THE BASICS

What is a Game Jam? 
There are several long-running “Game Jam” events – intense time-constrained events where teams of game developers get together to build a game or game engine. The team behind the Rio Grande IGDA chapter’s NM Game Jam was inspired by its participation in the inaugural Global Game Jam – a 48 hour international event designed to promote innovative game play and build game communities. We also liked Toronto’s “ToJam” (http://www.tojam.ca/)

 

We’re excited to help create another good opportunity for professional and aspiring game developers in New Mexico to meet and work together.  


What kinds of Games?
NM Game Jam is agnostic on game platform, operating system and type of game, but there are a few guidelines. Among them, no game mods or clones – we want to get participants thinking and developing. Otherwise if you have the proper tools to create and demo your game within 48 hours, go for it.

 

How it works (the narrative version):
Teams will start forming as sign-up begins with people listing their skills and interests, and a few likely team leaders will emerge – but it’s not necessary to form a team before the event begins.

On August 13th, participants will assemble at 5:00 PM to sign in, meet and learn more about each other. After the theme words are announced at 6:00 PM participants will introduce themselves and have time to brainstorm different approaches before Team Pitches at 7:30 PM. By 9:00 PM Friday night we hope to have team project development underway.

REMINDER: It’s better to have a good completed game on Sunday than a ‘great’ game that doesn’t get finished.

On Sunday, we’ll try to get teams finishing up by 1:00 PM and working on fixing bugs, preparing documentation, cleaning up and final tweaks. At 5:00 PM all game work must be completed and their upload started.

 

Some Housekeeping Notes:
At this time, meals and their schedule are the responsibility of the teams and participants. Water/beverages and (healthy?) snacks are a wise idea. For hygiene, toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant are highly recommended.

 

Location
This year, we're particularly excited to have three sites participating:

 

If you've got another location... please let us know!

 

While the basic event rules for each site are the same, each location has its own rules and guidelines for use of the facilities, hours, possible charges etc.  Some locations may be open for the full 48 hours, but participants aren’t expected to work straight through – and sleeping/shower facilities won’t be available (though we’ll try to have a quiet place or two to nap).

 

Equipment
Currently, participants are expected to bring their own laptops, systems and tools for game-making.  More info to come.

 

Schedule

Friday, August 13th
5:00 PM Sign In
6:00 PM Constraints & Theme Announced
7:30 PM Team Leader Pitches and Project Sign-ups

Sunday, August 15th
5:00 PM Games Complete and upload begun

 

Completing your Game
We’re working on a few hosting options, but the other part of completing your game is turning in the following:

  • your list of participants and their roles, software & systems used, and the sources of any assets.
  • two screenshots of game action
  • executable file of game
  • zip file of source code, assets

 

Intellectual Property: Who owns the game?
As with the Global Game Jam and similar events, all games, ideas, art, code and concepts made during the New Mexico Game Jam are owned by the members of that team – including all aspects of intellectual property (“IP” such as Patents, Trademarks, Designs & Copyrights). In the spirit of building and promoting New Mexico’s game community, we ask that all games developed during the NM Game Jam be posted online (and linked from this and other Rio Grande IGDA sites).

Teams are encouraged to release their source code under Creative Commons or GNU General Public License – and team leaders are encouraged to discuss other IP arrangements at the beginning of project work.