Green Game Jam 2022: Sustainable Farming

Ooh, what’s that on the horizon? It’s something... green. And... jammy? That’s right, it’s the 2022 Green Game Jam! As part of the United Nations Playing for the Planet(opens in new tab) initiative, we’re buzzing with excitement to focus our next coMmunity game jam on the UN’s ongoing work to tackle the climate crisis.

This year’s Green Game Jam begins on the 12th April, and is another excellent opportunity for our lovely coMmunity to come together to raise awareness of the climate crisis. This year’s theme is Sustainable Farming, and we can’t wait to see your free-range ideas for more sustainable food, produce, and environmentally-friendly farming. And there's more - your creations in Dreams can actually help to encourage a more sustainable world!

An image of the greenhouse that comes with the Green Game Jam kit. Better get your green fingers at the ready!

An image of the greenhouse that comes with the Green Game Jam kit. Better get your green fingers at the ready!

As part of the Play 4 Forests campaign(opens in new tab), we’ve teamed up with The Arbor Day Foundation(opens in new tab) for a tree-tastic opportunity! For each of the first 1300 games created and uploaded during the Game Jam, we'll be planting up to 100 trees (yes, you read that correctly!) for a maximum total of 130,000 trees! So get your green imps at the ready, grab your virtual shovels, and help us grow these mighty trees for future generations.

On top of pulling together another fantastic game jam that gives you the opportunity to show off your incredible creations, we’ve also created another superb kit of assets and models that you can use and remix in any of your creations. There’s also a fun interactive level we’ve made to show inspire you in your jam and show off what can be achieved with the kit. The jam itself will last for three weeks, ending on the 2nd May, and we’ll be highlighting all of our favourite organic creations in Dreams.

A screenshot of the greenhouse asset being remixed in the game. And a lovely helpful imp in the corner!

A screenshot of the greenhouse asset being remixed in the game. And a lovely helpful imp in the corner!

So, what’s in this latest collection? Well, diving into the kit reveals a sensational selection of green goodies, fascinating flora, and sustainable structures. Feel free to grow your own creations using these pre-prepared goodies and share with us your ideas for a more sustainable world. As long as they meet the theme, your creations can be about anything. It could be about a group of people growing their own food in a community of their own. Or a dream recycling plant that can turn food waste into treasure! Whether your ideas are grounded, or fantastical flights of fancy, we want to see them to improve awareness of this most vital topic.

Here's a glimpse of the playable level we've created in Dreams as inspiration to show what can be done for the Green Game Jam.

The Playing for the Planet Alliance launched in 2019 as an opportunity for the games industry to make a positive impact on the topic of climate change. Check it out if you’re interested in how the games industry is making a positive climate impact, and take look here to see what Sony Interactive Entertainment is doing to tackle climate change(opens in new tab). The United Nations(opens in new tab) website also has a whole heap of information about what else is happening around the world to tackle this, and provide some ideas of how you can help.

So, with all of that out of the way, we want to see the fruits of all your endeavours! Show us your finest plant-based creations, and make us green with envy at how inspiring they are! If you do take part (and honestly, who wouldn’t?), make sure to tag posts of your creations on social media with #GreenGameJam and #MadeInDreams

The Dreams User Guide is a work-in-progress. Keep an eye out for updates as we add more learning resources and articles over time.