Flickr photos tagged with ggj10nz will appear here - I'll be taking quite a few, and I hope others will join in later!

Registrations for the Hamilton GGJ site are open, and in the last few hours we've half-filled our quota! Don't miss out - Register now.

If you can't make it to Hamilton, there are two other sites in NZ - Auckland and Dunedin. So sign up, and start stockpiling your caffeinated beverage of choice!

I'm just in the process of getting the content ready for this year. While you're waiting, check out this video recapping last year's event!

Welcome (or webcome back) to the Global Game Jam NZ website

Pre-register to ensure you keep up to date with all the news as we prepare for the next event!

For the duration of the event, we will be broadcasting live from our development room. You can view and hear (but thankfully not smell) the teams in action right here!

The Waikato Global Game Jam site is being sponsored by Lightwire.

LightWire provides internet access via Hamilton's fibre optic network and to the University of Waikato halls of residance. For more information, visit http://www.lightwire.co.nz.

Haven't worked on games before? No problem, come along to our introductory sessions at 10am on January 19 and 22.

You are welcome to come to one session or both. On arrival you will be given a pack of information which includes instructions on how to create basic computer games. The session will be held in a computer lab on campus and will begin with an introduction to game development. The remainder of the session will provided participants with time to work through the information and activities provided.

Please note: For those of you who have studied the game module in COMP223 or COMP278 the material provided will be very similar.

The Computer Science Department at The University of Waikato in Hamilton is hosting New Zealand's first ever Global Game Jam - GGJ 2009. Come join us for 48 hours of caffeine, pizza and video game development.

What is a Game Jam?

In a Game Jam, participants come together to make video games. Each participant works in a small team on a complete game project over the course of a limited time period, usually over a weekend. With such a small time frame, the games tend to be innovative and experimental.

The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is the first of its kind: a game Jam that takes place in the same 48 hours all over the world! The global Game Jam will start at 5:00PM Friday, January 30, 2009 through 5:00PM Sunday, February 1, 2009, (all times local). All participants in the Global Game Jam will be constrained by the same rules and limitations, with each time zone having one distinct constraint.

How does it work?

Everyone meets at their local game jam on Friday, January 30, 2009. Doors will be shut promptly at 5:00pm. For New Zealand, GGJ 2009 will be held in Hamilton at the University of Waikato. Local organisers will then share the constraints and rules for the game jam. Teams are formed and have until 3:00PM on Sunday, February 1st to create their game. Games are submitted at 3pm with local judging at 3.30PM. Each Local Jam will announce what team best embodies the spirit of the jam. All finished games will be archived onto the Global Game Jam website for all to play.

Who can participate?

Anyone can participate in a game jam, experienced professionals, students and wannabes. You do not have to form teams to participate, teams will be formed at each of the local jams.

What will Waikato University provide?

Waikato University will make computer labs and work (and crash) space available for participants all weekend. You are welcome to bring your own laptop, but our computer labs will have the following:

• Windows XP with SP3
• Visual Studio 2005
• XNA Studio 2.0
• Game Maker
• Blender

The rules of the GGJ preclude you from using pre-made content (this includes program code, audio, graphics, models, etc.) unless it was publicly available at least a month prior to the GGJ. The idea is that we want to see what people can create within the 48 hours. If you have any questions about the appropriateness of content/code, please contact us prior to the GGJ.

We will provide:

• Coke & snacks
• Paper, pens, pencils and whiteboards
• Break-out meeting spaces
• Sausage sizzle on Saturday and Sunday
• Pizza for dinner on Saturday
• Access to local food sources will be made available during the game jam

What do I need to bring?

• Sleeping bag/mat if you intend on staying for the night
• Breakfast if staying the night

How Do I Get Involved?

1. Be sure to mark January 30 - February 1, 2009, on your calendar.
2. Sign up and register for the Waikato University venue for the GGJ (registration information is below).
3. Show up at the G block basement at Waikato University by 5pm on Friday, 1/30/2009.
4. Have fun and plan to work through Sunday late afternoon (awards ceremony and wrap-up will be at 4.30pm).

Registration

To cover the cost of food/coke/etc., registration will be $20. Space is limited, so we encourage you to sign up early.

In a Game Jam, participants come together to make video games. Each participant works in a small team on a complete game project over the course of a limited time period, usually over a weekend. With such a small time frame, the games tend to be innovative and experimental. The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is the first of its kind: a game Jam that takes place in the same 48 hours all over the world! The global Game Jam will start at 5:00PM Friday, January 30, 2009 through 5:00PM Sunday, February 1, 2009, (all times local). All participants in the Global Game Jam will be constrained by the same rules and limitations, with each time zone having one distinct constraint.