Galway Game Jam

Tag: gamejam

  • Galway Summer Game Jam 2026

    We’re delighted to announce the next game jam, The Galway Summer Jam, this June bank holiday weekend (last weekend in May) in CREW Digital!

    Signup

    Signup on Meetup.com

    Location

    CREW, Wellpark Road, Galway City

    Date & Time

    • Friday 29th May, 6pm – 9pm
      (Meet & Greet, Theme Announcement and Team Formation)
    • Saturday 30th May, 10am – 6pm
      (Jamming)
    • Sunday 31st of May , 10am – 6pm
      (Jamming, Showcase)

    What is a Game Jam?

    A game jam is an event where artists, coders, writers, designers, musicians and people just looking to give game development a go, get together to make games (digital or physical). You don’t have to be a professional or experienced to participate. You can use whatever technology you like ( Pico-8, Unreal, pen & paper, etc.). The aim is to be creative, have fun, learn something and make a (mostly) working game.


    At the end of the last day, we will have a Showcase to celebrate and play what everyone has made!

    More Info

    • Attendees MUST be 18+
    • Attendees MUST sign up via Meetup.
    • Attendees MUST supply their own equipment. (laptops, extension cords, etc.)
    • Beginners welcome!
    • Teaming up on the day of the event is encouraged, and we’ll help facilitate it!
    • Packed lunch & snacks recommended (no food provided & limited shop options).
    • Online participation possible but limited. It will require access to our Discord server – please get in touch for access. We will announce the theme on Discord on Friday (approx. 7pm). You are welcome to share your game updates in our Discord and submit your game files to our Itch page. Facilitation beyond that is beyond us for this event.
    • We will have a feedback form after the event, and we would love to hear your suggestions and expectations.
    • Spread the word!
    • Galway Game Jam Socials: https://linktr.ee/galwaygamejam

    About Galway Game Jam

    Galway Game Jam has been hosting game jams since 2013, including a site for the annual Global Game Jam. We are a volunteer organization who want to continue enabling a creative Galway with a vibrant Game Dev scene. If you’d like to help out, get in touch. We are always looking for more volunteers.

  • The Next Galway Game Jam is on May 3rd and 4th 2025

    Hello everyone! The team at Galway Game Jam is delighted to announce another game jam in Galway, this time hosted for the first time at the CREW Digital Hub.

    Galway Game Jam will have the venue available for participants between 10a.m. and 6p.m. Saturday 3rd, and 10a.m. and 6p.m. Sunday 4th of May.

    The Galway Game Jam Volunteer Team will have a theme decided upon for the event, which will be revealed during the event.

    You can join the Galway Game Jam Itch page to follow updates and have a place to upload your games once the event has finished.

    https://galwaygamejam.itch.io

    And you can join the Jam directly at the below link.

    https://itch.io/jam/galway-game-jam-23

    Galway Game Jam has it’s own Code of Conduct, which participants agree to by attending one of our events, and can be read here :

    Code of Conduct

    And our Privacy Policy can be found here :

    Privacy Policy

    As always, our jam event is open to any person aged 18 years and older. We try to provide an environment that is about creativity, collaboration and experimentation. We will assist in team formation if you are uncertain about what you would like to be doing for the event.

    Our site is focused on being an in-person event, to foster collaboration and teamwork, as well as to meet others in the community. Online participation is available, but attention will be prioritised towards people attending the event.

    A link to join our Discord server can be found at the bottom of the page. Only persons aged 18 or older can join the Galway Game Jam Discord server, and server members are subject to our Code of Conduct and Privacy Policy.

    This event is run with the support of Ardán.

    We look forward to seeing many new and returning faces, and good luck for Galway Game Jam’s second event of 2025!

  • An important update regarding Global Game Jam 2025

    Hello fellow Jammers,

    Important announcement from Galway Game Jam:
    There is a Red Weather Warning in place for Friday due to storm Éowyn. While it should have calmed by 6pm, volunteers and attendees may have difficulty making it safely to the PorterShed.
    So we are moving the Friday session online to our Discord.

    https://discord.com/invite/S5YtdKMU7R

    If you haven’t already, please join the Discord and keep an eye out for further announcements.

    And please form a team via the Discord, and ask a moderator or a volunteer for assistance.

    We will update our participants if anything changes. Thank you for your understanding.

  • Global Game Jam ’20, Galway

    48 hour gamejam from Jan 31st to Feb 2nd, at PorterShed, Galway.

    Please register your place here: https://globalgamejam.org/2020/jam-sites/galway-ireland

    Click Join This Jam Site and follow the instructions to create an account if you have not already.

    Event details are provided at the jam-site page.

  • Complete! Galway Game Jam 15 done, games are up!

    Complete! Galway Game Jam 15 done, games are up!

    Thanks again to everyone for making Galway Game Jam 15 possible.

    It was a cozy little jam and we are delighted with the results.

