'Print-and-Play' Game Competition

Date: Competition opens Monday 1st June 2020 and closes on Tuesday 30th June 2020 (21:00 BST). Winner will be announced on Friday 31st July 2020.

Where to submit: Submit your game here https://itch.io/jam/the-mgsn-game-jam

The Manchester Game Studies Network is delighted to announce the inaugural MGSN Game Jam. The theme is ‘Print and Play’ and we’re inviting designers old and new to come up with games that fit on just 4 sheets of A4 paper. We’re looking for exciting new board games, card games, RPGs, dexterity games - anything that can be printed at home! Have you got what it takes to pit your wits against other designers from across the world and claim the coveted MGSN Game Jam trophy?

The competition opens on Monday 1st June 2020 and closes on Tuesday 30th June 2020 (21:00 BST). Entries will be judged in terms of Gameplay, Accessibility, Rules, Design, and Print-and-playability, and we’ll announce the winner on Friday 31st July 2020.

THE RULES

Make any game you like within the following restrictions:

Games should be designed for Print and Play and components and rules may use no more than 4 A4 sheets of paper. You can print on both sides.

Components can include 6-sided dice.

Rules and components must be in English.

Designers must have full legal rights over the games entered. This includes the use of text and images. Games may include content protected by Creative Commons licenses providing they adhere to the rules regarding redistribution and derivative work.

Only one submission per participant (including group submissions).

Games must be submitted here: https://itch.io/jam/the-mgsn-game-jam.

Find out more here: https://www.manchestergamestudies.org/game-jam

Not sure where to start? We’ve teamed up with experienced games designers from across the world to create a suite of short videos, all of which should help you in the development of both your games and your skills as games designers. Watch them below.

Games Design - Legendary games designer Martin Wallace (Brass, Discworld: Ankh-Morpork, WIldlands) provides insight into what makes a good game. 

Print and Play - Martin Gonzalvez, host of Facebook’s Martin’s PnP Hideaway, talks us through the dos and don’ts of making games for print and play.

Playtesting - Celebrated games designer Matthew Dunstan (Elysium, Chocolate Factory) explores how to effectively playtest games. 

Accessibility - Academic and games developer Michael Heron discusses how to ensure your games are as accessible as possible. 

Social Issues - Multidisciplinary artist Hwa Young Jung talks about designing games to explore social issues

Solo Play - Award-winning games designer Tristan Hall (Gloom of Kilforth, 1066, Tears to Many Mothers, and Veilwraith: A Solo Fantasy Quest Game), shares his thoughts on designing games for solo play.

How to submit - Games Design Lecturer Matthew Crossley talks you through how to submit you game to itch.io. Good luck!

Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to disability equality. If you have any access requirements, please let us know by emailing lucy.simpson@mmu.ac.uk before you attend to help us to make sure that your visit to the event is as enjoyable as possible.