Wondering what all the fuss is about Global Game Jam? Or maybe you’re wondering what in the world it is? We’ve got you! Global Game Jam (GGJ) is a worldwide event where people collaborate to create original video and analog games in community. And you can participate right here in Green Bay. The event starts Monday, January 30th with a “Theme Reveal” kickoff on the UWGB campus, where you can get the scoop from organizers and gaming experts, so you’re ready to participate when the weekend-long create-a-thon starts on February 3rd and runs through the 5th. (Scroll to the bottom of this post for a detailed listing of the GGJ events in Green Bay.)
The UWGB English department “Creatives” talked to Professor Kris Purzycki, who is co-organizing the event, to find out more about what attendees can expect at both the theme reveal and the Global Game Jam weekend itself.
UWGB Creatives: We’d love to know a bit more about how Global Game Jam works. The event on the 30th is where the Global Game Jam people announce this year’s theme, and then from Feb. 3-5, participants will have 48 hours on site to create a game with everyone else. Is that correct?
Professor Kris Purzycki: To accommodate international participants, the GGJ organizers spread the event across the entire week. Monday’s event is actually the official start of the Jam. We’re just using it as a chance to gather beforehand and maybe start firing up our creative engines. We have a Discord server where ideas can be exchanged [throughout the week], maybe even teams start forming. At the actual Jam, which will be held at the Urban Hub in downtown Green Bay, we’ll start at 5 p.m. [on February 3rd] with a brief overview before turning everyone loose. From that point, everyone has 48 hours to create an original game. At about 3 or 4 p.m. on Sunday, we’ll stop and check out what everyone has made.
UWGB Creatives: What happens at the actual Jam at the Urban Hub? Does the whole gathering work together? Or do people splinter off in their own little groups? Or do they get assigned groups?
Prof. Kris Purzycki: People are welcome to join up with a team, but there’s no requirement or assigned group. One of the amazing qualities of the jam is the collaborative, interdisciplinary spirit of the weekend. How often do artists, programmers, musicians, engineers, and writers get to work together this way?
UWGB Creatives: What if there’s a lone ranger running around feeling shy and self-conscious? Will someone help them find a place?
Prof. Kris Purzycki: Absolutely! At some point, everyone pitches an idea for a game (if they have one) and also states their interests and skills. But I would say that there’s no reason to feel self-conscious—it’s a wonderful group of folks who are welcoming (heck, they welcomed me!) and accommodating.
UWGB Creatives: What kinds of software do people use to create video games? Twine? Fancier software?
Prof. Kris Purzycki: Twine is an excellent tool—I’m actually surprised we didn’t have more Twine works last year, now that you mention it…. Many of us (myself included) used bitsy, a simple game creation tool. There are certainly those that use more professional tools like Unity, Unreal, and Godot, but you can use whatever you prefer. More importantly, however, you don’t even need to create a computer game! We had a board game as well as a role-playing game last year.
UWGB Creatives: Is there any help for people who want to make a video game but aren’t able to code one? Or can people just come to contribute ideas and leave the programming or Twine-ing to others?
Prof. Kris Purzycki: Absolutely. If someone is, say, a creative writer and wants to contribute to a team creating a videogame, there are plenty of ways to do so: script writing, dialog, plot.
I will say that one of challenges we as organizers have tried to work through is the perception that the Game Jam is only for computer games.
UWGB Creatives: (Right. So just a reminder, dear readers, you can come and create a board or role-playing game, etc.) Have you ever done this before? What was your experience like?
Prof. Kris Purzycki: I have! This is my third time—the first was at UW-Milwaukee where we used Minecraft to create a “story” of sorts. One of the first things I did when I moved to Green Bay was to see if there was a Global Game Jam site in town. That’s how I found out [Green Bay GGJ co-organizer] Ben [Geisler of Roar Studios Inc.] had organized one for several years.
UWGB Creatives: Why should people come to the theme reveal? What can they look forward to?
Prof. Kris Purzycki: Since this is the first year we’ve had a separate reveal event, we’re hoping that this reveal will give everyone a chance to start batting around some ideas. More importantly, we wanted to give everyone a chance to see what the Jam is about, ask questions, and see if it’s something they want to participate in.
UWGB Creatives: What is the 48 hours like where people create the games? Do they take breaks or is it just an all-nighter with naps?
Prof. Kris Purzycki: Folks are free to work as they see fit. Most people head home for the evening, but there are always people who work through the night. Either Ben or I will be there both nights to help out in any way. We provide plenty of food, snacks, and beverages to keep people fuelled.
UWGB Creatives: Thank you! Do you plan to have any options for people who can’t be at the theme reveal in person? I’m thinking about students at the location campuses who might find it difficult to come to Green Bay on a weeknight.
Prof. Kris Purzycki: We will be streaming each event over the Center for Games and Interactive Media’s Twitch channel.
UWGB Creatives: Is there anything else you want people to know about GGJ?
Prof. Kris Purzycki: One more thing: we’re planning to include games in the UWGB Academic Excellence Symposium [which showcases the best in student research and creativity], too! In part to prepare for this, we’re holding a recap session at the library, 2-3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 to give students a chance to brag and show off their work.
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Here’s an overview of the Green Bay GGJ events:
Monday, Jan. 30th (3-5 p.m.): The Global Game Jam Theme Reveal will take place on Monday, Jan. 30th at 5:30 p.m. in UWGB’s Christie Theatre in the Student Union. Hear from event co-organizers and gaming experts, learn what this year’s theme is, and have your questions answered. If you can’t make it in person, this event will also be streamed on Twitch.
Jan. 30 – Feb. 2nd: Throughout the week, participants can brainstorm ideas and find small groups to work with through the Green Bay GGJ Discord server.
Friday, Feb. 3 – Sunday, Feb. 5: Starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, come to the Urban Hub in Green Bay to start working on a digital or analog game. The event will wrap up on Sunday roughly at 3-4 p.m. If you can’t make it in person, this event will also be streamed on Twitch.
Friday, Feb. 10th (2-3 p.m.): Check out the completed digital and tabletop games from this year’s Green Bay Global Game Jam at our Recap Session in the Breakthrough Studio on the third floor of UWGB’s Cofrin Library.
Questions? Email Green Bay GGJ event co-organizers Prof. Kris Purzycki (purzyckk@uwgb.edu) or Ben Geisler of Roar Studios Inc. (bgeisler@roarstudios.com).
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