Global Game Jam: Who Needs Sleep?

Today was the first day of the Global Game Jam, kicking off at 5pm. At first, BaltimoreGamer’s staff plan was to just cover the event. But I Gabriel Pendleton, your BaltimoreGamer site President decided that was not enough. To give you an in-dept experience of the hard work, loss of sleep, and crazy obstacles put into each game I would participate and go through all the stress for the glory. The theme for this Global Game Jam was “Deception”, with three constraints that stated “The game must include one of the three items implemented into the game…..Spain, Plain(Field), or Rain. The three constraints would be up to each team to use how they see fit. With all the particulars sorted out and equipment setup, my team went to work.

Carrington Dennis (President of CCBC Gaming Club): Art/Graphics, Aubrey Richardson : Lead Programmer, and Luke Cardoni : Graphics/ Programmer and I Gabriel : Game Design/ Story Board made up our team. Although those are our listed roles, we all pitch in helping with ideas working as a collaborative group. Adobe Flash, our tool of choice to create and program this game in Actionscript 3. Early notes can be best described as “Mario-Doom” as we try to add a twist that will make the game different and fun, but innovative and fresh.

Hosted at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD this will prove a great challenge. We are up against three other teams, one of which was crowned champion at last years event at the Silver Spring location using GameMaker engine and Development tool. Another team, lead by Jack Rappazzo, a student at University of Baltimore and using the C# language bring experience, with his team having a total of nine game jams collectively. Energy drinks, Dr. Pepper, coffee, empty pizza boxes, sleeping bags, and blank stares from lack off sleep make this a great first day of experiencing a Game Jam to the fullest. The time is currently 2:29pm, and that means we have a little more than a day left of grueling code compiling and win the fight against sleep.

Special thanks to Executive Director Jose Dominguez and the very kind staff of the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center for hosting the event.

A non-profit contemporary arts center dedicated to the creation and appreciation of hand papermaking, printmaking, digital arts, and the art of the book. For nearly 30 years, Pyramid has provided opportunities for the discovery and creation of these fine arts through imaginative programming for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. An artist-centered community with an international and local following, Pyramid Atlantic brings print and paper arts to people all over the world.

To learn more about the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center and the work they provide in the community click the link here! Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center