Announcing the Fall 2011 Boston HTML5 Game Jam: Nov 19th and 20th

by Darren Torpey on October 18th, 2011

Update: we now have food sponsorship from MocoSpace and a license to Impact HTML5 game engine for the jam — read more here

HTML5 technology is now supported by all major smartphones and desktop web browsers and HTML5 game dev is starting to really take off around Boston, so let’s jam!

This will be a relatively typical game jam: artists, audio engineers, designers, writers, producers, and programmers (and more?) will work together in small teams to make videogames. Only this time, they will all be build on HTML5 tech, which means we can run them effortlessly on any modern computer, smartphone, or tablet.

So why HTML5? HTML5 tech allows for building games on a truly standards-based and ubiquitous technology platform, and it also lends itself (in its current state) toward producing simpler games, which fits our game jam format really well.

Where? When? How Much? Why?!

When:
November 19th and 20th, 2011
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 6pm

Where:
Singapore/MIT GAMBIT Game Lab
MIT Building NE25-388
5 Cambridge Center, 3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
Google Map

Cost:
As always, it’s free!

Why:
Boston rocks at game jams and it’s time to kick it HTML5-style!

What to bring:
A laptop or whatever creation/organization tools you usually use to make games or that you think might be helpful.

Hosted By:
Darren Torpey (darren AT boston game jams DOT com)

Registration/RSVP

» Register here

What’s a game jam?

A game jam is an event where people of all disciplines come together to create interesting interactive works.
I’ve written up a more thorough Q & A for game jams on the Game Jams page.

What if I don’t know Javascript or HTML5 tech?

Unless you’re a programmer, the platform choice of HTML5 shouldn’t affect your work much, if at all. HTML5 tech supports all manner of 2D and 3D artwork, and most music formats (including MP3 and OGG). So long as each team has a programmer who can work with the HTML5 tech, you’re all set.

If you’re a programmer, but need to learn or brush up on your Javascript knowledge and skills or you just need to learn about HTML5 technology specifically, I have collected a bunch of resources here to help you prepare for the jam. You do not have to be an “HTML5 wizard” to succeed in the jam. Sometimes the simplest games are the best and we’ll have knowledgable HTML5 devs there to help with specific questions and challenges as they arise.

Sponsorship welcome!

If you or your company would like to sponsor the food for the event, email me (darren _AT_ bostongamejams _DOT_ com) to discuss details. Thanks!

I’m just here for the food: Vickie’s FOOD JAM

My wife, Vickie Torpey, likes to do a mini-jam of her own, but her creative specialty is making TASTY THINGS™, so she likes to prepare us lots of delicious food (aka “yummies for our tummies”) to keep our bellies happy and the creative juices flowing! What’s more, she does it live with us on location, improvising with limited resources, in full “jam” style. :)
Also: Vickie’s can make her food very veggie/vegan/allergy friendly, so just let us know about your special needs when you register.

Previous post:

Next post: