THE THEME - DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW

Diversifiers: (to add some pizazz for more points in the theme category – fully optional 😊):

1. The internet

The internet is a weird place. There's cat pics, memes and anonymous message boards, but also sleek social media for professionals. Make your game reflect either aspect of the internet.

2. Arguments and discussion

It's never been easier to connect with strangers, and learn what it's like to be someone else – but that doesn't always make it easier to care. Make a game about connecting with others or caring for them.

3. Empathy and sympathy

We've got a ton of games about guns and hitting people with stuff, but much less about discussion. Make a game where the core mechanic is not about violence, but about discussion or arguments

WHAT?

JAMMING JAM in Jyväskylä is a 48h hackathon in making games. Anybody can sign up and compete for honor and fun. Game jams are here to bring people of various skills keen on game development together; an opportunity to meet new friends, acquire new skills, try out new ideas, and be creative. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned game developer, JAMMING JAM Jam 2022 is for you. This time, we go for a physical site hosted by the Jyväskylä Digi and Game Center.

University of Jyväskylä and Gamedev at Charles University decided to co-organize a physical game jam at the Jyväskylä Digi and Game Center. The game jam is suitable for both beginners with very limited skills in game development and seasoned game creators.

We take it very seriously to organize the game jam open, such that beginners in game development feel welcome. For this reason, we will organize several events prior to the jam in a form of crash courses aiming to teach our participants the basics of Unity programming, graphics, game design, and production. These workshops will help you to develop a game and enjoy the jam.  Also, game development lecturers from organizing institutions and professional game developers from Charles Games will be available on-site to help you solve your issues during development.

At the end of the jam, an international panel of judges from academia and industry will provide you with feedback on your game, choosing THE BEST GAME of JAMMING Jam 2022. And of course, you can win the PEOPLE’S AWARD of JAMMING Jam 2022 by popular vote too!

WHERE?

The game jam will be hosted by Jyväskylä Digi and Game Center. They will provide each participant with a comfortable seat for work, internet access, basic kitchen appliances, and some refreshments to enjoy the jam and really focus on the game and collaboration with their colleagues. 

Facilities provided:

Be aware that there are still some Covid restrictions in place, so you will have to wear respirators in the building.

WHEN?

All the time-related events are expressed in (GMT+3) (=Jyväskylä time)

Friday 8.4.2022

17:30 - Opening speech by organizers

18:00 - JAM THEME announcement

18:00 - JAM STARTS! You have 48 hours to create your game

Saturday 9.4.2022

A full day devoted to game jamming!

12:00 - Screenshot Noon - Send a screenshot of your game to the itch.io forum related to this jam

14:00-15:00 - Take a moment and think about the remaining work on your game. Lecturers will regularly cruise the site to help you

Sunday 10.4.2021

12:00- Screenshot Noon - Send a screenshot of your game to the itch.io forum of the jam

17:00 - Time is running up!

18:00 - Jam ends! 18:00 - Submissions through itch.io are closed (HARD deadline!)

18:00 - Voting period starts!

Monday 10.4.2022 - Monday 17.4.2022

Voting time! All jam submitters + contributors may vote!

17.4.2022 16:00- Voting ENDs! 

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Below are listed all the workshops meant to help you get familiar with elementary Gamedev skills. You do not need to know anything to attend them, just bring your laptop and in the case of Unity for Beginners, install the Unity from the hyperlink before the workshop (it takes some time to download)

TUESDAY 5.4.2022

10:00-16:00 - GAME MAKING WORKSHOP WITH UNITY FOR BEGINNERS

What to expect?  

In this workshop, you will learn the basics of Unity and learn how to make a simple 2D game including both graphical Unity editor as well as using simple C# scripting. You will explore all basic parts of Unity, including user input, text, sound, and elementary physics. After that, you will have a chance to be creative and make a game of your own with expert support. No previous knowledge of Unity is required!

What to take with you?

PC or Laptop with an up-to-date version of a modern browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and internet connection Installed Unity (2020.3+), Visual Studio installed through Unity Hub

WEDNESDAY 6.4.2022

12:00-16:00 - ART WORKSHOP WITH PHOTOPEA FOR BEGINNERS

What to expect?

In this workshop, you will learn the basics of the free online graphical editor Photopea. You will learn how to create new documents, use its drawing tools, work with layers, and enhance your result with graphical filters. In a practical part, you will be set free to draw a few images for a chosen 2D game. Then, you will learn the basics of graphical formats and how to export images from Photopea. Finally, you will learn how to import your creations into Unity and use them to compose 2D game scenes. No previous knowledge of Photopea (or any other photo editor) is required!

What to take with you?

PC or Laptop with an up-to-date version of a modern browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and internet connection

THURSDAY 7.4.2022

12:00-16:00 - GAME IDEATION, PRODUCTION, AND GAME DESIGN WORKSHOP FOR GAME JAMS

What to expect?

The general objective of the workshop is to help you effectively organize your work during the game jam in a smaller team. You will learn how to ideate, design, and effectively produce your game in a relatively short time frame. First, we will go through several approaches to the ideation of your game and the game design process. Then, we will focus on the skills from game production and management necessary to deliver a video game during the game jam while avoiding unnecessary “crunches”. No previous knowledge is required.

What to take with you?

PC or Laptop with an up-to-date version of a modern browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and internet connection.

PRIZES?

Nothing can replace the feeling of creating and experimenting with something new. However, we will still like to give some form of feedback and appreciation for your creations.

There are several prizes available for participants

1. The Best Game of JAMMING JAM 2022 (as voted by the panel of judges) will receive the certificate signed by our jury, Collectors editions of Attentat 1942 and Svoboda 1945: Liberation provided by Charles Games. The rest will be announced soon!

2. The People’s Award of JAMMING Jam 2022 (as voted by participants) will receive a signed certificate by our jury and much more! The rest will be announced soon!

VOTING?

All participants who will submit a game or who will be a contributor to some submission may vote on the games. Note that you will NOT be able to update your submissions during the voting period to ensure fairness! Although, you can modify your webpage however you want.

There will be 7 categories for ranking the games:

• Overall impression (PRIMARY CATEGORY)
• Theme (is the game related to the theme?)
• Innovation (is gameplay innovative?)
• Fun (is the game fun to play?)
• Controls (game controls are snappy, easy to play with?)
• Visuals (nice looking game?)
• Music & Sounds (nice audio in the game?)

SIGN UP?

Register itch.io account or login if you have one and click on "Join jam" button above (scroll up).

COMMUNITY?

Facebook - Event to share with / invite your friends!

We have a Discord which everybody should join as there can be various announcements!

RULES?

Max team size - 4 jammers; join the jam; submit your game on time to itch.io!

The build must run either on Windows 10 based computer and/or Android 6.0+ mobile device; if you're targeting WebGL, make sure to make it compatible with at least one of the mentioned devices

Official Jam Rules - Including the judging process!

Code of Conduct- To sum it up - Be kind and polite! Jam Terms & Conditions - Lawyerish regular stuff!

ORGANISERS