What are the best ways to use game design hackathons to build your network?

3 Be open and friendly

One of the best ways to network at a hackathon is to be open and friendly to everyone. Don't be shy to introduce yourself, ask questions, offer help, and give compliments. You never know who you might meet or what you might learn from them. You can also use social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Discord, to connect with other participants, organizers, mentors, and guests. You can share your progress, feedback, challenges, and achievements, and also follow and engage with others. Remember to use the official hashtag of the hackathon to increase your visibility and reach.

4 Collaborate and communicate

Another way to network at a hackathon is to collaborate and communicate effectively with your teammates. You should respect each other's skills, opinions, and contributions, and work towards a common vision and goal. You should also communicate clearly and frequently, using tools such as Slack, Trello, or Google Docs, to coordinate your tasks, share your ideas, and solve your problems. By working well with your teammates, you can build trust, rapport, and friendship, and also demonstrate your professionalism and leadership.

5 Showcase and celebrate

At the end of the hackathon, you should showcase and celebrate your game prototype. You should prepare a demo, a presentation, or a trailer that highlights the main features, challenges, and achievements of your game. You should also be ready to answer questions, receive feedback, and give credit to your teammates and mentors. You should also celebrate your hard work, creativity, and learning, and congratulate other teams and participants. You should also exchange contact information, such as email, phone, or social media, with the people you met and worked with, and follow up with them after the hackathon.

6 Keep learning and improving

The last tip to use game design hackathons to build your network is to keep learning and improving your game and your skills. You should review the feedback and suggestions you received from the judges, mentors, sponsors, and peers, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your game. You should also seek out more opportunities to learn new skills, tools, or technologies, and apply them to your game or future projects. You should also keep in touch with your network, and update them on your progress, achievements, and challenges. You can also join more hackathons, either with the same or different teams, and expand your network further.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?