At Issue: What do we do? IGDA EdSIG Curriculum Framework Professional Development Listserv Does that make a community? How far had we actually been able to reach?

IGDA EdSIG

Curriculum Framework

Professional Development

Listserv

Does that make a community?

How far had we actually been able to reach?

Just don't talk about it, do it Look to experts for advice Nordic Game Jam Experimental Game Play/Indie Game Jam Advisory Board

Just don't talk about it, do it

Look to experts for advice

Nordic Game Jam

Experimental Game Play/Indie Game Jam

Advisory Board

Community

The Global Game Jam The Global Game Jam held it’s inaugural 48 hour Game Jam January 30 th -February 1st 2009 1650 Participants 97% surveyed would participate again 53 locations 25 of which streamed the event LIVE via ustream.tv 23 countries 14 time zones

The Global Game Jam held it’s inaugural 48 hour Game Jam January 30 th -February 1st 2009

1650 Participants

97% surveyed would participate again

53 locations

25 of which streamed the event LIVE via ustream.tv

23 countries

14 time zones

It is all about making games. 370 games attempted/made Several games made that weekend have signed publishing deals

370 games attempted/made

Several games made that weekend have signed publishing deals

What it has done Brought educators, students and industry professionals together Changed lives Created experience Reached out across the globe

Brought educators, students and industry professionals together

Changed lives

Created experience

Reached out across the globe

Failure is Success Support the idea of rapid protyping and itterative design, working in teams, collaboration, creativity and experimentation. Fundemental strategies of the IGDA Education SIG Curriculum Framework

Support the idea of rapid protyping and itterative design, working in teams, collaboration, creativity and experimentation.

Fundemental strategies of the IGDA Education SIG Curriculum Framework

Lead by example Susan Gold Gorm Lai Ian Schreiber

Lead by example

Susan Gold

Gorm Lai

Ian Schreiber

Look for banner at the expo Play at least one game at all 3 booths Cogswell Booth #5338 Holland Pavilion Booth #5422 RIT Booth #5616 Collect stickers on business cards Enter drawing, win fabulous prizes

Play at least one game at all 3 booths

Cogswell Booth #5338

Holland Pavilion Booth #5422

RIT Booth #5616

Collect stickers on business cards

Enter drawing, win fabulous prizes

Special Thanks Anders Højsted Stephen Jacobs Sean Kauppinen Foaad Koshmood Zach Lehman Miguel Sicart Darren Torpey

Anders Højsted

Stephen Jacobs

Sean Kauppinen

Foaad Koshmood

Zach Lehman

Miguel Sicart

Darren Torpey

Point-Of-View Anders Højsted Msc.IT.(DMC) from IT-University In Copenhagen – focus on digital design & gamedesign QA, QA Lead, Game Consultant, RPG writer, RPG Teacher, Innovation-consultant Business-development on indie Wii-developer Been an organizer of Nordic Game Jam the last 2 years Responsible for the Global Game Jam-manual POW: Industry What can participation in a gamejam give students that will make it easier for them to break into the game industry?

Anders Højsted

Msc.IT.(DMC) from IT-University In Copenhagen – focus on digital design & gamedesign

QA, QA Lead, Game Consultant, RPG writer, RPG Teacher, Innovation-consultant

Business-development on indie Wii-developer

Been an organizer of Nordic Game Jam the last 2 years

Responsible for the Global Game Jam-manual

POW: Industry

What can participation in a gamejam give students that will make it easier for them to break into the game industry?

Game Jams as an Educational Activity? Practically Oriented Conditions @ gamejams: 48 hours New team (maybe) New technology New workflows New gamedesign

Practically Oriented

Conditions @ gamejams:

48 hours

New team

(maybe) New technology

New workflows

New gamedesign

Game Jams as an Educational Activity? Simulates worst kind of crunch Participants can try themselves under the worst possible conditions Important lessons: Constraints: skills, technology, manpower Scoping & Prioritizing

Simulates worst kind of crunch

Participants can try themselves under the worst possible conditions

Important lessons:

Constraints: skills, technology, manpower

Scoping & Prioritizing

The Importance Of Team-based Development in Educations Games are (mostly) made by teams; team-based development simulates the worklife-situation

Games are (mostly) made by teams; team-based development simulates the worklife-situation

The Importance Of Team-based Development in Educations (con't) Important Perspectives: Communication & Management Documentation Interdisciplinary communication Technical Issues QA – Testing & Iterative Development Social Dynamics

Important Perspectives:

Communication & Management

Documentation

Interdisciplinary communication

Technical Issues

QA – Testing & Iterative Development

Social Dynamics

Pen & Paper, NGJ'06, Copenhagen

Dark Room Sex Game, NGJ'08, Copenhagen

Pulse, Utrecht GJ, 2009

Prototyping Rapid Evolutionary Throw-away: : to build a very robust prototype in a structured manner and constantly refine it. to create a model that will eventually be discarded rather than becoming part of the final delivered software.

