Game Jams have long been a thing in the gaming industry. Aspiring developers get together in a workshop environment and learn about the industry from veterans. But they can be intimidating, especially for minorities and thats where GAMERella comes in.

Founded in 2013, GAMERella was a game jam designed to be open and inclusive for all those who felt unwanted or intimidated elsewhere. Co-founder Gina Hara had been to other game jams but felt out of place in a male dominated industry which made it more difficult for her to get involved, thus GAMERealla was born.

Since 2013 GAMERella has become the longest running game jam in the gaming industry. Run out of Montreal Canada they continue to get bigger and better. This year they have begun a mentorship program to pair the upcoming new developers with those industry veterans.

We recently had the pleasure of being joined by Gina to talk about how far GAMERella has come, the mentorship program and much more.

First off thank you for joining me Gina! It’s great to get to talk to a fellow Canadian who works in the industry! For those maybe unaware or haven’t heard of GAMERella, why don’t you tell our readers a bit about what you and GAMERella are all about?

Hello, my name is Gina Hara, and I’m one of the Co-Directors of GAMERella, alongside Courtney Blamey. GAMERella is known for running the world’s longest-running inclusive game jam (since 2013) dedicated to people who have been traditionally underrepresented and underrecognized in the games industry. Our programs combine a variety of accessible events, including free workshops, networking opportunities, mentorship sessions and of course game making. All in a supportive space where participants can learn, experiment, network, play and make games. GAMERella is all about lowering barriers to entry, whether that’s cost, experience, or confidence, and creating space where anyone feels welcome to try making games, maybe for the very first time.

You’ve been holding your game jam events every year since 2013 which is quite a long time! How have they evolved in the over decade plus since you’ve started them?  

When we started GAMERella in 2013, our mission was just to open the doors a bit wider and welcome individuals who felt like they didn’t belong at game jams. Over the years, it has grown into so much more: we have an on-site support worker, an amazing roster of mentors from indie studios to AAA studios, low sensory rooms, catered meals, child care, financial travel support, and more. Beyond just the game-making itself, we have also added workshops to teach everything you need to make your first game, a keynote talk to inspire, and now a long-term mentorship program that runs between the annual game jams. It’s grown from a simple weekend jam to an entire ecosystem of care, learning, and networking for aspiring and emerging creators.

Is there any requirement to be able to attend the jams? If someone like myself wanted to come with no experience at all in game design would it be worthwhile for them to attend and learn something?

No requirements whatsoever! In fact, that’s what we’re most proud of. More than half of our participants each year are making their very first game at GAMERella. We provide accessible workshops, a team formation session, mentors to guide you, and even computers if needed. If you’ve never coded a line or designed a level, you’ll still go home with a project, some new friends, and a sense of what game making is all about. So by all means: come as you are, no experience required.

We’ve seen a lot of positive steps taken when it comes to diversity in gaming, but there still is a lot of work to be done in that regard. How hard is it to get these voices heard and be seen in the industry?

It’s still extremely challenging. Most of the industry, especially decision-makers, are still largely the same homogenous crowd. And because of political trends and the economy, there is more resistance to DEI effort. Equity-deserving creators always have to work several times harder just to get in the room, and sometimes those doors of opportunity aren’t even there.

That’s why initiatives like GAMERella are necessary, and why I am so proud our we have been around for over a decade. We consistently create alternate paths in to get into the industry, build portfolios, learn from mentors, and gain a community that help open doors. When you look at the big picture, change is happening, but it’s slow and uneven. Our role is to persist and help those underrepresented voices not only get heard, but get celebrated.

This year you’ve opened up a mentorship program. How has that gone so far and with the Mentees being at the jam this year how will that change the dynamic of the jam?

The mentorship program has been incredible. Our mentees are so incredibly talented and motivated. For years, attendees have been saying they’d like more support beyond the jam weekend, and thanks to the Canada Media Fund, we were able to launch it this spring. Our first cohort has been meeting with mentors, attending workshops, and even had a summer retreat.

Having them at the jam this year will introduce another level of peer learning: the mentees can test their new skills and even help new jammers, while our seasoned mentors will continue supporting and facilitating all of them. It makes the jam, and GAMERella itself, be a community that’s growing stronger with each iteration.

With this being the 13th year of the jam you must have seen some incredible creators and artists come through the program go on to do some great things. Can you talk about how successful the program has been in introducing those creators and artists to the industry and being able to thrive in a competitive industry?

We are so proud of the success stories. Since 2013, over 1,200 people have gone through GAMERella’s Game Jam, with many making their first game with us. Nearly 80% of first-timers continued to make games after the jam, with about 40% now working in the industry. Alumni have gone on to form indie studios, be hired by AAA studios, and even mentor the next generation at GAMERella. Seeing that cycle (newbie to pro to mentor) has been the most rewarding measure of success for us.

Are there a couple studios or people that our readers would easily recognize that got their start at GAMERella?

I wouldn’t want to take credit for anyone’s success. Founding your studio or making it in the industry, is not because of one game jam. But we are definitely part of many people’s journey. We are in the progress of finding these stories and creating a “Where are they now?” video interview series. It will be a way for past-participants to share their stories and how GAMERella helped them on the way.

The video game industry is going through quite a dramatic shift these last few years. Games are getting more expensive, margins are getting smaller and it has become a volatile industry to work in with so many job cuts. How have you seen this shift and where do you see the industry going moving forward, especially here in Canada?

It’s been heartbreaking to see so many talented people lose their jobs, especially early-career devs. Nowadays, it is paramount that  we teach people a multitude of skills, beyond game development: how to advocate for themselves, what rights they have, how to raise funds, pitch, or even plan a project with a healthy work-life balance. 

Another aspect supporting equity-deserving game devs is building resilient, supportive communities where they can network, share experiences, and find paths to create and enjoy games. GAMERella’s ultimate goal is a kinder and more equitable games industry and to achieve that we always looking to partner with other organizations with similar values and mission. By working together we can have a much larger impact.

While you are a self professed gamer geek and love the gaming industry, you also have experience with making movies and film! Some work others may know include Geek Girls and Your Place or Minecraft? How important was it for you to marry your two artistic passions together when making those projects?

For me, games and film have always been connected. They’re both about storytelling and connecting with people on an emotional level. My documentary film, Geek Girls, examines a hidden side of geek culture. And it is no coincidence that I started working on the film the same year I organized the first GAMERella Game Jam. As I was diving into this world deeper and deeper during filming, I started to recognize all the systemic injustices that stand as barriers for many people (not just women) when it comes to games or STEM, or even filmmaking. Ever since my research and practice honed in on marginalized narratives, especially in the context of technology and play. And GAMERella comes from the same place: creating these barrier-free spaces where creativity can occur, regardless of a person’s background. 

Since the film and GAMERella have you seen those barriers begin to come down or change at all?

Yes, but progress is never a straight line. Since I made Geek Girls, or started GAMERella awareness of the issues have definitely increased. More and more people understand that diverse creators strengthen the industry. Meanwhile, systemic barriers such as inaccessibility, bias, and the recent erasure of corporate DEI work remind us that the work remains necessary. The tasks became more varied: we went from focusing on inviting people into spaces to making sure they are safe in those spaces. And next step is to have those spaces rebuilt by us, marginalized people. Systems to be built with all of us in mind.

For anyone interested in GAMERella and the game jam, where can they go to find the event information and sign up?

Really easy! Everything is on our Eventbrite page at gamerella2025.eventbrite.ca

Of course, you should also follow us on our socials and sign up to our very chill (and infrequent) newsletter. All links are on our website: gamerella.ca