CULTURAL HERITAGE GAME JAM - 5-21 NOVEMBER 2021
Help protect and preserve our past - and potentially attend GDC 2022!
Cultures throughout history and around the world today have created amazing art, artifacts, traditions, and places that are priceless for their cultural and historical value. But these cultural legacies, which are often the cornerstone of many local and regional identities, are under threat and risk disappearing forever - as recent news has demonstrated. Looting, theft, trafficking, and destruction of art, antiquities, and other cultural objects - collectively identified as “cultural heritage” - benefit international criminal organizations and terrorist groups, and erode the legal art market. The loss of cultural heritage also contributes to the breakdown of a community’s social identity, coexistence, and economic livelihood.
In partnership with the Cultural Antiquities Task Force (CATF), part of the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee, the Global Game Jam is hosting a very unique game jam to engage and challenge our community to use their powerful skills to create games that:
- Celebrate diverse cultural art, artifacts, traditions, and places
- Help disrupt cultural heritage looting, theft, trafficking, and destruction
- Reinforce the importance of protecting and preserving cultural heritage
- Educate about the effects of climate change on cultural heritage
The Details
How: Gather your team and register at THIS LINK!
When: 5 to 21 November 2021 (the jam officially starts on 5 November but participants are welcome to join anytime after this date)
What: Create and submit a game with the cultural heritage themes above by the end of the day (Pacific Time) on 21 November
Where: This jam will take place online on the GGJ Discord server in the Cultural Heritage Game Jam category and at local sites around the world. Join our Discord, choose the "Jammer" role and then look for the #chgj-looking-for-group channel to find other jammers to work with.
The Outcomes
- Itch.io: All games created for the Cultural Heritage Game Jam will be promoted on the GGJ’s itch.io page for public viewing and play.
- Dubai World Expo: The talent of the jam teams will also be highlighted via an online broadcast from the jam’s closing ceremony taking place at the Dubai World Expo in December 2021.
- GDC 2022: A special session to summarize the Cultural Heritage Game Jam will occur during the Game Developers Conference on 21-25 March 2022. And as determined by an international panel from CATF and GGJ, the team with the game that most creatively captures the themes around cultural heritage protection and preservation will be selected to attend GDC and participate in the panel. The team’s travel expenses (including passes to GDC) will be covered!
- Game Development Grants and Mentorships: The top games will receive financial support and mentorship for further development of the games beyond a jam prototype.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore this critical theme through games and educate the world about your unique culture(s). It’s also a great warm-up activity for GGJ 2022 (late January). We hope you will join us!
Schedule
- Wednesday, 3 November
- 10m - 12pm Pacific - Discord Social
- Meet other jammers, organizers and mentors to get ready for the upcoming jam
- 10m - 12pm Pacific - Discord Social
- Friday, 5 November
- Start jamming!
- Saturday, 6 November
- 10 am Pacific - Panel featuring members of the US State Department, IGDA Climate SIG, Kilted Otter Initiative and more
- Monday, 15 November
- 9am - 1pm Pacific: Show & Tell/Feedback session (on GGJ Discord)
- Sunday, 21 November
- 12:00 pm Pacific - Jam Ends
- 3:00 pm Pacific - Final presentations in Discord, streamed to GGJ Twitch
- Thursday 9, December
- Judging complete - winners contacted
- Thursday 16, December
- Closing ceremony at the Dubai World Expo (remote)
Resources
If you are new to jamming here is a helpful video to get you started on the concept of a game jam
Here is a set of resources put together for the IndieCade's 2021 Climate Jam that with tools, tips and technology to help get you started making games or give you a refresher https://www.indiecade.com/climate-jam-2021/2021-resources/
GGJ also has our own set of resources for jammers: https://globalgamejam.org/jammer-resource
Cultural Heritage Game Jam - FAQ
Curious about any aspect of the Cultural Heritage Game Jam (CHGJ) taking place 5-21 November 2021? Check here to see if your question(s) can be answered!
Q: Who can participate in the CHGJ?
A: Anyone and everyone! We welcome participants from around the world, at any game development skill level.
Q: Where does the CHGJ take place?
A: Unlike the “normal” Global Game Jam event in January, there are no physical sites where jammers go to participate. You can form your own teams and jam locally together or via online depending on your preference.
Q: Do I need to participate as part of a team?
A: No, this event is open to individual developers as well as teams. We strongly encourage participating in a team for all kinds of good reasons, but solo developers are welcome too.
Q: How can I find team members to work with?
A: Participants looking for a team can join our discord, go to the #role-assignment channel and add the "Jammer" role then go to the #chgj-looking-for-group channel, introduce yourself and add your name to the pinned Google Sheet or go to that sheet to find others who are looking for team members to work with.
Q: When is the deadline for registration?
A: We would prefer for everyone to be registered by 5 November, so we have a good idea of how many people/teams are participating. But registration is open during the jam as well, so you can register after 5 November as well.
Q: When does the jam start and end? A: The CHGJ officially starts on 5 November, and will conclude on 21 November. Even though the theme is known, we’d prefer that participants focus their development time only during 5-21 November. All games must be submitted by 12pm US Pacific time on 21 November.
Q: When will the theme be revealed?
A: Unlike the “normal” Global Game Jam event in January, the theme is already announced. The goal is to create games that highlight any of the following concepts;
- Celebrate diverse cultural art, artifacts, traditions, and places
- Help disrupt cultural heritage looting, theft, trafficking, and destruction
- Reinforce the importance of protecting and preserving cultural heritage
- Educate about the effects of climate change on cultural heritage
Q: How will the winning team be selected? A: A judging panel comprised of representatives of the GGJ, the Cultural Antiquities Task Force of the US Dept. of State, subject matter experts, and regional representatives will make the determination based on a judging rubric that accounts for the overall game design, best use of the theme, visual design, and technical skill.
Q: When will the winning team be announced?
A: The final team that is selected by the judging panel will be announced on 16 December 2021 at CHGJ closing ceremony taking place at the Dubai World Expo.
Q: What types of games are accepted?
A: All types, PC, console, mobile, table top, CCG, escape room, VR/AR. If you make a non-digital game just be sure to upload pictures and a PDF with instructions on how to print out/make the game pieces and how to play the game or ideally a video of a playthrough of the game.