The theme for Cause Jam  18 will be : Games that make you feel the Element of surprise 

Welcome to Cause Jam! This is no ordinary game jam. It's a game jam with a purpose—to make a lasting impact on the lives of children.

When you participate in Cause Jam, the games you create will be featured in charity bundles, which will be sold to raise funds for supporting children in hospitals. Your game will receive valuable exposure as part of these bundles, reaching a wider audience. Additionally, industry veterans will have the opportunity to play and provide feedback on your game, and you may even have the chance to win awards and gain recognition at industry conferences.

Each bundle sold directly contributes to helping a child in need. Every game added to the bundles enhances their value. And every person who joins us in this cause is making a difference.

Our mission is to support children in hospitals, but we also aim to support you in your game development journey. Alongside making a positive impact, we offer coaching from game industry professionals, direct feedback from veterans in the industry, and additional resources to assist you.

Join us in this meaningful endeavor. Together, we can bring joy, support, and inspiration to children while advancing your game development goals.

Let's make a difference—together.

Get involved!

1. As a nonprofit organization, there are some paperwork requirements specific to our Cause Jam. However, the process is quick, and once you complete it for one Cause Jam, you'll be covered for any future volunteering you do with Games For Love. To get started, please register here. This will ensure that you're officially part of our Cause Jam community.                              
2. We also invite you to join our vibrant Discord community. Connect with fellow participants, share ideas, and get support throughout the jam. Join us on Discord and introduce yourself in the #general-jam-chat channel.                                                                    
3. Introduce yourself in our Discord server's #general-jam-chat
4. Mark your calendar for the Cause Jam Kickoff on December 1st 2023, at 5 PM PT. Join us at [https://join.butter.us/gamesforlove/VPNYJVDGO] to kickstart this incredible journey. 
5. To learn about the theme, head over to the #current-jam-info channel on our Discord server. Please note that the theme will be revealed after the Kickoff.
6. Now it's time to unleash your creativity and make your game. Remember, you have until January 10th, 2023, at 11:59 PM PT to submit your completed game.
7. For those seeking additional guidance, we offer optional coaching from experienced game developers actively working in the industry. Check the available times and links in our Discord server for coaching opportunities.
8. When you are ready to submit your game, use Submission Form  and make sure to fill each section as much as you can. Please make sure to upload the playable in the submission form in HTML5 formate because that's the only format that our platform accepts.
   
9. Finally, join us for the Cause Jam Celebration Party on January 12th, 2023, from 5 PM to 7 PM PT. The link to the party will be posted in our Discord server.

Thank you for being part of our Cause Jam and for making a difference through your creativity and passion for gaming.

Let's create something amazing together!

Calendar

Cause Jam Rules

• Game Engine: You are free to use any game engine of your choice.
• Solo or Team: You can participate in the jam alone or as part of a team. There are no restrictions on team size.
• Use of Existing Assets: Your game does not have to be created exclusively during the jam. You are allowed to utilize previous assets, code, and packages as long as you have the necessary rights to use them. If using external resources, ensure they are either under a Creative Commons CC0 license or that you have full rights to include them.
• Content Rating: Games must be developed with an "E for Everyone" rating in mind. Avoid any NSFW (Not Safe for Work), offensive, excessively violent, or gory content.
• Controversial Topics: Games must not include controversial topics such as politics, religion, explicit language, or references to drugs, alcohol, or sex.
• Final Submissions: When submitting your game, please include the following:
  • A playable build of the game for desktop PC. The game should be functional without requiring any external software. You can also include builds for other platforms if desired.
  • A zip folder containing all the project files related to your game.

What is Games For Love?

Helping Kids For Life ®

We're Games For Love, a nonprofit dedicated to easing suffering, saving lives, and creating sustainable futures for children. Since 2018, we've already positively impacted over 1.25 million children's lives across 3 countries, and we plan to reach 10 million children over the next 5 years.

You can learn more about us in the video below and at gamesforlove.org.