A university in Cornwall will be taking part in an international game development event this week as the digital community around the world prepares to get creative.

Falmouth University’s Games Academy is set to host a local event for the January 2022 Global Game Jam on 28-30 Jan.

The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is the world's largest game creation event and takes place around the globe.

At game jams, participants work together to design and develop games from the launch of the jam on Friday, through to Sunday evening when their games projects are unveiled.

Falmouth Packet: The Global Game Jam is taking place from 28-30 Jan. The Global Game Jam is taking place from 28-30 Jan.

Over the course of a few days, GGJ sites across the globe will scramble to create a game based on a new theme.

In 2020, more than 934 locations in 118 countries around the world took part in the Games Jam – with 9,601 games created in one weekend.

Falmouth's 2021’s Games Jam (which took place online) attracted 116 jammers.

From the Falmouth location, Games Academy staff and students as well as members of Cornwall's design and digital community will form teams and design, develop, test and implement new games in just 48 hours.

Falmouth’s Game Academy says it has already grown its presence at the Game Jam in recent years, operating a site page and an open invitation for non-students and gaming specialists to join the jam.

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Organisers have descried the event as an opportunity to showcase the many roles involved in game creation, from the process of development, be it programming, iterative design, narrative exploration or artistic expression – all condensed into a 48 hour timeline.

Falmouth University’s Games Academy also looks to be growing, with the Academy’s expansion into the new Pydar Street Development recently outlined in Truro City Plans.

The Games Academy will reportedly also unveil more game development courses to its portfolio alongside launching a new BA in Esports this year.

Brian McDonald, Senior Lecturer in Digital Games at Falmouth's Games Academy said: "We’re so proud to be organising Falmouth's place in the Global Games Jam.

Falmouth Packet: Creators will be looking to develop their own game within 48 hours. Picture: Mayn CreativeCreators will be looking to develop their own game within 48 hours. Picture: Mayn Creative

"It’s a wonderful opportunity for Academy staff, students and the wider gaming and digital community here in Cornwall to come together, be creative and to celebrate the art of game making.

"It’s exciting to see the ideas unfold over the course of the weekend and to share the experience of expressing ourselves through game creation."

Falmouth Global Game Jam will be taking place at the Games Academy on Kernick Industrial Estate in Penryn on the following dates:

  • Friday 28 Jan: 5pm to 10pm
  • Saturday 29 Jan: 8am to 10pm
  • Sunday 30 Jan: 8am to 6pm

To join Falmouth Game academy’s game jam, visit: www.globalgamejam.org/2022/jam-sites/global-game-jam-cornwall