The Saskatoon Global Game Jam took place on January 24-26 at the USask campus. (Photo: Submitted)

Enthusiasm Abounds at the Saskatoon Global Game Jam

Participants raced the clock in a 48-hour challenge to create a game from scratch

Participants gather around to play the video games they have created. (Photo: Submitted)

The Saskatoon Global Game Jam was held at the Department of Computer Science student labs on January 24-26. Participants had 48 hours to create a video or board game from scratch, a challenge that tested their creativity, technical skills, and teamwork. 

The event drew over 90 participants, surpassing the size of the parallel event in Calgary, and resulted in 30 games being created. The weekend culminated in a judging session, where industry professionals, including USask's Dr. Jeff Long and Dr. Jason Bowey, evaluated the games based on innovation, playability, and overall execution. 

The completed games can be viewed and played here.

Organizer Michael Long provides an opening welcome and lecture to game jam participants.

The event was primarily organized by Michael Long. A USask alum, Long is the CEO of game development company Foolish Mortals, known for games such as Kaiju Wars and Radio General.

Those interested in participating in future events can stay up-to-date through the Saskatoon Game Designers Facebook Group or the Saskatchewan Game Development Discord.

In the News

The Saskatoon Global Game Jam received significant media coverage, highlighting its impact on the local gaming community.