    We were very impressed by the professionalism shown by the film students from GMIT while undertaking their observational documentary project, from initial meetings setting up the project, through to execution over the two days. Great job folks!

    The games made at the jam are available at the link below.
    The theme was “An Epic Evil”.

    https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam15/entries

    Our good friends at Galway Gaming Tribes are willing to host us for public demo of the games. We will be demoing all games who’s creators have given us permission to do so. If you would like your game demo’ed at Tribes, please get in touch!

    — Darren

  • Galway Game Jam 15

    Galway Game Jam 15

    This two-day game jam will be taking place in Galway, a city along the Atlantic coast of Ireland, during the growing wintery darkness of November. It’s okay, we have hot beverages and donuts to keep you warm and cozy as you create weird and wonderful games!

    Dates:

    • Sat 23rd November
    • Sun 24th November

    Admission: €10

    Booking and details: http://bit.ly/GalwayGameJam15

    Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2574442122785793/

    News: We may have a student film crew at the event making an observational documentary of the game jam. We have not had anything like this before at a gamejam, so before the event we will send out more information regarding this collaboration (e.g. release forms). See our discord server for further discussion and to express any concerns you may have about this so that we can address them.

    Everyone is required to agree to our Code of Conduct in order to participate or attend the jam in any capacity.

  • Global Game Jam ’19 at PorterShed, Galway

    Global Game Jam ’19 at PorterShed, Galway

    Dates: January 25th – 27th.
    Location: PorterShed, Eyre Square, Galway.
    Book tickets and get more information here.

    We’re teaming up with local game developer Mind Cauldron to keep our communities Global Game Jam tradition alive in Galway!

    As a result, we will be running a jam-site out of the PorterShed, Galway – our favourite gamejam venue!

    Global Game Jam 19 is a 48-hour game-making event with locations taking part all over the world. People participate in teams at different jam sites. We will be presenting a live stream of different jam sites, and be running a stream ourselves.

    Dates: January 25th – 27th.
    Location: PorterShed, Eyre Square, Galway.

    Book tickets and get more information here.

    Currently, the jam is limited to closing times of 11pm. However, we’re now expanding our organising team to enable us to support a 48-hour jam without closing times. If you are interested in volunteering, please get in touch with Darren at info@mindcauldron.com.

  • Galway Game Jam 11

    Galway Game Jam 11

    Galway Game Jam 11 is coming!

    Venue PorterShed, Galway
    Date 22-23 September 2018
    Start-End Times 9am Sat – 9pm Sun
    Admission Free
    Reserve your place https://www.eventbrite.com/e/galway-game-jam-11-tickets-50316106830
    Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/2275983909296340/

    The event starts at 0900.

    This event is 24 hours long, split into two days. 9am-9pm Saturday, 9am-9pm Sunday.

    We plan to use the final hour as a showcase (8pm-9pm on Sunday) so you really have 23 hours to work on and deliver your game jam entry.

    Challenge yourself to make something, learn new skills, meet people interested in game development and have fun!

    Food will not be provided (which is why we are able to run this gamejam for free!), please arrange food and snacks for yourself. The venue is centrally located, so there are plenty of options available. You are permitted to eat & drink at the gamejam and are responsible for cleaning up after yourself – thank  you!

    You do not need to be at the event all day, or even be there on time in the morning, however it is advised to be early on Saturday to get your team in order and find a good spot to work.

  • Post Galway Game Jam 10 Update

    Huge thanks to everyone who came to Galway Game Jam 10 last weekend. As always, it’s amazing to see the imagination and creativity in the local Game Development community. The theme was “Extinction and/or Insomnia” and there were a lot of different interpretations of the theme in the entries. Most games made at the jam can be seen at our itcho.io (https://itch.io/jam/galway-game-jam-10/entries) jam page.

    We’re intending to run our next Jam in September (or possibly early October), hopefully we will be able to confirm a date and venue in the next two weeks. I’m hoping to improve the next Galway Game Jam to make it better. I’d like to run some talks on Game Development between the game jams and prepare some code and asset templates for people to use in Game Jams and make them available on GitHub for people to use, if anyone wants to help please get in touch with us on GitHub (Pull requests very welcome) or Twitter, Facebook or E-mail.

    Some pictures from the day:

    What was Ticket Money spent on?

    We like to be transparent at Galway Game Jam!

    • Net Ticket Sale were €111.80.
    • Pizza Saturday: €120
    • Food for Weekend:  €51
    • Sanwidches Sunday: €38
    • Food Resupply Sunday: €5.29
    • 2x €5 refund because of dietary requirments: -€10
    • Venue was free.

    This mean the event was overbudget by €102.49 (48%). We would prefer to  be bale to keep evens on budget in futer, but we’d rather not raise the ticket price. As a result, we have decided not to order pizza at the next event as we do not raise enough money for ticket sales to be able to afford pizza two days in a row.

  • Galway Game Jam 10

    Galway Game Jam 10 is happening at the PorterShed, Galway 16-17 June 2018. The event starts at 0900 16 June.

