Last weekend from July 17-18, while knife-juggling street performers and funnel cake vendors filled the streets below for Street Fair, three teams of gamers were hard at work at the Prairie Den for the Fargo Game Maker’s first 24-hour Game Jam. CJ Schnase, founder of Wicked Soul Studios and local game-maker, organized the event in less than a week as a way to get gamers together to create together, he said.
The Game Jammers brainstorm what to create.
The event was hosted at the Prairie Den and sponsored by Botlink and the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, which allowed them to stock the kitchen with pizza, energy drinks, and coffee: fuel for the 24 hours of pure game designing. Nine developers participated and were split between three teams, with others stopping by to take a peek at the action.
“I was surprised that some people I didn’t know showed up,” Schnase said after the event. “I don’t even know how they heard of the event, but that’s awesome!”
Schnase building the Warlords game.
On Friday afternoon, the team started by brainstorming ideas together in the conference room. Over the next 24 hours they split into three teams creating three separate games: a Warlords game, a virtual graphic novel, and a 3D version of the game Agar. Most of the teams kept at it through the night, with the occasional crash on the couch.
On Saturday, at 3 PM, the teams wrapped up and held an open house to show off their games. The developers, albeit a bit sleepy, were proud to show off what they had created.
“It was awesome,” said Grant Swenson, who came to the event with his son. Rather than energy drinks, these two claim they were fueled by the mini donut shop below at the Street Fair.
Grant Swenson and his son show off their Game Jam.
“What a rush,” Schnase said, as the event came to a close. “I’m so tired, but the Game Jam went very well.”
The teams will share the games with the public as soon as they are able, Schnase said. He plans to organize more Game Jams in the future, so we’ll keep you posted!
Check out the Fargo Game-Makers meet-up, here.
Check out CJ Schnase’s current crowdfunding campaign for his game Cursed Gold, here.
Photos courtesy of Marisa Jackels and CJ Schnase.
