Games design BA (Hons) at the University of Cumbria is pleased to announce the return of our annual game jam and it’s open to all comers!

WHAT IS UOC GAME JAM?

UOC Game Jam started as a competition for University of Cumbria students, but expanded to other institutions, then to everyone; student and non-student alike. Check out last year’s event below:

THE THEME 

Games will be required to be based upon a theme.  The theme for this year’s jam is, ‘MIDNIGHT OIL’.

Which may allude to:

• Staying up late, studying or working.
• Crude oil and its derivatives.
• Something impossibly dark
• Perhaps even some night-time creeper

Or something else entirely…

The theme and full rules can be found on our UOC Game Jam Discord, which you can join, here.

WHEN IS IT?

UOC Game Jam will take place over 96 hours, running from 12pm Monday 22/03/21, to 12pm Friday 26/03/21 GMT.  The onus is on making the content during the jam, but you may use work from other sources, if you have a license that allows it. If such material is used, be clear and declare it somewhere in the game.

HOW IS IT JUDGED?

The submitted games are voted on by people taking part in the game jam, as well as by industry professionals.  The categories are:

• Best game
• Most inventive game
• Judges’ Choice

WHAT WILL I WIN? 

The prizes will be as follows: 

Best game - £100 Amazon vouchers 

Most inventive game -  £75 Amazon Vouchers 

Judges’ Choice  - £75 Amazon Vouchers

WHO ARE YOU?

UOC Game Jam is run by the BA Games Design course team at the University of Cumbria. In normal years which are a bit less… ‘2020′, we run the competition both on our Brampton road campus, here in Carlisle, UK, as well as online. However, this year, we are using itch.io to make it as straight forward and inclusive as possible. You can find out more about the Games Design course here.

I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN GAME MAKING SOFTWARE, CAN I STILL BE INVOLVED?

By all means! UOC Game Jam is for everyone of all experience and skill levels; join the Discord server, find a group and contribute through designs, artwork, ideas, play-testing and more. Also…

CAN I SUBMIT A NON-VIDEO GAME?

Of course. Card, table-top, board, paper-based, or games that do not require computer interaction are also welcomed. Submit the work as a .PDF and make sure to include a comprehensive set of rules, as well as anything that may be needed to play the game.

WHICH PROGRAMS CAN BE USED IN MAKING THE GAME?

Any, as long as it is possible to open and play the game as a standalone. The game needs to be packaged so that it can run without the software with which it was created. It’s worth double checking this by running and checking the finished game on a different computer.

ARE THERE ANY RULES REGARDING TEAM SIZE?

Nope, you can work alone or in any size group. Really big groups may prove problematic in the time frame, though. 

WHO OWNS THE GAME I MAKE?

You do. We would also like to retain a copy of the game for possible promotional purposes.

Any questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch. Good luck!