Introduction

We at Double Eleven pride ourselves on our awareness of Mental Health; encouraging a crunch-free work zone that focuses on the well-being of our employees. Despite this, 1 in 4 adults will receive a mental health diagnosis in any given year, and as many as 1 in 2 people will receive a mental health diagnosis in their lifetime. Mental Health, especially right now, is vital towards quality of life and we hope to raise awareness on all issues that people may face, however diverse. Now, it is your turn to take part. Create a game of any genre, any type, and relate back to the Game Jam theme of MIND.

MSMD (Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind) is partnering with Mind this year (can you see why we chose the theme Mind yet?) and the idea that they have raised to the public to encourage people to look after themselves this World Mental Health Day is: do one thing.

Whether it's going for a walk, learning a new skill or doing something creative, taking the first steps to getting support for yourself, or reaching out to someone to say hello. 

Something as simple as grabbing a cuppa and having a virtual chat with someone you maybe haven’t spoken to in a while, be it someone from the office or outside of that, would be a nice thing to do and can make a whole lot of difference to someone's well-being. In the current situation it’s so easy to turn in on yourself, show someone you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while that you haven’t forgotten them and have a long overdue catch up, just for the sake of it! 

Theme

So what does Mind mean? This is up to you! Mind could be Mental Health, or perhaps dreams, or thoughts, or anything really! All we ask is that we have a playable game. Personally, when I think of Mind, I think of Mental Health struggles that I’ve faced in the past. No interpretation of this theme is incorrect.

Time Limits

To ensure that you prioritise yourself, we have set out a guideline of how many hours max you should do a day. We obviously cannot enforce this, but we highly recommend that you look after yourself!! This is for fun, and it is not a competition. 

Saturday 10th October - time limit 6 hours

Sunday 11th October - time limit 6 hours

Monday 12th October - time limit 3 hours (outside of business hours only/not during the working day)

Tuesday 13th October - time limit 3 hours (outside of business hours only/not during the working day)

Wednesday 14th October - time limit 3 hours (outside of business hours only/not during the working day)

Thursday 15th October - time limit 3 hours (outside of business hours only/not during the working day)

Friday 16th October - time limit 3 hours (outside of business hours only/not during the working day)

Saturday 17th October - time limit 6 hours

Sunday 18th October - 3 hours - time limit 3 hours  - last submission by no later than 17:00 UK time

Disclaimer for the Game Jam for all Double Eleven employees 

You cannot use work time for this Game Jam 

Rules:

1. Upload your game! All teams or individuals are expected to upload a playable version of their game or a link or set of instructions to enable visitors to the game page to play their game. Uploading finishes by 17:00 UK time on Sunday the 18th of October, and no more uploads will be possible after the jam ends.

2. Vote for games! All individuals, regardless of entry to Game Jam or not, are able to vote on uploaded games after the uploading period ends. Between 17:00 on Sunday the 18th, and 12:00 on Monday the 19th, people are able to download and play other games. Rating is based from 1-5, in a number of criteria. Please know that not all games may be suitable for certain criteria, and that’s okay! This just gives a general overview of how the game is!

4. Upload your own work only. You may only use any code and assets for creating the game that you are legally allowed to use without breaking any other legal agreements. Don't share any code belonging to your employer or anyone else other than yourself, or upload anything that is under NDA or other legal constraint. 

5. Maximum team of 4. To allow for fairness, we request that each team is a maximum of 4 people.

6. Match the theme. Your submission will need to address the theme (which will be announced at the start of the game jam). Feel free to interpret it in different ways!

7. Don’t be unsportsmanlike! Everyone here is wanting to have a good time and make something awesome. Being antagonistic or going out of your way to ruin someone’s time won’t be tolerated. Being competitive is fine - but being an a-hole isn’t.

8. Enjoy yourself! Look out for each other, learn, create together and have fun. This isn't just about making games! It is also for creating friendships, connections, experiences, and memories.

9. Look after yourself. This whole Game Jam is about creating positive experiences and memories. It's not about crunch and competition. Remember to stay hydrated, eat good food, move around, take rest breaks, and give yourself enough time to get plenty of sleep each night. For more tips, please refer to the bottom of the page for Top Tips to Look After Yourself.

FAQ

Who owns my submitted game?

Your game belongs to you. After all, you made it! We claim no rights or ownership of your game!

We may use your game for the purpose of publicizing the event. If you do not wish your game to be publicized, please contact HR@double11.com, who will get back to you in due time.

What happens if I’m not very good at art?

You don’t have to be! Here, all we want is that you have fun, and create a playable game! “Programmer Art” is welcome (and encouraged). 

Can I use assets from online?

You are allowed to use any existing assets, and other resources that you have legal license to use. This includes using open source and Creative Commons licensed materials. We strongly recommend you only use assets that you have the legal right to use (Public Domain, things you licensed/created, etc). If you don’t have the right to use something, it is your responsibility.

Is there a prize?

There are no physical or cash prizes for the competition. Your prize is your product, and the money raised for charity!

That said, you have a game now. Congrats!

I can't find someone to be in a team with me! What can I do?

Don't stress! Our lovely team member, Keenan, has created a Spreadsheet which is allowing people who want to team up with others a chance at finding people!: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jZs0g1Mbza2FbEm0AkKR4NlIZEvkndU-nQf1rvUA...

Can I stream my game/the development?

Of course!! We actually highly encourage this, because we think it would just be awesome for people to stream their development or end product.

Is this just open to D11 employees, or can non-employees join too?

If you have a friend, family member or partner who is also interested in Games Development, we are more than happy for them to tag along with you! However, we may not accept just non-employees joining the Game Jam; we would prefer for them to be with at least 1 D11 employee. 

Top tips to look after yourself:

Feeling overwhelmed and need to calm down fast? Here are some exercises you can do:

Controlled Breathing: Count to 4 on the way in, and 7 on the way out.

Play the 5-Things Game: Name five things you can see, hear, feel, and so on This gives your brain something very specific to focus on and

helps distract from the distressing feelings.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Focus on the muscles in your toes. Tense them tightly for 5 seconds, and then slowly relax them. Next, move to the muscles of the calf, and do the same thing. Carry on up the body until you’ve used every muscle. This can quickly relieve stress and tension in a physical and emotional way.

Remember to get up and stretch! This may sound like a pretty basic tip, but stretching our bodies for a couple of minutes improves circulation and promotes oxygen flow to the brain, doing wonders for the mind. It is also a good idea to give yourself regular screen breaks.

Know the symptoms of burnout. This may help you catch it before it occurs. Some symptoms include: Feeling physically or emotionally exhausted, difficulty concentrating, loss of enjoyment and more.

Communicate with your team, and set clear achievable goals from the start. Allow for extra time if you can. Remember, it’s not a competition.

Learn to say ‘no’. It’s easy to take on more than we can physically achieve. If you feel like you can’t get something done in time, say no to it.

Be mindful of your social needs and limits. Take advantage by talking to the people around you, share your ideas, brainstorm, playtest and take advantage of the different skill sets and knowledge around you. At the same time, being around others for a long time can be mentally draining. Make sure you carve out some quiet time away from everyone. 

Consider alternative team activities - schedule an online gaming session, or perhaps a remote movie marathon! Plan time outside the jam site with your team.

Put yourself first. While it may seem like making the game is all that matters, your health matters even more! If you’re really needing help don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Resources:

MSMD

D11

Mind

World Mental Health Day

Mental Health Tips

Working During COVID + Your Mental Health

NHS Looking After Yourself

Better Help, a Mental Health Counselling Service

NHS Official List of Charities + Resources