    We’re running a 24 hour jam this time, with a break overnight in between. We will probably use the last hour as a showcase (2000-2100 on Sunday). Join us and make a game in a 24 hour jam, learn new skills and meet people interested in game development and, above all, have fun!

    We’ll have some food later in the event as always – please do let us know if you have any dietary requirements because we want to include you.

    FAQ

    What is the ticket money spent on?

    Galway Game Jams are not for profit events. The ticket money is used to purchase food and pay for venue costs (eg a cleaner after the event).

    When?

    9am to 9pm Saturday 16th June and 9am to 9pm Sunday 17th June

    Where?

    The PorterShed, Galway City

    Google Maps: bit.ly/portershed

    What do I need to bring?

    • PC or laptop & its cables
    • Keyboard & mouse etc.
    • Headphones or earphones – No speakers allowed
    • Any game making equipment you think you’ll need (e.g. graphics tablet, game controllers, VR headsets etc.)
    • If you are travelling from outside Galway you will need to organise your own accommodation. There are hostels in the city with reasonable rates and Bed & Breakfasts on College Road are only a few minutes walk from the venue.

    Do I need to be a pro gamedev to participate?

    No, not at all! The gamejam is for everyone from complete beginners to professional game devs. If you’ve never done anything like this before that’s totally okay. We would recommend having a look around the interenet for some tutorials in whatever aspect of gamedev interests you the most before the event, or attending some local game dev workshops – consider bringing a friend to work with! We will try to accommodate everyone as best as we can. Keep in mind there are some lovely folks attending these gamejams that would be happy to help a fellow jammer who’s gotten stuck.

    Is it for computer games or board games?

    Everything! You can use the Galway Game Jam to make any type of game.

    Can online/remote participants join the competition?

    Yes. You must purchase an Online Competitive ticket before the ticket sales end in order to take part in the competion. For more information send us an email or leave a message on our community forums at https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam8.

    Can I work on a project that I’ve already started?

    The game jam is for making something new, however you can use the time to work on your own project. Note you won’t be allowed to enter the competition with such a project. If in doubt, message us or ask an organiser!

    Can I use a game engine/library/framework/asset packs/royalty-free music etc?

    Yes. Simply include the names of the technologies or libraries used in the description of your game.

    Can I participate with a pre-arranged team?

    Yes. As long as your team is no larger than 5 people.

    Can you eat/drink at the venue?

    Yes but we’d like you to observe some rules. Please use the bins for any rubbish you have. Please don’t eat or drink anything that smells strongly in the main game jam area. Please tidy up after yourself.

    What kind of skills would be helpful at the gamejam?

    Pretty much all of them! The aim is to make stuff and have fun making. We encourage everyone to plan for a (very) small game. For example, a game that a single person can play in their web browser and complete in a few minutes.

    These skills can be handy, but by no means definitive:

    • Game Design – coming up with game mechanics in systems
    • Writing – weaving a story, giving depth to the game through lore.
    • Programming – trying out making a game using programming language you already know, or taking some tutorials in a game engine and bring all the pieces together.
    • Art – create beautiful (or horrifying) art assets, and maybe some animation
    • Audio/Music – making some noise, and some music. A great way to boost percieved production quality of a game!
    • Production – organisation and time management skills. If this is a strength of yours you could take the lead in making deadlines for your team to achieve at different points over the event.
    • And more!

    Of course you can always use the gamejam to try something new, and I totally encourage it!

    Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

    The event is typically for adults. If you are under 18 years of age and want to attend, get a parent/gaurdian to contact us beforehand. info@galwaygamejam.com

    What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

    There is a multi-story car park close to the venue. You may load/unload your vehicle at the front door.

    Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

    You can contact us at info@galwaygamejam.com, on our facebook page or twitter.

    What will the ticket money be used for?

    The money raised from tickets is used to buy food and pay for cleaning costs at the venue.

    Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

    No, if you have some form of ID then an event organiser will match it and check off your arrival.

    What is the refund policy?

    If you decide you don’t want to go to the event, please contact us before the event for a refund. 72 hours prior to the event we will no longer be able to refund tickets.

    The name on the registration/ticket doesn’t match the attendee. Is that okay?

    If someone else got you a ticket then that’s okay. If there are any issues then you agree to follow the course of action chosen by the organisers.

  • Galway Game Jam 9!

    Galway Game Jam 9 is happening at the PorterShed, Galway 10-11 March 2018. The event starts at 0900 10 March.

    It’s also our 5th Birthday Party! So they might be cake, that might also be a lie. You’ll have to attend to jam to find out. We’re running a 24 hour jam this time, with a break overnight in between. We will probably use the last hour as a showcase (2000-2100 on Sunday). Join us and make a game in a 24 hour jam, learn new skills and meet people interested in game development and, above all, have fun!

    We’ll have some food later in the event as always – please do let us know if you have any dietary requirements because we want to include you.

    Book Now

    FAQ

    What is the ticket money spent on?

