Information

Game Jam

iLRNFuser is the official Online Game Jam series of the Immersive Learning Research Network. The series provides opportunities for student teams from around the world, participating remotely from their own physical locations, to engage in a hackathon-style game-development marathon.

The iLRNFuser Game Jams seek to foster new friendships, build rapport, and create intellectual and professional growth opportunities for students. Participants are invited and encouraged to explore new technology tools, try their hands at new roles in game development, and generally push themselves beyond their comfort zone.

General Rules & Guidelines

  • You may use any game engine of your choosing

  • Any assets used that are not your own must be properly credited

  • Your game must not contain any violence or nudity

  • Although the iLRN 2021 conference focuses on VR/AR/MR (XR) and immersive technologies for learning, your game need not be in XR (although it can be!)

VR Tools (For teams looking to work with VR)

  • If your team decides to use VR to build your game, you will need to use on the following VR tools (these are the only available choice at this point for judgement due to covid accessibility)

      1. HTC VIVE

      2. Oculus Rift

      3. Oculus Quest

      4. Microsoft Hololens 2 (for MR Project)

Game Submission Requirements

Your itch.io submission must include the following:

  • A full executable file of the game

  • A set of images/screen shots from a walkthrough of the game

  • Instructions for players of the game

  • A 2-minute video pitch of the game

  • Must align with one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Here is an example from last years winners : Plodding Penguin

Paper Submission Requirements


(optional if you wish to have a chance to publish) A four-page IEEE Format written description explaining how the game addresses the theme of the jam, background research and future game trends. More details will be available during the event launch, discord "Infospace" channel and your academic liaisons.

Judging Criteria

  • Immersion: How does the game engender different forms of immersion such as tactical, strategic, or narrative (Adams, 2004); spatial, psychological, or sensory (Björk & Jussi Holopainen, 2004); etc.? Remember, a player does not necessarily have to be in a VR headset in order to feel immersed!

  • Learning outcomes: Has the game been designed to scaffold players’ learning and to help them learn through active play in a way that targets the achievement of particular learning goals/outcomes?

  • Relevance: How well does the game address the theme and the with the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals?

  • Suitability: How appropriate is the game for its target audience?

  • Creativity: How novel or unique are the game concept, mechanics, setting, characters, and look-and-feel?

  • Playability: Is the game sufficiently fun and engaging to play? Is it challenging enough, but not so difficult that players lose enjoyment?

  • Replayability: Is the game sufficiently compelling and “sticky” so that players are likely to return to play it multiple times?

  • Narrative quality: Does the game’s story “work”? How well does it flow?

  • Visual design: How well do the art style and aesthetics suit the game? Have game controls and other UI elements been designed in accordance with sound design principles?

  • Sound design: How well do the audio elements fit the game? Is it used effectively to enhance the player experience?

Awards and Recognition

  1. Your team can win awards - more information here.

  2. All teams that submit a game will receive certificates of participation.

  3. Winners & selected teams based on publication review will be presented and demonstrating their work during the iLRN2021 conference on dedicated workshop event - Date TBA

  4. Selected papers will be published on a digital Journal - More Details TBA