Announcing the Virtual Game Jam in Second Life
The Virtual Game
Jam will take place in Second Life on TC Educator Island (http://slurl.com/secondlife/TC%20Educator/125/194/25)
on April 21 to 22, 2007.
The Virtual Game Jam is an opportunity for game developers (professional, hobby,
or aspiring) to gather for 24 hours and create games in Second Life. It is open
to developers of any skill level and any location. Oh, and you should have an
account with Second Life
by the time the game jam begins.
To RSVP, please contact Carla Engelbrecht at carlaeng
<at> gmail <dot> com or contact Carla Coppens
in Second Life.
Schedule
Saturday, April 21
12 p.m. EST (9 a.m. PST): Introductions
12:30 p.m. EST (9:30 a.m. PST): Announcement of theme and development begins.
Sunday, April 22
12:30 p.m. EST (9:30 a.m. PST) Development ends.
1:00 p.m. EST (10:0 a.m. PST) Demos begin. Each team will have 10 minutes to
present.
(Convert time zones at http://www.worldtimeserver.com/convert_time_in_US-NY.aspx)
Games will also be on display on TC Educator Island for those who miss the event.
The Virtual Game Jam is sponsored by Teachers College Educator Island in Second Life and LearnPlay at Teachers College. TC Educator Island is operated by Teachers College, Columbia University.
FAQs
What’s a game jam?
How does a game jam work in a virtual world?
Why a game jam in a virtual world?
Do I maintain rights to the work?
How will we share or demo our games?
What kind of theme will it be?
Does the game have to be educational?
When do I sleep?
What if I don’t have anyone else to work with?
What if I don’t know how to program or build in Second
Life?
What do I win?
How many people to a team?
What if I don’t finish in 24 hours?
Do I have to RSVP?
What if I just want to watch?
Can my team be in the same place or does everything have to
be done virtually?
What’s TC Educator Island?
Other questions?
What’s a game jam?
A game jam, in the traditional, real-world setting, is when a bunch of game
designers, including programmers, writers, and illustrators, create games that
fit a theme within a short period of time. In most cases, the game jam lasts
about 24 hours and everyone stays in the same place. Some people bring sleeping
bags and snooze for a little while, and others decide to stay up the entire
time.
It’s an excuse
to do something experimental, and the results are often creative, wild, and
sometimes a little strange.
The most
well-known real life game jam is the Indie Game Jam (http://www.indiegamejam.com/).
How
does a game jam work in a virtual world?
I’m not entirely sure. Since the goal of a game jam is to experiment and
innovate, what better place to try than Second Life? Surely if a bunch of like-minded
people to get together and build some stuff in Second Life, we’ll end
up with some interesting things to talk about.
Why
a game jam in a virtual world?
Everything else exists in virtual worlds – porn, casinos, multi-players
games, and even a middle school. Why not have a game jam, too?
Do
I maintain rights to the work?
You or your group maintains rights to the work that you develop during the Virtual
Game Jam. But as a participant in the Virtual Game Jam, we ask that you allow
us to keep a copy of your game to include in an exhibit on TC Educator Island.
We may also use the game in future research or publicity. You will receive full
credit for your work. In the spirit of innovation, though, we’d encourage
you to make the code freely available!
We also ask that you allow us to record periods of the development process and to create a transcript of the discussions that happen within the world.
How
will we share or demo our games?
After development ends, each group will have 10 minutes to demo their game.
Once the jam is over, we’ll also create an arcade-area on the island to
allow visitors to check out the games.
What
kind of theme will it be?
If we told you, you’d be able to prepare. But I promise it will be fun,
inspiring, and challenging.
Does
the game have to be educational?
Nope. It can be whatever kind of game you want it to be. But not porn. In fact,
try to keep it PG-13 or cleaner.
When
do I sleep?
That’s entirely up to you. Some people never sleep during a jam. Some
people snooze on and off. Regardless of what you decide to do, make sure you
tell your team mates when you’re going to take a nap.
What
if I don’t have anyone else to work with?
If you want to work with someone but don’t know who, contact me and I’ll
try to find a team for you.
What
if I don’t know how to program or build in Second Life?
You have a few options.
1. Learn the Linden Script Language. It’s like Java or C, at least that’s
how Linden Lab explains it (http://secondlife.com/whatis/scripting.php). And
there’s still plenty of time and lots of tutorials available to help you
learn before the game jam. If you’re good, you could probably even learn
on the fly!
2. Find a group to join that has an experienced coder. If you don’t know
someone, contact me, and I’ll see if we can find a group for you.
3. Make a game that doesn’t involve coding. For example, make a version
of hide and seek or tag or capture the flag in Second Life. Or if you know how
to use the building tools, make a giant board game that uses people. Or…
What
do I win?
Nothing. It’s about innovating, not winning. But you will get all the
glory and bragging rights (and maybe even a little free publicity) that go along
with participating in an experimental event of this kind.
How
many people to a team?
If you want to have a lot of people, you can. But we’d recommend no more
than 3. It might be messy with more people than that. You can also work alone.
What
if I don’t finish in 24 hours?
Do ask much as you can and show what you’ve got. It wouldn’t be
the first time that someone only finishes part of a game during a game jam.
Do
I have to RSVP?
No, you can show up that day, if you want to make my life miserable. By letting
us know that you’ll be there, I’ll make sure you have a nice plot
of land to develop on. Plus we have to limit the number of developers on the
island during the game jam in order to avoid lag within Second Life.
What
if I just want to watch?
Chicken. But you can watch if you want. It is a free world.
Can
my team be in the same place or does everything have to be done virtually?
If you can be in the same physical location, then go for it. It’s all
about making stuff.
What’s
TC Educator Island?
Teachers College Second Life (http://slurl.com/secondlife/TC%20Educator/125/194/25)
is a place where members from the TC community and others can visit to explore
a virtual environment, teach a class, visit with friends, practice their designing
and building skills, and conduct research on and about virtual spaces.
Other questions?
To ask additional
questions or to RSVP, please contact Carla Engelbrecht at carlaeng
<at> gmail <dot> com or contact Carla Coppens
in Second Life.
To top.
© 2007
Carla Engelbrecht