Team Registration is now CLOSED.

If you have not registered your team via our Registration process outlined below, you've missed out on being able to participate this year!  Therefore please do not submit your game to Jamfuser 2020 itch.io page, as it will not be rated or given feedback by our judges.

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Welcome to Jamfuser 2020!   

Jamfuser is a game jam that feeds into Tranzfuser (a UK-wide talent development programme for graduates looking to break into the video games development  industry).

  Jamfuser will:

• Support team self-selection opportunities, encouraging mixed institute/more diverse teams
• Enable teams to work together in a freeform environment with a shared goal, that encourages skills development and fosters positive team relationships
• Give teams the opportunity to test and explore their game idea in a short development cycle
• Share information regarding the Tranzfuser 2020 application process and criteria for selection
• Provide further support with the promotion of Tranzfuser
• Develop the Tranzfuser community
• Engage Tranzfuser Alumni

Jamfuser is "just for fun", so as such there are no physical or cash prizes for taking part and we won't be officially selecting 'winners'.  Your prize is your product.  There is, however, a rating system on itch.io and all Jamfuser teams who submit their project on the Jamfuser itch.io page will have their games reviewed and rated by our external team of Judges – so consider this your first industry reviewed piece of work!

Participants who submit their game to the Jamfuser itch.io page will also receive a  Jamfuser Game Jammer Open Badge to mark their participation and achievement on Jamfuser. The UKGTF Jamfuser Open Badge can be displayed on electronic cv's / resumes, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook etc promoting the participant's skills, role and achievement during the game jam to all the world!

So to sum up... if you’re thinking of applying to Tranzfuser 2020, Jamfuser is a fantastic opportunity to start exploring your team's dynamics, start honing your technical skills and start getting creative.

Key Dates / Times

• Team Registration Form Submitted:  12pm Thursday 27th February 2020
• Jamfuser Start / Theme Announcement:  12pm Friday 28th February 2020
• itch.io Submission Closes / Jamfuser ends:  12pm Monday 2nd March 2020 (we recommend finishing your game by 9am Monday 2^nd March to leave time to upload it to itch.io) 
• Judging Starts:  after Jamfuser closes on Monday 2nd March 2020
• Results announced:  TBC

Who can participate?

• Team members should be currently studying on an undergraduate / masters or post-graduate degree course
• Team size between 2-6 people
• Teams with a residential address in the UK
• Team who have submitted their Jamfuser Team Registration Form

All teams that wish to participate in Jamfuser are required to fill in the Jamfuser Team Registration Form.  

This will enable us to ensure that:

• We have your team details and that your team meet with the competition criteria and therefore can be included in the judging and review process
• Your team is included in all communications from the Jamfuser organiser
• Your team gain access to the Jamfuser 2020 Discord Server
• Where possible, we can connect your team with one of our participating Local Hubs

The FINAL DATE AND TIME for teams to submit their Team Registration Form is 12pm Thursday 27th February 2020.

Link to Jamfuser Registration Form

Finding a Team

If you don’t have a team, don't worry!  You can sign up to Crowd Forge and find teams with vacancies and team members looking for a team to join.

Jamfuser Theme

Although Jamfuser, as with most game jams, will have a central theme (to be announced at the start of the game jam) participants are not restricted to create a game that adheres to the theme. Participants will not be kicked out of the jam for disregarding it but please note that the Judging Criteria (see below for reference) does include teams having a strong connection to theme. Be creative, the theme doesn’t have to be taken literally!

Theme Announcement

The theme will be announced at the start of Jamfuser at 12pm Friday 28th February 2020.

Rules

• Team members should be undergraduate / masters or post graduates who are currently at university or graduated up to two years (2018) and who intend to participate in Tranzfuser
• Team size must be 2-6 people
• All team members must have a residential address in the UK
• All teams must submit a Team Registration Form
• Teams should start their game from scratch at the beginning of Jamfuser. In the spirit of traditional game jams, teams should not use previously developed content - regardless if your team has a game idea that you’ve been working on and are planning to submit through the Tranzfuser 2020 application process
• Teams can make their game on any operating system, but it must be playable on Windows (PC)
• Teams should create a single player experience.  This will ensure our judges will be able to fully play your teams game and be able to score it.  We cannot guarantee your game will be reviewed or scored by our judges if you create a multiplayer experience
• Submissions will be reviewed and ranked by external judges, selected by the Jamfuser organisers
• Games must meet PEGI rating 16 or under, please see our Code of Conduct for further guidance on game content

Key Dates and Times

• Submit your team's Jamfuser Team Registration Form by 12pm Thursday 27th February 2020
• The theme will be announced and the jam starts 12pm  Friday 28th February 2020
• The jam will end 12pm Monday 2nd March 2020
• Team members should be currently studying on an undergraduate / masters or post graduate degree course in a relevant discipline
• Deadline for game submission is 12pm Monday 2nd March 2020 therefore teams should anticipate finishing their game by 9am Monday 2nd March 2020 and begin the submission process to meet the deadline (there will be no extensions and late submissions will not be accepted)

Voting Criteria

All submissions to Jamfuser will be judged and ranked by externally selected UK Games Fund and Tranzfuser contributors.  The submissions will be judged on the following criteria:

• Strong connection to the theme
• Commercial Potential
• Fun
• Innovation
• Visuals
• Audio

Code of Conduct

This event is being held to build the Tranzfuser community pre-competition, to develop the skills of participants and to create a fun and engaging way to connect with us pre-application.  As a community we encourage learning and skills development in a safe and welcoming environment.  With this in mind we ask that those who are taking part treat each other with respect and maintain a pleasant manner when talking and interacting with others.

We will not accept, nor will we tolerate:

• Any form of online bullying / name calling / abuse / public slander of others' games in a malicious or other way / harassing, stalking or unwanted following / unauthorised photography or recording
• Use of bad or offensive language
• Sexism, racism, discrimination or any kind of exclusion
• Posting of content that is inappropriate, content containing images that are pornographic in nature, racist, promoting extremist propaganda, or content that does not meet the PEGI 16 rating guidelines
• Games containing any financial gambling elements are not permitted

If you notice any behaviour that you feel does not meet this Code of Conduct, please contact the event organiser at help@ukgamestalent.com

Judges

Judges are there to assess team submissions in accordance with the Voting Criteria as outlined above. They will:

• Play all the games they have been allocated by Jamfuser
• Write a short review on the games and post onto itch.io site
• Score the game according to criteria guidelines

Judges will need to be available from Monday 2nd March to Monday 9th March to review the submissions.  The role will be carried out remotely.

To note your interest and become a judge please email help@ukgamestalent.com and we will send you more information about the role.

After Jamfuser

Soon after we wrap up, Tranzfuser 2020 will be open for applications. You DO NOT have to use the same project you worked on over the course of the jam in your application. But you can!  Due to the very nature of ideas designed during game jams, we will be encouraging teams to re-evaluate and take stock to ensure they are going ahead with an idea that is technically feasible and could have some commercial viability. 

Teams can apply to Tranzfuser regardless if they have or have not participated in Jamfuser.  Participation in Jamfuser DOES NOT give automatic access to Tranzfuser, teams who decide to apply to Tranzfuser need to follow the application process as normal.

Jamfuser is really about helping young games devs explore the world of game development;  teamwork,  skills development, enthusiasm.

Good luck!