All competition deadlines specifically mean 11:59 PM, Eastern time, on the given dates.
July 1: The competition website is open for authors to declare their intent to enter this year’s competition.
August 1: The last date that authors can register their intent to enter.
August 28: The last date that authors can upload their games to the competition site. Everyone starts counting down the hours, eager to explore all the new IFfy goodness.
September 1: The games are released to the public, and the judging period begins.
October 15: All votes must be submitted by the end of the day.