Today’s paper has a write-up on this weekend’s Game Jam, and mentions both DevICT and MakeICT. Check out their article:
Game developers to compete in ICT Game Jam this weekend
BY MADISON OBERMEYER mobermeyer@wichitaeagle.com
The idea of the ICT Game Jam is to make avideo game, but that can be a daunting task in three days.
ICT Game Jam
What: A weekend-long game development conference.
When: 6 p.m. Friday through 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Butler Community College Andover, 715 E. 13 St., Andover, KS
Tickets: One regular event ticket is $28.45. Sales end on July 28. The public is invited to test the games for free from 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
…
It’s not a class. It’s not an instructor-led workshop.
It’s a game jam.
The ICT Game Jam is this weekend at the Butler Community College Andover location, 715 E. 13 St.
The event starts Friday at 6 p.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at ictgamjam.com under the ‘RSVP!’ section through Saturday.
Jim Rice, ICT Game Jam founder, said a game jam is similar to a hackathon, a 24 to 48 hour coding marathon to create solutions to problems or ideas, or Down to the Wire, where teams have 24 hours to write, produce, shoot and edit a six-minute short film.
The idea is to make a video game, but that can be a daunting task in three days.
Rice said on Friday everyone will break off and begin working on game ideas. Saturday, teams will have the entire day to work and Sunday morning there will be some time to polish the games and make a few changes before the general public comes to play and test out the games from 2-4:30 p.m.
Community members do not need a ticket to play the games. After testing the games, people can vote for their favorite game.
Winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
First, second and third place for judges’ choice and first place for the community vote will receive a cash prize from a $3,000 pool.
Participants can show up with a team or compete on their own. If people show up without a team, they will not be guaranteed a spot on an existing team.
Recommended team size is three to five people. Having more team members does not mean teams will get more done, Rice said. They might spend more time trying to decide who is doing what.
Butler Community College will have 40 computers available for participants, but guests are welcome to bring their own computer.
If a participant chooses to use a Butler computer, they must bring a USB device for storing game files.
CAMARADERIE IN CODING Wichita’s “largest game development event” began in summer 2015 after Rice went to a start-up weekend event.
“I was always interested in making video games, but I was under the impression you had to live somewhere else besides Kansas,” Rice said. “The focus and energy at the conference was awesome. I didn’t go with the intent of starting a business, but I got that fire and I wanted that camaraderie.”
In 2017, ICT Game Jam began to have both winter and summer events. This summer’s game jam marks the sixth event.
People do not need game development experience to participate in the game jam.
It’s as simple as realizing you really can make games just on the internet, Rice said.
Rice said there will be community members to help get participants started or to answer questions throughout the weekend.
One resource game developers can check out for good examples of starter projects is Unity 3D, Rice said.
Trying to recreate a familiar game is a great way to get started and familiarize yourself with the technique, he said.
Programmers, artists, writers and designers are welcome to compete in the game jam.
Games can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, complex or have graphics—it’s all up to the teams.
GAME DEVELOPERS ‘NOT ALONE’ IN WICHITA Last year, 16 teams and 45 people participated in the game jam. 150 community members came out to play the games and vote for their favorite game to win the community choice prize.
The event does not have a minimum age requirement, but minors under 15 are required to be accompanied by an adult. Guardians of minors must sign a waiver.
Participants ages 15-17 must abide by regional curfew law. According to Andover’s city code, the curfew for minors under 18 is midnight to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Overnight work is allowed, but participants must go home around midnight. Snacks and drinks will be available, and meals are provided for lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday.
The ICT Game Jam is a devICT event and all donations are used to fund the game jam and future events.
DevICT focuses on “making things with code,” and is a project of MakeICT, a 501©
(3) organization that provides resources and activities to the community.
“We really just want to emphasize it is a community event,” Rice said. “We want to connect all different types of people and show them you’re not alone in your interest of video games just because you live in Wichita. We’ve got a lot of bright people motivated to make this thing happen.”
For more devICT events, visit http://devict.org/events/.