Gamers Create 14 Games In 48 Hours In Wrexham For Global Game Jam 2017

The oldest and biggest games creation event of its kind in Wales saw participants create 14 games in 48 hours in Wrexham. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University hosted Global Game Jam for the seventh time from Friday 20 January to Sunday 22 January 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The collection of games – all of which are now available to play for free online – included an emotion simulator, Treasure Chase strategy board game and a multiplayer, arena-based video game. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each creation is based around a concept or idea connected to waves, the theme chosen for the 2017 Global Game Jam. More than 36,000 jammers were involved globally, spread over 702 sites in 95 countries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Hebblewhite, senior lecturer in computing at Wrexham Glyndwr University and organiser of the Wrexham event, said: “We had a great turnout here in Wrexham once again and this was reflected across the world. Over 7,000 games were produced in total, meaning that GGJ17 has set another new record to become the Biggest Game Jam Ever. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Here in Wrexham we logged around 2,500 cumulative hours of work and created 14 unique games over the 48 hour period. Throughout the weekend, we were able to communicate with venues in Germany, France, Estonia, Finland, USA, Colombia and Hong Kong.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Global Game Jam was started by game enthusiasts who wanted to encourage creation and innovation. The event is open to all and no experience or technical computing expertise is needed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Wrexham event this year featured keynote speaker Chris Woodworth, character animator at TT Games, which produces the LEGO franchise of video games. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Game jammers were supported by experienced developers from academia and industry to complete the challenge within 48 hours. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Past themes have included Ritual, What Do We Do Now, The Sound of a Heartbeat, Deception and Extinction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Every game created at the Wrexham Global Game Jam is available to play or download now from http://globalgamejam.org/2017/jam-sites/wrexham-glyndwr-university-ggj17/games ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​