Global Gaming Jam | 48-hour challenge ends with six finished projects

The Macau leg of an international computer game creation challenge was held over the weekend at the Macau Design Center, inviting about 25 local participants to showcase impressive projects made during the weekend.

The Global Gaming Jam, which had over 42,000 participants in 108 countries and territories last year, challenges contestants to design a computer game from concept to launch within a 48-hour period.

Held for the third consecutive year in Macau, local participants seemed to know what to do. The Times visited the Macau Design Center on Sunday afternoon – prior to the close of the 48-hour window – and found that all six teams had successfully published their projects and were excitedly trying each other’s computer games.

Local organizer Ip Pan, who is also a game developer, said that he hoped the challenge would serve as a platform to facilitate the growth of Macau’s game development industry.

“Game development is already becoming more popular in Macau,” he told the Times. “When I first came back to Macau from Taiwan four years ago, basically there were no game developers in Macau. Today, there are several developers.”

Ip also said that while some local developers make computer games, others prefer to work for the mobile market. “The split is about 50-50,” he explained, adding that mobile gaming is very popular in China and at least one local game developer has already found success with a hit project.

The game projects showcased at the event’s conclusion on Sunday included “Home Crusher”, a colorful, cartoon multiplayer game for two, with players competing – and sometimes brawling – over packages falling from the sky.

In “New Year Greetings”, players take control of a character who must respond to non-playable family members and their wants – illustrated via a thought bubble – for example a cup of tea, changing the television channel or taking their photo. Players can choose three games modes, running for 30, 60 or 120 seconds, and win by generating a high score based on successes and failures.

“Turtle Turtle Hug Hug” is a multiplayer cooperative game for two, three or four players. Players take control of a turtle and must collect items on a beach – such as shells, rocks and seaweed – and build a nest for their collective egg. Players must watch out for gusts of wind that threaten to overturn the turtles and put them out of action until they can be flipped by their teammates. A humorous surprise awaits the players upon finishing the game.

“Baba Apartment”, developed by Ip Pan and his team, is a single player game involving the management of apartments in a residential building where players must respond to the various needs of the inhabitants to keep them contented.