During the event - Creating a comfortable and creative environment

4 years ago by Hitbox Makers (@HitboxMakers)

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All your participants have arrived. Some are shy, most are curious, but everyone is excited. It is now your job to turn these individual energies into a great event, which everyone will remember.

A safe, yet intense, time bubble

A self contained event

Our game jams are self contained. By this, we mean that it is like a time bubble: we don’t expect anything from the participants before or after the Game Jam

It lasts around 48 hours: we start on Friday à 7.00 pm and finish on Sunday at 10.00 pm. Everything should be done in this time period: teams, theme selection, game creation, testing, and the awards.

Of course they are allowed to come with their team. But no preparation is required.

No string attached

Even more important: once the jam is done, there are freed from any obligation, whether it is about their games, team, or the organisation. No strings attached.

Of course, they are allowed to keep developing their game. But we want our participants to feel free to give everything during the event, with fear to generate some worry afterward.

Ludum Dare: After the Jam, the participants won’t have any obligation toward the organisation team. However, they are strongly advised to test, grade and comment at least 20 other games from the online jam. Each game requires 20 ratings to be ranked, and there is a mechanism which (almost) garanties that for each game you rate and comment, someone will rate and comment yours.

Competitive Jam: Winning the first prize might generate some obligations… At least in communication, or maybe taking part in a second round. But that’s a competition, we were not here for fun...

Tech-based Jam: In that case, some preparation before the Jam might be required to get to know the technology… But you have recruited the best of best developers ;-) So they should make it ;-)

A protected environment: we are not a zoo

A Game Jam is intriguing, and many want to see what it is like. However, your participants will need to focus, and things might get very stressful for them near the end. So they won’t appreciate to be interrupted by visitors.

So it is important to guarantee a relaxed environment: during the event, we don’t allow the public. We are not a zoo!

However, we are open to the public on Sunday evening, after the teams have relaxed a bit, for a public game testing. That public which a few hours earlier would have been an unbearable annoyance, then becomes a great reward for the participants, delighted to show their creation!

A practical, and stimulating environment

It is trivial, but the rooms configuration is also very important.

One big room for a better emulation, but not too packed For the emulation, it is super nice if everyone can be in the same large room. But they should not be too packed. So adapt the participants number to you capacity
Tables, electrical power and wifi! It is better to let them bring their own material (computer,...). However, it is your job to provide electrical power, reliable electrical cords to plug in, and plug them in a way you won’t have a power overload. A powerful enough Wifi, available for everyone is crucial too ;-)
Some other rooms to relax The best Game Jams we have had have always been in oddly shaped places with some other rooms to brainstorm, relax or get crazy, out of sight of the other jammers.
Fridge, food, hot coffee, and a place to eat You can provide all food, or you can let them handle it. But whatever you choose, make sure that eating will be a great moment, and not a problem! They need a clean and relaxed place to eat, preferably far enough from the computers And if they need to bring their own food, then buying, storing, preparing and eating it should be easy (nearby -and opened- shops, fridge, microwave, plates/knife/forks/glass and a way to clean them, accessible trash cans…). And of course, an unlimited supply of hot coffee and water, at all time is vital!
Sleep, shower, toilet paper… We usually are opened at any time during the event. So, it is much more comfortable for the participants to be allowed to sleep on site (even though not everyone will use those facilities). Be aware though, that everyone will have its own rhythm: some will sleep at night, while others will work till dawn. The accommodations should be organised in a way that it is no issue.

Global Game Jam: Check their FAQ, but they have some other specific requirements, such as “an Auditorium space to do an initial gathering on Friday, and post-Jam presentation on Sunday of the Jam.”

Competitive Jam: That sort of event might take place inside another large event (gaming convention, E-sport competition). So you should pay extra attention to the participant’s well being and safety regarding the noise and public circulation. Also, your jam will probably become a show at some time: you need a nice stage for the games demonstration and to award the prize.