Work on a game that's been on your mind and share the progress you've made with a jam page! If you'd like to follow a more traditional "start-to-finish" jam structure, the theme is
"Oh, and one more thing."

Join us at our in-person opening event on November 8th and Year-End Jam Showcase in December. We'll be streaming the kickoff as well at twitch.tv/PIGSquad.

How to Participate:

• Do you want to continue work on a past game jam project? Need to wrap up part of a long term project you've been meaning to get to? Take advantage of the creative vibes of a jam to put some effort in!
• If you're interested in participating in a more traditional jam, we will provide a theme during our opening stream. Try to make a game from start to finish during the timeline of the jam, then share it during our showcase by uploading to itch and submitting!

How to Submit an Unfinished, Long-Term Project:

If you're making progress on a longer term project that won't be totally complete by the end of the jam period, please submit an update or journal of your progress! We have a few recommendations on how to do this:

• Submit a snapshot of the work you did in its own itch page: Create an itch page, write about your progress, upload images showing what you've accomplished, credit those involved, and submit it to the jam! See past community jammer submissions "Demon's Blood" and "The Phantom Project" as great examples of game jam games that focused on explaining art and design progress as  jam submission. If you need to keep your jam results completely separate from where your game-in-progress lives elsewhere online, we would recommend this option (no worries if you make an itch jam submission about your progress for a game that is on Steam, for example).

• If you already have a game on itch that you'll be making progress on: You can use itch's Devlog feature to journal your game's progress, upload update files & images, and keep that update segmented from your main game page. Then, submit the main game page to this jam. See past community jammer submission "Rogueyard" as an example of how itch can allow you to segment a Devlog update and maintain the integrity of your main game page.

We hope to share everyone's progress, regardless of full game completion, during our closing showcase stream!

Jam Schedule:

• November 8th, 7pm-10pm: In Person Kickoff Event @ Wacom - Jam Kickoff, Theme Reveal & Team Forming for traditional jammers. We'll also be streaming this on twitch.tv/PIGSquad
• November 14th, 6:30pm: Bring-Your-Game Feedback Night @ PLUS QA - Meet other Jammers & Community Members,  Get Feedback, and Cowork!
• November 25th - Submissions Due
• December Date TBA - Bring your jam game to the in-person event, set it up, and play other games!

We will be announcing more events for this jam as time goes on :)

Rules & More Details:

• Non-Portlanders are welcome to participate.
• Follow PIGSquad on social media channels for consistent updates on events, workshops, and other opportunities. Tweet at @PIGSquad with your progress and we'd love to share!
• If you'd like to participate in choosing the theme for the traditional jam element, voting is exclusive to our Patreon members - learn more here!
• When submitting your project, we will ask you some questions to avoid being submission-bombed.
• All participants, in person or remote, must follow PIGSquad's Code of Conduct. As a general rule, please keep entries "PG-13" or younger. No nsfw content.
• Games made with or featuring Generative AI (large language models, stable diffusion, AI image/art generators) will not be accepted. The purpose of these jams are to encourage collaboration with other real people that share common interests and/or push yourself to learn new skills.
  
• Do not police submissions or make fun of / talk down on jam submissions or jammers' ideas in PIGSquad channels or otherwise. Our goal as a community is to uplift creative collaboration and learning.
• We encourage you to jam with new people or on a team, but it is not required. We will be providing resources for team forming at the jam kickoff and throughout the jam timeline for those who want to jam based on the theme.
• This jam is not a competition and is not judged.
• Please don't crunch! We host game jams over extended periods of time and like having open conversations with jammers about scoping projects to encourage a healthy outlook on creative production schedules. If you need help scoping, please reach out!
• Jammers retain full ownership of the games they make during PIGSquad jams.
• Late submissions or submission updates can be accepted - just get in touch with an organizer. Please note that games must be updated on your itch page multiple days before an online Twitch showcase if you'd like the updated version of your game to be played on stream. You are welcome to update your game at any point after your jam submission regardless of when the showcase is.
• Sticking to the theme is encouraged, but not mandatory - if you have an idea you'd like to pursue that branches from the theme, we encourage you to make that game!
  
• We will be removing spam submissions from the entries that are clearly submission bombing to multiple jams or otherwise.
• Thanks to Shane for creating our header art! Follow him on itch.

We have a new "How To Jam" guide if you'd like some great recommendations for how to spend your time and make the most out of the event :)

The Portland Indie Game Squad is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting the health and continued expansion of game developer and enthusiast communities in Portland, the Pacific Northwest, and online. We provide events, resources, and networking activities for art and technology creatives. Learn more at PIGSquad.com.

To play more games made at Portland Indie Game Squad jams, visit our itch collections!