https://itch.io/jam/passion-to-profession

This December, the Passion to Profession Game Jam invites beginners and experienced creators from across Macedonia and the region to turn ideas into games – and games into future studios.

Organized by MUGI – Macedonian Union of the Gaming Industry and Semos Education, with National Democratic Institute (NDI) as title sponsor, and in collaboration with Galactic Omnivore and Base42, the jam is built as a bridge between education, creativity, and real industry opportunities.

What Is the Passion to Profession Game Jam?

The jam continues a long-term mission: to grow the Macedonian and regional game industry by educating, inspiring, and connecting future creators. It builds on last year’s “Empowering The Next Generation of Game Developers” as its spiritual successor and next step in MUGI’s broader ecosystem.

Participants will have a few weeks to create either a digital or physical game under a shared theme. No previous experience is required – if you love games, storytelling, art, music, design, or code, you’re welcome to join.

Dates, Format & Location

All times are CET (GMT+1). The event is hybrid: you can join fully online or attend selected in-person activities in Skopje.

- Kickoff & Theme Reveal
December 1, 2025 – 19:00
(Hybrid: Semos Education + Discord)

- Submission Deadline
December 26, 2025 – 19:00

- Voting Period (Community & Jury)
December 26–29, 2025

- Award Ceremony & Showcase
December 29, 2025 – 18:00
(Skopje venue TBA + YouTube Live)

You can join from anywhere in Macedonia; physical coworking and events will be held in Skopje.

Theme & Focus: Games for Good

The specific jam theme will be revealed live at the kickoff event.

For 2025, the overall focus is on “games for good” – projects that explore topics like:

- democracy and civic integrity
- digital citizenship and online safety
- community building and participation

The final theme will be chosen together with the Title Sponsor (NDI) so that the games engage with meaningful real-world issues, without turning into partisan political campaigning.

How to Participate

To take part, participants should follow these steps:

1. Register for the jam on itch.io.
2. Fill in the official registration form (where you’ll also find details such as parental consent for minors).
3. Join the Discord server and select the “I want to game jam” option in the welcome flow.
4. Find your team or go solo. Teams can have up to 6 members.
5. Create your game after the theme reveal and submit it by December 26, 2025 – 19:00.
6. Play & vote on other teams’ games during the voting period (December 26–29).
7. Use the Passion to Profession educational modules and mentors on Discord to learn and level up throughout the jam.

Who Can Join & What Can You Make?

The jam is designed to be beginner-friendly but still exciting for more experienced developers.

Key participation rules:

- Join solo or in teams of up to 6 people
- Use any tools or engine (Unity, Unreal, Godot, Construct, custom tech, etc.)
- Digital games must be playable on Web (HTML5), Windows, or Mac
- Physical games (board/card/RPG etc.) must include clear rules and/or a “how to play” video
- Only use assets (art, audio, code) that you own or have properly licensed
- Start actual development after the theme announcement (you can prepare tools, engines, and helper libraries in advance)
- Be respectful and inclusive – no hate speech, NSFW, illegal, or plagiarized content
- Participation is free
- Recommended age is 16+; younger participants can join in-person with parental consent

The jam is open to participants from all across Macedonia, with English and Macedonian as working languages.

Learning, Mentors & Community Support

Passion to Profession isn’t just a competition – it’s also a learning program. Throughout the jam, you’ll have access to:

- Industry mentors from MUGI and Galactic Omnivore
- Semos Education trainers running short online sessions in game design, Unity, art, and more
- Discord support channels for feedback, Q&A, and playtesting
- IRL coworking days at Base42 and Semos Education in Skopje (schedule to be announced)

The goal is for every participant to finish the jam with new skills, a playable prototype, and new connections in the local and regional game dev scene.

Judging & Prize Pool (€1,500)

Games will be evaluated by a mixed panel of industry professionals and civic/education experts, along with community voting.

Judging categories include:

- Creativity & Innovation – originality of the concept
- Gameplay & Mechanics – how engaging and fun the game feels
- Art & Audio – visuals, mood, and sound
- Theme Fit – how well the game interprets the theme
- Polish – stability, UX, and overall presentation

The total prize pool is €1,500, distributed as follows:

- Best Game – €500
- Best Game Design – €250
- Best Art Design – €250
- Best Sound Design – €250
- Best Technical Design – €250

Selected teams may also be invited to continue into the MUGI Accelerator 2026, depending on their game’s potential and the team’s interest in taking things further.

All participants receive digital certificates.

Part of a Bigger Ecosystem: From Jam to Studio

This game jam is not a standalone event; it’s Stage 2 of MUGI’s four-step ecosystem for building a sustainable regional gaming industry:

1. Education – Workshops and lectures with Semos Education establish foundations in skills and mentorship.
2. Game Jam (this event) – Teams build playable prototypes and shape new IPs and studio-ready teams.
3. Accelerator (2026) – Business mentoring and startup support help selected teams become functioning studios.
4. Industry Collaboration – These studios then work with real companies, NGOs, and institutions to create sustainable careers and long-term impact.

By joining Passion to Profession, participants become part of this long-term journey, not just a single weekend challenge.

Code of Conduct & Ownership

To keep the jam safe and welcoming for everyone, organizers have a clear Code of Conduct: no harassment, discrimination, hate speech, NSFW or illegal content, and no partisan political campaigning – the focus is on systems, ethics, and constructive solutions around “games for good.”

Participants keep full rights and IP to their games. By submitting, you simply grant organizers permission to showcase your project (with credit) in promotional and educational content like streams, posts, and reports. Registration and participation data is handled with GDPR-friendly practices and used only for jam-related communication and anonymized reporting.

Join the Passion to Profession Game Jam

Whether you’re taking your first step into making games or you’re an experienced developer looking to connect with the local ecosystem, Passion to Profession is built to support you:

- Learn from mentors and trainers
- Build a playable prototype in a supportive environment
- Meet collaborators, studios, and potential employers
- Compete for cash prizes and a possible path into the MUGI Accelerator 2026
- Help shape the future of Macedonia’s and the region’s gaming industry

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