2021: UMass Dartmouth to host video game design event

2021

UMass Dartmouth to host video game design event

Collaboration with MassDiGI offers computer science and animation design skills to students

During the weekend of March 20, UMass Dartmouth students and the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI) are offering the Jump Start Game Jam to interested college and high school students. The event begins on Saturday, March 20 at 1 p.m. and continues into Sunday, March 21. The virtual event is free, but preregistration is requested by March 19.

The Jump Start Game Jam lets participants try their hand at creating a video game — from coding on up.

“The Jump Start Game Jam has been created with first-time participants in mind," said UMass Dartmouth student Luke Klegraefe. "We know that a lot of high school students who have a passion for games are searching for cool, fun things to do and we thought a game jam might hit the spot."

Attendees will receive an introductory online game jam information “kit.” The "kit" will include game jam basics, recommendations for free software, and game assets for the weekend. Attendees can also listen to lectures from game industry professionals.

"Creating a game is an amazing experience," said Robby Williams, a MassDiGI Collab student from Becker College. "It opens up a whole new world. Every game jam I've taken part in has always produced some great work."

The games created during the jam will be posted online on Itch.io for all to play after the event.