    Galway Game Jams are not for profit events. The ticket money is used to purchase food and pay for event costs (eg. renting a venue or equipement such as power leads and occasionally prizes).

    When?

    9am to 9pm Saturday 10th March and 9am to 9pm Sunday 11 March.

    Where?

    The PorterShed, Galway City

    Google Maps: bit.ly/portershed

    What do I need to bring?

    • PC or laptop & its cables
    • Keyboard & mouse etc.
    • Headphones or earphones – No speakers allowed
    • Any game making equipment you think you’ll need (e.g. graphics tablet, game controllers, VR headsets etc.)
    • If you are travelling from outside Galway you will need to organise your own accommodation. There are hostels in the city with reasonable rates and Bed & Breakfasts on College Road are only a few minutes walk from the venue.

    Do I need to be a pro gamedev to participate?

    No, not at all! The gamejam is for everyone from complete beginners to professional game devs. If you’ve never done anything like this before that’s totally okay. We would recommend having a look around the interenet for some tutorials in whatever aspect of gamedev interests you the most before the event, or attending some local game dev workshops – consider bringing a friend to work with! We will try to accommodate everyone as best as we can. Keep in mind there are some lovely folks attending these gamejams that would be happy to help a fellow jammer who’s gotten stuck.

    Is it for computer games or board games?

    Everything! You can use the Galway Game Jam to make any type of game.

    Can online/remote participants join the competition?

    Yes. You must purchase an Online Competitive ticket before the ticket sales end in order to take part in the competion. For more information send us an email or leave a message on our community forums at https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam8.

    Can I work on a project that I’ve already started?

    The game jam is for making something new, however you can use the time to work on your own project. Note you won’t be allowed to enter the competition with such a project. If in doubt, message us or ask an organiser!

    Can I use a game engine/library/framework/asset packs/royalty-free music etc?

    Yes. Simply include the names of the technologies or libraries used in the description of your game.

    Can I participate with a pre-arranged team?

    Yes. As long as your team is no larger than 5 people.

    Can you eat/drink at the venue?

    Yes but we’d like you to observe some rules. Please use the bins for any rubbish you have. Please don’t eat or drink anything that smells strongly in the main game jam area. Please tidy up after yourself.

    What kind of skills would be helpful at the gamejam?

    Pretty much all of them! The aim is to make stuff and have fun making. We encourage everyone to plan for a (very) small game. For example, a game that a single person can play in their web browser and complete in a few minutes.

    These skills can be handy, but by no means definitive:

    • Game Design – coming up with game mechanics in systems
    • Writing – weaving a story, giving depth to the game through lore.
    • Programming – trying out making a game using programming language you already know, or taking some tutorials in a game engine and bring all the pieces together.
    • Art – create beautiful (or horrifying) art assets, and maybe some animation
    • Audio/Music – making some noise, and some music. A great way to boost percieved production quality of a game!
    • Production – organisation and time management skills. If this is a strength of yours you could take the lead in making deadlines for your team to achieve at different points over the event.
    • And more!

    Of course you can always use the gamejam to try something new, and I totally encourage it!

    Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

    The event is typically for adults. If you are under 18 years of age and want to attend, get a parent/gaurdian to contact us beforehand. info@galwaygamejam.com

    What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

    There is a multi-story car park close to the venue. You may load/unload your vehicle at the front door.

    Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

    You can contact us at info@galwaygamejam.com, on our facebook page or twitter.

    Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

    No, if you have some form of ID then an event organiser will match it and check off your arrival.

    What is the refund policy?

    If you decide you don’t want to go to the event, please contact us before the event for a refund. 72 hours prior to the event we will no longer be able to refund tickets.

    The name on the registration/ticket doesn’t match the attendee. Is that okay?

    If someone else got you a ticket then that’s okay. If there are any issues then you agree to follow the course of action chosen by the organisers.

  • Galway Game Jam 8

    Galway Game Jam 8

    Make a game in a 12 hour jam!

    Make games. Learn stuff. Meet people interested in game development and have fun!

    Book Now

     

    This gamejam we’ll be changing up a few small things in the hopes of making an even more enjoyable jam. We’ll have some food later in the event as always – please do let us know if you have any dietary requirements because we want to include you.

    FAQ below.

    When: 9am to 10pm Saturday 5th November. 12 hours of gamejam followed by an hour of playing the results. Typically, that’s great craic.

    Where:
    The PorterShed
    Galway City

    Google Maps: bit.ly/portershed

    What do I need to bring?

    • PC or laptop & its cables
    • Keyboard & mouse etc.
    • Headphones or earphones – No speakers allowed
    • Any game making equipment you think you’ll need (e.g. graphics tablet, game controllers, VR headsets etc.)
    • If you are travelling from outside Galway you will need to organise your own accommodation. There are hostels in the city with reasonable rates and Bed & Breakfasts on College Road are only a few minutes walk from the venue.

    Do I need to be a pro gamedev to participate?

