Let's make Exploration Games!

The Creative Theme is "Forgotten Places."
Join us in our Opening stream on June 9th and Closing Showcase Stream at Twitch.tv/PIGSquad!

This jam will be fully remote.

A word on Exploration Games:

• Make a game that encourages exploration! Interpret the theme how you like: perhaps make something about finding new places, learning new things, trying to look at things in a different way, discovering the events of an epic voyage, or furthering a relationship with a new acquaintance!
• Long Distance Camping, Sounds Good, Memories for Ghosts, Ola & Buford, Dig Deeper, and Adventurous Knight: Labyrinth of Love are good examples of exploration games made by PIGSquad members at past jams.

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.

• June 9th, 7pm-10pm: Kickoff Stream - Theme Reveal, Team Forming
• June 13th, 7pm-10pm: Art/Code Night - Cowork in Discord with other Jammers & Community Members
• June 21st - Submissions Due
  
• June 27th, 1pm-3:30pm: Unity Particle Workshop - Learn how to implement your own particle effects in Unity
  
• June 30th, 7pm-10pm: Showcase Stream - Let's play games from the jam on stream!

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.
• Extra special thanks to Jenelle Elizabeth for creating Summer Slow Jams art! You can follow her at JelliMakes.

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 Exploration Games in June, Remix 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!