In the fast-paced world of game development, staying competitive requires continuous learning and skill enhancement. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by taking part in game jams. These events challenge developers to create a playable game or prototype from the ground up in a limited time, usually 48 to 72 hours. Alongside the time limit, game jam entries need to follow a theme or other restrictions that are often revealed only at the start of the event. A similar concept is also used in IT/tech; instead of Game Jam these events or challenges are called hackathons.
Game jams are planned events that have organisers and facilitators on site to help people overcome problems, aid in team forming, ensure the event runs smoothly, and that it is a fun experience for everyone. Sometimes there are talks or workshops that are hosted during the event to boost creativity, ideation and sharing. (Kultima et al. 2016.) Game jams can be public events open to everyone, or closed events organised by a company for its employees or by a school for its students.
Usually, during a game jam, participants work in small teams made up of other attendees. Skill sets and skill levels can vary, which adds another element of surprise—you cannot be certain who you’ll be working with. Therefore, learning and applying social, communication, and project management skills is also an essential part of the experience. Game jams are like tiny accelerators: they offer a facilitated space to test your limits and enhance your skills.
Enhancing Technical Skills
Game jams push you to rapidly prototype and develop ideas, which is an excellent way to sharpen your technical skills. You get to work with different game engines, programming languages, and tools under time constraints, which enhances your ability to quickly learn and adapt. This experience is invaluable in the professional world, where deadlines and the ability to deliver quickly are often crucial. (Lassheikki 2019, 43-45; Pirker et al. 2016.)
For example, you might start a game jam with only a basic knowledge of game engines like Unity or Unreal and come away with a much deeper understanding of the platform. The intensive coding sessions help reinforce your programming skills and expose you to new techniques and shortcuts that you might not encounter in a more relaxed development environment. It is also important to consider the other participants: they may have skills you can learn from or otherwise support or inspire your skill development in meaningful ways (Lassheikki 2019, 46–48).
Fostering Creativity and Innovation
Game jams are all about creativity. The short time frame forces you to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems. This creativity is essential in professional game development, where original ideas and unique gameplay mechanics can set a game apart in a crowded market. For many, this is also one of the factors that make the game industry an appealing setting for working. Game jams can help seasoned professionals keep their passion for work lit. (Pirker et al. 2016, 54.)
During a game jam, you might have to create a unique game mechanic or an artistic style quickly. This kind of rapid creative thinking translates well into professional settings, where you often need to brainstorm and implement new ideas to keep projects fresh and engaging.
Improving Team Collaboration
Most game jams encourage or even require team participation. Working in a team under pressure hones your collaboration and communication skills and might even make you try harder. In an ideal situation, you’ll learn to divide tasks, manage time effectively, and ensure that everyone’s contributions align towards a common goal. (Lassheikki 2019, 46-48.) These are critical skills in a professional development environment, where working as part of a team is the norm.
Effective teamwork during a game jam involves clear communication, conflict resolution, and leveraging each team member’s strengths. These experiences prepare you for the collaborative nature of professional game development, where successful projects often hinge on the team’s ability to work together seamlessly. (Pirker et al. 2016.)
Building a Portfolio
One of the most tangible benefits of participating in game jams is the opportunity to build portfolio pieces (Pirker et al. 2016). Each game you create during a jam can be showcased as part of your body of work, demonstrating your ability to complete projects and solve problems creatively. Employers and clients look for proven experience, and a portfolio filled with diverse, completed projects can significantly enhance your job prospects.
For instance, having a portfolio with a variety of games from different genres and styles shows potential employers your versatility and ability to handle various aspects of game development, from design to programming to art.
Networking Opportunities
Game jams often bring together a diverse group of people from the game development community. These events provide excellent networking opportunities, allowing you to meet fellow developers, artists, designers, and potential employers. Building a network within the industry can open doors to new job opportunities, collaborations, and mentorships.
Connecting with other professionals during a game jam can lead to lasting relationships that benefit your career. You might find future collaborators or mentors who can provide guidance and support as you navigate your professional journey. (Pirker et al. 2016.)
Photo: © Casimir Kuusela
Learning from Feedback
Most game jams include a feedback component, where participants play each other’s games and provide constructive criticism. This feedback is invaluable for professional growth, as it helps you identify areas for improvement and learn from your peers’ perspectives. Understanding how others perceive your work is crucial in professional game development, where user feedback can make or break a game. As the jamming time is short, this is sometimes the part that game jam organisers skip when arranging the event. For the participants, this is a valuable and fun moment that they eagerly want to participate in. (Kultima et al. 2016.)
Receiving and integrating feedback helps you develop a critical eye for your own work, improve your design skills, and create better user experiences in your games.
Participant view
I have been an avid Game jammer and game jam organizer for several years; my first game jam was in 2018. I can say from an experience that participating in game jams is a fun, dynamic and effective way to develop the skills needed in game development. From enhancing technical abilities and fostering creativity to improving teamwork, building a portfolio, networking, and learning from feedback, game jams offer a comprehensive platform for professional growth. Without game jams I would not have as many games in my portfolio as I currently have. Nor would I have had as good start in building my professional network as I did by participating.
So, the next time you see an announcement for a game jam, consider joining in – it could be a significant step forward in your professional development journey. Information on public game jams organised in Finland can be found on the web page of Finnish Game Jam ry (FGJ).
References
Kultima, A., Alha, A. & Nummenmaa, T. 2016. Building Finnish Game Jam Community through Positive Social Facilitation. In Proceedings of the 20th International Academic Mindtrek Conference.
Lassheikki, C. 2019. Game jams for learning – Examining the pedagogical attitudes, ideas and experiences of game jam organizers in the Finnish game jam community.
Pirker, J., Kultima, A & Güetl, C. 2016. The Value of Game Prototyping Projects for Students and Industry. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Game Jams, Hackathons, and Game Creation Events (GJH&GC ’16). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 54–57.
Author
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Ria Gynther
Project Coordinator, Metropolia UASAn a all-rounder in the game industry, engaged with the field and its topics since 2017.
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