Let's make games with Boss Fights!

The Creative Theme is "Dreams and Nightmares!"

Join us in our Opening Stream on August 12th and Closing Showcase Stream at twitch.tv/PIGSquad!

This jam will be fully remote.

A word on Boss Fight games:

• Make a game with a big, special encounter with a formidable foe! Whether you build up the player's skills then put them to the test in a final fight, immediately jump into a big battle, or require lots of strategy for a mega-tough situation, give us a climax! Games do not explicitly need to be about fighting, but use the concept of a "Boss Fight" to make an epic endcap of a scenario to wow your players.
• Infinite Legacy, Galaxy Warrior Zet, Perfect Run, Open Mic Night, and Sungorth are good examples of past PIGSquad game jam games that give their players memorable boss encounters!   

Jam Schedule:

We will be hosting streams and other online activities to support jammers in meeting and sharing. This list will update over time. All times listed in Pacific time zone.

• August 8th, 7pm-8:30pm: Speed Meet & Team Forming in Skittish
  
• August 12th, 7pm-10pm: Kickoff Stream - Theme Reveal, Team Forming
• August 14th, 7pm-10pm: Art/Code Night - Cowork & Team Form in Discord with other Jammers & Community Members
  
• August 23rd, 7pm-9:30pm: Talent Talks - Watch gamedev presentations on jamming and join in Twitch chat to hang out with the community
  
• August 29th - Submissions Due
• September 9th, 7pm-11pm: Jam Showcase - We're playing everyone's jam submissions on Twitch!

Rules & More Details:

• These jams, the opening event, and the showcase will be fully remote. Non-Portlanders are welcome to participate.
• Follow PIGSquad on social media channels for consistent updates on events, workshops, and other opportunities.
• If you'd like to participate in choosing the creative themes for each jam, voting is exclusive to our Patreon members - learn more here!
• All participants, in person or remote, must follow PIGSquad's Code of Conduct.
• We encourage you to jam with new people or on a team, but it is not required. We will be providing resources for team forming at the jam kickoff and throughout the jam timeline. Please reach out to an organizer early if you need help finding teammates.
• You may use pre-existing tools to make games, but please start your jam at the official jam start date after the Creative Theme is revealed.
• Please don't crunch! We host game jams over extended periods of time and like having open conversations with jammers about scoping projects to encourage a healthy outlook on creative production schedules. If you need help scoping, please reach out!
• Jammers retain full ownership of the games they make during Summer Slow Jams.
• Late submissions or submission updates can be accepted - just get in touch with an organizer. Please note that games must be updated on your itch page multiple days before the showcase if you'd like the updated version of your game to be played at the jam showcase. For this showcase, we will be downloading and testing games on Wednesday, September 7th starting around 5pm PT and will not be updating showcase builds beyond that point.
• Extra special thanks to Ragon Dickard for creating Summer Slow Jams art! You can follow her on her website.

Summer Slow Jams:

Each summer, game makers get together to make a game project with friends and community members in a few weeks! Summer Slow Jams is a collection of game jam events happening once a month this summer, providing structure and networking opportunities for creatives in Portland and remote participants. Participate in a jam to finish a creative project, learn new things, meet new people, and share your work!

Creative themes are delivered during each kick off event then shared online, and developers are able to showcase their game jam projects at each closing event in Portland, OR (online this year). In between the dates of the kick off and closing showcase, you are encouraged to meet up with others using online channels to complete a game over whatever in-jam time period you see fit: take it slow if you need!

For more information about how to participate in Summer Slow Jams, visit pigsquad.com/summerslowjams! Summer Slow Jams this year include Character Creator Games in June, Stealth Games in July, and Cliffhanger Games in August.

Tweet with the hashtag #summerslowjams and PIGSquad will retweet screenshots, video uploads, and blog posts of jam games while you're working on your games!

The Portland Indie Game Squad is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting the health and continued expansion of game developer and enthusiast communities in Portland, the Pacific Northwest, and online. We provide events, resources, and networking activities for art and technology creatives. Learn more at PIGSquad.com.

To play more games made at Portland Indie Game Squad jams, visit our itch collections!