What is a Game Jam?
A game jam is a time-limited event where participants, typically game developers, come together to create video games from scratch. The goal is to produce a playable game or prototype within a set time frame, which can range from 24 hours to several days (commonly 48 to 72 hours).
Participants in a game jam can include programmers, artists, designers, musicians, and writers. They work in teams, or individually, to develop a game based on a theme or challenge, which is announced at the start of the event. The pressure of the time limit encourages creativity, experimentation, and rapid prototyping, often leading to innovative and unusual game concepts.
Game jams are popular in the indie game development community and often serve as a platform to explore new ideas or refine skills. Examples include the SA Game Jam, Global Game Jam, Ludum Dare, and GMTK Game Jam.