This 2016 Science Game Jam was held over two days on April 23-24, 2016 at the California Academy of Sciences. Nine teams of teens from across the Bay Area gathered to rapidly develop digital climate games on the topics of Bay Area food, water, and energy. The game jammers were ably assisted by our TechTeens, scientists from Solectria Solar, Stanford University, and the University of Washington, and games experts from EA, GlassLab Games, and the Academy.
Prizes were awarded for best game design, best science content, and best overall. Check out the winning games and the other finished games below!
Winner: Best Overall
Team: The Flying Unicorns
Members: Laurel W, Oscar G, Allison L, and Olivia B
Two mini-games related to water saving technologies and water conservation, with a character Foxy teaching you about different water technologies.
Winner: Best Science Content
Team: Sam, Daniel, and Jane
Members: Jane E, Daniel F, and Sam S
A farming simulator where the player has to make smart crop choices based on the environmental conditions, which effects the outcome of the game.
Winner: Best Game Design
Team: Up Dogs
Members: Zachary L, Bryan R, and Josiah R
Power your electric car by racing around to find parts needed to assemble a solar power generator.
Team: B4
Members: Jazara M, Eli P, Maximillian B, and Yev B
Make different choices as a food consumer, and learn the environmental impact of one's selections.
Team: The Benders
Members: Joshua R, Victor L, Charles L, and Elizabeth O
A fun, fast-paced game where you defend a city's water supply from a variety of pollutants.
Team: Coding Against Climate Change
Members: Owen B, Tim B, and Nathaniel G
A complex multiplayer resource allocation game where players race to develop power plants and factories, while balancing the needs of the populace and their environmental impact, while also making a profit.
Team: Drift
Members: Jayden H, Janani S, Hannah H, and Nachi G
A farm management game, the player picks from three crops to make a profit as a farmer, while also keeping an eye on their water usage. If the player earns enough money, they can upgrade their farming technology to be more water-efficient.
Team: Flying Penguins
Members: Rebecca L, Terence L, and Eric M
In this virtual reality experience, the player is shown the dramatic water impact of their food choices. Designed to be played with a Google Cardboard VR viewer.
Team: J-SPAM
Members: Jamilla S, Stacy H, Melinda L, Amy H, and Philana N
An adventure-type game where the player has to go from room to room to complete energy-related challenges, including charging a battery with the sun, collecting coal, and harnessing the wind for power.
The Academy's first jam held in April 2015 had a diverse group of 50 Bay Area teens creating prototype games!
On an October weekend, local tech companies prototyped games, and Academy youth served as beta testers!
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