Intro

Jams are a great opportunity for you to get more hands-on experience of working as a team to create a game. Hopefully you’ll have already taken part in a NextGen work experience week, so you’ll know that if you keep a tight scope, you’ll be able to complete your work ahead of the deadline.

This is a slightly more relaxed opportunity for you to work with other students to create something to a general theme, rather than a specific brief.

The Challenge

This is a challenge against the clock to see what you can create! You have five days and you’re working in friendly competition with other NextGen colleges. This year’s theme is:

NextGen

We want to see you creating something all about the next generation. However, you approach that phrase and theme is up to you, so long as it’s nice and clear!

There is an unlimited number of approaches to this theme. Here are just a few examples and ideas to help you start thinking of your own approach:

• Spore/Civilisation, where gameplay is all about the next generation of people
• Factorio, where you’re constantly creating the next generation of technology
• The Pokémon company are always adding new generations to the games
• You could do something more literal and make a game all about the next generation of consoles like Astro’s Playroom

However your interpret NextGen, your game should clearly link right back to the theme.

You can use whatever tools and software you’d like to, however if you would like to share a video of your gameplay, or a playable version, you’ll need to read our submissions guide.

Please remember to clearly indicate if you use any assets from a store, or AI generated work.

Monday Briefing session

On Monday morning, Sam and Charlie will introduce you to the NextGen Jam 2024. Briefly explaining this year’s theme, as well as what we expect to see from you over the course of the week. This will be an opportunity for you to ask questions about the theme, our expectations, what you can get out of the jam, and anything else you need us to clarify. Please ask your tutor about access to this call.

Friday Celebration Session

Unlike Work Experience and Industry Challenge weeks, you will not be pitching to a client at the end of the week. However, we would like to invite anyone that wishes to pitch their work to us to join NextGen on a final call on Friday afternoon. We will have limited spaces for student teams to present their work and receive feedback, so please ask your tutor to let us know as soon as possible if you would like to attend. 

If you choose to present, you should consider these pointers:

• What worked and what were the challenges?
• What would you do differently next time?
• Why did you choose to approach the brief in this way?
• Did you assign roles in the group?

Please note – the deadline is Friday afternoon. We will not be accepting late submissions so please make sure that you have made any final changes to your work by 5pm on Friday of the week you're participating.

Stand-ups

If your team would like some help with your project, then you can schedule a 15-minute Teams call with Charlie using this link: https://calendly.com/nextgen_charlie/standup

During this call, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your work, ask for feedback, and ask any questions you might have about your work. You may request up to three calls in the week, so make sure to take advantage of the support on offer for you.

These stand-ups will focus on production, meeting your MVP and, later in the week, pitching/presenting your work.

We want you to have fun while you’re taking part, so if you need to take a break, or would like any help, you can reach out to us, or ask your tutor.

REMEMBER!

We aren't expecting fully finished games. We want you to submit by Friday at whatever stage you're at.  Whether you only have concepts or greyboxed prototypes, or you have a fully working game. Please make sure you submit your work so we can celebrate your achievement!

Remember to label everything clearly. Your work is clear to you, but you must make it clear to someone who has never seen it before. This is a key skill in industry so allow yourself enough time to present your work clearly.

Your final submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges without you present to talk through your work, so make sure it is well presented!

Submissions

Submissions will close on the Friday of the week you begin the project at 5pm. Please read itch's submissions guide for more information about how to submit your work.

• If you start on Monday 10th, you must submit by 5pm on Friday 14th June
• If you start on Monday 17th you must submit by 5pm on Friday 21st June
• If you start on Monday 24th you must submit by 5pm on Friday 28th June

Judging

Judging will take place during the week of the 24th June. This will be done by a panel of professionals that are currently working in the games industry.

Winners will be announced for the following categories:

• Best Design – Our judges will choose the game they think has the most interesting and cohesive design
• Best Playable – Our judges will choose the playable game they are most impressed by
• Best Style – Our judges will choose the game the feel has the best art style

Unfortunately, there is no prize for being chosen as one of the winners.

Social Media Disclaimer

NextGen would like to share your creations with our audience! By taking part in the Jam you are giving NextGen permission to use images and videos from your work on their social media channels and website. 

Expectations

Any work submitted is to be presented to our industry judging panel. As such, we expect all of content on the boards to be age appropriate and to your highest possible standard.

If you are participating on the week of the 24th June

Please note, as it is the same week as Games Careers Week and the NextGen Graduate Showcase, we will unfortunately not be able to offer stand-ups or a Friday celebration call.

As judging will begin on 24th June, students taking part in the jam from 24th to 29th June will not be eligible for judging.