Train2Game, in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and DR Studios, is hosting a 48 hour Game Jam. Bringing both students and non-students together for a weekend for a common goal – to make a great game.
The Train2Game Game Jam will take place from the evening of Friday 25th through to Sunday 27th March.
If you like a challenge, and want to come together with other talented individuals this could be a perfect opportunity to push your skills and challenge your way of working. Participants will work concurrently along with industry professionals around a central theme, and you will have 48 hours to create a game.
If all goes well we will see some experimental prototypes that teams can continue to work on after the Jam. Many games developed in jams have become fully published games.
The Jam is Open Source, hardware and software agnostic and all projects are protected under a Creative Commons License. We encourage people to try out new ideas and push themselves within reason, everyone needs to eat and sleep and stay at their best!
More details about the Train2Game Game Jam are below and you can keep up to date with it on the Game Jam event page on Facebook.
Dates: 6pm Friday 25th March 2011 to 6pm Sunday 27th March 2011 (48 Hours)
Location: University of Bedfordshire
Format: Teams of 2 to 6 members
Participants: Existing Train2Game students (limited number), Non Train2Game students
Existing members of the games development industry are excluded from this event.
Age Limit: 17+
Cost: Free for existing Train2Game students
£35 per person for non Train2Game students
Provided: Bag, t-shirt plus extras (TBC) for every participant
Train2Game Game Jam FAQ
Do I have to be in a team already or can I come on my own?
The game jam is open to pre-organised teams and individuals alike. If you’re attending as an individual then one of our game jam crew will help you into a team that fits your skills as a programmer, artist or designer. On most game jams 50% of the participants are attending as individuals so it’s not uncommon.
Do I have to bring my own computer?
No. The University of Bedfordshire has kindly donated enough lab space to house everyone that wants to take part in the event. The computers in the lab are more than capable of running all the latest software required for modern games development. If you want to bring your own computer/laptop the university will clear some space in each lab for you to use, however, your computer will need to be PAT tested (safety check) before we will allow it into the event.
What software is commonly used?
Because of the short time scales there isn’t any option to be elaborate. Commonly games are built in Game Maker, Unity, Flash, HTML or XNA. The focus is on games design and game play rather than the excessive use of technology.
Do I need to have done a game jam before?
Not at all. The process under which the game jam is run is pretty straight forward, all you need to do is to be able to code, draw or design … and stay awake
Do I need to stay for the full 48 hours?
It is possible to come and go from the event once we have announced the theme and the jam has started although you need to discuss this with your team members right at the beginning, so they understand you’re going to not be there for a period and therefore are not relying on you for something in the time you’re not there.
What facilities are there for sleeping and eating?
There will be a quiet room set aside for sleeping. You need to bring a sleeping bag or quilt to use, as these are not provided. Food is provided at both the venue and in the area surrounding the University.
Can I bring a non-participating friend with me?
Yes. If you have friends or family that would like to attend and watch what’s going on and learn a little more about games development that’s fine.
What happens to the games at the end?
The games are made available for download for free on the internet.
How do I register?
Registration is not open just yet. Watch the forums, Facebook page and Twitter for the announcement that registration is open and how to register.
As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
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