Like playing games?  Come make them!

Come be a part of one of the largest game design and development events in the United States!

The fall 2014 Georgia Game Jam will be hosted by SPSU from Friday, September 26th through Sunday September 28th.

As we've done in past years, we'll begin around 5pm on Friday with opening ceremonies, but if you must arrive later, that's OK.  We'll conclude around 5pm on Sunday.

Funding to cover the cost of the jam is provided by the HHS IDEA Lab.

This year's game jam theme will again be "games for health," and we encourage participants to think outside the box with exergaming, mobile/spatial games, and games that utilize geolocation data to create innovative experiences.  Of course, you can also do a health-themed game on the traditional console/desktop.  

We will judge games under multiple categories and select a top tier set of groups who will go on (beyond the jam weekend) to work towards a portion of $20,000 in development funding. 

Non-digital games (board games) are especially of interest.

• You must be 18 years or older to participate.
• Participants can come and go as they please; you do not need to stay at the event for the entire time.
• We encourage all kinds of participants; you don't have to be a college student and you don't have to be an SPSU student to participate.  So invite friends and anyone you think might be interested in joining us.
• You own your intellectual property created; the organizers and SPSU want you to commercialize your game/creation, so you retain full ownership.
• Participants can come with teams already established, but we encourage you to join a team once you arrive so that you can meet new people.  Teams with a diverse set of participants will be more favorably judged.  You don't have to have a team already formed.
• You don't have to have massive coding/programming skills to participate.  People of all skill levels can contribute, and we need designers, programmers, and artists (audio, 2D, environmental, and 3D).
• We'll have a digital and a non-digital game development track.  Thus, you can use the weekend to develop a computer/digital game or a board game if you'd like.
• We will select teams to advance to the next round of competition (to be held at SIEGE) at the conclusion of the event for the best and most innovative game concepts.
• We will provide some meals and snacks throughout the event; please bring water/drinks and snacks for yourself to ensure you're well hydrated and have energy.  There are also many local restaurants within a mile of campus as well as a grocery store for your use if needed.
• We encourage all participants to rest well during the event; some participants attempt to stay awake the entire time, but this is not advised as you'll be more productive with some sleep.  Couches and chairs (and a quiet, dark room) will be available; you're welcome to bring pillow/blanket/sleepingbag/etc.
• Registration cost is FREE for the first registrants! Thanks to our sponsors.
• Worldwide experts on health topics from HHS (CDC, NIH, HRSA) will be made available to advise and inspire team.

You must register early for the event so we can get an accurate count for food/snacks/space.  Use Eventbrite to register.

See http://spsugames.blogspot.com/ for updates on sponsors and news.

Come to J202 in the J/Atrium building between 3-5pm on Friday, September 26th to begin the weekend.  Driving directions and a campus map is available at http://www.spsu.edu/visitspsu/campusmaps/.  Opening ceremonies will begin shortly after 5pm, but if you arrive slightly later, you'll not miss too much.

Please email jpreston@spsu.edu if you have any questions.

SPSU gratefully acknowledges our generous sponsors for the Health Game Jam 2014

Past Game Jam Weekends

• The 2014 was in January hosted by SCAD Atlanta.  It was one of the largest venues in the world.
• The Fall 2013 Games for Health jam was at the time the largest game jam held in the US with 300+ attendees.
• The 2013 Global Game Jam at SPSU had 230 participants at our site and was the 4th largest jam site in the world and the largest site in the USA!
• The 2012 Fall Georgia Game Jam was Sept 7-9, 2012.  SPSU hosted and we had ~250 attendees.
• The 2012 Global Game Jam was Jan 27-29, 2012; SCAD Atlanta hosted, and we had ~210 participants, making the Georgia venue the largest in the US and the 3rd largest in the world!  We will host our next game jam weekend in September at SPSU. 
• The Fall 2011 Georgia Game Jam was Sept 23-25 (Fri-Sun); we had over 110 participants and made 18 games. 
• The Global Game Jam 2011 was January 28-30, 2011.  SPSU was the state-wide host site in Georgia, and we had 150+ attendees.  We were the 2nd largest site in the US and the 8th largest site in the world!
• SPSU has also hosted fall and global game jams since 2009.