JAMMING THE CURVE: COVID-19 Game Jam
Fight the COVID-19 pandemic with creativity, ingenuity and science!
Opportunity to win cash prizes and a development grant!

Jam Begins: September 15th, 2020
Jam Ends: October 1st 2nd, 2020 (extended)
Join here: https://itch.io/jam/jamming-the-curve
IndieCade, The National Academy of Sciences LabX, Games For Our Future, Seattle Indies, Georgia Tech DILAC, University of Washington Earthlab, COST, Premack Rogers PC, and Northeastern University’s Game Studio present Jamming the Curve!
Jamming the curve is a two week “slow jam” happening on the IndieCade Discord server between September 15, 2020 and October 1 October 2, 2020. (end date extended)
One of the greatest challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic is convincing people to take the necessary actions to protect their own and others’ safety, to do what health experts call “flattening the curve.” Behavioral research shows that the two most important factors in prosocial pandemic behavior are critical thinking and belief in science. The goal of this jam is to leverage the power of games to help promote these prosocial behaviors based on science and critical thinking.
Jamming the Curve brings game developers, scientists, and researchers together for a two-week slow jam to learn from each other and show the power of games to translate data into stories, dispelling misinformation or misconceptions, and demonstrating the relationship between individual behaviors and large-scale impacts, all in a form that is easily digestible by a broader public.
The project provides gamemakers access to two simulation engines (one in Unity and one in html) developed at Georgia Tech that allow them to develop games based on epidemiological models built with real world scientific data regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The simulation engines support the creation of games that will enable players to interact with a range of real-world variables to see different outcomes. The simulations allow game creators to model a variety of scenarios, ranging from individual stories, to small-scale systems, such as a family, grocery store, school or neighborhood, to large-scale systems like a city or an airline network. Participants are welcome to use these simulation engines or any engines or tools they are familiar and comfortable with to make digital or tabletop/physical games for this jam.
Cash Prizes and Development Grant: Five winning teams will each receive $1,000 cash and be showcased at the IndieCade Anywhere and Everywhere Festival. These winning teams will have the opportunity to further develop their idea to win a $20,000 game development grant. Prizes are being funded by LabX.
Themes: The following themes should help guide—though not limit—your creations:
Infection
- Testing & Contact Tracing
- Containment measures
Vaccine
- Development & Distribution
- Accessibility
Inequity
- Socioeconomic
- Regional
Misinformation
- Government
- Mainstream Media
- Social media
- Word of mouth
Policy
- Public & Corporate
- Preparation & Health Sustainability
Participants will be tasked with creating a game between 9/15/2020 and 10/1/2020 10/2/2020 (end date extended), in whatever format they choose, while using the themes as guidance. Form a team with others or work solo – you decide!
The jam is open to people of all skill levels, newcomers are always welcome, and we will ensure that everyone finds a team to join that fits your skills and interests. Experienced mentors will be available on Discord throughout the event to help answer questions about game development tools, engines, and principles along with public health experts who will be available to answer your scientific questions. You can find the Mentor Schedule below.
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndieCade and use the #JAMMINGTHECURVE for the latest news and updates.
Simulation Engine and Game Demonstrations: https://indiecadejammingthecurve.iac.gatech.edu
Simulation Engine Unity Tutorial (updated): https://youtu.be/ix7Ek95abzU
Simulation Engine HTML Tutorial: https://youtu.be/RnYCeEYbCKk
Resources and Preparation for the Jam
As a run-up to the event, Jamming the Curve launched with a July 29th workshop as part of IndieCade’s Summer Series which introduced the simulation engine, demonstration games created at Georgia Tech and INDCOR’s summer Complexity Jam, and receive feedback from game design and scientific experts, and a tutorial on how to use the simulation engine in game development. The workshop has been recorded to enable those interested in participating in the jam to review the materials and have advance access to the engine, as well as the previously developed games.
Expert Videos:
https://labx.org/jamming-the-curve/expert-videos/#jammenu
Launch Workshop Video: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/699454158
Sean Bloom plays the games from Georgia Tech and INDCOR’s ComplexityJam: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/699460685
Timeline
JAM SCHEDULE & MILESTONES
7/29 Launch Workshop
7/29-9/15 Itch.io Sign-Up Open
9/15 Jam Kickoff
9/21 Prototype Milestone
10/1 10/2 Final Game Prototypes Due (end date extended)
10/1-10/12 Covid Jam Award Jurying
10/16-10/18 Demo Session & Game Jam Awards at IndieCade Anywhere & Everywhere
Mentor Schedule
Mentors will be available on the IndieCade Discord server. You can find their bios here: https://labx.org/jamming-the-curve/mentors/#jammenu
3-4am PDT: Jennifer Carinci
Discord Handle: Jennifer Carinci
Area of Expertise: middle school teaching; art; educational research; undergraduate STEM; strategy
8-9am PDT: Farhan Malik
Discord Handle: Farhan Malik
Area of Expertise: Technology Strategy and Enterprise Architecture
8-11am PDT: Sang Nam
Discord Handle: Prof. Nam
