Exploring the Impact of Competition and Incentives on Game Jam Participation and Behaviour

Niamh Germaine, John P. Healy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Competitive elements are a common feature of many game jams. However, there has been little research to date on the impact of competition on participants and their behaviours. To better understand how incentives and competition may affect the motivations and behaviour of game jam participants, we surveyed 47 game jam participants and analysed data from 4,564 online game jams. We found that incentives and competition were neither strong deterrents nor significant motivators for game jam participation. However, a significant percentage of the participants surveyed indicated that incentives and competition would affect their behaviour during a game jam. Our findings suggest this effect is dependent on the nature (or contingency) of the incentive. In addition to its practical implications for game jam organisation, this study highlights a largely untapped potential for further research into the complexities of game jams, incentives and competition.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 7th International Conference on Game Jams, Hackathons and Game Creation Events, ICGJ 2023
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Pages10-17
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9798400708794
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Aug 2023
Event7th International Conference on Game Jams, Hackathons and Game Creation Events, ICGJ 2023 - Virtual, Online, Ukraine
Duration: 30 Aug 2023 → …

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Conference

Conference7th International Conference on Game Jams, Hackathons and Game Creation Events, ICGJ 2023
Country/TerritoryUkraine
CityVirtual, Online
Period30/08/23 → …

Keywords

  • behaviour
  • competition
  • game jams
  • incentive
  • motivation

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