Just Play: A Game Jam for Justice, an official SXSW 2024 games event co-created by Cinereach and Anima Interactive, is set to celebrate the culmination of its global games competition with a reception and awards ceremony on March 9, 2024, at 7:30 pm CST in Austin, Texas.
The event will be held in-person and live-streamed, marking an exciting milestone in the exploration of justice through video game development. Akeem Lawanson of IGN will emcee the awards ceremony, which will feature a special live musical performance by OFK.
From December 1, 2023 - January 6, 2024, video game developers from across the globe passionately jammed alongside fellow participants, exploring a range of topics from systemic injustice to personal narratives. Just Play: A Game Jam for Justice challenged video game developers worldwide to delve into themes of justice in innovative ways, pushing boundaries to inspire new perspectives and exploring the usage of familiar game mechanics to craft entirely new experiences.
The submissions were reviewed by esteemed jurors from companies like ustwo games, Xbox, Netflix Games, and others. These games reflected thoughtful engagement with the theme, touching on crucial issues such as environmental restoration, community building, geopolitical instability in the Middle East, state abortion bans, and more. The finalists, selected from this pool of exceptional entries, will be celebrated at the awards ceremony, with one grand prize winner receiving a $10,000 cash prize.
Here are our 6 finalists in alphabetical order:
Are you Listening?
Crossing Lines
Drawing Up Dust
In the Shadow of the Sun
Pip Pepper Park Planner
Um Al-Zaytoun
The Just Play initiative will extend beyond SXSW, aiming to foster an ecosystem of game developers and players passionate about leveraging video games for positive cultural and social change. The success of this year's jam marks just the beginning of this movement.
From March 10-13, 2024, attendees of the SXSW Creative Industries Expo will have the opportunity to see the winners and finalists of Just Play, demo their games, and continue the conversation around the intersection of gaming and social impact. Visit us at the Expo, Booth # 1037.
Join us via livestream on Twitch to celebrate or in person at SXSW in celebrating the power of game development to ignite meaningful conversations, challenge perspectives, and drive social impact.
For more information and updates, visit JustPlayJam.com.
