York University is hosting a game jam, where students will have the opportunity to create their own games during a limited time frame, Nov. 4-6, in order to encourage creative and innovative thinking. The event is organized by the department of computational arts, Sensorium, and the Faculty of Arts Media Production and Design (AMPD).
Juan Callejas, a fourth-year digital media student, explains that, “a game jam is a game-making marathon in which participants are given a short amount of time to create a game or game prototype. The idea of a jam is to create an environment where you are encouraged to try new things and experiment in ways that might not have much potential, since the short amount of time spent on these projects makes ‘failure’ inevitable.
“It’s also a great way for people with a lower level of experience to get into developing games since participants can experience the entire process of creating a game without having to commit to the long time usually required to make a full game,” continues Callejas.
Muhammad Daniyal Durrani, a third-year digital media student, shares Callejas’s love for games, saying that, “games have always been a huge part of my life and creating them gives me a unique sense of fulfilment. Participating in this event only made sense given my love and my past experience planning events in high school.”
Durrani adds that, “students from various academic backgrounds and skill levels get together at the Game Jam to collaborate on the creation of original video games. The purpose of the event is to foster student innovation and creativity while allowing them to have fun because productivity does not necessarily include stress.”
The theme of the York University Game Jam follows the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) created by the United Nations. There are 17 SDGs, such as ending poverty, hunger, and finding good health and well-being or quality education for everyone. The goals focus on calling all countries into a global, respectful partnership.
“The games that are developed during the event can be tested and played by the students. The game development teams, however, are free to decide whether or not to make their games accessible to the public,” says Durrani.
Though registration for the event is closed due to full capacity, Callejas adds that, “there are all sorts of jams taking place all year round, and often entirely online, with a broad variety of themes and fun limitations to encourage innovation and creativity.”
To learn more about this event, click here.
