More than 300 digital media students and professional game engineers finished a 45-hour game development marathon Sunday at the University of British Columbia (UBC) as part of Global Game Jam, held in 63 cities around the world.
According to Kimberly Voll, local event co-ordinator and senior faculty member of the Centre for Digital Media, the Vancouver gathering of 300 was said to be the largest in any one place.
The event started Friday night in the UBC’s Life Sciences Institute with participants, which included both digital media students and professional game developers, making a pitch. Working in groups, they then started Saturday morning and finished at 3 a.m. Sunday morning, fuelled by pizza and Red Bull.
Local game developers, including local Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) studios, participated in the event by sending more than 30 mentors.
“It’s really cool because it gives students the opportunity to work side-by-side on a team with people who are professionals,” Voll said.
