OC Gaming and Animation program hosts Global Game Jam Jan. 31-Feb. 2

OC Students to develop new games in just 48 hours at international collaboration event.

January 30, 2020 - Video game and board game enthusiasts have a home at Oklahoma Christian University and their award-winning, top-ranked Gaming and Animation program. Now, students have a special opportunity to create new games in a growing community of more than 20,000 people worldwide. 

Students of all majors who share a passion for gaming have been planning for the Global Game Jam 2020, an annual 48-hour game-development marathon. This year, the marathon on OC’s campus will take place in spaces such as the Sparks Lab and other classrooms in the Garvey Center from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.

Many popular video games have debuted at previous GGJ events such as the word-based puzzle game “Baba is You.” It was chosen as the best game of 2019 by multiple gaming websites.

Instructor of Gaming and Animation Ellie Kirkner is the Lead Global Game Jam Site Organizer for OC’s game jam and director of OC’s new International Game Developers Association chapter. She coordinates with the students and faculty involved, as well as site organizers from around the world on how to execute this year's event. 

“OC is participating in Global Game Jam 2020 because it is a highly valuable experience for students that encourages teamwork and collaboration at a break-neck pace,” Kirkner said. “It's a creative bootcamp experience that pushes developers to their limit. I've really enjoyed participating in game jams in the past and am grateful and excited for the opportunity to host one on the OC campus.”

This unique opportunity gives students a chance to create and test their games in a short period of time.

“In an industry with such a slow development cycle, we often wait two to three years to give the work we do to an audience,” Kirkner said. “Global Game Jam turns that around, where we are making a game in 48 hours, and people are playing our games online and giving us feedback and responses by the end of that 48-hour mark.” 

Kirkner added that OC’s GGJ will include more than 60 students from multiple majors, especially from the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Engineering. Art majors are helping with visual development and concept art, graphic design students are supplying logos and user interfaces, interior architecture students are helping with environment design, computer science students are programming games, mechanical engineering students are helping with game design, music students are composing and recording audio and English students are creating narratives, dialogue and "flavor text" for games.

In addition, alumni and area professionals will contribute to the OC’s GGJ. Alumni Michael Potts, Bryson Goad and Austin Jones are lead composers for games, while alumnus Andrew Neal is a lead writer. Alumnus and adjunct gaming instructor Andony Escudero is a lead producer and programmer. Marissa Parsons, a local animator, will present an industry question-and-answer session Saturday afternoon. Though not part of the GGJ, OC Professor of Music Heath Jones will also run a “Beat Saber” tournament in the Kicker Sound Lab on Saturday afternoon. “Beat Saber” is a popular virtual reality rhythm game.

Associate Professor of Gaming and Animation Skyler Thomas and Memorial Church of Christ Campus Minister Jay Mack will also take part in GGJ to host a worship service and communion on Sunday in the Garvey Center for OC student jammers. 

Students of all disciplines are welcome to join in the marathon or join the conversation on social media using the hashtags #OCGGJ20 and #GameOnEagles.