Let's make Music-First Games!

The Creative Theme for this jam is "Ghost Notes!"

Join us in our Opening stream on July 10th and Closing Showcase Stream at Twitch.tv/PIGSquad!

This jam will be fully remote.

A word on Music-First Games:

• Make a game inspired by music! Start off with a song that your team's musician makes, make a game based on a favorite song or genre of music, make a rhythm game, or make a game where your actions generate music!
• We recommend jamming with a musician, having them make a track to kick you off or choosing a song they've already made, then creating a game based on that song.
• Try to include a lot of music in your game!
• Disco Demon RPG, Love Nest, and Baethoven are examples of music first games made by PIGSquad members at past jams.
• Other music-first games include Sayonara Wild Hearts, Rez, Keyboard Drumset Werewolf, Crypt of the Necrodancer, and Dance Dance Revolution.

Jam Schedule:

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

• July 10th, 7pm-10pm: Kickoff Stream - Theme Reveal, Team Forming
• July 13th, 7pm-10pm: Art/Code Night - Cowork in Discord with other Jammers & Community Members
• July 26th - Submissions Due
• July 29th, 7pm - 8:30pm: Learn to Update your Itch Jam Page with Marlowe
• August 3rd, 7pm-10:30pm: Jam Showcase!

Rules & More Details:

• These jams, the opening event, and the showcase will be fully remote. Non-Portlanders are welcome to participate.
• Follow PIGSquad on social media channels for consistent updates on events, workshops, and other opportunities.
• If you'd like to participate in choosing the creative themes for each jam, voting is exclusive to our Patreon members - learn more here!
• All participants, in person or remote, must follow PIGSquad's Code of Conduct.
• 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.
• You may use pre-existing tools to make games, but please start your jam at the official jam start date after the Creative Theme is revealed.
• Jammers retain full ownership of the games they make during Summer Slow Jams.
• Late submissions or submission updates can be accepted - just get in touch with an organizer.
• Extra special thanks to Marlowe for creating Summer Slow Jams art!

Summer Slow Jams:

Each summer, game makers get together to make a game project with friends and community members in a few weeks! Summer Slow Jams is a collection of game jam events happening once a month this summer, providing structure and networking opportunities for creatives in Portland and remote participants. Participate in a jam to finish a creative project, learn new things, meet new people, and share your work!

Creative themes are delivered during each kick off event then shared online, and developers are able to showcase their game jam projects at each closing event in Portland, OR (online this year). In between the dates of the kick off and closing showcase, you are encouraged to meet up with others using online channels to complete a game over whatever in-jam time period you see fit: take it slow if you need!

For more information about how to participate in Summer Slow Jams, visit pigsquad.com/summerslowjams! Summer Slow Jams this year include Turn-Based Games in June, Music-First Games in July, and Horror Games in August.

Tweet with the hashtag #summerslowjams and PIGSquad will retweet screenshots, video uploads, and blog posts of jam games while you're working on your games!

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!