12 More Games in the World after Global Extinction Event

For the 2nd year in a row students spent 48hrs in the Ruxton Technology Centre, planning, designing and making computer games as part of a Global Initiative from International Games Developers Association (IGDA).
This year’s theme was ‘Extinction’ – and the same theme was handed out to the 6500 participants worldwide. 77 of those were located at the ‘Staffs Uni Games Academy’ jam site, at the Beaconside Campus – comprising of students from the Games Technology Awards, FX, Music Tech and Games Programming – along with some prospective students and industry participants. It made us one of the largest jams in the world, and the largest in England.  Last year we had 40 take part so having 77 this year was great.

The students worked in small groups of 5 or 6, chosen by organiser Nia Wearn, which mixed up skills and students. “It gives a great chance for students who wouldn’t usually mix to meet and swap ideas. Some groups were made up from everyone from 1st years to MSc Students – the friendships forged from the GGJ really strengthen the event”

With the theme set – and 10 teams in place mostly making computer games, but a couple making analogue games – allowed for the first time under IGDA’s rules – the event ran with the usual mix of idea swapping, frantic coding, and asset creation, pizza delivery, coffee consumption and hi-jinx. A good proportion of the students, and the organiser, electing to stay on campus for the 48hrs, grabbing sleep on crash mats in the mo-cap studio,  while the rest electing to head home for a more dignified sleep in a proper bed.

The entire event was blogged, tweeted, photographed and regular video updates uploaded The Staffs Games Academy’s Youtube account. A Live Web Cam and Chat was also running throughout, posted up on the main wall of the Global Games Jam’s website - http://globalgamejam.org/, adding to the connected feeling of working on the same project as people from New Zealand to Hawaii. All of the links can be found http://staffsgamesacademy.tumblr.com/tagged/ggj11.

The Global event is in its 3rd year, having been started by the International Games Developers Association (IGDA) in 2009. It is one of their highest profile, and most exciting events throughout their calendar.

By the end of the event all 10 groups had made the game they set out to make 48hrs earlier, along with a Java text adventure programmed by a lone individual and a roleplaying games conceived, and illustrated about 13hrs in. All the Games were presented and they’re all playable – to be found on the global games jam catalogue:- http://globalgamejam.org/games/2011.

Nia again – “GGJ11 was a total success, the quality of games far exceed last years, or anything we could have hoped for – it’s an excellent 48hrs, a real gem in our calendar and the students loved it. The dates are set for next year’s event and we’re hoping to have 100 participants” Next Year’s event is planned for GGJ12 January 27-29, 2012.