Rapid Prototyping Manufacturers can create 3D models with CAD (Computer-Aided Design) programs then fabricate those models using layer based manufacturing. Game developers use advanced CAD programs to build assets that are later compiled to form complete digital environments – a process similar to layer based manufacturing.

Rapid Prototyping Investor/Publisher Conflicts End-user Wishes Outsourcing Investors and publishers don’t always know every intimate detail about development. Communication can be cloudy, which results in features or goals being updated frequently. People who pay monthly to play video games certainly have a voice in what should be added or changed, but sometimes their concerns don’t properly align with the rest of the game’s mechanics. Outsourcing can start out as a quick and cost-effective way to finish game assets, but companies that don’t properly communicate their needs can end up paying more for it in the long run.

Rapid Prototyping Game Development on Steroids Skills to Pay the Bills Teamwork and Leadership A rapidly prototyped game is still considered a game. It should still have all the key features that a game showcases (code, art, etc.). When students or game jam participants form teams, its rare that the teams are perfectly balanced. Sometimes groups will have multiple artists but a weak programming background. Sometimes it’s the opposite. Rapid prototyping wont often allow time to set up a new political structure complete with meetings and debates. You can throw the human resources department out the window.

Rapid Prototyping Creativity in Constraints? Most students complain about constraints set on their projects. The Global Game Jam taught them how constraints can actually make life easier. Guerilla Warfare Rapid prototyping encourages students to develop individual skills and to integrate those skills into a team setting. Under the pressure of a strict deadline, students often find creative and unconventional ways to attack the constraints set before them. New teams, new environments and new software require participants to adapt and overcome.

Rapid Prototyping Blocking Shadows Go head to head or against the computer in a strategy and physics based stacking game. The goal is to get as many blocks of your color in the red circle as possible. The trick is that every time your opponent’s block touches yours, the color changes and it’s his! Use your wits to outsmart your opponent and turn his blocks against him!

The Iterative Process KISS Game development is no exception to the KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) rule. SCRUM and Agile These are just two of many popular iterative processes used in today’s companies. If you’d like to learn more about these and other similar practices, Clinton Keith is presenting this Thursday. Check GDC’s website for time and location as well as a more detailed description.

The Iterative Process A Sample Iterative Process

The Iterative Process Embracing Failure The iterative process teaches students to embrace failure rather than shy from it. When students correctly utilize the iterative process, they realize failures much sooner and are able to fix them before the small setbacks become insurmountable problems. “ Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” -Sir Winston Churchill

The Iterative Process Star-Crossed Lovers A game where two people cross the world to find each other. Material distractions (represented as gold coins) will make your partner happy but will also slow you down. You have only 3 days to find each other – can you make it in time?

Who am I? Ian Schreiber Programmer, Game Designer, Professor of Game Design Columbus State Community College Savannah College of Art and Design http://teachingdesign.blogspot.com

Constraints

Constraints

Constraints

Types of Constraints Theme Mechanics Aesthetics Technical

Theme

Mechanics

Aesthetics

Technical

Theme

Game Mechanics

Game Aesthetics

Technical Constraints

Combinations “ As long as we have each other…” (theme) 5 minutes or less (mechanics) Choice of 3 adjectives (theme)

“ As long as we have each other…” (theme)

5 minutes or less (mechanics)

Choice of 3 adjectives (theme)

Combinations Physics-based puzzles with magnets Shuffleboard meets Match-3 meets Reversi Serious game about addiction Divorce from the child’s perspective Casual painting And 355 more…

Physics-based puzzles with magnets

Shuffleboard meets Match-3 meets Reversi

Serious game about addiction

Divorce from the child’s perspective

Casual painting

And 355 more…

Your Turn Each table, divide in three: Group 1: create a thematic constraint Group 2: create a mechanical constraint Group 3: create an aesthetic constraint

Each table, divide in three:

Group 1: create a thematic constraint

Group 2: create a mechanical constraint

Group 3: create an aesthetic constraint

Your Turn Each group: Share your constraint with the other groups at your table.

Each group:

Share your constraint with the other groups at your table.

Your Turn Each group: Generate as many game concepts as you can using the other two constraints!