    No, not at all! The gamejam is for everyone from complete beginners to professional game devs. If you’ve never done anything like this before that’s totally okay. We would recommend having a look around the interenet for some tutorials in whatever aspect of gamedev interests you the most before the event, or attending some local game dev workshops – consider bringing a friend to work with! We will try to accommodate everyone as best as we can. Keep in mind there are some lovely folks attending these gamejams that would be happy to help a fellow jammer who’s gotten stuck.

    Is it for computer games or board games?

    Everything! You can use the Galway Game Jam to make any type of game.
    Can I take part remotely/online? Can I still join the competition?

    Yes.

    Can online/remote participants join the competition?

    Yes. You must purchase an Online Competitive ticket before the ticket sales end in order to take part in the competion. For more information send us an email or leave a message on our community forums at https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam8.
    Can I work on a project that I’ve already started?

    The game jam is for making something new, however you can use the time to work on your own project. Note you won’t be allowed to enter the competition with such a project. If in doubt, message us or ask an organiser!

    Can I use a game engine/library/framework/asset packs/royalty-free music etc?

    Yes. Simply include the names of the technologies or libraries used in the description of your game.

    Can I participate with a pre-arranged team?

    Yes. As long as your team is no larger than 5 people.

    Can you eat/drink at the venue?

    Yes but we’d like you to observe some rules. Please use the bins for any rubbish you have. Please don’t eat or drink anything that smells strongly in the main game jam area. Please tidy up after yourself.

    What kind of skills would be helpful at the gamejam?

    Pretty much all of them! The aim is to make stuff and have fun making. We encourage everyone to plan for a (very) small game. For example, a game that a single person can play in their web browser and complete in a few minutes.

    These skills can be handy, but by no means definitive:

    • Game Design – coming up with game mechanics in systems
    • Writing – weaving a story, giving depth to the game through lore.
    • Programming – trying out making a game using programming language you already know, or taking some tutorials in a game engine and bring all the pieces together.
    • Art – create beautiful (or horrifying) art assets, and maybe some animation
    • Audio/Music – making some noise, and some music. A great way to boost percieved production quality of a game!
    • Production – organisation and time management skills. If this is a strength of yours you could take the lead in making deadlines for your team to achieve at different points over the event.
    • And more!

    Of course you can always use the gamejam to try something new, and I totally encourage it!

    Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

    The event is typically for adults. If you are under 18 years of age and want to attend, get a parent/gaurdian to contact us beforehand. info@galwaygamejam.com

     

    What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

    There is a multi-story car park close to the venue. You may load/unload your vehicle at the front door.

     

    Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

    You can contact us at info@galwaygamejam.com, on our facebook page or twitter.

     

    Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

    No, if you have some form of ID then an event organiser will match it and check off your arrival.

     

    What is the refund policy?

    If you decide you don’t want to go to the event, please contact us before the event for a refund. 72 hours prior to the event we will no longer be able to refund tickets.

     

    The name on the registration/ticket doesn’t match the attendee. Is that okay?

    If someone else got you a ticket then that’s okay. If there are any issues then you agree to follow the course of action chosen by the organisers.

  • Galway Game Jam 7 Theme Announcement

    And the theme is… Charge!

  • Galway Game Jam 7

    The third Galway Game Jam of 2016 is here! On August 27th we’ll be hosting a jam in The PorterShed, Galway’s newest tech innovation hub. PorterShed is a recently renovated open plan workspace with lots of natural light and awesome facilities. Parking will be available at the venue. It’s located right in the city centre so you’ll have lots of options for food and whatever else you like if you’re not a fan of pizza.

    If you’ve never been to a gamejam before that’s cool, you can probably do more than you think, so come along! If you still feel like you lack the skills after reading that sentence then you’re in luck. We’re teaming up with the folks at Howling Hamster to deliver a series of game development workshops to get you up to speed before the gamejam. For more info on that sign up to our newsletter bit.ly/GalwayGameJamNews or follow us on social media.
    @GalwayGameJam

    You can get tickets here: bit.ly/GalwayGameJam7
    A FAQ is provided on the ticket page.

    You can also sign up on our jam on itch.io if you want to take part in the competition. If you’ve any questions you can use the community forums for the jam or send us an email to info[at]galwaygamejam[dot]com

    Sponsors:
    The PorterShed (backed by AIB)

    GameCraft

  • Galway Game Jam 6

    Make a game in our [updated] 12 hour jam this 18th June!

    GameCraft is a games jam event designed around building the gaming community. We aim to create events which allow game-makers to meet, share ideas, have fun, compete for prizes and most importantly make games! Connect, Create, Collaborate.

    Join a team or work solo. Meet game developers. Learn stuff. Make games. Have fun!
    Also, there will be tea/coffee/water and food during the day.

    Much the same as previous Galway Game Jams, except this time it’s in 1/3 duration and taking place in Pulse College, Galway.

    FAQ below.

