Global Game Jam Jamrock 2024: A Resounding Success

KINGSTON, Jamaica. Monday, January 29, 2024

Global Game Jam (GGJ) 2024, the world's largest game creation event, concluded on Sunday, January 28, 2024 after 48 hours of intensive collaborative game development. The Jamaican staging of the event entitled 'Jamrock' was hosted by the Jamaica Game Developer Society (JGDS), in association with the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC). The hybrid event brought together 40 in-person participants to CARIMAC Annex 2 and 8 online participants to celebrate creativity and diversity in the gaming industry.

The majority of the jammer were students from the University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Technology (UTECH) and the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU). The participants formed teams to create a total of eight different games based on the Global Game Jam theme ‘Make Me Laugh,’ showcasing a wide range of ideas. These games demonstrated not only technical skill but also the creativity and innovation fostered during the intense 48-hour jam.

The jammers revelled in the experience and expressed the network opportunity as the main benefit of participating in the event. “I had a very full experience. Met a lot of new people. I was satisfied with accommodation and food, and I will come next year if I can" noted Safiya Burgess, 19-year old student of Engineering in Mechatronics. Another participant, Jamaica Game Developer Society member Cleon Williams said, "I had a great time. Had fun, met new people. The food was great as well. I got looked after and the hospitality was good."

     

Mr. Glen Henry, co-founder of the JGDS, was more than satisfied with the staging of the event and had high praises for the group of final-year Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) students who were the organizers. "The student team excelled in bringing everything together,

securing sponsors who were genuinely interested in the event and our project goals. Witnessing returning jammers enthusiastically supporting and participating was truly heartening. The seamless collaboration among the teams from the very beginning vividly illustrates the essence of the Jam—a spirit of creation firmly taking root. CARIMAC's ongoing support remains outstanding and highly valued. I'm genuinely impressed by the accomplishments of the student volunteer team and what they have achieved with the event."

The sponsors for the event included Real Decoy, Grace, Pizza Hut Jamaica, Red Bull Jamaica, Nardo’s One-Stop Shop, UWI Social Welfare and Howlers Café. The organizing team, CARIMAC and the JGDS extend profound appreciation to these local businesses who were essential to the success of Global Game Jam – Jamrock 2024.

Although the event has come to an end, there is more to expect this year in the game development community as expressed by Mr. Henry. “Stay tuned for forthcoming announcements on an array of meticulously planned events, workshops, and initiatives, poised to elevate and shape the gaming industry in the months ahead”.