Each group:

Generate as many game concepts as you can using the other two constraints!

How did you do?

Controlling Scope of Projects through time constraints Foaad Koshmood

Time constraint, why do we want it in a Game Jam? Feasibility Don’t want participants to spend all day on a “story” or “levels”… prevent too many beads on the string. Works to encourage small number of levels and limited story at best: (no time for excessive plot exposition). Judging Judges and players need to realistically evaluate the game in a short amount of time. Judges need to be able to see all the major features and graphics within a shot time play.

Feasibility

Don’t want participants to spend all day on a “story” or “levels”… prevent too many beads on the string.

Works to encourage small number of levels and limited story at best: (no time for excessive plot exposition).

Judging

Judges and players need to realistically evaluate the game in a short amount of time.

Judges need to be able to see all the major features and graphics within a shot time play.

Working in the time limit Some people “loosely interpreted” (i.e. ignored) the time constraint. Others worked in the time constraint arbitrarily (i.e. it was not integral to the play). Still others made use of the time constraint as an essence of the game concept.

Some people “loosely interpreted” (i.e. ignored) the time constraint.

Others worked in the time constraint arbitrarily (i.e. it was not integral to the play).

Still others made use of the time constraint as an essence of the game concept.

3 games selected to demo Little Big Fort (Australia) A Moose’s Love (Santa Cruz, CA) Four Minutes and Thirty Three seconds of uniqueness (Denmark)

Little Big Fort (Australia)

A Moose’s Love (Santa Cruz, CA)

Four Minutes and Thirty Three seconds of uniqueness (Denmark)

Little Big Fort

Little Big Fort -continued Beautiful graphics, multiplayer game Uses a countdown clock to pressure teams to succeed. Count starts at 300 seconds

Beautiful graphics, multiplayer game

Uses a countdown clock to pressure teams to succeed.

Count starts at 300 seconds

A Moose’s Love Game uses the position of the sun as a time indicator. From sunrise to sunset: roughly 4 minutes.

Game uses the position of the sun as a time indicator.

From sunrise to sunset: roughly 4 minutes.

4’ 33” of Uniqueness! Very creative post-modern game based on John Cage’s Postmodern piece: 4’ 33” You win only if no one else plays the game for 4’ 33”. Absolutely no interaction but strategy involved.

Very creative post-modern game based on John Cage’s

Postmodern piece: 4’ 33”

You win only if no one else plays the game for 4’ 33”.

Absolutely no interaction but strategy involved.

Conclusion Time constraints are useful for judging and motivation. Can be handled creatively or accidentally (could be a factor in point system evaluations).

Time constraints are useful for judging and motivation.

Can be handled creatively or accidentally (could be a factor in point system evaluations).

Gorm Lai Indie Game Developer IGDA Copenhagen Co-Founder Nordic Game Jam

Indie Game Developer

IGDA Copenhagen

Co-Founder Nordic Game Jam

Nordic Game Jam Ingredients Timeline Organization Responsibilities Conclusion Running a Game Jam

Nordic Game Jam

Ingredients

Timeline

Organization

Responsibilities

Conclusion

World's biggest jam 159 Participants 4 years running Experimentation! Nordic Game Jam

World's biggest jam

159 Participants

4 years running

Experimentation!

Memories Pen & Paper ( NGJ 06 )‏ Dark Room Sex Game ( NGJ 08 )‏ Make My Head Grow ( NGJ 09 )‏

Pen & Paper ( NGJ 06 )‏

Dark Room Sex Game ( NGJ 08 )‏

Make My Head Grow ( NGJ 09 )‏

Necessities Venue Electricity Network Constraints/Affordances Creativity Good Spirit

Venue

Electricity

Network

Constraints/Affordances

Creativity

Good Spirit

More? Helpers Computers Development Software Group Forming Catering Helpers

Helpers

Computers

Development Software

Group Forming

Catering

Helpers

Options Talks Competitions Jury

Talks

Competitions

Jury

Work Schedule - Before September. 1 st Organizers Meeting October. Announcement November. Sign up, weekly organizers meetings

September. 1 st Organizers Meeting

October. Announcement

November. Sign up, weekly organizers meetings

Work Schedule - Before December. Practicalities mostly in place; volunteers, talks, constraints, catering January. Press releases, gathering money, final preparations

December. Practicalities mostly in place; volunteers, talks, constraints, catering

January. Press releases, gathering money, final preparations

Work Schedule - During Friday. Registrations, announcing constraints, creating groups Saturday Sunday. Collecting games, handling jury, presenting games

Friday. Registrations, announcing constraints, creating groups

Saturday

Sunday. Collecting games, handling jury, presenting games

Work Schedule - After Press Releases Follow ups. Sponsors, jury, panel, speakers Web Site Accounting Misc

Press Releases

Follow ups. Sponsors, jury, panel, speakers

Web Site

Accounting

Misc

Organization

Responsibilities HR & Organization! Budget & Money Social Exercises Press, Jury & Networking Catering

HR & Organization!

