Welcome to POWER UP! Game Jam For Women
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN’S ECONOMIC RISE = POWER!
POWER UP! is a global game jam event for women* to collaborate in creating new gaming experiences.
It was initiated in 2024 by the U.S. Embassy in New Zealand – through the Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise initiative (hence POWER UP!), the New Zealand Game Developers Association, and game sector companies Xequals & Frost Flame. In 2024 the game jam teams were formed by women from New Zealand and the U.S.
From 2025 onwards POWER UP! is held as an international online event.
*POWER UP! is open to women, as well as non-binary people who are comfortable being part of a women-focused community.
Addressing Key Issues…
Gender Disparity in Employment: Creating more opportunities for women in the gaming industry, especially in technical and leadership roles.
Networking Opportunities: Providing mentorships and partnerships to promote career advancements for women.
Access to Resources: Sharing resources and insights tailored to the unique challenges faced by women in digital and gaming sectors.
Barriers for Women Entrepreneurs: Advocating for a conducive business environment to lower barriers-to-entry for women entrepreneurs in gaming.
Mission and Vision
We Live Our Shared Values - Our Kaupapa
Kaupapa means principles and ideas which act as a base or foundation for action. A kaupapa is a set of values, principles and plans which people have agreed on as a foundation for their actions. Our mission and vision are our values, principles and plans aligning with progression and respect. POWER UP! is based on a radical new idea for a Game Jam event: one where the games themselves are informed by exploring content, mechanics and general game development through the lens of principles and values.
If you were to build a game that had to be not only fun, but also delve deep into issues that matter, what would you do? Is it possible to build a game that connects to important subject matter, but can still be entertaining, captivating and challenging? What role do games currently play in communicating or exploring the values of our society?
So, what values does POWER UP! itself stand for as a community of game developers who run an annual game jam event?
- Collaboration
- Respect
- Honest communication
- Applying the benefit of the doubt
- Being comfortable with disagreement
- Transparency and openness
- Fun, socially conducive environments
- Willingness to self reflect and learn
How it works
POWER UP! is online only so once you register the majority of your communications and information will come through the POWER UP! Discord server.
Then when the event starts, we'll all have 4 days to make a game throughout a weekend worldwide. You don't have to start from scratch if you don't want to. There are no prizes, so feel free to work on that pet project you've been dying to work on in a communal setting - as long as you are working on something in the spirit of the POWER UP! values.
You can sign up to the jam with a team of friends you already know, or sign up by yourself and join up with people through the Discord server before the event starts. You can even go solo if you want. You can even do a little bit of everything - there's no reason you can't work on more than one role or project.
Ways to Get Involved…
Game Jammer
Join, for example, as a game designer, developer, musician, artist, or narrative writer. Form new teams, join with pre-formed teams, or go solo. POWER UP! is open to all experience levels and provides support for skill growth. Register for the jam
Industry Mentor
Mentors of any gender can contribute their expertise during the jam. Provide feedback, solve problems or help with specific skills like audio production. Share your skills and aid in developing new industry professionals. Form for Professionals
Webinar Speaker and Workshop Leader
Create short webinars or workshops to support participants, covering topics like game design methods, audio production, animation, and narrative writing. Share your expertise and help participants expand their knowledge. Form for Professionals
Sponsor
Help create opportunities for women in the game industry. Support the event, provide mentors or webinar leaders, sponsor event logistics or promote POWER UP! across your channels. You can even provide digital assets or other resources for the game jammers to use when making their games. Form for Sponsors
Media Partner
Cover the event, share participant stories and promote women in creative industries. Collaborate with us to create engaging content and spread the word about POWER UP! Contact us
Streamers / YouTubers / Influencers / Journalists
Share the POWER UP! story with your audience. Join a game jam team to cover their journey throughout the event. Create content that activates and supports women in creative industries. Interview gaming sector leaders and participants.
Interested in spreading the word? Let's collaborate on a content strategy that aligns with our shared values. Contact us
Ready to POWER Up?
Register as a jammer for a 4-day online adventure in game development. Collaborate, create, and make a positive change through the power of perspective.