Area of Expertise: educational games, Unity, programming, AR, VR, game design
9-11am PDT: Matt Frieman
Discord Handle: ProfMatt
Area of Expertise: coronavirus, SARS, infectious disease
10-11am PDT: Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova
Discord Handle: SGT
Area of Expertise: infectious diseases, drug discovery/development, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, bacteria, fungi
3-5pm PDT: Sarah Matthews
Discord Handle: sarahmatthews
Area of Expertise: infectious disease, outbreak management, epidemiology, crisis leadership
6-7am PDT: Joyonna Gamble-George
Discord Handle: Joyonna Gamble-George
Area of Expertise: “health disparities,” “infectious disease,” “artificial intelligence,” “neuroscience,” “health services management,” and “public health”
8-9am PDT: Allison Mathews
Discord Handle: drallisonmathews
Area of Expertise: misinformation, infectious disease, health disparities, start up business, social media
9-10am PDT: Laura Thomas-Walters
Discord Handle: Drapery
Area of Expertise: Message framing; motivations; experimental games
10am-12pm PDT: Gabriel Koenig
Discord Handle: ghosttime
Area of Expertise: experimental games, games physics, procedural generation
10-11am PDT: Hussam Mahmoud
Discord Handle: Hussam
Area of Expertise: Healthcare functionality, infectious disease, Resilience and recovery
10-11am PDT: Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova
Discord Handle: SGT
Area of Expertise: infectious diseases, drug discovery/development, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, bacteria, fungi
4-5pm PDT: Taylor Burkholder
Discord Handle: tayburkholder
Area of Expertise: emergency medicine, public health, global health, health disparities, emerging infectious diseases
8-10am PDT: Matt Frieman
Discord Handle: ProfMatt
Area of Expertise: coronavirus, SARS, infectious disease
9-10am PDT: Sam Bond
Discord Handle: SamBond
Area of Expertise: Medical illustration, serious games, educational games, cardiology, cardiac rehabilitation, learning theory
9-10am PDT: Joseph Tucker
Discord Handle: JoeT #2409
Area of Expertise: infectious diseases, clinical medicine, crowdsourcing, open innovation
1-2pm PDT: Kathleen Deck
Discord Handle: Kathleen#6726
Area of Expertise: art, design, curriculum/education
1-2pm PDT: Jeanette L. DePatie
Discord Handle: Jeanette
Area of Expertise: Educational Game design, marketing, public relations, brainstorming, design thinking, testing
11am-12pm PDT: Danielle Golovin
Discord Handle: DanielleGolovin
Area of Expertise: biology, neuroscience, educational games, writing, vaccines
12-2pm PDT: Gabriel Koenig
Discord Handle: ghosttime
Area of Expertise: experimental games, games physics, procedural generation
1-2pm PDT: Lynsay MacLaren Ehui
Discord Handle: LynsayEhui
Area of Expertise: Infectious disease, public health, health disparities
3-4am PDT: Jennifer Carinci
Discord Handle: Jennifer Carinci
Area of Expertise: middle school teaching; art; educational research; undergrauate STEM; strategy
9-10am PDT: Laura Thomas-Walters
Discord Handle: Drapery
Area of Expertise: Message framing; motivations; experimental games
9-11am PDT: Sarah Matthews
Discord Handle: sarahmatthews
Area of Expertise: infectious disease, outbreak management, epidemiology, crisis leadership
8-9am PDT: Farhan Malik
Discord Handle: farhan#5780
Area of Expertise: Technology Strategy and Enterprise Architecture
8-11am PDT: Sang Nam
Discord Handle: Prof. Nam
Area of Expertise: educational games, Unity, programming, AR, VR, game design
10-11am PDT: Jeanette L. DePatie
Discord Handle: Jeanette
Area of Expertise: Educational Game design, marketing, public relations, brainstorming, design thinking, testing
12-1pm PDT: Rebecca Leeb
Discord Handle: rt from CDC
Area of Expertise: mental health, emotional well being, public health, disaster/emergency preparedness, children and adolescents
1-2pm PDT: Robyn Cree
Discord Handle: Robyn Cree#5474
Area of Expertise: Disaster mental health, stigma, stress and coping, disability
3-4pm PDT: Taylor Burkholder
Discord Handle: tayburkholder
Area of Expertise: emergency medicine, public health, global health, health disparities, emerging infectious diseases
6-7am PDT: Joyonna Gamble-George
Discord Handle: Joyonna Gamble-George
Area of Expertise: “health disparities,” “infectious disease,” “artificial intelligence,” “neuroscience,” “health services management,” and “public health”
8-9am PDT: Hussam Mahmoud
Discord Handle: Hussam
Area of Expertise: Healthcare functionality, infectious disease, Resilience and recovery
12-1pm PDT: Lisa Hightow-Weidman
Discord Handle: Lisa H-W
Area of Expertise: infectious diseases, adolescents/young adults, health disparities, HIV/STIs
1-2pm PDT: Tim North
Discord Handle: tim-of-the-north#7785
Area of Expertise: Engieering, Rendering, Game Mechanics
7:30-8:30am PDT: Allison Mathews
Discord Handle: drallisonmathews
Area of Expertise: misinformation, infectious disease, health disparities, start up business, social media
8-9am PDT: Hussam Mahmoud
Discord Handle: Hussam
Area of Expertise: Healthcare functionality, infectious disease, Resilience and recovery
9-10am PDT: Joseph Tucker
Discord Handle: JoeT #2409
Area of Expertise: infectious diseases, clinical medicine, crowdsourcing, open innovation
9-10am PDT: Sam Bond
Discord Handle: SamBond
Area of Expertise: Medical illustration, serious games, educational games, cardiology, cardiac rehabilitation, learning theory
1-2pm PDT: Kathleen Deck
Discord Handle: Kathleen#6726
Area of Expertise: art, design, curriculum/education
11am-12pm PDT: Danielle Golovin
Discord Handle: DanielleGolovin
Area of Expertise: biology, neuroscience, educational games, writing, vaccines
1-2pm PDT: Lynsay MacLaren Ehui
Discord Handle: LynsayEhui
Area of Expertise: Infectious disease, public health, health disparities
Thank you to our partners and supporters!
