General information and FAQs

Truth, Lies & Democracy is the first game jam dedicated to combating fake news, misinformation, and disinformation. It will take place on May 17, 18, and 19 at the Canòdrom - Ateneu de Innovació Democràtica in Barcelona, as part of the European Capital of Democracy initiative.

The registration period is from February 1 to March 31 through this link for individuals aged 18 to 30 residing throughout the Spanish territory with previous experience in the field of video games.

The jury, composed of Simona Levi (founder of XNet), Arturo Monedero (vice president of AEVI), and Inés Alcolea Llopis (PR & Communication Manager at Gameloft), will select the teams. You can check the list of mentors here.

The selected projects will have the opportunity to participate in a dedicated space at IndieDevDay 2024 in Barcelona and will receive pre-incubation advice from ArsGames. Additionally, GameBCN will provide a shared consulting session to a selection of resulting games, and DeviCat will grant recognition and personalized support to one of the resulting projects.

Two European teams will travel to participate in the game jam through agreements with universities and related institutions. From France, Game in Society will send a team specialized in impactful video games, while from Denmark, the Center for Digital Play at IT University will participate with students from the Master in Games programme.

Interested individuals can fill out the following form before Sunday, March 31.

For questions and inquiries, you can write to [email protected].

The organization

The event is part of the European Capital of Democracy programme, awarded to the city of Barcelona in its first edition. Its technical office is formed by the Barcelona City Council and the Metropolitan Strategic Plan of Barcelona, as an initiative of the Innovation Politics Institute.

Truth, Lies & Democracy is curated by ArsGames and María Luján Oulton, with the support of local and international collaborators such as Gameloft BCN, GameBCN, IndieDevDay, DeviCat, Nimble Giant Entertainment, ENTI-UB, CITM-UPC, UPF, ENTI-UB, Fundació Maldita.es, and Verificat.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the theme of the jam?

Truth, Lies & Democracy is a game jam dedicated to fake news and democracy, addressing the concepts of intentional misinformation and disinformation. Participating teams are required to develop video games that tackle these issues.

2. Are there any prizes for the winners?

There won't be winners. All selected projects will have the opportunity to participate in a dedicated space at IndieDevDay 2024 in Barcelona. They will also receive pre-incubation advice from ArsGames and commercial consulting from GameBCN.

3. Can I use X engine? What if my game is only available on X platform?

We strive to be as open as possible with the rules. Any engine and resource are allowed (provided there is no copyright infringement and other jam rules are followed). If a game is not available in web format or for Windows and Linux, our team will evaluate it.

4. Where do I sleep if I come from outside?

Some rooms at Canòdrom will be set up for sleeping. It is essential to bring your own mat or sleeping bag if you plan to stay overnight.

Doors will be closed at night for security. Those who wish to return home or stay in a hotel overnight can do so while adhering to the jam's schedule.

Please note that there are no shower facilities in the bathrooms.

5. What is included?

Two breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners (plus snacks and water).

6. What is NOT included?

Participants are responsible for covering the transportation costs to Canòdrom. They should also bring their own computers/laptops and any necessary sleeping equipment.

7. Can individuals participate alone?

The call is exclusively open to pre-formed teams of 2 to 6 people who present a project idea to be developed during the event.