Global Game Jam goes online for 2021

Jan 24, 2021 | 6:05 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A special event focused on the development of online and board games is going virtual this year.

The Global Game Jam is an annual worldwide competition that brings together participants from more than 100 countries to spend 48 hours developing either a board of online game.

Lethbridge College has traditionally served as host for the Global Game Jam and even though the event is going online this year due to COVID-19, the post-secondary institution will still be well represented.

Allyson Cikor, an instructor in the Virtual and Augmented Reality program is one of the organizers.

“Whether you’ve never made a game before but would like to try, or you are an experienced developer, we invite you to join us online for the 2021 Global Game Jam,” she said in a released from the college.

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“Lethbridge and other jam sites around the world will be spending a weekend making games and meeting other local game [development] enthusiasts. We’re here to create community, have fun and celebrate making games.”

Participants can compete as an individual or as part of a team. The event will start with a welcome and keynote at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27 and it will wrap up with team presentations at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 31.

Those attending will use Discord, a video and audio calling app much like Zoom, to connect to the local community, with the event going online.

Registration is now open and can be completed here.

by Justin Goulet