Smilegate Future Lab and Naver Webtoon Join Forces to Host Game Jam Utilizing Popular Webtoon IP
■ A participatory festival that expands the way popular IP-based content is created and enjoyed, and blurs the lines between creation and consumption.
Smilegate Future Lab (CEO Kwon Hyuk-bin) announced on the 24th that it will be recruiting creators to participate in ‘Beaver Jam with Naver Webtoon’ starting today.
“Beaver Jam with Naver Webtoon” is a creative experiment where creators explore new imaginations and interpretations of popular Naver Webtoon IPs through the game format. This participatory festival, which uses the popular content of webtoons as a starting point for creative endeavors, expands the ways creators enjoy content and blurs the lines between creation and consumption by translating creators’ personal perspectives and interpretations into games. The festival will be held at Smilegate Campus from the 24th to the 26th of next month.
FutureLab is recruiting a total of 75 indie game creators, including 15 planners, 30 programmers, and 30 graphic designers. Interested creators should submit an application form on the FutureLab website by the 13th of next month. All creators who participate in Beaver Jam will receive a welcome kit to use during the jam and an invitation to the Beaver Rocks 2025 festival.
The first day of Beaver Jam features orientation and team building. During the team building session, creators select a Naver webtoon IP they wish to adapt into a game and create a proposal, self-introduction business cards, and other materials. After three rounds of discussion, they form teams consisting of one planner, two programmers, and two designers.
On the second day, we’ll dive into game development in earnest. Experts from our partner, Unity Korea, will serve as mentors at this year’s Beaver Rocks, providing participants with practical, helpful know-how. They will also provide in-depth insight into the entire development process through technical consulting and team mentoring.
On the final day, a demonstration event will be held, allowing creators to showcase and experience the games they’ve developed. Seven teams with outstanding performance will receive gift certificates and the opportunity to showcase their work in the “Game Jam Demo Zone” located within the “Beaver Rocks 2025” Naver Webtoon special exhibition hall.
Future Lab Director Oh Sook-hyun said, “Future Lab has been working to create an environment where creators can grow while experiencing the joy of the creative process itself,” and “This Beaver Jam is a meaningful attempt to expand the scope of the creative culture that Beaver Rocks aims for, so we look forward to the interest and participation of many creative and passionate creators.”
* ‘Beaver Rocks’ is the largest indie game and culture festival in the Seoul metropolitan area, established to expand the domestic indie game ecosystem and support creators. Now in its fourth year, it has established itself as Korea’s leading indie game festival, attracting over 28,000 cumulative attendees. This year’s event will be held at DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) from December 5th to 7th.
