Jamming with the World 

RP hosts Global Game Jam to promote Singapore as Game Design Centre

Here at RP, preparations are underway to host the world's largest coordinated collaborative game innovation activity. Kicking off on January 27th 2012, Global Game Jam is an annual event that attracts participants from all over the world to come together to create games within a 48 hour time period. Each Game Jam is run by volunteers from the host organisation. At RP, the Game Diploma team is hard at work to bring together the next generation of gamers to work with some of the industry's best during this exciting happening. At Global Game Jam, everyone is put to the test, talent is identified, and friendships are made.  

Background:  

Global Game Jam puts game makers skills to the test. Participants need to think on their feet in order to prototype a working game within 48 hrs. Games are made in response to a mystery theme that is released at the beginning of the event. The games produced are uploaded and showcased on the Game Jam website. Global Game Jam is an inclusive event. It attracts professionals, students and enthusiasts alike. Games can be made using analog (board, card) or digital tools.

During the inaugural 2009 Global Game Jam, participants from 53 different locations in 23 countries produced over 330 Games. In 2010, Global Game Jam set a record with over 4000 participants in 39 countries and 138 jam sites. There were over 900 games produced in 2010. Global Game Jam 2011 saw the numbers jump to 6500 jammers, 44 countries, and 1500 games.

The event receives excellent media coverage from respected industry sources like the Gamasutra and Wired websites. Many different "top pics" lists have been made featuring games made during previous runs of Global Game Jam. Each year, games are released on the Global Game Jam website so that anyone can download and play them. The source code, assets and materials produced during the event are managed under the creative commons licence. This way, the authors allow other people to copy and distribute their work provided appropriate credits are given, and only on the conditions specified by the author.

Global Game Jam Singapore @ RP  

In January of 2010, Republic Polytechnic was quick off the mark to establish itself as Singapore's premiere, and largest Global Game Jam site. By partnering with IDGA, RP attracted like-minded individuals from across the island state to come together to make games at our modern campus in Woodlands.

The 2011 theme, 'Extinction', was revealed during a video keynote by Keita Takahashi (Game Designer of Katamari) at the beginning of the event. Several industry veterans, including Gordon Bellamy (US), Ian Schreiber (US) , Allan Simonsen (SG), Gio Corsi(SG) attended the opening to infect everyone with their enthusiasm for this craft. Once the theme was released, participants dispersed into their teams to commence brainstorming. RP's facilitation of the ideation stage promoted the cross pollination of ideas between teams. Teams not only had to come up with a good, original idea, it had to be something they could quickly prototype within the strictly measured 48 hour event period. The time-constrained process is intended to hone skills in REAL CRUNCH situation. This common industry scenario is known to foster innovation. The pressure being applied tends to focus developers' attention on the essentials, and promote "design thinking".

The results of this process was a diverse collection of small but innovative games that are fun to play and learn with.

Over 100 Jammers in Global Game Jam 2011 @ RP made a total of 22 games as compared to just eight from the previous year. The event was recorded as the 11th largest site globally.

Want to be part of Global Game Jam 2012?

GGJ 2012 kicks off on January 27 2012 here at RP's Woodlands campus.

Further information  

RP Contact: Edward Wong Edward_Wong@rp.edu.sg  

Official Global Game Jam website: www.globalgamejam.org