Teams of up to five participants will develop a game based on a given theme within 48 hours. The event, conducted in English, is expected to attract over 150 game development enthusiasts. The winners will be determined by a public vote from the participants.

According to the organizers, the competition is open to individuals of all experience levels, from beginners to professionals. The first event, held in the spring, attracted 120 participants and was designed to provide a platform for anyone interested in game development, regardless of background or skill level. Programmers, designers, project planners, and others will collaborate to create games.

“Our goal is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, no matter their experience level,” said event organizer Alexander Rein Robas. He added that GameCamp not only brings professionals from the Estonian game industry to TalTech, but also gives students a valuable opportunity to engage in game development. “This is important because the video game industry is the largest entertainment sector globally, generating €180 billion in value,” Robas noted.

“GameCamp is crucial for Estonia’s game industry,” said Ott Madis Ozolit, co-owner of Placeholder Gameworks and technical lead of the game Death and Taxes. “It allows both new and experienced developers to compete and learn from each other. Teams are often formed that may go on to create the next big game, bringing game development into the public eye.”

Throughout the event, experienced mentors will be available both on-site at TalTech’s business and innovation center Mektory in Tallinn, and online via Discord. Their role is to support participants with technical or creative challenges and help ensure projects are completed within the 48-hour time frame.

TalTech GameCamp Lite is supported by the TalTech Student Union, School of IT, ITÜK, Nortal, GameDev Estonia, CM Games, Pizzakiosk, Placeholder Gameworks, Critical Reflex, MängudeÖÖ, and Paulig.