Incubation

OCTOBER/2023 to JANUARY/2024

Build and Pitch submission:
January 15

Mentoring with renowned professionals in the field of game development of all around the world.

Get ready to the Global Incubation Journey

The GJ+ Incubation is where you improve the games produced in the Game Jam!

Through mentoring, lectures and conversations, this stage will help in the process of strengthening the teams, enabling new partnerships and opportunities to transform the games into attractive products for investors!

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market research

Matheus Borba, CEO of Gogo Games Interactive, shares his insights on how to develop a product (game). Some key points include: Market research (identifying the preferred device of the audience), monetization methodology, networking at events, free software, asset sales, and the best platform for publishing games.

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Game User Experience - UX

Claudio Gusmão, the founder of UX4INDIE and a game design professor at Anhembi Morumbi, shares his expertise on how to create an ideal user experience by understanding users’ needs, expectations, and emotions when interacting with a product. Some of the key points are: accessibility, engagement, storytelling, visual and audio language, challenges vs. skills, feedback and flow.

creative direction

Mike Swanson, Art Manager from God of War Ragnarök, shares his experiences in creative direction, art, and team management in the gaming universe, offering insights into the delicate balance between artistic expression to deliver best-in class visual and effective team management.

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sound design

Victor Hime, director at Flutu Music, a studio dedicated to video game soundtracks and sound design. Hime has guided us through the step-by-step process of developing sound in a game, particularly in three major areas: sound effects, music, and technical audio.

project management

Dazia Pineda, a professional in Computational Technologies with expertise in Intelligent Systems and Visual Computing in Monterrey, Mexico, and holds a certification in Project Management from the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico explained to us the importance of effective management of video game projects. How to make money with the game? It requires an understanding of how skilled teams organize, coordinate, and execute projects from inception to launch.

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Programming your game in Unity

Caio Hudson is a programmer and technical artist at Itsy Bitsy Game Studio and Firasoft. He will guide you through a step-by-step tutorial on programming in Unity, showcasing what makes Unity so special and why it’s the ideal choice for those looking to learn programming and develop their first game.

Narrative Design

Melina Juraski, a geographer and Game Designer at IBICT and 99jobs, guided us through the universe of Narrative Design. She taught us about Environmental Storytelling, demonstrating how to incorporate elements into the scenario that breathe life into the game’s narrative. Furthermore, she emphasized the connection between geography and game design, resulting in narrative experiences that elevate your game to significant success. Examples such as Pokémon, Zelda, and GTA were used to illustrate tips on enhancing the game’s narrative.

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What does a Game Designer do?

Daniel Sanchez is a Unity Instructor of technologies for Latin America and Unity education ambassador. Sanchez explained the extensive role of the Game Designer, covering everything from conceiving the idea and the creative process, the balance between narrative and mechanics, the monetization methods, organizing the team, to the execution of the final game and the pitch.

How to do a Level Design?

Malinalli Segura teaches us about the role of Level Design and the game interface in organizing gameplay elements. She will explore how to create captivating challenges, intriguing obstacles, and exciting achievements that will engage the player mentally and visually, providing unique and immersive gaming experiences.

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2D Illustration

Cecilia Santos works as an art director at Itsy Bitsy Game Studio and Sunblack Game Studio. In this tutorial, you will learn about 2D Concept Art, covering not only drawing techniques but also the entire thought process behind the creation. Discover tips on sketching engaging characters, captivating scenes, and objects that tell a story on their own, exploring how each visual element contributes to the narrative.

3D Modeling

Robson Matos, a 3D artist at Pixelcraft Studio, conducted a tutorial on navigating the Blender interface, providing a step-by-step guide on how the tool works and the fundamental principles for creating 3D assets. The tutorial covers applying textures and lighting to a Unity scene.

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What is and what does a QA (Quality Assurance) professional do?

Dio Franco graduated in Game Design from Anhembi Morumbi in São Paulo, specializes in quality engineering from Senac University Center, and currently works as a Game Producer at Hermit Crab. He teaches us what a QA professional is and does, showcasing testing methodologies and strategies that assist in implementing quality assurance in games, detecting and correcting erros and bugs before the game’s launch.

UX and usability testing in game development

Mwaaba Mugala from Zambia is a director and co-founder of a studio called Epic Arts. He guided us in a lecture about UX and usability testing in game development. We will learn how to consider all aspects of the game, aiming to create an engaging experience for players. Additionally, we will understand the methodical evaluation process focused on user experience and interface design with the primary goal of ensuring the game is intuitive, enjoyable, and easy to use.

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next steps

CONTINENTAL FINALS

You're welcome to hop on board the GameJamPlus track during the Incubation. Simply connect with an existing team and dive into the mentorship sessions. This way, you'll have the opportunity to compete in the Continental Final alongside your team.