Budget & Money

Social Exercises

Press, Jury & Networking

Catering

Responsibilities Participants (Students)‏ Venue Equipment Press

Participants (Students)‏

Venue

Equipment

Press

Responsibilities Participants (Professionals)‏ Constraints & Affordances Event Managers Web site Sign up gradually taking over Diginet's role

Participants (Professionals)‏

Constraints & Affordances

Event Managers

Web site

Sign up

gradually taking over Diginet's role

Conclusion Partnerships Constraints The Spirit of the Jam Follow up

Partnerships

Constraints

The Spirit of the Jam

Follow up

More Memories? 4m & 33s of Uniqueness Pulse Bipole 300 games +

4m & 33s of Uniqueness

Pulse

Bipole

300 games +

Questions? [email_address]

Game Jams and Game Studies miguel sicart assistant professor IT University of Copenhagen game.itu.dk [email_address]

miguel sicart

assistant professor

IT University of Copenhagen

game.itu.dk

[email_address]

My 20 minutes of fame Game studies? Three examples The importance of jamming Theorizing for the future

Game studies?

Three examples

The importance of jamming

Theorizing for the future

Game Studies: the field Academic discipline that studies games from a humanities/social sciences perspective. Started ca. 2000 gamestudies.org Games and Culture

Academic discipline that studies games from a humanities/social sciences perspective.

Started ca. 2000

gamestudies.org

Games and Culture

Game Studies: research Game studies is concerned with the nature and cultural meaning of games. Applying the humanities/social sciences method to understanding games.

Game studies is concerned with the nature and cultural meaning of games.

Applying the humanities/social sciences method to understanding games.

Game Studies: Examples What games are? Jesper Juul’s Half-Real The importance of communities: T.L. Taylor’s Play Between Worlds The meaning of games: Miguel Sicart’s The Ethics of Computer Games

What games are? Jesper Juul’s Half-Real

The importance of communities: T.L. Taylor’s Play Between Worlds

The meaning of games: Miguel Sicart’s The Ethics of Computer Games

5 Minutes MMO

The importance of time The 5 minutes MMO is a radical attempt to play with time: lag as a mechanic shows us the importance of time in games, and the need to distinguish between play time, game time, and machine time.

The 5 minutes MMO is a radical attempt to play with time:

lag as a mechanic shows us the importance of time in games, and the need to distinguish between play time, game time, and machine time.

4 minutes and 33 seconds of Uniqueness

What is play(ing)? 4’33’’ explores the meaning of play: a game in which interaction, or the very act of play, is penalized: playing is staring, breaking all of our conceptions on games as activities.

4’33’’ explores the meaning of play: a game in which interaction, or the very act of play, is penalized: playing is staring, breaking all of our conceptions on games as activities.

Move Mouse to Fulfill Destiny

Stories and Meaning MMtFD explores the capacities of games to create meaningful stories by means of creating interaction. Without the heavy load of classic narratives, MMtFD shows us the narrative potential of games and abstraction.

MMtFD explores the capacities of games to create meaningful stories by means of creating interaction.

Without the heavy load of classic narratives, MMtFD shows us the narrative potential of games and abstraction.

The Importance of Jamming Jams are open spaces for creativity. The educational nature of jams invokes a certain “research” situation. Students and developers can use jams to explore the meaning(s) of the cultural artifacts they produce.

Jams are open spaces for creativity.

The educational nature of jams invokes a certain “research” situation.

Students and developers can use jams to explore the meaning(s) of the cultural artifacts they produce.

Jams are freedom (for research)

Theorizing for the future

Jams = research. Develop games based on research ideas. Conduct studies based on jams (or during jams). Use game jam games as examples that illustrate academic points.

Jams = research.

Develop games based on research ideas.

Conduct studies based on jams (or during jams).

Use game jam games as examples that illustrate academic points.

Game Studies has the duty of researching the cultural, ludic, and social implications of game jams and the games developed in those contexts.

Game Studies has the duty of researching the cultural, ludic, and social implications of game jams and the games developed in those contexts.

Thanks! [email_address]