Game Jams
Game Jams are Hackathon-like events where the goal is to make a playable game within a certain window of time. Our club holds at least 3 Game Jams a year, and for our Game Jams, the goal is to make a game over 48 hours.
As of 2022-2023 we will be recognized as a virtual site for hosting Global Game Jam!
Dates: February 3rd to February 5th
Game Jams usually start on Friday evening and end on Sunday evening.
RSVP Form(s)
If you plan on attending one of our Game Jams, you MUST reserve an RSVP, which can be done by filling out and submitting the form(s) below.
No Forms Available Right Now
Connecting to the UCI VPN
Below are links to instructions for how to connect to UCI's VPN while on the UC Irvine campus.
FAQs
What's a Game Jam?
A Game Jam is like a Hackathon event, but for making video games. You'll have 48 hours to make a video game from scratch. By the end of the Game Jam, you'll submit your game on an Itch.io page made for the event, then you'll present it. Once presentations are over, everyone will have the opportunity to play each others' created games.
When do Game Jams happen?
The Game Jams we host occur during the weekend of Week 3 of every quarter, starting on Friday at 6pm PST and ending on Sunday at 6pm PST.
If you're looking for some Game Jams to start participating in, you can find many ongoing Game Jams online on Itch.io.
How do I sign up for a Game Jam?
We'll post the RSVP forms for any of our upcoming Game Jams here. These forms will also be shared on our weekly newsletter and Discord server once they become available.
Is prior game dev experience required to participate in a Game Jam?
No prior game development experience is required to participate in our Game Jams, as they're open to all experience levels and skill set backgrounds.
Can I still participate in your Game Jams even if I'm not a UCI student?
Game Jams hosted by this club are primarily for students enrolled at UCI, so your ability to participate will depend on how well you communicate with us about your situation. We may ask what school/ university you're currently enrolled in, what academic system your school is on (quarter vs. semester system), and/or whether you can stay for the entire Game Jam event.
How old must I be to participate in a Game Jam?
There's no age restriction for participating in any of our Game Jams.
But if you're below 18 years of age and plan on attending one of our Game Jams, we require the consent of your parent/ legal guardian to participate.
Can I bring a game I am currently working on to a Game Jam?
You can't bring your own work-in-progress game to any of our Game Jams. All games from any Game Jam are developed from the ground up, and bringing your own WIP project to work on puts you at a huge advantage over everyone else. Doing this also ruins the point of the event.
Must I stay for the entire Game Jam event if I attend?
Yes. If you plan on attending one of our Game Jams, you MUST stay for the entire event.
For any reason you can't stay, you MUST notify one of our officers and your team. Failure to do so may bar you from participating in any of our future Game Jams.