Pre-Indie Game Jam is a place for everyone, but especially aspiring game makers who haven't quite made it (or started) yet.  We want to make games with junior high students, high school students, college students, and even some indie developers that feel like slumming it for a weekend.

Don't forget to follow us @PreIndie, we will be posting information about the jam, theme, etc. there first!

The theme for the Jam is:  COLORS

Theme will go live Friday night, 6pm.  From that point you have 72 hours to complete a game of any type by (almost) any means necessary.   You will need to register with itch.io as we are running our game jam through their platform.   While we are not against games with mature themes, we would prefer games that do not include anything too much on the NSFW side of the spectrum.  Please, no nudity/sexually explicit content.  After games are submitted, updates of bugs are allowed, but no new features or artwork can be included.

If we have enough early interest, we will take/compile suggestions, then a vote.  Otherwise, we will just be voting on theme leading up to the Jam, and the theme will be revealed on Friday, May 11th at 6pm here, at our website, and on twitter.

Games from any development environments are welcome.  We will accept anything that has been designed by your team.  All games must be able to be hosted on itch.io, so HTML5,  flash (not suggested),  java, Unity 3D, Windows executable etc.  Some suggested platforms:

• Unity
• GameMaker
• Stencyl (this is what we use to teach game design at our school)
• Love
• Unreal Engine (now free for personal use)
• RPG Maker VX Ace or MV (yes, we will accept an RPG Maker game, if you really want to)

You are welcome to make your own art/music/sound effects from scratch, but it is not a requirement of the game jam.  If you are using someone else's artwork (like any of the awesome CC0 art from kenney.nl)  make sure it is credited in your submission and you exclude yourself from the art category.  Some suggested software:

• Adobe Illustrator  (link is for student/teacher discount page)
• Paint.net (another program we use for game design at our school)
• Gimp
• Corel
• Pixelmator (MacOS only)

Some suggested websites for artwork:

• Kenney.nl
• Opengameart.org
• Liberated Pixel Cup (yes, this is technically part of opengameart.org)

Uhh, HECK YEAH!  While we will not be assigning anyone to a team, you are free to collaborate to your hearts content.  If you are in dire need of a team mate, let us know and maybe we can help (though I would not count on that).

I am a teacher, and this sounds interesting, where do I start?

First off, here is my post on how things went for me at the Ludum Dare 40 Game Jam, read that, then sign-up, and make a phone call or shake a hand to get permission from whoever you need to.  I don't know of any baby steps you can take except jumping in.  If you have questions, concerns, feel free to reach out and contact me.

72 hours doesn't seem like enough time, is this doable with my students?

Yes, with very little sleep, teamwork, funny videos, awkward basketball games, and a rule that no one can make fun of ANYTHING that happens before 10am, it is totally possible.

Do you provide any resources to teachers?

Heck yeah!  Here is a set of lesson plans, guidelines, and a rubric for your use.  Feel free to use, modify, or discard to your hearts content.

Questions From Anyone Else

If you have any questions please message us.

Email

jfraser@ohhelper.com

Twitter

@preindie