Global Game Jam 2009

12 February 2009

Two computer games by Newport students have been chosen as among the top 12 from over 300 created in a 48-hour Global Game Jam held simultaneously in 53 cities worldwide. The University of Wales, Newport was the only Welsh venue for the computer game creation marathon which challenged students, lecturers and professional game developers to come up with the most innovative new video games in just two days.

“We were proud to be the only Welsh venue in this first ever global event – and especially pleased when two games created by our students were in the Best of Global Game Jam hot picks by indiegames.com,” said Dr Mike Reddy, Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Games Development and Artificial Intelligence course at Newport Business School.

“The event, which was open to our students and those studying the BA (Hons) Computer Games Design at Newport School of Art Media and Design, was a wonderful collaboration between artists and programmers from all years on both courses at Newport.

“This was another landmark event for computer games development at Newport’s University which has seen graduates set up their own company in the city and in 2007 hosted the prestigious Women In Games Conference. The University is also home to the Synergy games research group who explore, critique and expand game form and feed the results of their work into the undergraduate game courses at Newport,” he added.

The two games chosen as being among the top ten were called ‘Lag’ in which players rush around collecting packages and avoiding evil red enemies, and ‘The Global Game Jam Game Jam Game’, which featured the Global game jam itself, and involved keeping people awake as they created games for the event.

“We really enjoyed taking part in the Game Jam, although it was exhausting working practically non-stop for 48 hours,” said 21-year-old Film & Video student Charlotte Woolley who with her team-mates, twin sister Catherine and Tim Wayman, created a game about a frog and a duck who have to solves puzzles in order to reach their holiday destination.

To play the games, visit www.indiegames.com/blog/2009/02/best_of_global_game_jam.html.

For information about all computer game development courses at the University of Wales, Newport contact the University Information Centre on 01633 432432 or visit www.newport.ac.uk. Details of computer game research carried out by the Synergy research lab can be found at http://synergy.newport.ac.uk.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

(PLEASE CREDIT PHOTOS TO: PHIL MANSELL)

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We really enjoyed this event, although it was exhausting working practically non-stop for 48 hours,” said 21-year-old Film & Video student Charlotte Woolley who is pictured with team-mate Tim Wayman at work on their computer game during the marathon Global Game Jam.

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Members of the team who produced 'The Global Game Jam Game Jam Game’, which featured cartoon people working on the Global Game Jam

Notes for Editors

Global Game Jam (GGJ) is the brainchild of Susan Gold, director of Game Program Review and chair of the Education Special Interest Group of the International Game Developers Association. GGJ brings together talented individuals and teams from around the globe and rallies them around a central theme, for which they have 48 hours to create their game. With more than 1,750 participants at 53 locations in 23 countries, GGJ is a showcase of the creativity and talent of the international game development community. GGJ is sponsored by leading companies including Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., Mekensleep Studios, and Unity Technologies.

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PR017/02/09

Further information from:

Phil Mansell, Press and Communications Officer

Tel: 01633 432822 Mob: 07821 028668 Email: press@newport.ac.uk