GameJam+, the Game Development World Cup, Will Kick-Off Its First of
Four Stages on October 9, 2020
_Registrations Are Now Open for Judges, Sponsors, Partners, Mentors, and
Developers Looking to Participate and Make Games — and Dreams — a
Reality_
São Paulo, Brazil (September 1, 2020) – GameJam+ [5] — a yearly video
game development marathon established to foster and mentor new
independent studios and support their entry into the global video game
industry — today announced open registration for the first stage of
the event and the dates it will take place. Known as the “Game
Development World Cup,” the first stage of GameJam+ will take place
from October 9 to 11, 2020, and welcomes developers and industry
professionals of all skill levels and areas of expertise to compete,
collaborate, mentor, and connect with developers from across the globe.
As the fifth edition of the event, GameJam+ 2020 will feature 50
Brazilian and 37 international cities, more than 2,000 participants, 400
projects (100 incubated over two months), and 1,000 volunteers. GameJam+
sponsors include Google, Sebrae, Nuuvem, Unity, Poki, UK consulate, Big
Festival, Gazeus, and more.
“With GameJam+, we’re able to provide a platform for exchange and
opportunities to connect with developers from around the world in a way
that participants have never experienced,” said Ian Rochlin, a
GameJam+ organizer. “With this initiative, we hope to foster the
growth of all developer communities that dared to embark with us on this
unique adventure.”
GameJam+ encourages game developers and industry professionals of all
experience levels to participate in the event. All areas of knowledge
will provide a meaningful contribution to the mentorship provided to
participants throughout the event. Likewise, “jammers” of all areas
of expertise are welcome to contribute to projects. GameJam+ officials
believe that game development is a multifaceted and multidisciplinary
activity that requires a wide range of abilities and knowledge.
Many studios who have participated in GameJam+ have gone on to flourish
and grow their company. 2017 winner, acclaimed Brazilian development
studio Patada! is just one of many examples of the kind of success that
follows thanks to the mentorship and support that GameJam+ offers. After
proudly accepting the judgment for their project titled _Fake News_, an
interactive experience that makes players aware of the impact of fake
news and false allegations in our society on a global scale, the
talented studio was able to grow and go on to achieve great things. In
2019, Patada! was able to secure funding from Raja Valley Ventures.
_Fake News_ then went on to receive the “Best Brazillian Game”
nomination at BIG Festival 2019.
Developers and industry professionals interested in participating,
whether as a jammer, judge, mentor, or sponsor, or organizers who would
like to register their city as an official GameJam+ event site, can sign
up and learn more at the GameJam+ official site: www.gamejamplus.com
[6].
The first stage of GameJam+, which will run from October 9 to 11, begins
as a typical game jam as the participants present ideas, form teams, and
develop a game prototype within 48 hours. At the end of the first stage,
each team will create a pitch for their project and present it to a
panel of judges who will then evaluate and pick the finalist teams for
each region. Due to coronavirus restrictions across the world, each city
can choose whether to carry out this part of the event online or
in-person.
Contestants who successfully make it through the first stage move onto
the second stage of GameJam+, which occurs between November and
December. Teams will be given access to targeted mentoring and online
workshops that connect participants to renowned industry professionals.
Then, in January 2021, teams reconvene for the third stage, where they
will participate in five continental semi-finals (Latin America, Africa
and the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Asia and Oceania),
ultimately ending with finalists who will move on to the last and final
stage of the event. Finally, the fourth and final stage takes place in
May 2021, where teams will face off in the grand final during BIG
Festival in São Paulo. Winners will be rewarded based on categories
such as Best Art, Best Marketing Strategy, and Best Sound, among others.
Categories of GameJam+ 2020 Include:
* Publisher’s Pick: Open to anyone with a work-in-progress project,
publishers from around the globe will select the very best curated
projects for the opportunity to connect with publishers and investors.
* Game for Change (G4C): In partnership with G4C LATAM, this category
challenges teams to create a game that tackles one of the 17 United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals issues, such as poverty, world
hunger, gender equality, accessible education, and more.
* Sponsor’s Choice: Otherwise known as the “open innovation”
category, a sponsor chooses a theme and diversifiers that must be
incorporated into the qualifying project. It may contain elements of the
sponsoring company, such as the name or logo, or may serve as an
employee training tool or customer loyalty project.
* Diversity: Intending to provide a voice for marginalized groups,
this category warmly welcomes games created by women, Black, and
LGBTQIA+ developers, as well as projects including protagonists and
themes from these underrepresented communities.
Stay connected by following GameJam+ on Instagram [7], YouTube [8],
Facebook [9], and Twitter [10].
About GameJam+
GameJam+ is a game development marathon with a primary goal of fostering
the creative economy industry with new games, companies, and engaged
communities while uniting the strength and interests of different
developer hubs around the world. GameJam+ aims to exhibit the existence
of and potential in independent games, further stimulating developers to
create and view the concept of video game creation as a business.
Its fifth edition, divided into four stages taking place over seven
months, will feature 20 countries, more than 2,000 participants, 400
projects — 100 of which will be incubated over 2 months — and 1,000
volunteers. GameJam+ partners with renowned companies such as Sebrae,
Nuuvem, Google, Poki, UK consulate, Big Festival, Gazeus, and Unity.
To learn more about GameJam+, please visit the official website:
www.gamejamplus.com