Carnegie Mellon to Co-Host International "Game Jam"

The Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at Carnegie Mellon University will host the region's would-be video game designers tomorrow in an effort to spontaneously create a new video game. The event, called a "game jam" in the technology world, will be the first of its kind to link together simultaneous game jams from 50 different countries in 14 different time zones. Tracy Brown, coordinator of the event at Carnegie Mellon, says different rules and constraints will be imposed for each time zone that is participating, making the final product of each game jam quite different. However, streaming video feeds will allow crafters in different areas to discuss ideas and tie together various game designs. At the ETC, about 60 designers will be divided into teams that will complete various aspects of the game, such as art, coding, and sound editing. Brown says the theme of the event has been kept confidential for the sake of creative spontaneity. No experience is necessary to be part of the jam, which is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow and conclude at the same time on February 1.