Offered by the Boston Public Library. Click HERE to register.

Ages 13 - 18

Email teentech@bpl.org to find out if there is still space in the contest

NOTE: This and all associated Game Jam events will take place on Zoom. This Q&A will also take place on Friday, 5/7; participants do not need to attend more than one Q&A session. A link will be sent to all registered participants prior to the date of each event.

Do you think you’re the best teen game creator in Boston? Come find out at the Boston Public Library's first ever Game Jam! The challenge is simple: in teams or by yourself, create a short game that draws attention to an issue affecting your local or global communities.

This event will mark the official "kickoff" of the Game Jam, where teens will get a chance to meet their competitors, grill our esteemed judges, ask questions, and form teams (if they haven’t already). Groups and individuals can begin to submit their games after this event, and all submissions must occur by midnight on May 31, 2021 (full submission details below).

IMPORTANT: This contest will have a maximum of 25 entrants. To enter the contest, you must be registered for this event.

Make sure as well to set your calendars for June 11 at 5 pm, where competitors and the public will be invited to the closing ceremony and the winners of our top 3 prizes, which include a grand prize valued at $200, are revealed! All game-makers, aspiring game-makers, friends, and family are invited to take part in this special maker event.

Game Jam Submission Guidelines:

All participants must be ages 13-18 and residents of Massachusetts.

The game must be developed using any of the following coding languages/applications: Java, Scratch, AppInventor, Unity, C#.

The game may make use of open-source libraries, frameworks, and code. Links to any assets not owned by the submitting teens MUST be cited and provided in an accompanying document.

Submissions will be accepted via a Google Form (sent only to registered competitors) and will have a 1 GB size limit. This form will close at midnight on May 31, 2021, and no late submissions will be accepted.

Game submissions with a heavy text component in a language other than English may be asked to submit their game script for translation.