Description
What: Tabletop Scotland 2025 – Game Jam
Location: Game Jam Area
When: Game Jam will launch on Friday at 16:00 and conclude on Sunday at 16:00 – Please arrive in the Game Jam area before 16:00.
No camping in the hall overnight allowed 🙂
You will need a Three Day Ticket for the convention to be able to take part.
Event Cost: FREE
Host(s): Phil Harris and friends.
Max Attendees: 60
What age bracket is this for? 12+
What is a Game Jam?
A Game Jam is an organised event which allows a group of people to work as a team, or individually, to create a game within a specified time limit. Whilst the fun and excitement of developing a game in a short timescale is a key part of the Game Jam, the participants will also have guidance and mentorship from industry veterans who will help steer them away from overly complex designs and systems to allow the teams to have a viable game by the end of the event. With no barriers to who can get involved, a game jam is a learning experience where participants need to consider design, decision making, time-management and more in a safe and constructive environment.
The Game Jam itself will be held in a corner of the event hall, which is cordoned off from the general public, so the teams can work together in relative peace. As with many others, Tabletop Scotland’s Game Jam will have a specific theme the teams and individuals try to adhere to, with the theme revealed just before the Game Jam starts. Throughout the convention there will be people on hand to help the jammers complete their task, from sitting and playing the games to give feedback to finding the right resources to complete the game. We will have printers, dice, and other game components to hand, there should be all the tools the team needs to complete the game. That said, if you have old board game or card game components or a big pile of dice lying around at home unloved, please bring them!
What do I need to bring?
If you have counters, dice, old cards, sleeves etc then please bring them. We have a finite amount of supplies for the Game Jam. If you’re coming as a team, book the required number of seats for the team. If you’re coming solo but want to join a team then the Game Jam hosts will help you do that at the convention.
What kind of game can I create?
Tabletop games. So board, card, roleplaying, war, or a hybrid!
Game Jammer Rights
You – both individual and team – retain all rights to any game or system you create at Tabletop Scotland. There will be mentors and guests who have experience in publishing games, and they can be on hand to advise or suggest what you need to consider as next steps, but once you leave the event, everything you have created and any resources we have given you are yours to keep.
How is it judged?
The mentors who are on hand during the day event will consider all the games being developed and spend time with all the teams to appraise them on several factors, such as theme, concept, teamwork, innovative design, artwork, and playable product. We will take account of the skills within the team who are making the game, so don’t worry if you can’t do art or need help with the initial concept. The final awards will be based on the categories, with one overall winner who the judges deem to have done the best job in the time.
Do I have to stay for all of the time allocated?
In short, no. You are free to use your time as you see fit during the convention hours, but please use your time wisely! For your game to be included in the judging you will need to be available at the start of the Game Jam on the Friday, and at the end of the Game Jam on the Sunday for the Judges to play your game!
