Who says university is just all work and study?  Definitely not a group of students at University of Waikato who participated in a globally connected 48 hours of video game development.

The Global Game Jam is the world's largest game creation event taking place in physical locations across the globe. Think of it as a 48 hour hackathon focused on game development around a theme.

Over a weekend, from January 26-28, the University of Waikato joined 796 other sites around the globe for Global Game Jam (GGJ) 2024.

In countries including Ukraine, Venezuela, Korea, Mexico, the US, the Philippines, the UK, Kenya, and Sweden, game creators came together to learn, experiment, and create games around a central theme. 

The Computer Science Department at The University of Waikato in Hamilton hosted a site for what was the 15th Global Game Jam - GGJ 2024.

What is a Game Jam?

In a Game Jam, participants form teams to make video games or board games around a theme announced at the start of the jam.  This year the theme was “Make Me Laugh”.

The goal is a complete playable game developed over a limited time period, usually over a weekend. With such a small time frame, the games tend to be innovative and experimental.

The Computer Science Department at The University of Waikato in Hamilton hosted a site for the 15th Global Game Jam - GGJ 2024. Photo: Supplied.

The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is usually a 48 hour game jam that takes place nearly simultaneously all over the world during a 72 hour period with the 48 hours adjusted to suit local time zones.

For the University of Waikato site, the normal 48 hour timetable was chosen, starting at 5pm Friday, January 26 and running for 48 hours, through to 5pm Sunday, January 28, 2024.

The registration fee of $25 covers food and drink, and an event tee shirt for the 48 hours of video game development.

At Waikato, 32 registered participants competed in eight teams for 48 hours. Photo:Supplied.

This year the game jam was an in-person event, for the first time in three years, thanks to Covid impacting previously..

All aspects of the creation process are condensed into a shortened development cycle, where participants get to explore new technology tools and test their skills in programming, design, narrative exploration, or artistic expression using the universal language of video games.

The Computer Science Department at The University of Waikato in Hamilton hosted a site for the 15th Global Game Jam - GGJ 2024. Photo: Supplied.

At Waikato, 32 registered participants competed in eight teams.

Teams made games with names like 'Flatting Simulator (In a Zombie Apocalypse)', Steamboat Saviour, A Very Serious Game About War (Feat. Clowns), Juno Quest, Mr. Tickles Gets A Restraining Order, Chaotic Keyboard Chaos, and Little Wars.

The favourite game from the Waikato site was voted to be Jest Fest: The Best of the Jest. In this game players compete to impress their AI king and create jokes that match a theme. Fail to come first and your head will be on the chopping block!

Cover for Jest Fest: The Best of the Jest. Image: Supplied.

Click here to learn more information about the games created:  https://brnw.ch/21wGDMG

Torutek sponsored the event, CS3 supported the event, and Phil Treweek provided photography. Other groups around the university made GGJ 24 possible.

The Computer Science Department at The University of Waikato in Hamilton hosted a site for the 15th Global Game Jam - GGJ 2024. Photo: Supplied.