2010 GLOBAL GAME JAM is the premier event to promote international game development and had 112 venues for 2010 and Gold Sponsors including Autodesk, Microsoft Imagine Cup, and Video Gamers Voter Network (VGVN).  J!nx Clothing for Gamers, a company founded by a Miami University alumni was also a sponsor.  The Global Game Jam^TM (GGJ), an International Game Developer’s Association event, took place January 29-31, 2010 in more than 30 countries around the world.

Miami University Global Game Jam group - 2010

Miami University was the only university in the region to host the event.  Teams of participants age 16-35 worked to create the next great independent video game in a single weekend.  Participants were involved in a game-making binge, working from concept to a complete game in one intense weekend.  Games were judged by guests including Dr. Johnny Wilson, former editor-in-chief of Computer Gaming World, co-founder of Manifest Games, and author of the bestselling book, High Score!  An Illustrated History of Games.

About GGJ

Game Jams foster innovation and experimentation.  If you have ever wanted to make a computer game, be a part of a team, or go outside of your usual working method, then a game jam is for you.  It’s all about making games and in the GGJ you’re part of a global experiment in creativity.   A game jam is not for the faint of heart though.  It’s two days of hard work, experimentation, little sleep, collaboration, cramped quarters, new friends, great ideas, laughs, technical issues, and the time of your life.

Everyone is given similar constraints and rules to make their games; it is amazing how different and culturally diverse the games will be.  The goal is to provide a vehicle for professional developers, students, and hobbyists to come together and have an incredible experience in collaboration and inventiveness.  The GGJ works perfectly into the mission of the International Game Developers Association, “Connecting members with their peers & promoting professional development.”  A Game Jam is not a competition, it is unique “idea space” where sometimes things work and sometimes they don’t.

Miami University Games

Long hours with lots of programming and number crunching, made for a creative and fun learning experience for all.  See the Miami University News Release for more information.  To more see photos of the Miami Teams, visit the Flickr.com site.

To see the games created at Miami, visit the GGJ site.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the following people who helped bring the Global Game Jam to Miami University:

• Lindsay D. Grace, Assistant Professor, Armstrong Interactive Media Studies, School of Fine Arts, and primary organizer of the MU GGJ
• Dr. William (Bo) Brinkman, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Dr. Scott Campbell, Director of Computing labs, Computer Science and Software Engineeing, School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Dr. Sean Duncan, Armstrong Proffesser (IMS), School of Education, Health, and Society
• Arianne Hartsell-Gundy, Information Services Librarian, King Library (Library)
• Kevin Rutherford, graduate student in English, College of Arts and Science
• Dr. Doug Troy, Professor and Chair of the Computer Science and Software Engineering department, School of Engineering and Applied Science