Submissions open from 2025-06-01 22:00:00 to 2025-06-29 22:00:00
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The Big Byte Jam is an annual game jam where creators make unique interactive experiences using a theme related to cultural ideas, perspectives, issues relevant to members of various Diasporas, over a 1 month (4 week) period. 


Part of the Culture Bytes jam series, this is held in collaboration between Black in Gaming and the Melanated Game Kitchen.

Share on socials with the hashtag #bigbytejam and to generate hype and find team members. During the jam, we'll reshare screenshots, video uploads, and blog posts of jam games while you're working on your games.

Creative Theme (Must Use)

The theme will be announced at the kickoff on Sunday, June 1st. See the Jam Schedule section below for more details.

Theme Ingredients (Optional)

(Ingredients are additional ideas related to the theme to help focus your creativity. )

Check back for more info soon!

Food Dish: Okra Stew

The jam's main food dish is Okra Stew.

For our Culture Bytes jams, we always feature a food dish.  The food dish connects to our creative theme in a way that directly ties the theme to the diaspora.  Food connects us together. Explore details about the dish to get inspired for your game and in your own kitchen.

+ Bonus Points to your game if you feature the food dish in your game in a fun way.

Rules & Key Info

What platform can I use?  This jam is open to both digital and analog interactive experiences – choose the medium that excites you!

Important!

  • All games submitted to the jam are required to be made within the time frame of the jam. We will not accept games made prior.
  • All participants must follow our Code of Conduct (see below)

Who Can Participate?

This jam is for creators of all relevant skills and experience levels, regardless of whether you have made interactive experiences before or not. Writing, art, design, music/sound design, programming, playtest expertise, etc. There will be mentors in the discord that can help out when you need.

We highly recommend submitting your in-progress game even if you don't finish over the course of the jam, as you can always submit a more complete version later. And we love to learn more about what everyone worked on! We hope to share everyone's progress, regardless of full game completion, during our closing showcase stream.

How to Participate?

  • We highly recommend you join our Discord to find team members, work together, share resources, and discuss the theme! Collaboration is a key part of our culture.  Most community conversation for this jam will happen via the MGK Discord
  • We encourage you to jam with new people or on a team, but it is not required. We will be providing resources for team forming at the jam kickoff and throughout the jam timeline. 
  • During the Showcase/Feedback Session, constructive feedback and positive reinforcement will be the focus. Building for the future and collaboration are about lifting everyone up together.

Discord Link: https://discord.gg/cbVpD5mkrd

Code of Conduct

We will not tolerate sexism, racism, or discrimination of any kind. This means, in our community and in the games you create.

Prizes

Check back for more info soon!

Judging

We will have professional developers play the games and select their favorite games for our prizes and prize pool.  Winners will be announced through our social media channels and the discord server. 


What will the games be judged on? Games will be ranked against the following criteria: Overall Quality, Relation to Theme, Creativity/Design

We will also have participant voting to determine Player's Choice winners. 


Players Choice Voting

For one week after the jam ends, people will be able to rate your game against the three criteria: Overall Quality, Relation to Theme, Creativity/Design. 

Everyone is eligible to rate games. Games will be available to play on the itch.io page after the jam ends. 

Those who submitted or contributed to a game will be able to judge whichever games they like. Others can vote, but it will be random voting.

Jam Schedule

Pre-Jam (Preparation Events)

More Info Coming Soon~

During Jam

  • Sunday, June 1st: Jam Kickoff Day!
    • via YouTube @ 3pm pst - Jam Kickoff, Theme Reveal & Team Forming
  • June 1st - June 29th: Mentor Office Hours Twice a Week
  • Saturday, June 20: Mid-Jam Mixer and Check-In
    • Location: Discord Server
    • Getting close to the finish line! Meet-up with jam participants and check-in on your progress in the mid-jam hangout session. We’ll be doing something special in celebration of Juneteenth. Stay tuned.
  • Sunday, June 29: Submissions Due @ 3pm pst
  • Sunday, June 29: Online Jam Showcase @ 5pm pst
    • Location: Discord Server
    • Showcase games and live interview sessions with jam teams.

Post Jam

  • Date TBD: Streamer Game Showcase - We're playing every game on stream!


Theme Works/Resources

Check back for more info soon!


General Cultural Works 

Recommended Tools/Engines/Platforms

Here are some common tools/engines:

  • Digital
    • Turbo
    • Unreal Engine 5
    • Game Maker
    • Godot Engine
    • Unity
    • RPG Maker
    • Twine
    • Storyspace
    • Bitsy
    • Pico-8
  • Analog
    • Tabletop RPG
    • Board Game

Resources

Visit our Game Jam Guide  to find even more tools, resources, and free assets. See a sample below as well. 

Game Jam Guide + Resource List

Art

Audio

Tools


Previous Jams

Big Byte Game Jam 2024

OSZAR »