Friends & Family Games Design Jam

Following the launch of our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign, we've teamed up with campaign sponsors Rocksteady Studios (Batman: Arkham, Suicide Squad) and campaign partners Fleet Studios to call for budding game designers along with friends and family to join a crash course in game design.

They say that if you can design a tabletop game, you can design video games. So we'll be taking you through the creative journey of designing your very own tabletop game, learning what it really takes to keep players of all ages and gaming experiences hooked.

The "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" aims to bring young people and aspiring games professionals from underrepresented backgrounds closer to the video game industry, empowering them to be a part of shaping its future.

The campaign was originally launched in 2022 and has become a yearly nationwide initiative continuing the push for diversity in games culture and industry. This year's campaign was kicked off in April 2023 with a new snapshot of 40 players and makers showcasing the representation that does exist today to inspire future generations of diverse talent.

The day will take place at Fleet Studios and on arrival you'll be welcomed by mayamada staff and get to meet other teams of game designers. We'll spend the afternoon designing tabletop games using cards, dice, craft materials and buckets of creativity.

Attendees will be guided through brainstorming, design, prototyping and playtesting stages before presenting their games to some of the UK's biggest video game companies! This is an accessible way to learn about game design skills that are key to video game design.

And prizes will be on the offer for those with the best-designed game. But we're not just giving prizes for the best overall design...our team will be looking out for characteristics that make the difference when it comes to making the biggest games in the world. Prizes for teamwork, creativity and clear player communication will be up for grabs, so come along and give it your best!

This is an event for young and aspiring designers of all ages to team up with friends and family members, working together to design their tabletop game with a fun design brief set by mayamada.

At the end of the event, game prototypes will be presented to a panel of judges from the video games industry. They'll be on hand to give constrictive feedback and celebrate the work done by the groups with prizes for the best design, teamwork and creativity.

We'll be just around the corner from London Blackfriars Station (National Rail, London Underground District and Circle lines): 8-12 New Bridge St, London EC4V 6AL

We're proud to have a number of organisations supporting the "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign. A special thanks goes to our campaign sponsors Rocksteady Studios! Their support allows us to put on free events as part of the campaigns ensure that everyone can take part and get closer to the video games industry.

You can check out lookilikeagamer.com to find out more about the campaign today.

Why only tabletop design?

We want to create an experience that is inclusive and accessible for people of all ages. Everyone is able to get into tabletop games where lengthy Dungeons & Dragons campaigns or a quick game of Uno. By focusing on low tech design principles, we are able to engage young people and parents while learning the key principles of game design whether you're working in Unreal Engine 5 or have a hand full of dice.

How many people can be in a team?

A team can be a minimum of 2 people to a maximum of 4 and made of young people, friends parents and guardians. We are creating an environment where everyone can take part and discover the process of game design.

I've never design a game before, can I still attend?

Of course! This event is designed to be an accessible entry point to the world of game design. So don't worry if you have never tried to design a game before, we'll be supporting you along with developers from some of the biggest video game companies in the country!

Is there an age limit for taking part?

There is no age limit to the event...in fact, we're encouraging young and aspiring designers to work together with older family members so all can learn the process of game design and leave with enough knowledge to support each other.

I work in games design, can I attend?

We would love to have your support! If you work in the games industry and would like to volunteer your time to support teams with their tabletop design, prototyping and testing, then get in touch with the campaign team via email: [email protected].

Will the venue be accessible?

We regret to inform that the venue lift will be out of order for the event. This means that, unfortunately, the event space will not be fully accessible. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our attendees who were planning to attend.

Please note that this situation is specific to this venue and event only. We typically ensure that all our event venues are fully accessible, but this issue is beyond our control, and we continue to aim for venues that are accessible wherever we can for the campaign events we run.

If you have any concerns or require any assistance regarding this matter, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

What are your COVID-19 procedures?

We ask that all attendees make use of the hand sanitising station on entry to the venue. The Friends + Family Game Design Jam is a mask friendly event. While it is no longer mandatory to wear masks, we encourage attendees to consider others during the event.

Our event team will be helping to keep workplaces clean to reduce the risk of infection. This means surface will be cleaned during breaks and as needed during the day.

Host or Publisher mayamada