Game Jam 2023 edition is coming!

DATE: 12 – 15 April 2023
Kick off: Wednesday 12 April at 6:00 pm in room F6, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 1, 39100 Bozen

Limited places: Registration via Eventbrite >click here

A Game Jam is a hackathon dedicated to games. It is a widespread format, a 72-hour intense workshop, that challenges participants to develop a game prototype on a given theme, working in teams. This theme will be announced at the opening of the Game Jam. Do not let this scare you off; it will be a broad topic!

At the end of the three days, participants will present their game ideas to the audience and jury. The three best entries will be awarded a cash prize to be used to further develop their idea.

What kind of game ideas are we looking for?

Whatever game means to you, we welcome it. Whether it is a video game programmed with engines such as Unreal, Unity or Godot, a board game, an urban game, an escape room or anything else playful or serious, there’s space for it at the Game Jam.

Who can participate? Do I need any previous knowledge?

EVERYONE, NO SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE NEEDED! Are you a game enthusiast, over 16 years old and comfortable communicating in English? Then you are the perfect participant! Experience in coding, design or hands-on skills is welcome, but creativity and curiosity are the keys. Working in a team will allow you to combine the skills and knowledge needed for a game project. You can come as an established team or individually. Do not worry; we will help you form your team on the spot!

First Game Jam? No worries! Experts of various fields will be available at specific moments of the event. They will be ready to help you in concept finding, game design, programming, 3D modelling and many more.

Where and when will the event take place?

The kick-off (Wednesday 18.00) and the finals (Saturday, 17.00) of the Game Jam will take at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. On Thursday and Friday, between 10.00 to 22.00, the groups can gather to work in certain spaces of unibz, which will be equipped with the essentials for group work. The facilities of the BITZ unibz fablab are also at your disposal. There you will find hand tools, 3D printers, laser cutters, computers and software, and all kinds of craft materials. But actually you can work everywhere you want (your bedroom, train, lonely island, …) as long as one person of your team is physically present for the presentation of your game prototype!

If you think you might need your laptop or any specific tool we might not have thought of or that is not in the fablab, please do not hesitate to bring it along.

Due to the nature of hackathons, you may wish to continue working after the official time frame of the event. Please keep your schedule as free as possible for these 72 hours.

What is there to win?

You can be sure to gain intensive learning experience, feedback on your ideas and new connections while having great fun too. There are also some surprises for all participants and the best teams!