolbar, or right-click it in your library and choose Export. You can export either a single game (.sidekick) or an entire Playlist (.sidekickplaylist).
2. Custom Title Graphic and Background set in the game’s Display Options, and also included as separate JPG files.
3. Clear on-screen instructions. Turn on Show Instructions so players can see how to play.
4. Enough content to play:
   • Trivia: at least 10 questions or rounds
   • Survey Says: 7 questions
5. Preview image: a thumbnail version of your title graphic.

Images and videos you add inside Sidekick Pro are embedded in the exported .sidekick file. We still need the title graphic, background and preview as separate files for the DYM Store.

Title Graphic and Background: 1920 × 1080 px · 72 ppi · RGB · JPG/JPEG
Preview Image: 640 × 360 px · 72 ppi · RGB · JPG/JPEG

Additional Guidelines

1. Sidekick Pro isn’t just for youth ministry. Schools, camps, kids’ ministries, parent ministries and others use it too. Say “players” or “contestants” instead of “students,” and “your group” or “your room” instead of “your youth room.”
2. Write clear How to Play directions. Picture someone who has never played your game. Explain the setup, the rules and how to win, and include a supply list. The more detail you give, the easier the game is to run. If needed, include a word document inside the submitted folder.
3. List what’s needed. If your game needs props, materials or other apps, add a supply list with links to your submission. An Amazon Idea List link is a big help.
4. Scale when possible. Some groups have 10 people and others have 400. Note how to adjust for both (for example, “smaller groups can use 8 crowbars instead of 15”).
5. Be Creative. It's really easy to use AI to generate questions, but anyone can do that with Sidekick Pro. Games that just used AI will be reviewed more closely and may not be published.

How to Submit

1. Put your .sidekick file and JPGs in a folder and zip it.
2. Upload the .zip to Dropbox and copy the share link.
3. Fill out the DYM Resource Submission form:
   • Product Type: Game
   • Long Description: what the game is, why it’s worth playing, and how to play it, including any variations
   • This Resource Includes: for example, “• Sidekick Pro game file (.sidekick) • Title graphic (JPG) • Background (JPG)”
   • Upload Your Resource: paste your Dropbox link

Questions? Email support@downloadyouthministry.com.

Thank you for partnering with DYM to help leaders like you win!
The DYM Team