These are the Finnish Game Jam Awards of 2018!

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On Wednesday November 28 we gathered together at Finnish Game Jam Awards to celebrate not only jam games but also all the great people in the community!

All of the awarded games have been made in different game jams organized by Finnish Game Jam during the 2017-2018 season.

Games

Rievssat
Nature Leap Award
Sami Game Jam (2018)

  • Asla Guttorm
  • Elie Abraham
  • Leevi Halonen
  • Magoda Wegiel
  • Nigá Aikio  
  • Samuli Jääskeläinen
  • Sofi Kurtti
  • Zuzanna Buchowska

A story of a land amidst change. The metamorphosis can truly be witnessed by those who have been there since the early days. By each turn of the century and through the light of innovation, the landscape becomes more than what it has been. But what is the nature of this change? This ambitious jam game creates a beautiful atmospheric flying adventure with a help of Leap motion controller and custom made pedal. In addition to technological feats, Rievssat takes the stressful theme of Sami people as strangers in their own land and makes the game into a universally appealing experience around the eight seasons.

Switchboard Operator
Connect, Please Award
FGJX, FGJ Turku

  • Jenni Lehmonen
  • Kasperi Ekqvist
  • Markus Sukoinen
  • Matti Mänty

The challenge of connecting people before the days of “Connecting people” is immediately clear in this story timed around the early ages of the telephone. It is up to the player to investigate who should be talking to whom in this simulation of a telephone center before the benefits of the internet, automation, or even FGJ. This game, not unlike a certain indie sensation about papers, engulfs the player with its charming audiovisual presentation, and provides the feeling of what it is to truly connect those in need. Switchboard Operator is surprisingly polished game for a 48h jam and pleases us as jam players on many aspects.

Double Cooked
Frozen Hedgehog Award
ASM Game Jam ‘18

  • Samuli Jääskeläinen
  • Miika Pelkonen
  • Thiyagarajan Manihatty Bojan
  • Juha Korhonen
  • Jari Miranda
  • Pyry Takkunen

Remember the good old times when you couldn’t play games without a printed manual? Why not dive into that era in a game jam? The graphics and music of this Dark Souls of casual cooking games successfully capture the nostalgia of olden days. The effort to develop for old hardware is already worthy of a mention, as old consoles and their methods are gradually forgotten as technology goes forward. Double Cooked is a great example of how game jams can be used to explore what has been done before, but you just were not old enough back in the day to be part of it. In the end, how many jam games come on a cartridge?

Krokoralli
More Buttons Award
Pikku Kakkonen Game Jam (2018)

  • Niilo Kajala
  • Laura Horton
  • Selja Tanskanen
  • Krista Erkkilä
  • Samuli Jääskeläinen
  • Jaakko Sirén
  • Elie Abraham

A game for kids made by kids, big and small. This game delivers an audiovisual feast co-created with the tiny creators around Finland and focuses on fun and interaction. The game was inspired by the drawings of the kids and the team has done a good job in making as many as possible of the drawings come to life. Fittingly to the young players, game features a big collection of buttons to smash and one sweet crocodile that travels all around the globe. You can take your friends for a ride, just cruise around taking it easy and honking to passers-by. Krokoralli is a modern version of the 70/80s Turbo Tomy and makes us all smile!

Alone, together
Existence Award
FGJX, FGJ Otaniemi

  • Elie Abraham
  • Zuzanna Buchowska
  • Francesco Fontana
  • Hannu Koivuranta
  • Xiao Xiao Ma
  • Helena Sorva

Life has always been around. For centuries we as a human race have evolved, longed for something that is missing. We have conquered the lands, seas and even the air. Soon we will begin our next journey towards the vast unknown of the space. This atmospheric and poetic walking simulator captures universal moments in our fragile existence, now and in eternity. Crafting meaning through the imageries of the game scenes and choices of our internal voices, Alone Together delivers a thoughtful message with elegantly crafted scenes and stands out from the crowds of jam games.

The Tag Game
You’re It Award
FGJX, FGJ Turku

  • Sonja Yrjölä
  • Emma Louhivuori
  • Vilho Louhivuori
  • Mirka Raasakka
  • Iida-Sofia Kivistö
  • Frida Lindholm

The thrill of the chase. A rather creepy chase. A chase where the reversal of roles is a fact of life, if only through a simple poke to the back. This captivating yet simple jam game manages to take a yard game we have all played and turns it into an out of the ordinary experience with deeper layers. The Tag Game makes you wonder what is the meaning of “it” and how does “it” feel? The beauty of the game digs deep into the core of game jams and reminds us all how to jam with a quirky, fun-loving mind.

 

Special Awards

Elie Abraham
Jamtivist Award

With a simple sign and a big heart, Elie Abraham has shown a great example of the spirit of game jams. Traveling around the world, leaving a mark of Finnish jammers, promoting positive jam cultures, and beating the unnecessity of impostor syndrome, Elie has shown us all how to jam with a bang. We don’t care if Guinness World record would not want to put your name into their books, Elie, we just want 2 give this award 4 you.

Arvi Teikari
Superjammer Award

Finland is a country of remarkable jammers, superjammers indeed. Through a humble attitude towards jamming and game creation, Arvi Teikari has taken game jams to the next level of normal. Arvi’s journey with Baba is You has shown what one can achieve through the playful and explorative space of game jams. From winning the Nordic Game Jam to the double-winning of IGF, there is no doubt that Superjammer is You, Arvi.

Jambike
Special Jam Award

  • Samuli Jääskeläinen
  • Jonne Harja

Jonne and Samuli have taken game development and jamming to the extreme and done that while promoting green values for game development. Cycling over 600 kilometers is already an extraordinary accomplishment, but to also making a game while doing that – that’s the spirit! Jonne and Samuli have made it hard for the rest of us to try to top the game of game jams.

Outstanding Support Awards

  • Veikkaus
  • Futureplay
  • Grand Cru
  • Remedy Entertainment

Finnish Game Jam would not be able to do what we do without the long-standing support from the Finnish game studios. This year, we want to highlight our biggest supporters and say a big big thank you. Veikkaus, Futureplay, Grand Cru and Remedy do not only support the jammers with swag and pizza, but they also keep on jamming with us and have done that for a long time!