Tasters are polishing their spoons: Game Jam starts this Friday!
The Global Game Jam is primarily (http://globalgamejam NULL.org)collaborative, not competitive. The focus of the weekend is for everyone to make great games. However we’re game makers, so we can’t resist the urge to spice things up by making it a bit competitive and so in the interests of fun and of recognising excellence we do award prizes for several categories.
To reflect more accurately the role of the judging panel, we’ll be looking at them as a tasting panel after a long weekend in the game making kitchen.
Our “Jam Tasters” are
Simon Joslin, Creative Director at The Voxel Agents (http://thevoxelagents NULL.com), and veteran 48 Hour jammer.
Ben Britten, Technical Director at Tin Man Games (http://tinmangames NULL.com NULL.au) and international man of mystery.
Trent Kusters, ‘Creative Director’ at Divisive Media (http://www NULL.wetroads NULL.com/dm/) and ‘Founder & Director’ at League of Geeks (http://www NULL.leagueofgeeks NULL.com/) who always smells nice.
Craig Duturbure, Creative Director at Grapple Gun Games (http://www NULL.grapplegungames NULL.com/) and an indie designer who looks for everlasting fun in games (but will settle for a satisfying shotgun effect)
Conor O’Kane, Game Development Lecturer at RMIT and jammer from last year about to release the jammed Last Flight of the Bumblebee (http://globalgamejam NULL.org/2011/last-flight-bumblebee)for iPad on the App Store.
Katie Williams, freelance writer, Kotaku Australia (http://kotaku NULL.com NULL.au), Hyper and PCPP and lover of inflatable strawberries.
Sam Mayo, Community Manager at Firemint (http://firemint NULL.com/) and ace lemon jouster.
Unforunately Mark Serrels can’t stay for the whole jam but will be coming along. (I couldn’t resist his bio), Editor of Kotaku Australia. He is a multi award-winning journalist and the inventor of the Serrels’ Stare ™ (http://www NULL.kotaku NULL.com NULL.au/2011/05/yet-another-reason-why-kotaku-has-the-best-community-ever/). He has previously edited publications such as The Official Nintendo Magazine, The Official PlayStation Magazine, Australian 360 and PSM3. He once got 191,000 on Doodle Jump and totally has a man crush on Ryan Gosling. And, yes, he is painfully aware that he closely resembles Simon Pegg.
Awards Categories and Prizes
Tasters’ Toast: A $500 JB Voucher courtesy of Immersive Technologies
Jammers’ Jam de Jam: A $100 JB voucher
Tarty Art (best graphics): EA swag
Farty Art (best sound): the complete Sound Librarian (http://www NULL.stephanschutze NULL.com/)
Smoothest Jam (best teamwork): More swag from EA Australia (http://www NULL.ea NULL.com/au) along with $100 JB Voucher
Most Surprising Spread :
We <3 our growing list of sponsors for all the brilliant support and prizes.
Tasters will reconvene with the jam makers, media and guests, over a bbq and a beer at La Trobe’s Eagle Bar at about 6pm on Sunday 29 January where they will discuss their tasting notes.
Games sector and media are encouraged to email giselle@igdamelbourne.org for an invite to Sunday afternoon display, awards and BBQ. If you miss out this time there will be information about a game jam expo soon <crosses fingers the plan comes together.>
We’ll try to keep you posted with updates, but if you have any questions, start at the facebook #igdamjam page (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/groups/186036814823342/)and take it from there.