This is a two-hour game jam for the Multiplatform 2026 Symposium: Poetry in Games / Games in Poetry. Hosted by Jordan Magnuson and Game Poems Magazine.
The basic idea:
Write a haiku, then make a game poem in ~ 1 hour, based on the haiku.
The steps:
- To start, write a haiku (a tiny three-line poem). Consider the juxtaposition of images as a key constraint, more than the syllable count.
- Make a tiny game poem inspired by the haiku, using Flickgame - a free little game maker that's as easy to use as Microsoft Paint. (Note that Flickgame works great on computers, tablets, and even phones.)
How to share and upload your Flickgame:
- When you've made your game, click "download file" in the Flickgame menu, which will download your game as an html file.
- Upload your Flickgame html file here on itch.io, and add it to this jam. (Click the "join jam" button above, then "submit your project.")
- Please make sure to upload a cover image.
- For detailed step-by-step instructions on how to upload your Flickgame to itch.io, go here
Questions to consider:
- How is the creative act of making a Flickgame similar or different to writing a haiku?
- What do tight constraints do to game making?
- What gets lost or found between words, images, and interactivity?
- Can a videogame be a poem, whether with or without poetic text?
