Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG) is an interdisciplinary centre for research/ creation in game studies and design, digital culture and interactive art

Events


Jun 16, 2014 - Aug 29, 2014

Critical Hit 14

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CRITICAL HIT 2014: JAM FACTORY

Now accepting applications!

ABOUT CH14

Critical Hit 2014: Jam Factory is the next incarnation of the Critical Hit Games Collaboratory. Critical Hit is a special kind of games incubator that develops experimental, avant-garde, unique, and otherwise innovative games that would not be made in a commercial setting. It welcomes all aspiring makers, including students, indie developers, new media artists, and anyone else who wants to push the limits of game design. Each year, Critical Hit focuses on a different aspect of game design, exploring new and exciting development methodologies. This year Critical Hit is focusing on high iteration and turnaround through game jams.

This year’s program will begin in mid-June and will run until the end of August. (Dates will be finalized soon! Watch this space for updates!) The program is divided into two segments. The first, comprising the first four weeks of the program, will consist of four week-long game jams. At the end of these four weeks, the participants will decide which of the jam games look the most promising, and then devote the remaining six weeks to iterating on, improving and polishing those games.

The goal of Critical Hit 2014 is to explore the expressive potential of game design and promote game design as a craft. Critical Hit is not about training participants to work in the game industry, but about giving participants the space and opportunity to experiment with game design, to chase crazy ideas and push to make something novel.

Official application website: http://www.criticalhitmontreal.ca/apply/

 

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

This year we will be accepting applicants on an individual basis. Because the program consists of several game jams you will have the opportunity to work with many different people (ideally everyone!) before the program is over.

We are looking for game developers, programmers and artists of all skill levels who want to refine their game development skills. The ideal applicant will have some game design and development experience, such as having participated in game jams previously. Participants should be eager to learn new skills, try new things, and most importantly, work with new people.

Critical Hit runs from 9:00am – 5:00pm every weekday for 10 weeks. Participants must be available during these hours.

 

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in applying to Critical Hit, please email us a single .pdf file with the following information to games.collaboratory@gmail.com by April 1, 2014. Send application emails with the subject “CH Application, [your name].” The .pdf file should include:

Your Name
Contact information (email, phone, twitter)
Resume / CV (include relevant skills)
A link to any portfolio items (please host these online, do not include them with the application)

A short statement (approximately 250 – 1000 words max) that addresses the following questions:

1. Why do you want to participate in Critical Hit?
2. What are your goals for the program?
3. What do you hope to get out of participating in Critical Hit?
4. What areas do you want to contribute to?  Art, game design, sound or programming? Anything else?
5. What experience do you have in game development?
6. What tools or programming languages are you comfortable with?
7. What other applications are you are comfortable with? Photoshop? Pro Tools? Audacity? Excel? Others?
8. Have any games been particularly important or meaningful to you? If so, which games? Why?

 

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE APRIL 1, 2014.

 

 

MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES

A goal of Critical Hit is to connect participants to skilled mentors. If you are interested in some of our many mentoring opportunities, such as running workshops, playtesting, giving one-on-one feedback, jamming with us for a week, or anything else you can think of, please let us know! Contact us at games.collaboratory@gmail.com and use “CH Mentor” as a subject for more details.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

Q. When is Critical Hit?

A. From mid-June through the end of August, 2014. Final dates will be announced soon!

Q. What are the deadlines for applying?

A. Applications are due April 1st. Top candidates will then be invited for an interview between April 1 and April 15.

Q. When will participants be notified?

A. We will let everyone know by May 1st.

Q. Will there be financial support for participants?

A. Yes! Participants will be paid $3,000 over the 10-week period.

Q. Will computers be provided?

A. Some computers will be available but we strongly encourage participants to bring their own laptops and other hardware. Because you will be working with many different people you will not have your own consistent desk.

Q. When do I have to be at Critical Hit?

A. Participants are required to be at Critical Hit from 9:00am – 5:00pm every weekday.

Q. Where is Critical Hit?

A. Critical Hit will take place in Concordia University’s TAG Lab in Montreal. The TAG lab is on the 11th floor of the EV building downtown. The Guy-Concordia metro station is in the basement of the EV building.

Q. I have a question that is apparently not frequently asked. How do I get more info?

A. Send an email to games.collaboratory@gmail.com with the word “CH Question” in the subject and we will get back to you as soon as you can.