Submissions open from 2026-02-26 23:30:00 to 2026-03-01 00:00:00
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Do you dream of working amongst the very best Indie Game Developers or perhaps even launching your own indie studio one day?

Good. You're in the right place.

There is this frustrating gap in game dev education. Most studios will ask for 3+ launched games, but won't give you the chance to build that first game. There's countless tutorials/videos/write-ups for how to technically make a game, but previous few opportunities to launch something real.

Don't worry, we fixed that problem ✨

At the Indie Game Academy we help aspiring indie developers launch their first games, and eventually their first studios. We are on a perpetual quest to help game creatives pave their own path.

Welcome to IGA Level 1: Your first step to Indie Founding

Our introductory weekend long bootcamp is a guided game jam-like experience for game developers of all experience levels meant to get you and a team of your choice a finished game prototype of a promising concept in just one weekend.

What You’ll Learn

  • The fundamentals of forming a viable game team
  • Core workflows in a modern game engine
  • How to scope, design, and prototype a game as a team
  • Indie-specific design insights from experienced advisors
  • How to present, share, and position your game for visibility
  • Real-world jam skills: collaboration, iteration, and shipping
  • Earn Prizes on the Bounty Board (example below!)

All of that... in just one weekend

And you'll finish your first game

The game industry can be daunting! That's why it's so important to find the right guide. Meet your IRL Wizarding Guide and your number one supporter for the rest of your indie journey, the Wizard of Games Willem Delventhal. A ten year game indusry veteran with credits ranging from Paradox Interactive to IMVU, Willem is joined by two other vets, one in creative direction and the other in discoverability, to form your Level 1 Advisory Triad.

It's dangerous to go alone! Join Level 1!

Collectively our professors have over 40 years of professional experience with credits including Star Wars Battlefront 2, Call of Duty, and Life by You.

Extra Perks

  • Earn the IGA Level 1 Graduation Certificate
  • Gain access to our Discord with a bunch of wonderful, supportive indies
  • Use our online co-working space on the Gather platform
  • Network with other hungry devs in the industry

Oh and have a heck of a lot of fun (it's what we do best)

LINK TO PARTICIPATE LIVE

You must obtain a ticket on Eventbrite to participate in the live programming.

So what is this jam?

Indie Game Academy (IGA) and Xsolla are teaming up for a fast, practical challenge: Introducing our first sponsored Level 1 from the Bounty Board!

Since the Epic v. Apple ruling earlier this year, mobile game developers in the US are now able to direct users to alternative payment methods! This is major news as developers don’t need to give up to 30% of their earnings to Apple going forward. Many devs don’t know that alternatives already exist. With Xsolla Web Shop, developers only need to pay 5% in transaction fees. Plus it’s customizable and easy to integrate within your game!

To celebrate this new opportunity, we’ve teamed up with Xsolla to host a competition that will be live for 48 hours. To enter, all you need to do is create a Web Shop for your game. This takes 10-15 minutes max. 

One winner will be peer-selected to win $500 courtesy of Xsolla! 🏆

Dates 📅

Feb 27 6:30pm EST  | Kickoff hosted by IGA (30 Min) and Jam Submissions Open

March 1 7:00pm EST | Jam Submissions Close

March 6 | Winners Announced

If you’re seeing a different timezone on itch.io, follow the time shown at the top of this jam page.

The Challenge ✨

Create a working Xsolla Web Shop for your game and submit:

  1. Your project submission on itch.io (a playable build, demo, or interactive showcase)
  2. Proof of your Xsolla Web Shop (see “Submission Requirements” below)

Your shop can be for a real released game, a prototype, or a jam project — as long as it’s functional.

Submission Requirements (read carefully) ✅

Your submission must include:

  • A link to your Xsolla Web Shop 
  • At least one screenshot showing the shop and an example item/bundle
  • A short description (3–8 sentences) covering:
    • What you’re selling (currency, items, bundles, etc.)
    • Who it’s for (player segment / game context)
    • One monetization idea you’d try long-term

Important: To be eligible for prizes, the winner must have a functional Xsolla Web Shop. IGA will verify the winning entry before prizes are awarded.

How Judging Works (Peer Voting) 🗳️

This is a judged competition, not a random sweepstakes.

  • Voting/Judging is done by contestants only using itch.io’s jam judging system.
  • After submissions close, you’ll be able to score other entries on the criteria below.
  • Winners will be announced after judging + verification are complete.

Judging Criteria 👩‍⚖️

Contestants will score each entry on:

1. Connectivity - Integration of game and Xsolla webshop

2. Aesthetics - Presentation of Xsolla webshop page 

3. Comprehension -  How clearly does the submission describe the product offering, target audience, and proposed long-term monetization approach?

Prize Pool 🏆

Total prize pool: $500 for top submission (provided by Xsolla)

Resources (Xsolla Tutorials)  📖

Use these to get started:

Community + Support 🤝

We’ll be hosting this alongside the Indie Game Academy community on Discord, including a short kickoff to help you get oriented and answer common questions. IGA will do our best to answer questions but are not an authority on product.

If you get stuck:

Rules / Eligibility 📃

  • You must follow itch.io’s rules and community guidelines.
  • You must submit within the jam window.
  • To win a prize, your entry must include proof of a functional Xsolla Web Shop.
  • If you collaborate, list all team members on the submission.
  • Don’t submit stolen work/assets you don’t have rights to use.
  • You do not need to participate in Level 1 to win

FAQ ❓

Do I need a finished game? No — prototypes are fine. The focus is the Web Shop setup and how you present it.

Can I use an existing project? Yes. Just be clear what you changed or set up during the challenge window.

What if my shop is for a mobile game? That’s welcome — just make sure your submission clearly shows the shop working and what it connects to.

Do I need to participate in the Level 1 mentioned above? No! However, it's an amazing opportunity to meet new game developers, learn from seasoned professionals, and participate in a more interactive jam than your average event!