serious jam is a project that invites students to explore how video games can become powerful tools for social reflection, empathy, and critical thinking. Instead of focusing solely on entertainment, participants design game concepts that engage with real-world issues and create meaningful player experiences.

TIMELINE

Phase 1: Registration (March)
Students register in teams of up to 6 via the APPLICATION FORM. It’s first come, first serve. The form closes once 5 teams have applied.

➡️Phase 2: Assignment (April)
In April, all selected teams receive confirmation of participation. Each team is assigned a topic that will serve as the foundation for their game.

Phase 3: Prep (April)
Students have 2 weeks to research their topic, define their game design direction, and set up their pipelines (GitHub, PM tools, Unity project, etc.).

Phase 4: On-site Game Jam (April)
Teams have 2 full days on-site (25.-26.04.26) to turn their concepts into playable prototypes. At the end, all prototypes are pitched and receive feedback.

Phase 5: Paintbucket Games Visit (May)
Paintbucket Games comes to Warsaw (20.05.26) to review all games and give feedback. They will also give a short lecture on serious game design and host a Q&A session to answer questions. All participants will receive certificates signed by all partners for their participation.

PARTNER

The project is funded by the German Embassy in Warsaw, in partnership with the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology (PJAIT) and Paintbucket Games.

One of the key roles of the German Embassy in Warsaw is to foster cultural exchange and support initiatives that build bridges between Poland and Germany . Game development and gaming culture naturally transcend national borders, making them an ideal medium for engaging students in Warsaw in a shared space of cross-cultural dialogue and creative collaboration.

The Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology (PJAIT) has for many years been educating specialists in fields such as computer science, information management, Japanese culture, interior design, and graphic design. Game development courses, along with student-led initiatives like the PJAIT Game Lab, have long been at the forefront of the academy’s efforts to create hands-on learning opportunities and support student engagement in game design.

Paintbucket Games is an independent game studio founded in 2018 by former AAA developers Jörg Friedrich and Sebastian St. Schulz. The studio is dedicated to creating games with lasting impact, placing a strong emphasis on narrative and meaningful themes. Their work reflects a clear humanitarian stance, with games that take a stand against racism, antisemitism, and all forms of discrimination. Through carefully researched historical and political topics, Paintbucket Games creates experiences that encourage players to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with the past.

ORGANISING TEAM

• Thorsten Kerp (German Embassy in Warsaw)
• Benji Hanussek (CD PROJEKT RED)
• Magdalena Urban-Tomaševič (German Embassy in Warsaw)
• Igor Sienkiewicz (PJATK GAME LAB)
• Janset Koç (PJATK GAME LAB)
• Paintbucket Games (Reps TBA)