Rules

Game Design and Development Criteria

Digital games

  • The game can be a single or a multiplayer experience for mobile, desktop, or VR platforms
  • The game can be developed using any platform / programming language that are either open-source or have a publically-available community version. Ex: Unity 3D, Phaser, PyGame, Twine.
  • You can also review additional GlobalJam jammer resources for ideas about platforms & tools: http://globalgamejam.org/jammer-resources

Analog games

  • The game can be a single or multiplayer experience that can be played on a reasonably sized table (folding card table) in an hour or less.
  • The game can be any reasonable format for tabletop games. This includes but is not limited to: card games, dice games, role-playing games, and hybrids of various types.
  • Physical components will be on hand including: index cards, pawns, cardstock, and polyhedric randomizers of various size and type.
  • Additional resources for game construction can be found at: http://boardgamejam.com/resources.html

Health and Safety

All participants will abide by the University of Pittsburgh’s health standards and guidelines and Pitt’s Health Rules. These rules have been developed to protect the health and safety of all of us.  Universal face covering is required in every building on campus, without exceptions, regardless of vaccination status. This means you must wear a face covering that properly covers your nose and mouth when you are inside during this Jam. If you do not comply, you will be asked to leave the Jam.  It is your responsibility have the required face covering when entering a university building. There will be tented outdoor work areas provided. For the most up-to-date information and guidance, please visit coronavirus.pitt.edu .

Rules of Conduct

Note: Adapted from Major League Hacking, https://static.mlh.io/docs/mlh-code-of-conduct.pdf

  • Be respectful. Harassment and abuse will not be tolerated.
  • Be nice. Yes, that’s a rule. The University of Pittsburgh embraces diversity and inclusion. We believe that every single person has the right to work and learn (and in this case develop games) in a safe and welcoming environment.
  • Do not harass anyone!
    • Harassment can include but is not limited to offensive verbal or written comments related to gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
    • If what you’re doing is making someone feel uncomfortable, that may be harassment and is reason enough to stop doing it.
    • Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
    • Sponsors, participants, judges, mentors, volunteers, organizers, University staff and anyone else at the event are also subject to University policies which can be found at (insert link to Office of Diversity and Inclusion Policies and Procedures.). In particular, attendees should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material both in their games and during the event.
    • Individuals attending and participating in the Game Jam are encouraged to immediately report any allegations of harassment or discrimination to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/people.
  • Intellectual property (IP) laws still apply! We cannot stress enough that no team/individual participant of Games4SocialImpact Game Jam will illegally exploit others’ IP. That includes, but is not limited to:
    • The overall ideas, design, game mechanics, etc… have to be original and have to be created by YOUR team.
    • If your game includes code, designs, images, assets developed by someone else, you have to ensure that you either have permission to use those assets (for example, assets available under open-source licenses or purchased / downloaded from Unity Asset Store)
    • For any assets not created by you, you must document where those assets came from – you can use comments in your code to cite your assets’ sources
  • Everything created as a part of Games4SocialImpact Game Jam becomes part of the public domain and will be made available to the public via DevPost, GitHub, and Games4SocialImpact website.

All participants agree that their participation in the Games4SocialImpact Game Jam will hold no one liable for any loss or damage.