Playcrafting & Microsoft Tool Jam!

Come help us create useful software tools for game developers!

Microsoft is teaming up with Playcrafting SF to present Tool Jam! Join us for a weekend hackathon as we gather to create helpful software tools for game developers.

Developers of all sizes, backgrounds, and budgets face the same technical roadblocks and challenges. It may be as simple as common repetitive tasks that could be automated, or as innovative as a new SDK that will become the industry standard for AR/VR development. Instead of creating a prototype or pitching a concept, we want to bring together top-tier developers to create tools that will help people immediately. These tools won’t exist until we come together and make them.

All code made during the event will be released open sourced on GitHub, so that everyone will benefit from the tools created. Developers trying to solve their own problems they face in their current projects will help themselves as much as they will be helping the next generation of game developers.

 For Attendees:

The site will be open starting Friday evening (May 13th) at the Microsoft Reactor in San Francisco (680 Folsom Street) to meet each other, come up with ideas, form into teams, and begin hacking. Work will continue through Saturday (May 14th), and end Sunday (May 15th) when the teams will then present their final projects. While the space will be open 24/7, we won’t have sleeping or shower arrangements. You should plan accordingly. Video will be recorded of the final presentations, and included in the documentation of each project.

Primarily we want developers, but we are also interesting in bringing in designers, artists, and other folks who can help create game development tools. What will we work on exactly? That’s up to you! As long as it is designed to help a game developer. You can work by yourself if you rather, or we can place you on a team with others. We only ask that whatever you work on, you release it open source at the end of the weekend so that others can benefit from the work. I don’t know what you would make? That’s ok! We will have multiple ideas on hand in case you can’t come up with something that appeals to you more.

Schedule:

Friday 
6:30pm – Networking / Team Formation 
7:00pm Welcome talk. Keynote. Explanation of event. 
7:30-9:00pm Finalize teams, assign tables

9:00pm Onward: Hacking

Saturday 
9am – Breakfast
12pm - Lunch 
7pm – 10pm - Playcrafting Expo!

10:00pm Onward: Back to Hacking

Sunday 
9am – Breakfast
Noon - Lunch 
3pm – Hacking stops 
3-4pm – Wrap up keynote, finalize submission process 
4pm – Group presentations of projects on video

Join us Saturday Night for Playcrafting SFO's Spring Expo!

Take a break from the Tool Jam and check out Playcrafting's Spring Expo! Over seventy game developers will be gathering at the Reactor to show off their latest games one-on-one to a crowd of 400 people. For developers, this is a great opportunity to show off their games (finished or unfinished) and get direct feedback from players. For everyone else, it's a unique opportunity to try out the biggest collection of games made in and around San Francisco all in one place. Each game gets its own booth as players meet the developers and try out their games. Throw pizza into the mix and you get Playcrafting's biggest event! TICKETS AND DETAILS HERE

For Developers:
We're accepting submissions for this event. If you'd like to submit your game, please fill out the online form. We'll reach out to confirm inclusion!