    **When**: 9am to 9pm Saturday 18th June. (12 hours of jam!)

    **Where**:
    Pulse College
    1st Floor,
    Geata na Cathracha
    Fairgreen Road
    Galway City

    **Tickets**: https://bit.ly/GalwayGameJam6

    **Twitter**: (@GalwayGameJam)[https://twitter.com/GalwayGameJam]

    Our hashtag for the event is #GalwayGameJam6

    **Itch.io event page**: itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam6 – Online/remote participants please join here!

    **Facebook event page**: https://www.facebook.com/events/579690282190570/

    What do I need to bring?

    * PC or laptop & its cables
    * Screen & its cables
    * Keyboard
    * Mouse
    * Mouse pad
    * Headphones or earphones – No speakers allowed
    * Any game making equipment you think you’ll need (e.g. graphics tablet, game controllers, VR headsets etc.)
    * If you are travelling from outside Galway you will need to organise your own accommodation. There are hostels in the city with reasonable rates and Bed & Breakfasts on College Road are only a ten minutes walk from the venue.

    **Do I need to be an expert gamedev to participate?**
    No, not at all! The gamejam is for everyone from complete beginners to professional game devs. We will try to team up beginners with some more experienced game jammers so you can be sure to learn and have fun and have something made by the end of the event.

    **Is it for computer games or board games?**
    Everything! You can use the Galway Game Jam to make any type of game.

    **Can I work on a project that I’ve already started?**
    Ideally the game jam is for making something new but by all means you can work on your own project. Please state this clearly in your submission so voters can accurately judge your entry. Any work you have already done before the gamejam is not eligable for that category of prizes. If in doubt, ask! We’re here to help 😉

    **Can I use a game engine/library/framework/asset packs/royalty-free music etc?**
    Yes.

    **Can I participate with a pre-arranged team?**
    Yes. 5 people is the maximum teamsize. If you have any questions please ask an organiser.

    **Can I take part remotely/online? Can I still join the competition?**
    Yes. Join here: https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam5
    You don’t need to pay the ticket price to take part online/remotely AND you can submit your game for the competition.

    **What prizes are there?**
    We’re working on that, but with our current lack of sponsors our prizes will likely be small. We’re working on getting bigger and better prizes with each game jam.

    **Can you eat/drink at the venue?**
    Yes but we’d like you to observe some rules. Please use the bins for any rubbish you have. Please don’t eat or drink anything that smells strongly in the main game jam area. Please tidy up after yourself.

    **What kind of skills would be helpful at the gamejam?**
    Pretty much all of them! The aim is to make stuff and have fun making. We encourage everyone to plan for a small game. Something achieveable in a weekend, for example, something that a single person can play in their web browser and complete in a few minutes.

    These skills can be handy, but by no means definitive:

    * Game Design – coming up with game mechanics in systems
    * Writing – weaving a story, giving depth to the game through lore.
    * Programming – trying out making a game using programming language you already know, or taking some tutorials in a game engine and bring all the pieces together.
    * Art – create beautiful (or horrifying) art assets, and maybe some animation
    * Audio/Music – making some noise, and some music. A great way to boost percieved production quality of a game!
    * Production – organisation and time management skills. If this is a strength of yours you could take the lead in making deadlines for your team to achieve at different points over the event.
    *  And more!

    Of course you can always use the gamejam to try something new, and I totally encourage it!

    **Note to Online Participants:**
    Please submit your game for voting to https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam6 by 8:00pm GMT/UTC on Saturday June 18th.

    If you have any questions contact us at info@galwaygamejam.com or through our https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam6 forums, twitch or twitter.
    Galway Game Jam 6 is made possible thanks to the Bank of Ireland Workbench, Galway @boistartups.

  • Galway Game Jam 5 Post Mortem

    So, that was fun! Initially we were expecting 8 or 9 people, 30 turned up in the end. We had 1 person who had to leave and 3 more who joined throughout the course of the event. I enjoy the game dev tradition of post mortems on game releases, so why not do one for a gamejam? Let’s begin!

    *The Good:*

    *Biggest Galway Game Jam yet!*
    The numbers show something else too – there is a thirst for gamejams and game development events in Galway – it is growing more and more every year.

    *The People!* We’ve been privileged to get such a lovely bunch of game jammers who care about making games and who want to share their passion with you.

    *11 (and a half) games made!* 9 and 1/2 made on location, 2 made by online participants, and at least one game we are aware of that didn’t make it to submission stage. You can play them here! [https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam5/entries](https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam5/entries)

    *Gamejam games are online!* Thanks to everyone who helped we got a majority of gamejam builds online, some of which have already had a let’s play by Jupiter Hadley! Pretty sweet.
    [https://youtu.be/PmhcyOqcde8](https://youtu.be/PmhcyOqcde8)

    *Slack chat!* We’ve found that game jammers tend to encounter very similar difficulties and technical issues during the gamejam and believe that we can help solve a lot of these through a common, instant communication tool like Slack. Though we did use Slack for Galway Game Jam 5, inviting everyone to a shared Slack chat, we did so quite late into the jam (About half-way through the gamejam on the promise of pizza – way better than carrots!). This meant that some people never joined in the chat, failing to see reason for joining. At least 3 teams encountered the same issue uploading their Unity game builds to itch.io – something that I feel could have been limited to just one team if we had better utilized Slack. Though the outcome from using instant chat like Slack wasn’t as huge a success at Galway Game Jam 5 as I’d hoped, it has certainly cemented in my mind the importance of having it for further game jams and to help maintain momentum within the game jam community between these events, hence my rating it as a ‘Good’ thing.

