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Global Game Jam Omaha with the CPL

UNO's Criss Library Creative Production Lab is leading the charge for Global Game Jam in Omaha! The goal: come together online and make a video game or board game; Jan. 21 - 31

  • date: 01/21/22 - 01/31/21
  • time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • location: Online • maps
Global Game Jam Neon Graphic

Update January 19, 2022: Given the acceleration of Omicron locally and new health directives by our host location, all in-person events for GGJ Omaha are cancelled. Get vaccinated and boosted, wear the good masks, and stay home. Effective immediately this is a 100% online event.

The Global Game Jam® (GGJ) is the world's largest game creation event taking place around the world. The event stirs a global creative buzz in games, while at the same time exploring the process of game development through programming, design, narrative, and artistic expression. Condensed into a shortened development cycle, GGJ encourages people with all kinds of backgrounds to participate and contribute to this global spread of game development and creativity.

This year the entire event is accessible online! Stay safe in the comfort of your own home while meeting new developers, artists, and creatives from around the world also interested in game design.

How it Works

Prior to the event, join local developers and hobbyists on discord to learn about development, share your ideas, and join a team.

The event begins online on January 21st with a short video keynote and advice from leading game developers; then the secret theme is announced. Later, the UNO CPL will host a second online brainstorming and teambuilding session on January 28th before letting folks head out and work at home for the weekend.

All sites worldwide are challenged to make games based on the theme and to be completed by Sunday afternoon. Participants are invited to explore new technology tools, trying on new roles in development and testing their skills in new ways that requires them to design, develop, create, test, and make a new game by the January 31st deadline. On Sunday, January 31st we'll get back together to show off our games in-person at the Criss Library on UNO's campus.

Anyone can participate, as long as they are over the age of majority. All UNO students can participate. Non-UNO community members under age 19 must have guardian supervision and can only participate remotely via discord.

Experience is not necessary! Designers, developers, artists, musicians, knitters, gardeners, architects, everyone and anyone is welcome to try their hand at making a game during the GGJ. If you want to make a new game within or using the tools of an existing game you can and should! Not sold on being a full on developer yet? You can learn many new skills and support your team by contributing ideas, playtesting, and giving moral support. You could even work on a non-digital game, or learn new skills through coding a digital game.

Every board game that completes a print-and-play version or a complete box-set will have their creation printed in the CPL and added to the Criss Library Board Game Collection for patron checkout. Any video game made to the specifications of our arcade machine will get added to public play rotation.

Members of the UNO community are welcome to come into the CPL and utilize any computers or equipment on hand for development, including our new Board Game Kit Bash Case. This rolling cart unit includes a plethora of supplies for getting your board game started and playable.

RHO Interactive Entertainment will be offering aid as legacy mentors, and Omaha Game Dev Association will be on call for outreach!

SCHEDULE

Sunday January 16th

Theme goes live on discord and through the GGJ website around the world. Teams can start development on their own, or wait until the 21st for the official local start time and kickoff.

Friday January 21st

6:00pm - 8:30pm: LIVE VIRTUAL EVENT - Earlybird Kickoff on discord. Local official "start date" and open discussion of the secret theme. Join the virtual event to brainstorm, find a new team or team members, and work together online.

Friday January 28th

6:00pm - 8:30pm: LIVE VIRTUAL EVENT - Weekend Rush on discord. Join a team, brainstorm, or gather a team around your current work if your've started early.

Friday January 28th through Saturday the 30th

Solo remote development time. Stay in contact through discord!

Sunday January 31st

3:00pm - 4:00pm: Regional upload window on GGJ website. Games MUST be completed at this time.

5:00pm - 7:00pm: Virtual presentations on discord

Meet other developers, ask questions, and start a team by joining the official discord.

Everyone interested in participation must register online, linked HERE.

If anyone has any specific requests or concerns, email Charles Fisher.