The world of work has become more flexible with hybrid models of remote working, and the games industry is no different. Students who graduate are likely to move into flexible roles within games studios that give them the opportunity to work remotely from anywhere in the world. As such, Ukie and Sharkmob have designed this game jam with the theme being collaboration. 

Ukie’s bi-annual student game jam draws from a pool of 4,000 students from 40 different institutions across the UK and new for this year we will be inviting selected international schools to join in. Last year had 80 teams comprised of 380 students. 

Each student team will be a mix of students from different countries. Working as a team remotely from different countries means teams will need to understand how to successfully collaborate with one another. 

Teams will have to adhere to the theme and parameters of the jam, which are all based on collaboration. 

 When: 23rd & 24th November

The game jam takes place over two days to allow students to take a break. It is encouraged that students take time off in the evening of the 23rd to get food, chill out, sleep and start again in the morning of the 24th. 

Where: Remote

Students will be made up of students from different countries and so will need to find a suitable place to work remotely. 

Mentors: 

Each student team will be assigned an industry mentor who will be there for support throughout the game jam. This mentor will be an industry professional who already works within the games industry. 

Team Pairing: 

Students will be paired into small teams of up to 6 maximum. Team pairing will take place from the 15th of November. 

Theme: Collaboration

About the theme: 

Collaboration is a working practise whereby individuals work together for a common purpose to achieve business benefit. Collaboration enables individuals to work together to achieve a defined and common business purpose. It exists in two forms:

• Synchronous, where everyone interacts in real-time, as in online meetings, through instant messaging, or via Skype
• Asynchronous, where the interaction can be time-shifted, as when uploading documents or annotations to shared workspaces or making contributions to a wiki

Collaboration at the conceptual level involves:

• Awareness – We become part of a working entity with a shared purpose
• Motivation – We drive to gain consensus in problem-solving or development
• Self-synchronization – We decide as individuals when things need to happen
• Participation – We participate in collaboration and we expect others to participate
• Mediation – We negotiate and we collaborate together and find a middle point
• Reciprocity – We share and we expect sharing in return through reciprocity
• Reflection – We think and we consider alternatives
• Engagement – We proactively engage rather than wait and see

Judging Criteria: 

1) Concept – How well does it match the theme? 

2) Creativity - How creative and unique is the game?

3) Playability - Is it fun and challenging enough to play?

4) Visual impression - Does the art style suit the game?

5) Narrative - Does the game's story work and flow?

6) Replayability - Is it compelling and does it have high replay value?

7) Soundtrack - Does the audio fit the game?

 Social Media: 

 With this being a remote game jam, student teams are encouraged to Tweet their progress online to create a virtual feel to the event. There will also be an award for the team that drives the most engagement online. Tweet your progress throughout the game jam to @UkieStudents & @SharkmobGames using the hashtags #COLLABJAM.

 Awards up for grabs: 

• First Place Award - (Winning team!) 
• 'Mentor' Award (given to the best mentor – voted for by the teams)  
• Social Champions Award (given to the team that drives most engagement on Twitter)

 Prizes

• Each participant of the winning team will win travel and accommodation to visit Sharkmob’s studios in Malmö or London for up to 3 nights in 2022 - sponsored by Sharkmob T&Cs apply
  
• Alienware monitors - sponsored by DELL 
• Multiplayer booth sessions at Platform (each recipient will receive 90 mins of gaming for up to 4 people) - sponsored by Platform
• Hangar13 Games merch goodie bag including a Mafia: Definitive Edition game 

 Judges: 

•  Sam Barton, Game Director, Sharkmob London 
• Alexandre Grimonpont, Creative Director, Hi-Rez
• Kirstie Russel, Office Manager, Ukie 
• Sophia Aker, Programme Coordinator, Digital Schoolhouse 
• James Adnett, Acount manager, DELL
• Nicolò Portunato, Co-founder and COO, Platform
• Gareth Bourn, Principal Designer, Hangar 13 Games

Rules:

• Teams must be registered to itch.io page to enter this game jam
• Work can only commence at 9:30am on the 23rd November
• Students can use any game engine they choose to create their game 
• Students can use free open source content but must reference where they got it from on the itch.io page
• Students/teams must not infringe on any copyrighted works and any caught doing so will be disqualified 
• Students must let their lecturer(s) know they are participating
• Only students registered and submitted as a part of the team can take part 
• If you are having issues, then please contact kirstie@Ukie.org.uk

 Submission:

• Games must be submitted via itch.io on the Ukie Student Game Jam page here by 5:00 PM 24th November. 
• When submitting a game on itch.io please title your game with your team name as well as the name of the game – E.G  ‘Team A – Water Slide’. This will make it easier for the judges to find and mark your game.
• Please also upload a gameplay footage video of your game to YouTube and post the link to your video in the description of your Itch.io submission page.
• Please also submit a short paragraph about why you created the game on your itch.io submission page. 
• If you are having issues, then please contact kirstie@Ukie.org.uk.

 Winners Announced: 

 29th November via a press release, social media, and email.

Sponsors 

• Sharkmob 
• Dell 
• Epic Games 
• Hi-Rez Studios 
• Platform
• Hangar 13