“Videogames are bad” this is one of the phrases that have influenced the childhood of millions of video game players of my age, but fortunately it is not always true as demonstrated by initiatives such as Being an Ally Game Jam.
“BEING AN ALLY GAME JAM” INVITES GAME DEVELOPERS TO CREATE INNOVATIVE VIDEO GAMES THAT SUPPORT ANTI-BULLYING AND BUILD ALLY BEHAVIORS
The MADE, The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment, the first dedicated video game museum open to the public in the United States, together with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), today announced that they will be hosting the “Being an Ally Game Jam,” a hackathon where video game developers come together to create new games and interactive experiences that teach empathy, and employ anti-bias and anti-bullying themes.
Run from 7 PM on Saturday, October 21 until 7 PM on October 22, 2017,the games developed will be due by 7 PM on October 27 on Game Jolt. The event will be held at locations across the United States, including Austin, TX; New York, NY; Oakland, CA; and Santa Barbara, CA.
During the Jam, developers will find creative ways to incorporate ADL’s six ways to be an ally into video games to illustrate how to be an ally to targeted communities. ADL experts will review the games based on if the behaviors are included, as well as creativity and playability. One chosen team will receive a $2,500 prize, an 8-week course in Unity or Unreal, membership in the International Game Developers Association, and be showcased at ADL’s Never is Now! summit in San Francisco on November 13, 2017. Additional prizes include a Nintendo Switch or SNES Mini.
In addition to the Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment, other partner organizations helping to promote this effort include Game Jolt, Playcrafters, Games for Change, and the International Game Developers Association. At ADL, the effort is being led by its cyber-focused Center on Technology and Society.
A great initiative that once again demonstrates the importance that our passion for videogames can have in the real world.
Video game developers can sign up here to participate.
