Essentials
To participate in the 2011 Philly Game Jam you will need:

• A team of 3 to 8 people
• $70 for the team registration fee
• Registration is now closed. The link to the Philly Game Jam registration page
• A computer to work on — the Philly Game Jam is BYOT – Bring Your Own Technology
• Desire to have fun and make great games!

Guidelines

• Registration is now closed. Team captain must register online
• Teams must be registered by Wednesday, May 4
• Total team fee is $70- that’s per TEAM, not per person
• Registration includes access to the Too Many Games Expo
• Contest begins at 5:00 PM ET on Friday, May 6, and ends 48 hours later on Sunday, May 8
• Teams must have no fewer than 3 people and no more than 8 people
• The event is BYOT (bring your own tech). In other words, if you have a portable mocap lab that you want to bring to the event, BRING IT!
• To get credit for completing the event, you must submit a working game prototype by the end of the event (48 hours)
  • A “working prototype” means that the game is playable so its mechanics can be clearly demonstrated
  • The prototype does not have to be a complete polished product
• All source code and rights are retained by whoever created the game. We ask that if you participate, allow us to offer screenshots and a playable version of game for free download on the Philly Game Jam web site.
• All games should be based, however loosely, on the theme announced at the start of the contest.
• This is not a “head-to-head” competition, so students, hobbyists and professionals are encouraged to participate.
• All work is to be done on site. People can leave the premises if they need to, but we ask that you do all the game development on site.
• Team members should bring sleeping bags. We will provide a large open space with tables, powers supplies, and room that members can throw down a sleeping bag and grab a nap during the course of the 48-hour event. Better yet, we suggest you take advantage of the discounted room rates at nearby hotels for a nearby place to crash and shower.
• We hope to have water and snack food on hand, but teams will be responsible for their own meals.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a cost of entry?
A: Yes. We are doing $70 a team to help cover costs. To register, click here. Registration is now closed.

Q: Does entry into the game jam = entry into the expo?
A: Yup!

Q: Do we need to pre-register teams? What’s the team size?
A: Yes. The minimum team size is 3 with a max of 8 people. To register, click here. Registration is now closed.

Q: Is there an expected cap on the number of teams registering? How soon should we register?
A: We aren’t really capping the size, but we are estimating 120. We ask that you register as soon as possible. There will be no on-site team sign-ups. To register, click here. Registration is now closed.

Q: Are we working in the same space as 2009?
A: Yes and no. It is the same building, but in a different section. We also have rooms just for sleeping this year!

Q: Are people able to leave/re-enter whenever they like?
A: Yup!

Q: What time does it start on Friday and end on Sunday?
A: We will be starting at 5PM on Friday and ending at 5PM on Sunday.

Q: Is there a competition/judging/prize component or is it ‘just for fun’?
A: It will be a competition, but we are still determining if there will be physical prizes for the winners.

Q: Is the event BYO tech as usual?
A: Yes.

Q: What’s the difference between Philly Game Jam and Global Game Jam that takes place earlier in the year?
A: There are some slight differences. With Philly Game Jam, you come with your team already formed. In Global Game Jam, you come as an individual and teams are formed on site. Also, Global Game Jam focuses more on collaboration while Philly Game Jam is a competition.