Game analytics platform Grid Esports has partnered with Esports Insider and Opera GX to launch DataJam, an online competition where developers and esports enthusiasts can build projects using the Grid data platform.
The competition is now underway and will go on for the next seven weeks. DataJam is aimed at showcasing the potential of live esports data and will see competitors build a wide variety of projects like Twitch bots, data visualisation tools and mini-games. The only requirement is that competitors must create their demos using official data from the Grid data platform, which all participants can access for free.
Moritz Maurer, founder, and CEO at Grid commented, “I remember over a decade ago when I manually collected all the data from esports matches to power my first business. Back then, I faced the same issue that aspiring creators are still dealing with today – how to gain access to quality live data at the beginning of your journey when you don’t have a large budget?”
“Grid has been built on the conviction that official data should be accessible to everyone, so my dream now comes true as we can give the next generation of talented esports fans free access to play with official, reliable data,” said Maurer.
Calling all developers
Participants can submit their projects in the Main Category which welcomes all projects. The Opera GX Category on the other hand, challenges creators to build live data-powered projects specifically for gamer-focused web browser Opera GX.
“Opera GX is known for its incredible community. Our users are gamers, creators, modders – creativity is in their DNA,” said Kamil Rzeźnik, global content producer at Opera GX. “Partnering with GRID for DataJam is a unique opportunity to ask our users how they would like to enrich Opera GX’s browser experience with official live data and we can’t wait to see what they will come up with.”
Participants will compete for a prize pool of over $20,000 as well as other non-monetary awards like premium access to the GRID Data Platform, ESI Media support, or consultations with industry experts to support the further development of their projects.
The winner of the Main Category will receive a wild card to Esports Insider’s The Clutch, an esports startup pitch competition, with a chance to win more awards.
A team of industry professionals from Grid Esports, Opera GX and Esports Insider will judge the projects with support from Dota 2 and CSGO Talents Kyle ‘melonzz’ Freedman and Pavlos ‘ExWarrior’ Georgiou. The winners will be announced in September during an online ceremony.
To register for the challenge, visit the GRID Esports DataJam’s official website.
Isa Muhammad is a writer and video game journalist covering many aspects of entertainment media including the film industry. He's steadily writing his way to the sharp end of journalism and enjoys staying informed. If he's not reading, playing video games or catching up on his favourite TV series, then he's probably writing about them.
