diff --git a/src/events.cairo b/src/events.cairo
index eee598a06..b83834b88 100644
--- a/src/events.cairo
+++ b/src/events.cairo
@@ -3,13 +3,21 @@ use serde::Serde;
 use array::{ArrayTrait, SpanTrait};
 use starknet::ContractAddress;
 
-#[derive(Drop, starknet::Event)]
+// helper function to emit events, eventually dojo will 
+// have framework level event/logging
+fn emit(ctx: Context, name: felt252, values: Span<felt252>) {
+    let mut keys = array::ArrayTrait::new();
+    keys.append(name);
+    ctx.world.emit(keys, values);
+}
+
+#[derive(Drop, Serde)]
 struct LocationCreated {
     game_id: u32,
     location_id: u32,
 }
 
-#[derive(Drop, starknet::Event)]
+#[derive(Drop, Serde)]
 struct GameCreated {
     game_id: u32,
     creator: ContractAddress,
@@ -18,7 +26,7 @@ struct GameCreated {
     max_players: usize,
 }
 
-#[derive(Drop, starknet::Event)]
+#[derive(Drop, Serde)]
 struct PlayerJoined {
     game_id: u32,
     player_id: ContractAddress,
@@ -43,7 +51,7 @@ struct Sold {
     payout: u128
 }
 
-#[derive(Drop, starknet::Event)]
+#[derive(Drop, Serde)]
 struct Traveled {
     game_id: u32,
     player_id: ContractAddress,
@@ -51,7 +59,7 @@ struct Traveled {
     to_location: felt252,
 }
 
-#[derive(Drop, starknet::Event)]
+#[derive(Drop, Serde)]
 struct RandomEvent {
     game_id: u32,
     player_id: ContractAddress,
diff --git a/src/systems/create.cairo b/src/systems/create.cairo
index 0a4d89974..926ca366f 100644
--- a/src/systems/create.cairo
+++ b/src/systems/create.cairo
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ mod create_game {
 
     use dojo::world::Context;
 
-    use rollyourown::events::{GameCreated, PlayerJoined};
+    use rollyourown::events::{emit, GameCreated, PlayerJoined};
     use rollyourown::components::name::Name;
     use rollyourown::components::game::Game;
     use rollyourown::components::player::Player;
@@ -115,13 +115,20 @@ mod create_game {
             };
         };
 
-        // emit game created and player joined
-        emit!(
-            ctx.world, GameCreated {
-                game_id, creator: ctx.origin, start_time, max_turns, max_players
-            }
+        // emit player joined
+        let mut values = array::ArrayTrait::new();
+        serde::Serde::serialize(
+            @PlayerJoined { game_id, player_id: ctx.origin, location_id: location_id }, ref values
         );
-        emit!(ctx.world, PlayerJoined { game_id, player_id: ctx.origin, location_id });
+        emit(ctx, 'PlayerJoined', values.span());
+
+        // emit game created
+        let mut values = array::ArrayTrait::new();
+        serde::Serde::serialize(
+            @GameCreated { game_id, creator: ctx.origin, start_time, max_players, max_turns },
+            ref values
+        );
+        emit(ctx, 'GameCreated', values.span());
 
         (game_id, ctx.origin)
     }
diff --git a/src/systems/join.cairo b/src/systems/join.cairo
index 78cd5420c..0cb34a5a9 100644
--- a/src/systems/join.cairo
+++ b/src/systems/join.cairo
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ mod join_game {
 
     use dojo::world::Context;
 
-    use rollyourown::events::PlayerJoined;
+    use rollyourown::events::{emit, PlayerJoined};
     use rollyourown::components::game::Game;
     use rollyourown::components::player::Player;
     use rollyourown::components::location::{Location, LocationTrait};
@@ -51,7 +51,11 @@ mod join_game {
         );
 
         // emit player joined
-        emit!(ctx.world, PlayerJoined { game_id, player_id: ctx.origin, location_id });
+        let mut values = array::ArrayTrait::new();
+        serde::Serde::serialize(
+            @PlayerJoined { game_id, player_id: ctx.origin, location_id: location_id }, ref values
+        );
+        emit(ctx, 'PlayerJoined', values.span());
 
         ctx.origin
     }
diff --git a/src/systems/travel.cairo b/src/systems/travel.cairo
index 51b273539..13786fd56 100644
--- a/src/systems/travel.cairo
+++ b/src/systems/travel.cairo
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ mod travel {
 
     use dojo::world::Context;
 
-    use rollyourown::events::{Traveled, RandomEvent};
+    use rollyourown::events::{emit, Traveled, RandomEvent};
     use rollyourown::components::{game::{Game, GameTrait}, location::Location};
     use rollyourown::components::player::{Player, PlayerTrait};
     use rollyourown::components::risks::{Risks, RisksTrait, TravelResult};
@@ -29,15 +29,18 @@ mod travel {
 
         let (event_occured, result) = risks.travel(seed);
         if event_occured {
-            emit!(
-                ctx.world, RandomEvent {
+            let mut values = array::ArrayTrait::new();
+            serde::Serde::serialize(
+                @RandomEvent {
                     game_id,
                     player_id,
                     health_loss: result.health_loss,
                     mugged: result.mugged,
-                    arrested: result.arrested
-                }
+                    arrested: result.arrested,
+                },
+                ref values
             );
+            emit(ctx, 'RandomEvent', values.span());
         }
 
         // If arrested, player loses a turn and stays at same location
@@ -56,11 +59,14 @@ mod travel {
         player.location_id = next_location_id;
         set!(ctx.world, (player));
 
-        emit!(
-            ctx.world, Traveled {
+        let mut values = array::ArrayTrait::new();
+        serde::Serde::serialize(
+            @Traveled {
                 game_id, player_id, from_location: player.location_id, to_location: next_location_id
-            }
+            },
+            ref values
         );
+        emit(ctx, 'Traveled', values.span());
 
         event_occured
     }