Game Jam

In a nutshell

• OLPC Game Jam v1.0
• June 8-10, 2007 (Fri-Sun)
• Olin College, Needham MA
• Application deadline May 7, 2007
• $50 registration for day participants, $100 for overnighters

What is the OLPC Game Jam?

The OLPC Game Jam is a game design and programming event designed to encourage (simultaneously) experimentation and innovation in the game industry and kick off development of open-source games for the OLPC platform (the XO). A group of game developers will get together over a three-day period to make as many innovative games as possible for the laptop, which is being distributed to children in developing countries around the world. Our goal is not just some great games and experimentation for the XO Laptop but also to bring the unique constraints and output of this project to next years GDC Experimental Gameplay Workshop. Code will be released on SourceForge under the GNU General Public License so everyone can freely experiment with the source and games.

Who can participate?

We are currently looking for game developers, art/sound/writing/design/marketing people with game design experience, student pages, educators, and other participants. If you are interested but unable to attend the current game jam and wish to receive information on future OLPC game jams or are interested in running a Jam at your location, contact us (contact info at the bottom of this wiki).

Game Developers (Programmers)

We are looking for approximately 55-65 professional or open-source game developers with solid programming experience to participate. Familiarity with open source, the Python programming language, and the Pygame library (on top of the SDL graphics engine) is helpful, but not required. Resources to learn about these things will be posted shortly (or post your own here!) You can form a team with other developers/artists/educators, or go for a solo project. Knowledge of English is extremely helpful, but not required; we would love to have at least one non-English-speaking team.

Game Developers (Art/Sound/Writing/Design/Marketing/etc.)

We are looking for approximately 10-15 visual, graphic, and sound artists as well as writers, level designers, marketers, and other non-programmer members of the professional or open-source game development communities. You can form a team with other developers/artists/educators, or opt to be a "freelance" resource providing services to some subset of teams at the conference.

Educators

We are looking for approximately 10-15 educators (K-12) with an interest in games in education to come and work with teams and serve as resources for the educational aspect of the games developed. Familiarity with computers and programming is a plus, but by no means required. You can form a team with other developers/artists/educators or opt to be a "freelance" resource providing services to some subset of teams at the conference; write details of how you propose to participate in your application.

Student Pages

We are looking for 4-7 volunteer pages for the conference. In addition to running errands as needed (setting up rooms, configuring computers, etc.) pages can propose to serve in other capacities; for instance, as floating beta testers, freelance sound mixers, or "documentarians" for teams (helping to whip code into a readable state so it can be used and extended beyond the jam). Propose your own role in your application.

There is no registration fee for student pages, but all pages are required to stay overnight at the conference (food and lodging will be provided). Programming experience is extremely helpful, but not required. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible and encouraged to apply. When filling out the application, put "Student Page" as your team name.

Other

If you have an idea for how you can participate in the Game Jam but do not fall into any of the above categories, please let us know what you're thinking! Professors, journalists, electrical and mechanical engineers (particularly communications engineers), pygame experts, computer scientists, physicists, psychologists, translators... if you think you've got something to share, we'd like to hear it. Put "I don't fit in a box!" as your team name when filling out the application.

How to apply

To apply, email your answers to the following questions to mel at students dot olin dot edu. Applications are due 11:59pm EST on May 7. Only complete teams may apply. (If you are looking for a team, check out the Talk Page.) Applicants will be notified of their status by May 14.

There is no maximum team size, but note that the average team size for a Game Jam tends to be between 1-3 people because of the tight schedule constraints.

1. Team name:
2. Team contact's email:
3. Project proposal (200-500 words). What do you want to accomplish during the Jam? This could be anything from a game proposal to "I'll set up a Sprite Shop in the corner and make art on the fly for any teams that come by" to "I'll be a page and do X" to "I'll serve as a roaming educational consultant specializing in Y" to... let your imagination run wild. The more compelling detail you can provide, the better. All projects must be open-source (they can not use any proprietary code). For game proposals, python and pygame are strongly recommended, although other languages such as Javascript or Smalltalk may be used.
4. For each member on your team, please provide the following:
   1. Name:
   2. Why do you want to attend the Game Jam?
   3. Relevant experience (3-5 sentences):
   4. (Human) languages spoken:
   5. Technical skills (software, platforms, languages, etc.):
   6. Dietary restrictions:
   7. Staying overnight? (If yes, please note gender.)

Development tracks (Tentative)

The Jam will be split into four development tracks centered around a particular hardware or end-usage aspect of the laptop.

Mesh networking

Each XO has mesh networking capabilities that allow it to broadcast and connect to any laptop around it, allowing activities to easily be made collaborative.

Camera

Each XO has a videoconferencing-quality camera embedded to the side of its display.

Tablet Mode

The XO laptop has a distinct tablet mode where the screen can output high-resolution b/w graphics in sunlight conditions and features built in game-pad like buttons. This mode might lend itself to specific styles of play including one involving real-world activity beyond a confined space.

Malleable Games for Learning

A key consideration of the OLPC effort is certainly learning. However, more importantly it is hoped that kids can use the laptops to create their own games and experiment deeply with learning games by having access to modify and change them as part of a learning process. This track will elicit games that speak to this ideal.

Logistics

Costs

There is no application fee. The registration fee for accepted attendees is $50 for non-overnight guests and $100 for overnight guests, payable upon arrival. It includes all meals and activities as well as lodging (linens and towels provided) for overnight guests. Lodging will be in doubles in Olin's 5-year-old West Hall dormitory; each room has a private bathroom and AC in addition to beds, desk, drawers, dressers, bookshelves, and a microwave and fridge.

Attendees will have to procure their own transportation to the Jam. Directions to Olin college can be found here. Scholarships are available to accepted attendees who demonstrate financial need.

Schedule (Tentative)

Note that this schedule is under construction and subject to change.

• Friday 5pm - registration begins, move-in, dinner
• Friday 7pm - Welcome Talks & Kickoff
• Sat-Sun - Game jammin' and development
• Sunday 3:30pm - Final presentations due
• Sunday 5:30pm - End program

Contact information

OLPC Game Jam v1.0 is being organized by Ben Sawyer, Darius Kazemi, SJ Klein, and Mel Chua.