[Off topic] Global Game Jam 2016

This articles is a little different, there will be less “crazy” shaders than the other ones.

I’d like to talk to you about the Global Game Jam coming on the last weekend of January 2016 (29-31 January). The Global Game Jam is a world wide event where the goal is to create a video game in 48 hours. There are associations organizing this event all over the world, and a lot in France. Last year, the association APOIL of université Paris-sud hosted the event  and they are doing it again this year.

A game Jam brings together programmers, designers, Game designers, musicians… with a same goal: creating a video game in 48 hours. It starts Friday evening when the organizers unveil the subject of the Game Jam at 18h. The subject can be anything, a word, a phrase, an image… and you will create your video game around it. The subject of last year was “What do we do now?”

Now that everyone know the subject, the game jam has begun! You now have a few minutes to think about what you want to do. Then you present your idea to everyone and make a team with others who like your idea. The teams are usually made of 4 to 6 people.

In 48h hours, the time goes really fast and you may want to avoid sleeping, but at some point you have to. And you should not fight too much against the need to sleep. (I slept just a few hours during the Jam last year and it was very hard at the end)

On Sunday evening, at the end of the Game Jam, you have to upload your game on the Global Game Jam web site and present your game in front of everyone. It is not a competition, it’s just for fun (lots of fun!).