asylum-jam
Latest
Horror-themed design competition Asylum Jam kicks off this week
Indie developers are gearing up for the Asylum Jam, a 48-hour game development competition that challenges participants to design a horror game without falling back on mental health stereotypes common to the genre. In an effort to broaden entries and encourage alternate approaches to the genre, Asylum Jam competitors must avoid using "asylums, psychiatric institutes, medical professionals or violent/antipathic/'insane' patients as settings or triggers." Developers may devote a total of 48 hours of active development time to their project over the three-day Jam, and may work either alone or as a team. "This jam is to show that you can still create a great horror experience without using inaccurate stereotypes of those who suffer from mental illness, or the institutions that support them in diagnosis and recovery," Jam creator Lucy Morris explains. Interested developers can sign up online before the event officially begins on October 11. Devs searching for teammates can consult the Jam's Looking for Group Google Doc
Asylum Jam aims to instill horror without mental health stereotypes
Asylum Jam, a 48-hour game jam scheduled for October 11, will focus on developing horrifying experiences without contributing to the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Participants are to avoid the implementation of asylums, psych wards, medical professionals and insane patients in their submissions. Concerning the jam's importance, its site references the World Health Organization's report that one in four people worldwide "will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives." The involved press release states that Asylum Jam is intended to show "that you can still create a great horror experience without using inaccurate stereotypes." Asylum Jam's website notes Slender: The Eight Pages, Among the Sleep, One Late Night and SCP Containment Breach as positive examples of modern horror. Asylum Jam will use Brett Chalupa's BMO engine and those interested in participating should check back the jam's website for sign-up links "closer to the event."
