PICO JAM
Welcome to the main page for the 2025 Western Massachusetts PICO-Jam!
SCHEDULE
Communication for this event will be on Slack and/or Discord. Reach out to an organizer for access at info@pvgd.org.
Event Schedule:
- Sept. 12th, 7pm: Kickoff Call; Introductions, Objectives, Resources, and Help!
- Sept. 13th, All Day: Concepting, Collaborating, Creating, and Fun!
- Sept. 14th, Morning-Afternoon: Project Completion Showcase!
After the Jam, we may opt to have a vote on our favorite projects, and the popular winners will get some Steam gift cards. Details TBD!
INFORMATION
RESOURCES
The PICO-8 Tools are very accessible, but still require some technical knowledge to implement most features and content into an interactive package. Depending on your comfort level with technology and who you choose to work with, you might find the most success simply downloading an almost complete project and tinkering with the art and music already there. Below are some resources to help get started.
Resources:
- Download: PICO-8 Editor and Toolkit
- Check out: Currated List of resources, tutorials, and tools
- How To: Audio and Music
- How To: Sprites and Animation
- Resources: Sprites on Itch
- Tools: Git
- Join our Slack or Discord: Email us
JAM DETAILS
Things you can do to prepare:
- Download and install tools
- Play some PICO-8 games
- Set up source control for your project
- Stock food and water for survival
FAQ
Who are you?
- We're a group of professional and independent developers in the Western Massachusetts area, and we like making things together.
The PICO-8 costs money?
- Yes; we may have some extra licenses by the weekend of the Jam, but currently the software is ~$15USD.
Can I work alone? Can I work with a team?
- Any team arrangement is okay; work alone, with friends, with enemies, or whatever combination equips your party.
Do I have to start a new project? Can I work on my own project?
- You can work on whatever you wish, but we prefer the Jam to remain PICO-8 focused.
Why are you doing this?
- We were inspired by the PICO-8 "Fantasy Console" and it's eloquently minimalist platform, and we wanted to spend a weekend playing in its garden.
Do we have to be experienced developers to join?
- No, but the PICO-8 Development Environment has technical knowledge requirements that will make it easier for those with programming experience.
What are you getting out of this?
- Just game-dev with company. This is not monetized, affiliated with any company, and you retain all rights and source to your work.
What else do you do?
- We have low-key monthly meetups, bi-weekly development calls for socialization and creative work, and we chatter on the Slacks between here and Boston.