Organized by MUGI – Macedonian Union of the Gaming Industry & Semos Education

Supported by the Integrity Driven Communities

In collaboration with Galactic Omnivore & Base42

🌟 Overview

The Passion to Profession game jam continues our mission to grow the Macedonian and regional game industry by educating, inspiring, and connecting future creators.

As a spiritual successor to last year’s Empowering The Next Generation of Game Developers jam, this event is more than a creative challenge – it’s the next step in MUGI’s long-term vision: turning fresh ideas into future game studios through structured mentorship, collaboration, and innovation.

No experience required!
Create a Digital or Physical Game!
If you love games, storytelling, art, or code – this is where it begins!

📝How to participate 

1. Register for the jam on itch.io
2. Fill out this REGISTRATION FORM
3. Join our Discord and select the "I want to game jam" option on the first question.
   
4. Find your team or go solo.
5. Submit Your Game: Ensure your game is submitted by December 26, 2025, at 19:00 (Local Time).
6. Vote and Play: During the voting period from December 26 to December 29, 2025, play and rate the games submitted by other participants.
7. Bonus: Take advantage of the educational modules Passion to Profession and our mentors on Discord to up-skill and make greater games on the game jam!

🎯 Theme & Focus - Neighborhood White Hats / Маалски Херои

Diversifiers

Diversifiers: Keep the core, but reframe them as mechanics that game creators can choose to include in their game:

🛠 Integrity Lens – Show how municipal systems can resist corruption or abuse

🔍 Accountability Lens – Actions have consequences; bad decisions are exposed

🗳 Participation Lens – Citizens influence outcomes, not just leaders

Bonus Points

Games that meaningfully include women and marginalized groups in decision-making roles through:

• playable characters
• core mechanics (voting, consensus, negotiation)
• systemic influence (budgets, priorities, public trust)

🗓️ Timeline (GMT+1 / CET)

All times are CET (GMT+1). Hybrid event: online + in-person in Skopje, Macedonia.

🌱 What Is a Game Jam?

A game jam is a short creative event where teams build a playable prototype under a shared theme – like a hackathon, but for games.

Why it matters:

• ⚙️ Sparks innovation through creative constraints

• 🤝 Builds teamwork and leadership skills

• 💡 Produces new ideas, IPs, and prototypes

• 🚀 Serves as the seed stage for future studios

Each team is a piece of a bigger picture – the growing Macedonian game development ecosystem.

🧩 The MUGI Ecosystem

This jam is Phase 2: Game Jam in MUGI’s four-step ecosystem for developing the regional gaming industry.

Stage 1 – 🎓 Education

Workshops & lectures with Semos Education → skills & mentorship

Stage 2 – 🎮 Game Jam (this event)
Create a playable prototype → new IPs & studio teams

Stage 3 – 🚀 Accelerator (2026)
Business mentoring & startup support → studio formation

Stage 4 – 🤝 Industry Collaboration
Studios work with real companies → sustainable careers

By joining the jam, you become part of a long-term ecosystem that connects creativity, education, and business.

⚙️ Participation Rules

• Solo or teams up to 6 members

• Use any game engine or tools (Unity, Unreal, Godot, Construct, custom, etc.)

• Digital games must be playable on the Web (HTML5) , Windows or Mac

• Physical games must be uploaded with included instructions on how to play and/or a how to play video

• Use only your own or properly licensed assets (audio, art, code)

• Start your project after the theme reveal – you may use existing tools, engines, and helper libraries, but not pre-made games

• Be respectful and inclusive – no hate speech, NSFW content, or plagiarism

• Jam is free to join

• Recommended age 16+; minors must provide parental consent for in-person participation (details in the registration form)

🌍 You can join from anywhere in Macedonia. In-person coworking and events will take place in Skopje, Macedonia.

🧑‍🏫 Mentors & Learning

During the jam, you’ll have access to:

• Industry mentors from MUGI and Galactic Omnivore

• Semos Education trainers, running short optional online sessions (game design, Unity, art, etc.)

• Discord support for feedback, Q&A, and peer reviews

• IRL coworking days at Base42 & Semos Education in Skopje (Schedules TBA)

We want you to leave the jam with new skills, a finished prototype, and new friends.

🎮 Judging 

Games will be rated by community and jury members based on:

🏅Prizes (Total Prize Pool € 1,500)

• Best Game - €500

• Best Game Design - €250

• Best Art Design - €250

• Best Sound Design - €250

• Best Technical Design - €250

Judging structure (high-level):

• A jury panel of 5–7 members (industry + civic/education experts) will play and score the games.

• Some teams may be invited to continue into the MUGI Accelerator 2026 based on their game’s potential and team interest.

🚀 Why Join the Jam?

Gain hands-on game development experience and community mentorship

• Publish your first game and start or grow your portfolio

• Connect with industry mentors, sponsors, and potential employers

• Unlock future opportunities in the MUGI Accelerator 2026

• Become part of a movement shaping Macedonia’s gaming industry and the broader regional ecosystem

All participants receive digital certificates.

💬 Join the Community

• 💻 Discord– team matchmaking, announcements & mentor chat

• 🧭 IRL coworking at Base42 & Semos Education (Skopje)

• 🎥 Online sessions with Semos Education mentors + community talks

Jam languages: Macedonian & English.

📜 Code of Conduct

We want a safe, inclusive, and non-partisan event for everyone.

• Be kind, inclusive, and professional

• No harassment, discrimination, or hate speech

• No NSFW or illegal content

• No partisan political campaigning – focus on systems, ethics, and constructive solutions

• Report misconduct to the organizer team immediately (contact info below); we reserve the right to remove participants who violate the Code of Conduct
  

🔐 Ownership & Data

Ownership of Materials

• You retain full rights and IP to your game.
• By submitting, you grant MUGI and partners permission to showcase your project with credit in promotional or educational content (streams, posts, reports, etc.). 
• Registration and participation data will be used only for jam-related communication and anonymized reporting. We follow GDPR-friendly practices

Data & Privacy

• Personal data will be used only for game-jam administration, communication, and reporting, handled in accordance with EU GDPR standards, and stored securely. Aggregated or anonymized data may be used for reporting purposes.

🤝 Sponsors & Partners

Title Sponsor 2025 (Theme Partner) 

Integrity Driven Communities

Organizers 

MUGI – Macedonian Union of the Gaming Industry

Semos Education

Community Partners

Galactic Omnivore – game dev community 

Base42 Skopje – hackerspace & tech-hub

💡 Interested in sponsoring the jam?

Request the sponsorship deck at mugi@mugi.mk

📞 Contact & Links

• 🌐 mugi.mk

• 🌐 Semos Education

• 💬 Join Discord

• 📧 filip.georgievski@semos.com.mk

• 📧 mugi@mugi.mk