Today marks the beginning of the 2016 GLOBAL GAME JAM WEEKEND. January 29-31 is sure to be a weekend of game development and breakthroughs. This year, we’ll be seeing the Game Jam do a sort of split between Video Games and Board Games.
For those of you who don’t know, the Global Game Jam® (GGJ) is the world’s largest game jam event which takes place in physical locations across the globe. It’s an event aimed to inspire innovation, experimentation, and collaboration in games. It’s here where career and/or aspiring game developers get together an take on a certain task which aligns with the theme of that specific year. The first ever Global Game Jam, held in January 2009, saw an attendance of 1,600 people across 23 countries. Last year, the event grew to over 500 sites spread across 78 countries with 21,000 participating jammers!
So what exactly happens in the GGJ? Well, it normally begins with video keynotes and advice from leaders in the game development industry. Afterwards, the year’s theme is announced and all sites worldwide are challenged to make games based upon said theme within 48 hours. Each GGJ event poses an intellectual challenge where people are invited to try new technology and tools while exploring new development roles and skills so you can bet that the outcome is going to be interesting to see.
GGJ 2016 happens today until Sunday (January 29-31) at Microsoft Philippines, Ludo Boardgame & Cafe, and Ateneo de Manila University. There are also sites in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Davao that’ll be joining in. If you wanna check them out, you can have a full view of the sites by checking out the list below:
Video Games
- Microsoft Philippines
- 8/F 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati
- Open 48 hours
- For security, jammers stay on site after 10pm and can enter the next day by 8am
Board Games & Tabletop
- Ludo: Boardgame & Cafe
- 38 Jupiter St. Corner Planet St., Brgy. Bel-Air, Makati
- Regular Operating Schedule
- (F) 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- (S) 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
- (Sun) 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Other Manila Organizers
- IGDA Manila
- Ateneo de Manila University,
- Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City
- Ateneo de Manila University,
- North Luzon
- Waltermart
- Gapan, Nueva Ecija
- Waltermart
- Yolanda’s Atrium
- Tarlac, Philippines
- Metro Dagupan ICT Office, Pangasinan
- Tarlac, Philippines
- Davao
- UIC Information Technology Department and Incubation Facility
- 2/F ITDIF, ICB Building Fr Selga St. Davao City
- UIC Information Technology Department and Incubation Facility