SUNY Morrisville will once again serve as a host site for the Global Game Jam (GGJ), an international event where participants collaborate to create games within a 48-hour period. The event is scheduled to take place from Friday, January 30 through Sunday, February 1.
The Global Game Jam brings together artists, programmers, musicians, storytellers and other creative individuals who are interested in game development. During the event, teams are given a central theme and work together to design either video or board/card games from scratch.
According to organizers, “During the fast-paced ‘jam session,’ teams of artists, musicians, hobbyists, programmers and gamers are given a chance to brainstorm, innovate, collaborate and develop new ideas for game design.”
The SUNY Morrisville session will begin at 4 p.m. on January 30 in Charlton Hall with registration and a videoconference unveiling this year’s theme. Final submissions are due by 4 p.m. on February 1. Afterward, there will be a preview of the created games and a wrap-up of the weekend’s activities.
Registration is open to both students and non-students over the age of 18 regardless of skill level. Teams can be formed on-site or prior to the event. All completed games from GGJ events are archived online for public access.
Previous games developed at SUNY Morrisville include “Traps: The Spanish Adventurer,” “Ex-Extinction,” “Flight Team Phoenix,” and “Cardiac Canyon.” These titles demonstrate the range of creativity fostered during past jams.
For more information about participating in GGJ at SUNY Morrisville, interested individuals can contact Adam Saunders at 315.684.6055 or saundear@morrisville.edu.
Since its inception in 2009, Global Game Jam has grown significantly each year in terms of locations and participation worldwide. In recent years, thousands of participants across dozens of countries have produced thousands of new games during each annual event.
