Global Game Jam, Inc announced its final call for aspiring and professional game designers to register for the Global Game Jam, which takes place January 25-27. Registration closes at the end of the day on Friday, Jan. 4.
A game jam is when developers get together to make a relatively simple game in a very short amount of time. They’re designed to foster creativity and collaboration, as well as provide a platform for new designers.
The Global Game Jam is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year as the world’s largest game jam. True to its name, it features developers from all around the world, including dozens of countries and thousands of participants.
Like the cook-a-thons of Iron Chef, the Global Game Jam features a secret ingredient – a theme that must explored in each game. Every registered group is tasked with creating a game based around that newly announced theme within 48 hours. Participating developers and groups are encouraged to broadcast and stream as much of their design process as they can. Streams will be featured on the Global Game Jam Mixer channel.
The event will kick off with a series of livestreamed keynote speakers. This year’s keynote speakers are Brie Code and Eve Thomas (Tru Luv), Limpho Moeti (Free Lives) and Rami Ismail (Vlambeer).
The jam is run purely by volunteers and more of a creative exercise than a strict competition. Several prominent indie games were born out of the Global Game Jam, including Surgeon Simulator and Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes.
This year’s Global Game Jam will run the weekend of Jan. 25-27.