    *Awesome photographs!* We were lucky enough to have photographer Colm McElligott, a friend of one of the game jammers, drop by on the second and third day to take a few photographs. Such a generous man with his time and efforts! We now have a much more professional looking photo album from Galway Game Jam 5 which can only serve to benefit us. Of course, all those silly moments caught on mobile phone cameras are important too!

    *The Bad:*

    Having planned for about 1/3 of the people that turned up, we struggled at certain points to organise stuff with the group. It meant I had to sort of stand on a chair, raise my voice and expose the group to my bad jokes a few too many times. Though nothing terrible happened, thankfully, there were some delays were they could have been avoided with better planning.

    At least one person didn’t follow through with the jam. Sadly this is something we feel we could have acted on. Quite often we have people interested in the gamejam but who don’t really feel they can contribute much to a game, all of whom we encourage to join in and end up doing more than they thought. They have lots of fun with the process of actually making something. We’re humans after all.  Some people who maybe lack self-confidence or believe they don’t have the skills required to make a game can feel quite intimidated by this. We put one such person on a team and left the team to sort of figure out their roles, but unfortunately it seems as though the team couldn’t fit everyone in and the person quietly left the event while we were gone fetching gamejam pizza. If we had more volunteers at the event this could have been avoided, as we could have talked with the team or switched the person to another team that could better accommodate them, and put them to work on something.

    Gender balance. There was not enough women there at all. Something like 25 guys and 5 women. Sadly some people told me this was actually not that bad a balance for this type of event. One of the women told me it was nice that there even was other women there, that she is often the only woman at such events.

    Next time:

    We’ve learned a lot. Here are some things we’ll be doing next time:

    Set up at lot more at the start – things like our shared gamejam Slack chat and itch.io profiles.

    More volunteers! Having more volunteers / organisers present so we can focus on helping people however we can throughout the entirety of the event. This will make it easier for us to pay attention and act on issues as they arise to ensure everyone has a positive experience, feels productive in their team and contributes to making something they can show off later (however gamejammy-broken it may be!).

    A dedicated live team! We’ll have a dedicated hero or two from the ranks of new volunteers take to the live stream and social media channels throughout the event. This will take a significant time-burden away from other volunteers and allow everyone to focus better on their tasks.

    Attack on the gender imbalance! We plan on running a few workshops on the lead up to the next game jam and throughout the year to bring in hacker women from Women in Tech groups as well as writers and artists who may have never heard of a game jam or who may feel like they need to be better at doing X, whatever X may be, before they can be comfortable jumping into a gamejam. Hopefully this engaged approach will help us to bridge this gap in our local Galway Game Jam level. That’s not to dissuade any men either – if you are interested in the gamejam do come along – don’t be tempted to help the gender balance by avoiding the gamejam! (That’s not the point anyway! :P)

    Personally I got a great buzz and feeling of validation for the weeks of effort I’ve put into making this happen, especially since I was expecting so few people from our pre-booked ticket sales. Each person that walked in just made me surprized. I must have had a silly smile all weekend. This was a totally amazing gamejam and the positivity I felt from it is shared among the other organisers and game jammers alike. This is were game dev hobbyists do their thing. It’s were game-idea-stuff gets made real and see’s the first light of day. It’s were teams are formed. It’s a place to try some new game ideas, test your game dev skills, meet new people and have the craic making something. Did we mention pizza? It’s also were you get pizza, apparently.

    See you all at the next one!

    ~ Darren

  • Galway Game Jam 5

    Make a game in a weekend! This one is a 48 hour event!

    Join a team or work solo. Learn stuff, meet people, make games, have fun!

    **When:** 6pm Friday 1st April until 6pm Sunday 3rd of April.

    **Where:** Aras na Mac Lienn (Student Societies building), NUIG

    **Tickets:** €5 online or €6 at the door.

    **Book tickets online here:** [j.mp/GalwayGameJam5](https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/galway-game-jam-5-tickets-22447892250)

    Twitter: [@GalwayGameJam](https://twitter.com/GalwayGameJam)

    Our hashtag for the event is [#GalwayGameJam5](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GalwayGameJam5)

    Itch.io event page: [itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam5](https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam5) – online participants go here!

