Redmond’s Digipen Institute of Technology and iThrive Games, a nonprofit that aims to facilitate the use of video games to enhance social and emotional skills, will host a 48-hour free digital game jam from Sept. 15-17 in support of empathy-focused game design through the creation of prototype digital PC games.

Students, faculty and local game developers in the greater Seattle area are invited to this event, which will take place at Digipen, 9931 Willows Road. Participants will be provided with iThrive Games’ design resources and equipment (computers installed with game design tools Unity 3D and Unreal Engine).

The iThrive Games Empathy Jam begins with an introduction reception at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15. A showcase of all of the prototypes created during the game jam and an awards ceremony will be held on Sept. 17. Meals and snacks will be served throughout the weekend. Onsite parking is additionally available.

Free registration for the iThrive Games Empathy Jam is available here: http://goo.gl/LCJxpL. Space is limited. Jammers under the age of 18 are welcome with parental participation.