This year marks the 5th edition of Green Game Jam organised by the Playing for the Planet Alliance. Unlike other game jams that build games from scratch, the Green Game Jam supports studios to build activations that focus on an environmental theme into their existing games.
In the last four years we’ve planted over 2.5 million trees and raised over $700,000 for wildlife conservation. But in 2024, we want to do things a little differently. We’re asking studios to go one step further, and rally their players to take action in the real world for the environment.
The 2024 activations are currently in production and can be expected to go live the week of September 9th 2024. Make sure to keep an eye on the participating games so that you can catch their activation later in the year.
Whilst we already have our full list of participants locked in, we’re always open to studios who want to get involved. Drop us a note at info@playing4theplanet.org to find out how you can get involved.
Conventional wisdom suggests increasing understanding, awareness, concern, or even fear of climate change are necessary precursors for action.
But even though our knowledge of climate impacts has increased, people’s willingness to act (the intention), was the same in 2014 as it was in 2021. New research suggests that action is the place to start. (IOP Science)
This year’s Green Game Jam aims to empower players to take that first step towards action for the environment. The hope that one action leads to more, creating a chain reaction of small actions that lead to big impact.
Our goal for this year is to get 1 million players to participate in actions that benefit the planet.
The United Nations Environment Programme has three strategic focus areas related to climate, pollution, and nature, which we’ve scaled down to areas relevant to everyday life for this year’s theme:
Mar 14: Food with Crystal Díaz
Mar 28: Design with Arnaud Fayolle
Apr 4: Design with Clayton Whittle
Apr 11: Design with Trevin York
Apr 18: Past Participants Panel
FOOD (Climate)
The production and consumption of sufficient, affordable and nutritious food, while conserving the natural resources and ecosystems on which food systems depend, is vital. Our food system is responsible for 30% of carbon emissions (UN) and is the primary driver of biodiversity collapse (UNEP). How can we make small changes to the way we eat to drive demand for more sustainable food sources?
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WASTE (Pollution)
Humanity generates an estimated 2.24 billion tons of municipal waste annually, of which only 55% is managed in controlled facilities. (World Bank) By 2050, this could rise to 3.88 billion tons per year. Around 931 million tons of food is wasted each year (UNEP), and up to 37 million tons of plastic waste is expected to enter the ocean annually by 2040. (UNEP) How can we reassess the ways we consume to use less and waste less?
RESTORATION (Nature)
We are nothing without nature. Yet forests that would cover an area the size of India have been cut down (UNEP) and 69% of wild species made extinct (WWF). But encouraging biodiversity in our gardens, balconies, parks and town centres is not as huge a task as it may seem. How can we look after the environment around us as a first step towards restoration?
As in past years, there is the opportunity for players to vote on their favourite activation. This will happen in the week of September 9th when most of the activations are live for players to engage with. How many players can you get to vote for your activation? In previous years many participants have used their social media channels both player and industry facing to try to get as many votes as possible. Last year it was a close tie between the 3 finalists. This year we will run the player’s choice voting once the activations are live so that everyone who would like to participate has a chance to engage with the activations.
Judges: Playing for the Planet and UNEP Digital Transformation Team
The award for the studio that lives and breathes the values of the Green Game Jam: collaboration, sharing best practices, working as one team, and cheerleading other studios. This does not have a weighting breakdown.
Judges: Playing for the Planet
The award for the best activation made by a game that has not previously participated in the Green Game Jam. There is no bonus criteria for this award.
Judges: Playing for the Planet
The award for the activation that has broken out of the status quo. It has the wow effect, the unexpected. This has no bonus criteria but the innovation criteria is weighted highest.
Judges: Trevin York, Clayton Whittle, Arnaud Fayolle, and Shayne Hayes
Chosen by representatives of the IGDA Climate SIG, a group of changemakers in the games industry. This award is for the activation that makes the best use of motivational techniques to build the foundations required for action, as provided in the workshop series.
Judges: Shay Thompson, George Osborn, Robert Purchase
Chosen by a team of games media professionals, the award for the activation that excels in storytelling and thought leadership.
Judges: UNEP Digital Transformations Team
Chosen by UNEP’s Digital Transformations Team, the award for the activation that best incorporates the food, waste and/or restoration themes.
Judges: A panel of judges from various Google gaming teams.
Chosen by representatives from Google.
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