Nordic Game Jam
 | |
| Abbreviation | NGJ |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2006, with first Nordic Game Jam held January 27–January 29, 2006 |
| Location |
|
Official language | English/Danish |
Parent organization | International Game Developers Association Denmark |
| Website | http://www.nordicgamejam.org |
Nordic Game Jam is an annual game jam that takes place in Copenhagen, created in 2006 by the Danish chapter of the International Game Developers Association in collaboration with the IT University of Copenhagen. It is the biggest videogame-related event in Denmark and one of the largest game jams in the world, with 350 participants as of 2012. Participants are given a theme or series of restrictions at the beginning of the event and are there given 48 hours to make a game around those. In 2009 it served as the flagship game jam and inspiration for Global Game Jam. The 2013 edition of Nordic Game Jam is scheduled for January 18-20, 2013 at the Aalborg University – Copenhagen.
Participants
Participants in the Nordic Game Jam come from several Nordic countries as well as other countries around the world. People of all skill levels and from various fields are welcome, such as game designers, programmers, sound designers, graphic artists or simply those interested in learning how to make games.
Before the jam begins, participants are given some time to meet and form teams, encouraging partnering with new people. Afterwards the theme and restrictions for that year are released and the countdown for 48 hours begins.
Past events
The first Nordic Game Jam was held from January 27 – January 29, 2006, at the IT University of Copenhagen. During the jam, 40 participants created 8 games in 48 hours.[1].
In February 2007 the number of participants doubled to 80 with a total of 12 games created [2].
For 2008 the number of participants increased to the point of becoming the biggest game jam in the world at its time, with 150 participants and 19 games [3]. The main theme for 2008 was "Taboo" and three constraints: the game had to loop, had to be playable with a controller and was required to be multiplayer.
In 2009 Nordic Game Jam became the flagship for the Global Game Jam, which started that same year during the same time. Chairman of the IGDA Education Special Interest Group Susan Gold organized an initiative to have game jams around the globe in the same way as the Nordic Game Jam and with Nordic Game Jam as flaghsip, inspiration and model. A total of 157 participants took part in the jam and made around 29 games [4].
For 2010 Nordic Game Jam brought the at the time Microsoft Game Studios Creative Director Peter Molyneux as keynote speaker and member of the jury [5].
In 2011 Greg Costikyan was the keynote speaker [6].
For 2012 Senior Designer at Bioware Manveer Heir gave that year's keynote speech [7].
References
- ^ Website for the 2006 edition of Nordic Game Jam [1]
- ^ Website for the 2007 edition of the Nordic Game Jam [2]
- ^ Website for the 2008 edition of the Nordic Game Jam [3]
- ^ Main page for the 2009 edition of the Nordic Game Jam.[4]
- ^ Main page for the 2010 edition of the Nordic Game Jam.[5]
- ^ World-renowned Game Designer Greg Costikyan comes to Denmark.[6]
- ^ Pre-Interview with Keynote Speaker Manveer Heir.[7]