    Facebook event page: [https://www.facebook.com/events/1522180204751280/](https://www.facebook.com/events/1522180204751280/)

    **FAQ**

    **What do I need to bring to make games?**
    Bring your own laptop or any game making equipment you think you’ll need (e.g. graphics tablet, controllers etc.)

    **Do I need to be an expert gamedev to participate?**
    No, not at all! The gamejam is for everyone from to complete beginners to professional game devs. We will try to team up beginners with some more experienced game jammers so you can be sure to learn and have fun and have something made by the end of the event.

    **Will there be food/drink at the event?**
    The gamejam will provide tea & coffee. You’ll have to get your own meals and snacks.
    The venue is NUIG, so you are nearby a Tesco Express and a short walk from Galway City centre.

    **What about copyright / intellectual property / licences on the work I do at the game jam?**
    You own everything you make. You can do whatever you want with it and attach the license of your choice. Go create!

    **What about accommodation?**
    Have a good plan. Staying awake for the 48 hours is not a good plan! If you are traveling from outside of Galway please organize your own accommodation for the weekend.
    If you need any help ask on our Facebook event page or drop us an email.
    We won’t be able to let you sleep at the venue (it is in NUIG after-all). There are some hostels in the city center like Barnacles and Kinlay house (Snoozles is booked out for the event). Mention the Galway Game Jam event. If you are staying with a friend or whatever, make sure to bring a sleeping bag & extra clothes!

    **Is it for computer games or board games?**
    Everything! You can use the Galway Game Jam to make any type of game.

    **Can I work on a project that I’ve already started?**
    Ideally the game jam is for making something new but by all means you can work on your own project. This would obviously disqualify you for any prizes.

    **Can I use a game engine/library/framework/asset packs/royalty-free music etc.?**
    Yes.

    **Can I participate with a pre-arranged team?**
    Yes. As long as your team is a maximum of 5 people.

    **Can I take part remotely/online?**
    Yes. Join here: https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam5

    **Can I still join the competition if I am an online participant?**
    Yes! Submit your game by the competition guidelines here: https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam5

    You don’t need to pay the ticket price to take part online/remotely AND you can submit your game for the competition.

    **What prizes are there?**
    Right now some small ones. We’re working on that, but with our current lack of sponsors our prizes will likely be small. We’re working on improving this, the more game jams you participate in the better the prizes will be!

    **Can you eat/drink at the venue?**
    Yes but we’d like you to observe some rules. Please use the bins for any rubbish you have. Please don’t eat or drink anything that smells strongly in the main game jam area. Please tidy up after yourself.

    **What kind of skills would be helpful at the gamejam?**
    This depends entirely on the type of game you want to make. These skills can be handy, but by no means are neccessary to join:
    Game design skill, programming skill, art skills, storytelling skills, audio/music skills, organisation skills etc.
    By being part of a team you can decide to work to your strengths or try something new.

    **I’m a member of Compsoc NUIGalway, do I have to pay the €5 entrance fee for this event?**
    Compsoc members are required to bring their Student ID with them. Once we verify your membership you can enter for free. Enjoy!

    **Note to Online Participants:**
    Check out https://itch.io/jam/galwaygamejam5 forums for discussion and keep track of our twitter account for announcements.
    Anyone can participate remotely for free AND take part in the competition among all entrants. Same competition guidelines apply.

    If you have any questions contact us at info@galwaygamejam.com or through our social media.

    Galway Game Jam 5 is made possible thanks to Compsoc NUIGalway.

  • Tickets for #GalwayGJ4!

    Get your ticket on eventbrite here [http://bit.ly/GalwayGameJam4](http://bit.ly/GalwayGameJam4)

    [@GalwayGameJam](https://twitter.com/GalwayGameJam)

  • Galway Game Jam 4 #GalwayGJ4

    Make a game prototype in a weekend.

    Join a team or work solo. Get to meet other game developers, learn stuff and make stuff. We’ll showcase your creations on our website. Bring your own laptop/game making equipment and anyone you know who likes game jams!

    When: Friday 9pm-11pm, Saturday 9am-11pm, Sunday 9am-5pm
    Where: The View Room, Aras na Mac Leinn, NUIGalway

    Rules for the event:
    Theme: a theme will be announced on event launch on Friday. It’s there to help with ideas and it’s open to interpretation.

    Teams: Pre-arranged teams are fine but need approval from organisers so let us know beforehand.

    Tickets:
    Attendance – €5
    Online participation – Free – Register before Saturday.

    [Get your ticket on eventbrite here](http://bit.ly/GalwayGameJam4)

    We will be taking it in good faith that you are starting work on your game along with us. If you are using any pre-made assets (art/music etc.) please opt out of the relevant category when you submit your game for judging.

    Behavior: Be excellent to each other!
    Should there are any issues during the event, contact one of our organizers.

    Event run by Galway Game Jam in association with Compsoc NUIGalway, Galway Gaming Tribes and d’Lovely Game Jam.

    Social media
    [@GalwayGameJam](https://twitter.com/GalwayGameJam)