The document discusses various aspects of game jams and game development. In 3 sentences: Game jams bring together educators, students, and industry professionals to rapidly prototype games under tight constraints like short time limits. This iterative process simulates real-world game development and teaches important lessons about teamwork, communication, scoping projects, and embracing failures. Several games from past jams have been successful and signed publishing deals, demonstrating how jams can be an educational activity and potential pathway to the game industry for participants.

4. Community

17. Pen & Paper, NGJ'06, Copenhagen

18. Dark Room Sex Game, NGJ'08, Copenhagen

19. Pulse, Utrecht GJ, 2009

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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!

26. 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.

27. The Iterative Process A Sample Iterative Process

28. 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

29. 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?

30. 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

31. Constraints

32. Constraints

33. Constraints

35. Theme

36. Game Mechanics

37. Game Aesthetics

38. Technical Constraints

44. How did you do?

45. Controlling Scope of Projects through time constraints Foaad Koshmood

49. Little Big Fort

66. Organization

72. Questions? [email_address]

78. 5 Minutes MMO

80. 4 minutes and 33 seconds of Uniqueness

82. Move Mouse to Fulfill Destiny

85. Jams are freedom (for research)

86. Theorizing for the future

89. Thanks! [email_address]