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 a Game Jam?
Gamejams are social, collaborative events wherein people gather to create a working game in a short period of time. Ours will take place over 96 hours and unless declared (see “Can I use other people’s assets?“), all work needs to be created in this time. Check out last year’s event below:
The Theme
Games will be required to be based upon a theme. The theme will be released here at the start of the jam, on our twitter page and on our UOC Game Jam Discord, which you can join, here
When is it?
Gamejam will take place over 96 hours, running from 12pm Monday 18/01/21, to 12pm Friday 22/01/21 GMT.
How do I join?
You can do so at itch.io/jam/uoc-gamejam-2021 . There you can register and see other people taking part. You can also ask any questions and find potential collaborators on our UOC Game Jam Discord. Any notifications will then be sent to you automatically.
How is it judged?
The submitted games are voted on by people taking part in the game jam, as well as by industry professionals. You can play and vote on the submitted games from 25/01/21 to 29/01/21. The categories are:
- Best game
- Most inventive game
- Judges’ Choice
When will I found out that I’ve won?
Winners will be announced on Friday 05/02/20.
Who are you?
UOC Gamejam 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, 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.
Can a game be made in four days?
It certainly can; last year saw entries in the form of mind bending first-person puzzle games, top down clean-em ups, 2D platformers and borderline political defamations.
I have no experience in game making software, can I still be involved?
By all means! Gamejam 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 your 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.
Can I use other people’s assets?
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 on an intro screen.
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.
How do I submit my game?
Once you have joined UOC game jam on itch.io, you can submit your game directly. You can submit updated versions up to the deadline. As a lot of educational institutions take part in UOC game jam, we know it’s not always possible to package a game on campus machines. Submit what you have as a ZIP folder and we’ll do our best with it.
For full info on creating accounts and submitting games to itch.io, see their FAQ, here.
Any questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Good luck, we’ll see you in January!
Games design 