Welcome to the second Area of Effect Game Jam! This is a 48 hour game jam for people of all experience levels to learn, grow, and have fun. The most healing experiences are the ones we create together!

This jam kicks off on September 24 at 12:30PM PST with a keynote presentation from an industry veteran before the theme is announced. After the jam is complete, judges and the public will have a week to play and rate your games. Winners will be announced on stream at the end of the Area of Effect broadcast on October 3rd (more on that below).

This game jam is part of the Area of Effect event, a two day, online charity event featuring industry panels, deep dives, and organized community games like Dungeons and Dragons. This part of the event (i.e. the non-game jam part) takes place on Twitch and our Discord, on October 2 & 3, 2021.

Last year we had over 40 speakers from companies like Riot Games, Innersloth, Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, the Pokemon Company, and more. We raised over $4,500 for charity, and we're looking to do so again!

Visit our website and stay in touch with us, and follow us on Twitter to stay on top of updates.

Need help finding a team? Fill out this form or reach out to others already listed here. We also have a Looking For Team channel in our Discord called #game-jam-lft.

1. Anyone, regardless of experience, is encouraged to participate.
2. Be kind! Your game should not belittle anyone’s race, gender, sexuality, religion, or political beliefs.
3. You can use any engine to create your game.
4. Only use assets you have permission to use, and credit any work that isn’t yours.
5. Don't start working on the game prior to the game jam. That defeats the purpose of the jam, and isn’t fair to other participants.
6. Your game must be free to play until after voting has concluded.
7. Inappropriate or NSFW games will be removed, at our discretion.
8. Above all, you are required to have fun! 

What is a game jam?
A game jam is a period where a game is made from start to finish within a set amount of time. It’s a great opportunity to hone your skills regardless of your discipline and experience level. The process of finishing and shipping a project is something that many game developers don’t get to experience enough, and a game jam is a great opportunity to do so. It’s also a chance to level up your own skill set and meet new people!

Who can enter?
Anyone! All levels of experience are welcome.

I’m not a coder or artist, can I still participate?
Absolutely! There are a ton of roles that people can take on for a game jam. From audio, to planning & management. Your game can also be a physical game (board game, tabletop, social, etc.), just make sure that it’s playable!

Do I need to work with a team?
Nope, you are free to make the game solo if you so choose! If you are working on a team though, we recommend keeping the group between 2-4 people to make sure that you can coordinate responsibility & work appropriately.

Can I use other people’s work in my game jam project?
Only if you have obtained it legally (i.e. you purchased an asset online for use), you have permission from the author/creator, or the work is Creative Commons/public domain. Make sure to do the proper research before using any materials that aren’t yours. Also, make sure to credit any work that you take that isn’t yours!

Where can I find other people to work with?
Check out our Discord! We have text channels dedicated specifically to the game jam, so you should be able to find fellow jammers there.

Can I contribute to multiple games in a jam instead of just one game/team?
Yes! There are many skills like music & audio production that are well suited for this type of collaboration, but make sure your group is okay with you working on multiple teams!

Have more questions?
Please reach out to us in our Discord server!

Disclaimer:

You maintain the rights to anything you create during this Game Jam. Area of Effect claims no rights or ownership of your game. 

Any game submitted to Area of Effect may be used in images or video without your express permission.