What is the Global Game Jam?

For those of you who have read my previous article, you’ll know that I will be participating in my first-ever game jam this weekend. To prepare for that, I’m taking a look at both the history and structure of game jams. If you’re interested in learning more about what a game jam is, check out this article.

The Global Game Jam is one of the largest game jams in the world. A tradition since 2008, the 2012 Global Game Jam set a Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Game Jam. This was the 4th annual Global Game Jam, and it boasted 10,684 participants and 2,209 game submissions.

The structure of the Global Game Jam is very traditional on the basic level. There is a time limit of 48 hours in which teams must create a game based on a set theme for that year. However, it is somewhat unique in that participants are given the choice of making a card game, or a board game as their submission, as opposed to being required to make a video game.

Games from this year’s jam are available to download for free on the Global Game Jam website. Some games made as part of the Global Game Jam have even been released, including: Pulse, Catch-22, Tug of Gore, and the wildly-popular Surgeon Simulator. If you’re looking for something to play, I suggest you check them out and see what can be accomplished in just 48 hours.