Dates: January 29 - 31, 2016 (estimated start 2:30PM on Friday; 48 HOURS of STRAIGHT JAMMING )
Where: Digital Media Center, Louisiana State University, Theatre
Registration Open Now - Register early and secure your spot!!!
About the Global Game Jam
Innovation - Experimentation - Collaboration: The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is the world's largest game jam event (game creation). This is LSU’s third year as a participant in this exciting development festival. Think of it as a hackathon focused on game development. It is the growth of an idea that in today’s heavily connected world, we can come together, be creative, share experiences and express ourselves in a multitude of ways using video games – it is very universal. The weekend stirs a global creative buzz in games, while at the same time exploring the process of development, be it programming, iterative design, narrative exploration or artistic expression. It is all condensed into a 48 hour development cycle. The GGJ encourages people with all kinds of backgrounds to participate and contribute to this global spread of game development and creativity.
The game jam starts on Friday afternoon (~3:00PM; registration at 2:30PM) for the video keynote, advice from leading game developers, and then a secret theme is announced. All sites worldwide are then challenged to make games based on that same theme, with games to be completed by Sunday afternoon. In January 2015, there were 518 locations in 78 countries creating over 5,400 games in one weekend! The jam is known for helping foster new friendships, increase confidence and create opportunities within the community. The jam is always an intellectual challenge. People are invited to explore new technology tools, try on new roles in development and test their skills to do something that requires them to design, develop, create, test and make a new game in the time span of 48 hours.
The GGJ is open source, hardware & software agnostic and all projects are protected under a Creative Commons license. We encourage people to try out new ideas and push themselves, within reason. Many games developed in previous Game Jams have become fully realized games. We also strongly encourage participants to remember to eat and sleep, to stay at their best!
Who: Age 18+, amateurs through professionals (minors allowed if accompanied by their legal guardian/or school counselor/chaperone). Do not come to the Jam with a team. Everyone will have some time to think and pitch an idea. Teams will be selected onsite! Collaborate with new friends or peers you admire. Although having computer skills is helpful, code experience is not necessary. Designers, developers, artists and anyone is welcome to try their hand at making a game during the GGJ. View FAQ's for more information.
Global Liability: The Global Game Jam is supposed to be fun and collaborative, with a goal to keep things very simple. As a rule, we expect that no team/makers of a game will illegally exploit others' IP, and that in turn, everything created becomes part of the public domain. All participants agree that their participation in the Global Game Jam will hold no one liable for any loss or damage. The Global Game Jam reserves the right to refuse to allow anyone to participate at any time for any reason or no reason at all. This includes after the game jam has already started.
Volunteer: The Digital Media Arts and Engineering Program at LSU's Center for Computation & Technology relies on LSU students to help run the LSU Global Game Jam. If you are interested in volunteering for a block of hours (or just a few), please contact Lea Anne Landry at leaanne (at) cct.lsu.edu or 225-578-5433. Volunteers receive complimentary registration to the GGJ with 5 hours of service.
Registration: $25 registration fee per person. The first 100 registered participants to pay will secure a spot in the Jam. Others will be placed on a waiting list.
1) Register on the Global Game Jam page, site = LSU (you will have to create an account first). Payment is not required at this step.
2) Volunteer by emailing leaanne (at) cct.lsu.edu if interested for FREE registration.
3) Before the Jam, you will be contacted by LSU CCT (Center for Computation & Technology) for payment. Visa, MasterCard or Discover accepted. $25 per person.
Note: LSU CCT will have some loaner laptops to checkout if you do not have a machine. Please request one when you submit your payment form (distributed on a first come basis).
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LSU Site Specific Information:
Software/Resources for Jammers: Click Here! Free trials from sponsors: Click Here!
2016 Schedule: Breakfast, dinner, and mid-night snack provided.
Schedule:
Friday
2:30 PM Registration (Lobby), and software/computer setup
3:00-4:30 PM Scheduled Talks --
4:45-5:00 PM Keynote Presentation
5:00-5:30 PM Kickoff video, Room DMC Theatre (unveiling of the "secret theme")
5:30-7:00 PM Pitches/Brainstorming & Group Forming, room DMC 1034
7:00 PM Development Begins
Saturday
11:00 AM Deadline to create user profile and game page
Sunday
2:00 PM Deadline for handing in game and source code
4:00 PM Game Presentations (Open to the Public -- free admission)
4:30 PM Awards are presented
5:00 PM Finished
Location: Digital Media Center at LSU, click here for google map. The building is a secure, locked building and you will need your name tag to enter and exit the building at all times.
Note: your signature will be required on the following forms when you arrive in order to participate: 1) LSU Network Usage Deed, 2) Liability & Media Release Form
Bring snacks, water, sleeping bags---be prepared to work on your project late into the night!!!!
Lodging: If you need lodging, we've reserved several rooms at a reduced rate at the Staybridge Suites-University Area, 4001 Nicholson Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Phone #(225) 456-5430. Ask for Group Code: JAM. Rates are $94 for studio queen suites, and $117 for double double/one bedrooms. Both come with a free full hot breakfast and wifi. Note that the cutoff date is December 29, 2015 to obtain these special rates.
Contact: Marc Aubanel [maubanel (at) cct.lsu.edu] or Karen Jones [kjones (at) cct.lsu.edu] for more information or sponsorship opportunities.
Sponsors:
