⛄ About the Winter Game Jam

Game developers in training will put their skills to the test by creating something from start to finish in this 20-hour-ish period.

This game jam page is shared across Year 1 and Year 2 student teams.

🚀 Getting Started

Before you start jamming, here are some guidelines for a successful jam experience:

• Don't spend too long thinking of an idea; pick something and build it to test it!
• Get a prototype working early and playtest it often
• Make it a "complete experience" that's playable from start to finish
• Include onboarding like in-game tutorials or levels that each the player how to play the game
• Use version control like Git or Perforce (ask for a depot if you need one)
• Build early and build often (don't wait until the last day)

📅 Schedule

Here's a quick look at what's happening (and some suggestions for staying on track):

• Monday - Form an idea and Build it
  • 9am - Team formation and registration
  • 11am - Try to have an idea down by now
  • 5pm - Test your core mechanic and player controller
• Tuesday - Playtest and Polish
  • 1pm - Game is at least just barely playable from start to finish
  • 2pm - Get playtesters and feedback
  • 5pm - Make a build (you can still make builds tomorrow too)
• Wednesday - Upload and Present
  • 12:00pm - Presentations and Play
  • 1pm - Holiday Party

Year 2 will follow a similar schedule but adjusted for a Wednesday-Friday sequence instead.

• Wednesday - Form an idea
  • 2:30pm - Team Formation
  • 5:00pm - Try to have an idea down by now
• Thursday - Build and Test
  • 4:00pm - Game is at least just barely playable from start to finish
  • 4:30pm - Get playtesters and feedback
  • 5:00pm - Make a build (you can still make builds tomorrow too)
• Friday - Upload and Present (❗ Short Day!!)
  • 12:00pm - Presentations and Play
  • 1:00pm - Early Closure of Campus

📢 Theme

Year 1 - Some Assembly Required
Year 2 - Far from Here

Remember, the theme is a prompt, not a rule, to encourage you come up with your own idea. Interpret it or be inspired by it however you like!

Extra

• Include an in-game exit button instead of asking players to ALT+F4
• Include a controls screen (Sponsored by Sage again)

🌐 Share

Share your work! Send screenshots or gameplay recordings to Teams (see "All Seattle") or send them to Hyuk directly!

❔ About AIE

AIE trains students for employment and career opportunities in 3D animation, game development and related fields through the provision of world class education as well as acting as a catalyst to build these industries.

AIE is a non-profit educator established in 1996 to grow and support the game industry. Our unique curriculum is offered in the United States and Australia, and provides you with the training needed to join our other graduates as entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators in the video game and film industries. We were one of the first colleges in the world to offer specialized training for 3D animation and video game development.

For more information on our school and programs, check out our website at aie.edu.