This book will provide a comprehensive guide to creating and managing a game jam. The book will also provide an overview of how and where game jams have been held, the type of game jams, the tools and technologies used in organising and participating in game jams.
Author(s): Allan Fowler, Foaad Khosmood
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 135
City: Cham
Foreword
1 What Is a Game Jam?
2 Who Is This Book For?
3 How Is This Book Organised?
4 Who Are the Authors?
Contents
What Is a Game Jam?
1 Introduction
2 A Short History of Game Jams
3 Elements of a Game Jam
3.1 Accommodation
3.2 Awards
3.3 Catering
3.4 Code of Conduct
3.5 Types of Games
3.6 Games Presentations
3.7 Group Forming
3.8 Hardware & Software
3.9 Ice Breakers
3.10 Internet
3.11 Keynote Speakers
3.12 Location: Physical/Online
3.13 Security
3.14 Sponsorships
3.15 Standup Meetings
3.16 Tutorials & Workshops
3.17 Theme
3.18 Voluntary Constraints
4 Types of Game Jams
5 Why We Jam
6 Game Jam Definitions
References
There Is No One Way to Jam
1 Flavours of Game Jam
2 Game Jams for Education
2.1 The Pedagogical Potential of Game Jams
2.1.1 Social Capacity Building
2.1.2 Tangible Outcomes
2.1.3 Engagement and Play
2.1.4 Soft Skills
2.2 Example Game Jams for Education
2.2.1 The Global Game Jam
2.2.2 Edu Game Jam, Finland
2.2.3 Sami Game Jam, Finland
2.2.4 Cybersecurity Game Jam
2.2.5 TTRPG Teach Jam, Online
2.2.6 Other Examples
3 Jamming with Children
3.1 Challenges
3.2 Example Game Jams for Children
3.2.1 Game Jam Junior
3.2.2 Pikku Kakkonen Game Jam
3.2.3 GGJ NEXT®
3.2.4 Game Jam with Brain Bee at California State University, East Bay
3.2.5 Game Jam with Children from `Associacao Sagrada Familia de Nazare'
3.2.6 Kodu Game Jam
3.2.7 STEAM Powered Futures
3.2.8 The Kids Game Jam
4 Game Jams and Enterprises
4.1 Examples of Game Jams for Enterprises
4.1.1 Amnesia Fortnight
4.1.2 GameOff by Github
4.1.3 Thunderdome
5 Conclusion
References
Game Jam Organisation
1 The Crucial Role of the Organiser
2 Before the Jam
2.1 Jam Length and Size
2.2 Sponsorship
2.3 Competition or Just for Fun?
2.4 Constraints on Your Games?
2.5 Organisation 101
2.6 Advertise Your Jam
2.7 Decide on a Theme
2.8 Work out a Timeline
2.9 Moving People Around
2.10 Code of Conduct
2.11 Safeguarding
2.12 Pre Jam Information
2.13 Communication Platforms
3 Teams
3.1 The Perfect Size
3.2 Team Makeup
3.3 Randomly Assigned Teams
3.4 Self Organising Teams
3.5 Mixing and Matching
3.6 Lone Jammers
3.7 Distributed Teams
3.8 Balance of Power in Teams
4 Running an In Person Jams
4.1 Registration
4.2 Tech
4.3 Cables & Power
4.4 Stationary
4.5 Food
4.6 Sleeping Arrangements
4.7 Play Parties and Showcases
4.8 What Do You Do When a Jam is Running?
4.9 At the End of the Jam
5 Running an Online Jam
6 Jams in the Classroom
7 Cancelling a Jam
8 After a Jam
Game Jam Resources
1 Introduction
2 The Organising Team
3 Game Jam Logistics
3.1 In Person Logistics
3.1.1 Overnight
3.2 Online/Hybrid Logistics
3.2.1 Online Communication Tools
3.3 Online Collaboration Tools
4 Game Development Resources
4.1 Tabletop Development Resources
4.2 Computing Based Game Development Resources
4.2.1 Game Engines
4.2.2 Tools, Libraries and Frameworks
4.2.3 Code Repositories
4.3 Assets
4.4 Conclusion
Game Jams from Around the World
1 Introduction
2 Indie Game Jam 0
3 Ludum Dare
4 Nordic Game Jam
5 Global Game Jam
6 Isolation Jam
7 Sami Game Jam
8 Women Game Jam
9 Game Jams Rio Grande
10 Iran Game Development Institute
11 Train Jam
12 Splash
13 Other Transport Based Jams
13.1 Pirate Jam
13.2 FGJ Bussi
13.3 Finland Saunabus Jam (Jam Jam)
13.4 A MAZE Train Jam
13.5 Locomojam
14 Honorable Mentions
14.1 Africacomicade Gamathon
14.2 Code To Inspire
14.3 TOJam
14.4 Castle Jam
14.5 Stugan
14.6 #VzlaCrisisJam
14.7 0hr Game Jam
14.8 Fuck This Jam
14.9 PROCJAM
14.10 Bit of Alright Jam Jam
References
The Spread of Game Jams
1 The Spread of Game Jams
2 Stoke ON TREND GamesJam 2021
3 Games for Change/Game Jam for Good
4 Academic Game Jams
5 Conference Game Jams
6 Paper Based Game Jams
7 Board-Game Game Jams
8 Corporate Game Jams
8.1 Unity Game Jam
8.2 Microsoft Game Jams
8.2.1 The Microsoft MakeCode Game Jam
8.2.2 The Windows 10 Game Jam
8.3 Epic Game Jam
8.4 Bevy Jam
9 Conclusion
References
The Dark Side of Game Jams
1 When Jams Go Wrong
1.1 Problems with Jammers
1.2 Violations of the Code of Conducts
1.3 Group Projects Are Always Hell
1.4 How to Spot a Caffeine Overdose
2 Jammers Under Pressure
2.1 Unrealistic Expectations
2.2 Unfinished Projects
2.3 Competitive Elements
2.4 Managing Expectations
2.5 `Game Jams Make Me Realise I Hate Making Games'
3 Problems with Events
3.1 Theme Paralysis
3.2 Traumatic Jam Themes/Content & ``Touchy'' Subjects
3.3 The Unwilling and Reluctant Organiser/Staff
3.4 Organiser Burnout
3.5 Barriers to Jamming
3.5.1 Reinforcing Stereotypes
3.5.2 Timings
3.5.3 Technology
3.5.4 Childcare
3.5.5 Confidence
4 The Bigger Picture
4.1 Making A Complete Game
4.2 Glorifying Crunch
4.3 Glorifying Unpaid Labour
References
The Future of Game Jams
1 Game Jam Explorers
2 Game Jams as a Growing Hobby
3 The Power of Institutions
4 Game Jams as Artivism
5 Rise of the Jam Platforms
6 Empowering Tools
7 Game Jams as Commercial Strategies
8 Paid Labour or Machine Participants?
9 Exploring New and Old Technologies
10 Big Team Game Jams
11 Sending Game Development Everywhere
12 Jam Fatigue
13 Slowing Down with Game Jams
14 Bringing Organisers Together
15 Anything Can Happen!
References
Glossary of Game Jams
