Twine Game Jam

Welcome to Spin the Yarn, a Twine Game Jam hosted by the USM Game Studies Group! This is a beginner-friendly game development event for people who want to have fun, meet new people, and create interactive fiction together! All are welcome!

In this Game Jam, you will have a limited time to create a game or a prototype by yourself or collaboratively using Twine, an open source tool for creating nonlinear stories and text-based games. (Don’t worry, it’s super easy to learn.) For those unfamiliar with it, we will have a short tutorial to get you started.

A game jam is a collaboration! You don’t have to be good at making games—whether you have art skills, coding skills, writing skills, or design skills, you will find others to work with to create something awesome. At a game jam, the more, the merrier—so bring your friends!

At the in-person opening session, we’ll form groups and get started on developing your projects. After the session, your group will have two weeks to finish your project. We’ll then host a closing session for polishing, play testing, and sharing the games.

Time and Location

  • Opening Session: Friday, March 24, 2-4pm (LAB 334)

  • Closing Event: Friday, April 14, 2-4pm (LAB 334)

Rules

  • All materials for the game must be created within the timeframe of the Jam.

  • Groups should be no more than four people.

  • The jam will have a theme which your game should be based around. The theme will be revealed when the jam starts.

Q&A

  1. What is a Game Jam?

    • The term “game jam” comes from the idea of a music “jam”. It is an event where people come together for a short period of time to create games around a central theme revealed at the start of the jam. It is a communal event which emphasizes creativity and collaboration.

       

  2. Who is hosting this Game Jam?

    • The USM Game Studies Group, a student organization devoted to exploring the creative and critical affordances of video games and game culture. 

  3. What is Twine?

    • Twine is a free, easy to use, open source tool for creating interactive texts, mostly interactive fiction (IF). It’s a great platform for composing branching narratives, experimental poetry, choice-based narrative, or any other form of hypertext. Check out Twine here.

       

  4. Do I need to have game development experience to participate?

    • No experience is needed! Twine is very easy to pick up and use, and beyond that, as this is a collaborative event, all skills are welcome and valuable.

  5. Is there a tutorial for Twine available?

    • Yes! Check out our page devoted to Twine resources on Quest Log. We will also be having a tutorial at our opening session where you can ask questions and get help from others.

  6. Is this Game Jam in-person or online?

    • In-person

  7. Can I participate as an individual or do I need a team?

    • You are free to participate on your own, but all games must originate during our opening session.

  8. Can I bring my own team?

    • Feel free to group up ahead of time or get some ideas before the opening session!

  9. Will there be prizes for the winning games?

    • There will not be any prizes, but participants will have a chance to choose their favorite games during the closing session and will also be encouraged to submit their games to the annual Interactive Writing Contest (deadline April 11), which will include prizes. 

  10. Will the games be featured or hosted anywhere?

    • Participants will have the option to showcase your game on the USM Game Studies itch.io page or possibly Quest Log, the group’s online journal. 

  11. Further Questions?

  

USM Games Studies