Global Game Jam

Innovation – Experimentation – Collaboration

The Global Game Jam® (GGJ) is the world’s largest game jam event (game creation) taking place around the world at physical locations. Think of it as a hackathon focused on game development. It is the growth of an idea that in today’s heavily connected world, we could come together, be creative, share experiences and express ourselves in a multitude of ways using video games – it is very universal. The weekend stirs a global creative buzz in games, while at the same time exploring the process of development, be it programming, iterative design, narrative exploration or artistic expression. It is all condensed into a 48 hour development cycle. The GGJ encourages people with all kinds of backgrounds to participate and contribute to this global spread of game development and creativity.

The structure of a jam is usually that everyone gathers on Friday late afternoon, watches a short video keynote with advice from leading game developers, and then a secret theme is announced. All sites worldwide are then challenged to make games based on that same theme, with games to be completed by Sunday afternoon. In January 2019, we had 860 locations in 113 countries create 9,010 games in one weekend! GGJ 2020 is 31 January – 2 February at a location near you… if not you can make one of your own. The jam is known for helping foster new friendships, increase confidence and opportunities within the community. The jam is always an intellectual challenge. People are invited to explore new technology tools, trying on new roles in development and testing their skills to do something that requires them to design, develop create, test and make a new game in the time span of 48 hours.

The GGJ stimulates collaboration and is not a competition.

GGJ Team

The Global Game Jam is operated by Global Game Jam, Inc., an international non-profit corporation based in San Luis Obispo, California, US, with a mission to foster game design and game education through innovative events.

The Global Game Jam is run by a combination of hired staff, volunteer board members, and a small international team of volunteers banded together in the “Executive Committee” (EC).

GGJ Staff

• Kate Edwards, Executive Director
• Jo Summers, Executive Producer
• Zain Ul Hassan, Technology Manager

GGJ 2020 Executive Committee (led by Jo Summers): 

• Jung-Sheng (also known as Johnson Lin)
• Sabrina Culyba
• Gwen Foster
• Tim Cullings
• Elif Karaata
• Hernán Valdés

​The EC is supported by a large number of regional organisers who provide support to all of the local GGJ site organisers within their specific regions.

GGJ Board of Directors:

• Joseph Olin (President)
• Susan Gold (Vice President)
• Houssem ben Amor (Treasurer)
• Justin Berenbaum
• Ashley Brown
• Alexander L. Fernandez
• ​Foaad Khosmood
• Gorm Lai

The GGJ depends on the generous work and support of many other people around the world – including sponsors, jam site organisers, and volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering, sponsoring, or otherwise assisting in a GGJ event, please reach out at [email protected]!