Through my efforts to set up a game developers group in Galway in 2012 and 2013, I came into contact with two energetic and enthusiastic game devs, Liam Krewer and Alanna Kelly. Alanna had already run a successful Game Jam earlier in 2012, and it seemed like a natural collaboration to merge the fledgling Galway Games Group (GGG) with her Galway Game Jam (GGJ). So in June and October we joined forces and ran Galway Game Jam #2 and #3.

I hadn’t really been sure of the value of a Game Jam prior to this – it just seemed a bit insane to try to produce something in a single extended session. But the value is now clear to me – by creating very tight deadlines, you immediately make every team member useful.. so those with less experience are in a position where their work is relevant and important, which it would not be if the project had a month or two to complete. Apart from that the GJ is an excellent and fun networking opportunity. It gives a focus and theme to a networking session, which is something that we had already been struggling to manage in our earlier GGG meetings.

The first event, in June, ran for 12 hours. I took on the role of photographer and on-the-day organiser (making runs to the shop and Pizzeria etc.).. I didn’t really want to take part in the competition since I knew I’d only get too engrossed in coding, to the detriment of the other stuff that needed doing.

“We had fun! There were games made! .. mostly with only a tenuous link to the under-the-moon alternative-reality wonderland I envisioned. Apologies for my smart-ass comments and constantly sniffing nose. Also my camera battery died a couple of mins from the end so we didn’t get the wrap-up presentation from all teams.”

The second event, in October, ran for 24 hours (I, like the other more ahem.. mature.. attendees disappeared in the middle for some sleep!).

“Footage of our 24 hour game jam, 12th-13th October 2013, attended by about 25 coders, designers, artists and musicians. The quality of work going on was very impressive, and it was great to see visitors from Dublin and Tipperary this time, in addition to the locals! Thanks once again to the organising team Liam Krewer, Alanna Kelly, and me! I kept my cheeky comments to a minimum this time.. and the music being produced was so good that I didn’t want to muck it up by overlaying any backing track.”