Welcome to the very first Humane Jam for Animals - a charity fundraiser event benefiting the Humane World for Animals!
What is the Humane World for Animals?
The Humane World for Animals (Formerly the Humane Society of the United States), or Humane World for short is a charity dedicated to animal welfare. Their mission is to ensure animals all over the world have a better quality of life. The Humane World focuses on domestic animal needs, such as spay/neuter programs and emergency veterinary care, as well as international issues, such as animal testing, fur trade, and illegal exotic pet trades.
Humane World for Animals website: https://www.humaneworld.org/en
Why a game jam?
If you're on itch.io, you're probably a gamer! And as gamers, we know the impact a game can have on us. Messages that stick with us long after the story has ended - that's one of the reasons I wanted to host this game jam. I want to make games that stick with the players, either because they're fun, or because there's a story I want to tell. So let's tell stories together in support of a charity that is near and dear to me.
Charity Game Jam
Participating in this jam is COMPLETELY free, meaning no buy-in is required. It is also UNRANKED; do it for the love of the game! However, as it is a charity fundraiser, a link will be provided on the Jam Start Date if you wish to help animals! Even a dollar helps immensely!
The mission this month:
This time around, the Humane World is fundraising to end cruel and unnecessary animal testing practices that can leave an animal with lasting scars - both emotionally and physically. Their mission is to replace animal testing with more proven methods that don't rely on animals!
- Animals are taken from the wild to be used in experiments. Primates, dogs, rats, mice, horseshoe crabs - these animals belong in their habitat, not under the harsh flourescent lighting of a lab. And while some labs do try to keep the animal in mind, the fact of the matter is that animals do not belong in cages.
- According to the National Institute of Health, 90% of drugs tested on animals fail in humans. The NIEHS is also committed to reducing the need for present animals for testing! Read about that here: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/sya-iccvam
- 45 countries have enacted a full or partial ban on cosmetics animal testing! This type of testing often results in painful and irritating rashes and sores for the animal. There are better ways to test, including using nature-derived ingredients without the harsh additives.
If you want to donate, a Tiltify campaign has been set up for this game jam! Donate here: https://tilt.fyi/aOflhw6re4
Game Jam Rules:
Your game MUST be made specifically for this jam; submitting to other jams is prohibited and you will be disqualified from the jam if you are found to submit to other jams. Additionally, your game page must not be published before the Jam Start Date - your game will be disqualified if you are submitting prior projects!!!!!
-> Your game must start from a blank project, and your game must be made in the time frame of the jam. Games published before the jam start date will be immediately disqualified.
-> Your game MUST utilize the theme. You may also optionally implement the Jam Challenges, once they are revealed.
-> Your game MUST be free to play, and must at least have either a Browser-based or Windows port available in addition to any other ports you wish to ship.
-> Feel free to use any FREE assets you can find, so long as they are properly credited.
-> Absolutely NO depictions of animal cruelty. If you have to ask, you're better off finding a different way to get your point across.
-> Any language is allowed for your game.
. -> No Generative AI. No "vibe coding". There are SO many free assets for you to use. If you can't find an asset, draw it in MS Paint. It doesn't have to look pretty, how a game looks isn't one of the qualifiers. I believe in you. Make your game with your hands. It'll be fun. I promise.
-> Teams are allowed, up to five people. Please make sure that everyone on your team is credited in the final submission!
Game Jam THEME:
As this month the Humane World for Animals is focused on ending animal testing and research, I've decided to choose an appropriate theme.
The theme for the game jam is:
HOMECOMING
A safe, warm home is what everyone deserves - free of danger, and ready access to toys, treats, food, and water. This theme focuses on returning home - whether that be in the suburbs, or in the wilderness.
A note about the theme: you do not HAVE to have an animal protagonist! It also does not need to be animal centered, so long as you utilize the theme. However, many of the challenges will be based on the overarching mission theme, so you can choose to implement those in addition to the game jam theme.
Additional challenges for the game jam:
To be announced on Jam Start Date
Use these challenges to add a little more to your game! These are optional and are not required, but can help flesh out your game a little more if you're wondering what else to add.
DISCORD:
The discord is available to connect with other developers, stay up to date with announcements, ask questions, and generally hang out. It will also be where I announce other game jams for the year (Hint: there are two more game jams planned in the future, one of them will be ranked. There will be prizes then. You like prizes, right? Come to the discord.)
OTHER LINKS:
Humane World for Animals website: https://www.humaneworld.org/en
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: https://www.niehs.nih.gov
Game jam Tiltify campaign: https://tilt.fyi/buSnWnbRkf
**This game jam is run independently of the Humane World for Animals as a charity fundraiser event. The Game Jam Host is not affiliated with the Humane World for Animals nor Tiltify, only facilitating the fundraising for the cause. 100% of proceeds donated to the provided Tiltify link go directly to the Humane World for Animals and benefit animal welfare.**