Let's Make Tabletop Games! The theme will be chosen by our supporters support here, (suggestions & voting open soon).  Join us in our Opening Event on March 17th ~

How to Participate:

• Register for the jam here on itch
• Get the theme on March 17th at 8pm PT. You can help decide the theme via our Patreon.
• Make a game based on the theme by March 31st ~
  • Make a physical board or card game, a TTRPG, a digital board game, whatever you'd like
  • Focus on working with new people, trying new things, and finishing something to the best of your ability
  • If you stray from the theme, no problem! The goal is just to make a game :)
• Make a game submission page and submit it to this jam page
• Participate in the Showcase!
  • Bring your game out to our in-person showcase site in Portland and play with others

Upload your templates, images, rules, photos, and print 'n play pieces; or your PC/Mac build if you're going digital! We highly recommend submitting works-in-progress if you don't finish over the course of the jam, as you can always submit a fuller version later, and we love to learn more about what everyone worked on. We hope to share everyone's progress, regardless of full game completion, during our closing showcase event.

Jam Schedule:

We will be hosting streams and other online activities to support jammers in meeting and sharing. This list will update over time. All times listed in Pacific time zone.

• March 10th, 6:30pm-9:30pm: Art/Code Night - In-Person Event: Coworking & Team Forming for the jam
  
• March 17th, 6:30pm-9:30pm: Kickoff Event - In-Person Event: Jam Kickoff, Theme Reveal & Team Forming
• March 28th, 7pm-9pm: Virtual Art/Code Night - Coworking in Discord
• March 31st - Submissions Due
• April 3rd, 5:30pm-8:30pm: Jam Showcase - Let's play games from the jam in person for PIGSquad's 14 Year Anniversary!

Rules & More Details:

• Non-Portlanders are welcome to participate remotely.
• Follow PIGSquad on social media channels for consistent updates on team forming, events, workshops, and other opportunities. Tag us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Twitter, etc for a share!
• Most community conversation for this jam will happen via the PIGSquad Discord.
  
• If you'd like to contribute to the jam theme, learn about supporting on Patreon here!
• 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. 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 Marlowe for creating our header art! Check out her work at https://marlowedobbe.com/.

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!