Students create complete video games in 48 hours


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Macomb Township senior Ryan Soulard adds final touches to his team's game "Trial and Error" at the Global Game Jam in Pearce Hall on Jan. 24.

Ethan Coggins has had three hours of sleep in the last two days.

The Highland junior wasn't out partying over the weekend. He was taking part in the Global Game Jam, a worldwide event where participants create a complete video game in 48 hours.

Coggins and his team created a three-dimensional world.

"You're stranded on an island and you

have to find clues," he said. "Journal entries are the clues. Your plane crashed into the island and you're the only one left alive, so

you have to figure out what to do next."

This is the first year Central Michigan University students participated in the event. Assistant professor of computer science Tony Morelli said each year, Global Game Jam provides a theme all video games must adhere to. This year's theme was "what do we do now?" The theme was revealed at 5 p.m. on Friday. Twenty-four participating students had until 5 p.m. Sunday to finish their games.

"The theme is kept top secret until it's revealed in every time zone," Morelli said. "It's not a contest. It's just to get people together who are excited about making games together."

Macomb Township senior Ryan Soulard sipped an energy drink while working on his game, "Trial and Error." Soulard and his team created a puzzle game. His team worked in shifts to ensure each member was participating, and to make sure everyone was getting some sleep.

"You control four separate characters and each of them have different abilities," Soulard said. "If one character can't do something you need it to, you have to figure out, 'what do I do now?'"

At the end of the jam, each team was able to present the game they created. Some did not make it the entire 48 hours, but will have the opportunity to continue to come back and improve their game once a month.

Mount Pleasant sophomore Dakota Camarena created a game using minimal color aesthetics. Throughout the weekend, Camarena created original songs and graphics used in his game.

"This genre is famous for not really knowing what the object of the game is," Camarena said. "No one really likes it anymore because a lot of people prefer realistic, immersive games. I like this kind because it doesn't really give you any instruction."

Morelli said the jam went better than expected, and the CMU Game Design and Development Club is looking to make the event bigger next year.

"Everyone had a blast," Morelli said. "They got along and helped each other. Next year I hope we can possibly bring this to the high school and get those kids involved."

All games created through the Global Game Jam are available to play at globalgamejam.org.

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Sydney Smith is a super-senior at Central Michigan University. She comes from metro Detroit ...

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