Glyndwr To Host 48-Hour Video Game Celebration Global Game Jam

Wrexham will play its part in generating a global buzz about video games this weekend, when gamers in the town join millions of others worldwide in a 48-hour creative marathon.

Glyndŵr University is hosting ‘Global Game Jam’ for the third year running at its Centre for the Creative Industries from Friday January 23rd to Sunday January 25th.

The Game Jam is designed to encourage people from all backgrounds and ability levels to create as many video games as possible over the two days.

This year’s game theme will be announced at 5pm tomorrow evening at the event’s opening session.

The Wrexham edition of Game Jam will kick off with a keynote speech from Ralph Ferneyhough, a professional game developer who has work on the LEGO franchise of games such as Batman and Lord of the Rings.

Game Jam will also be live video streamed for the entire 48 hour period, with live updates via Twitter and Facebook.

A “Jam Cam” is also being planned where participants will be interviewed live as the projects develop.

Event organiser Richard Hebblewhite, senior lecturer in computing at Glyndŵr University, said: “Game Jam started a few years ago based around the idea of bringing people around the world together through technology to stir a global creative buzz in games.

“We wanted video gamers in North Wales to have an opportunity to get involved so we started hosting one here in Wrexham.

“As a university which prides itself on being connected to industry it’s important that we offer opportunities such as this to our own students and the Wrexham community.”

The Global Game Jam started back in 2009, with last year’s event holding the current record with 23,198 game jammers working from 488 different locations spread across 72 countries simultaneously.

In total 800,000+ hours of development time was produced over the weekend, resulting in 4,290 different games created globally.

Mr Hebblewhite added: “Anyone with a passion for gaming should get involved, it’s not just for those with lots of technical knowledge.

“At our own Glyndwr University Jam location, a team of 29 dedicated (and slightly crazy) jammers managed to design and develop 11 unique games within the 48 hour period. This year, we are hoping to make the Jam even bigger with a target of 24,000 participants globally.”

There is a £10 charge to take part in the event. More information can be found here. For more information about the Game Jam email [email protected]