Have you watched or streamed Twitch and wondered how to make extensions to help your game play more exciting? Do you want the opportunity to work with a team to develop new and exciting tools to make Twitch better for streamers and viewers?

If you answered yes to either question, we want YOU to participate! The ESA Foundation is hosting a Twitch Extension Hackathon sponsored by Amazon Games. Join us for a full day of exploration and programming on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at ESA Foundation’s headquarters in Washington, DC where participants will work in teams to modify extensions for streams of your favorite video games!

Here is how it all goes down. You will be presented with templates for useful and new extensions for Twitch streams: chats, polls, leader boards, and mini-games. After an extension overview, you will attend a technical session devoted to the extension type (e.g. polls) you want to improve. During that time you’ll brainstorm about new extension features with other participants and our on-site expert “hackers” AKA the judges. Then teams of up to five (5) participants will race to create prototypes of the extensions by the end of the Hackathon.

The Hackathon day will take place on Saturday, February, 2, 2019 from 8 AM to 8 PM ET:

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM ET: Participant arrival; participant check-in; breakfast
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET: Introduction; team assignment; presentation of available templates
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET: Hackathon competition period (lunch and snacks will be made available to participants during this period)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET: Dinner; judging; award ceremony

Space is limited at the Hackathon site and only seventy (70) individual participant slots are available. Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first serve basis. If you register after all spaces have been allocated, you will be assigned a waiting list number and may be called to participate if someone is deemed ineligible or drops out.

Eligibility

Terms and Conditions (a complete set of terms and conditions are available in the Official Rules)

To be eligible to enter and participate in the Hackathon, you must:

be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States;
be willing and able to travel to Washington, DC at your own expense to participate in the Hackathon on-site;
be currently enrolled in and attending an accredited high school or undergraduate degree program;
on February 2, 2019, arrive at Sponsor’s/Entertainment Software Association’s headquarters, located at 601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 300W, Washington, DC 20001 no later than 8:45 AM ET, and remain on-site until 8:00 PM ET or the end of the Hackathon event, whichever is earlier;
complete and submit the application form for the Hackathon by clicking on the registration link (or if you are below the age of majority in your state of residence, your parent or legal guardian must complete and submit the registration form);
accept and adhere to the Official Rules (or if you are below the age of majority in your state of residence, your parent or legal guardian must accept and adhere to the Official Rules on his/her and your behalf); and
sign and submit to Sponsor the Prize Documents as defined in the Official Rules (or if you are below the age of majority in your state of residence, your parent or legal guardian must sign and submit the Prize Documents as defined in the Official Rules below on your behalf).

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$4,750 in prizes

Grand Prize (Overall): One Team, Five Members

5 winners

Each member of one team containing up to five members will each receive a gift card worth $250. Winning team will be selected across all extension categories: mini-games, polls, chats and leaderboards.

Honorable Mention (Overall): Two Teams, Five Members Each Team

10 winners

Each member of two teams containing up to five members will each receive a gift card worth $150. Winning team will be selected across all extension category: mini-games, polls, chats and leaderboards.

Concept Prize: Eight Teams, Two Winning Teams Per Extension Category, Five Members Each Team

40 winners

Each member of eight teams, across extension categories: mini-games, polls, chats and leaderboards, containing up to five members will each receive one gift card worth $50.

And Swag Bags for All!

70 winners

How to enter

Let us know your interested! Apply at this link by Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 12:00 PM ET.
Watch your email for acceptance and additional information (you will be notified no later than January 31, 2019 11:59 PM ET). Please note that space is limited to 70 participants to ensure maximum collaboration and time, should you want it, with our on-site experts.
Have fun exploring the Resources to help get your creative juices flowing.

And don’t forget, if you are accepted or want to explore on your own make sure you download the Twitch Developer Rig before February 2nd.

Judges

Jon Wiesman
Sr. Software Engineer - Amazon Games Studio

Mimi Li
Head of Payments and Fraud Prevention - Twitch Prime

Royal O'Brien
Chief Technical Evangelist - Amazon Game Tech

More Judges Announced Everyday

Judging Criteria

Will Be Announced Soon

Entertainment Software Association/ESA Foundation HQ	Public
$4,750 in prizes	51 participants

ESA Foundation Twitch Hackathon Presented by Amazon Games

Collaborate and compete! Join us for an exciting day of modifying and creating Twitch extensions. This event is open to high school and college students.