News Article

Sci-fi fans and gamers alike will converge at Memorial University, Grenfell Campus this weekend for the third annual Atlanti-Con convention, during which time the CNA Atlanti-Con 3 Game Jam will be held.
 
This game jam is a College of the North Atlantic (CNA) organized event where game developers form teams to create playable game prototypes based on interpretation of a given theme (within the rules) and a challenging time frame.
 
According to Janice Hertel, coordinating instructor of the Video Game Design program at CNA, it’s a place where fans and entertainment media creators gather to celebrate the work and to share common interests, creativity, and knowledge.
 
“The CNA Atlanti-con 3 Game Jam benefits the students because it is like a simulation of a small indie game development team making a prototype or proof of concept,” she said. “Students often go on to develop these games further after the event. The games make great examples for their portfolios in application for jobs when they graduate.”
 
The rules of this game jam are simple; the art and ideas have to be original and created specifically for this event based on the theme “The Gravity of the Situation”, the rating must be E for Everyone so it is family friendly, it has to be playable on PC at a stipulated screen resolution, and the development time frame is 48 hours within the week beginning Friday, Sept. 19.
 
“Just over three years ago I sat down with the organizers of Atlanti-Con 1 to see if the Video Game Design program could be involved in the convention in some way. I offered to run a game jam for the event and a presentation of the games to the convention during a panel discussion. The students and graduates of Video Game Design have been involved each year since Atlanti-Con 1 in 2012,” said Hertel.
 
This year the presentation for the game jam will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10-11 a.m. in the Rodger Young Room (AS2026) at the Grenfell Campus. Participants are encouraged to arrive early and purchase a convention ticket to see the presentation.
 
“This exciting presentation is a must-see for video game lovers of all types and for anyone who is interested in how video games are designed and made. Artists, audio designers, creative writers, and prospective Video Game Design college students will find this glimpse into indie game development especially interesting,” said Hertel.
 
“They make the games for the challenge and the fun experience. The presentation, booth planning, and booth operation also serve as a marketing and promotions experiential learning assignment for second year Video Game Design students enrolled in the Business of Game Development course. It is a real world project that they can add to their resume.”
 
The event will be hosted by Hertel, as well as instructor Greg Wells and second year students from the program.
 
“Teams decide to create 2D casual style games because the scope of a 2D game fits into the amount of time given for the Game Jam, which is 48 working-hours over a weeklong period. Giving a week for development time is a new rule. This game jam differs from past ones where the students had a 48-hour weekend time frame to create the games. I made this change because I wanted to support quality of life and give the students class time for a week to work on it, so they could be rested up each day with less stress.”
 
Eleven current students as well as three recent graduates have formed four teams, with three to four people per team. Each team will have a chance to explain their development process during the presentation on Saturday, and invite the crowd to come play their games and ask questions throughout the rest of the convention.
 
“New this year, the games will be at the CNA Video Game Design booth on the convention floor on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to give convention attendees the opportunity to play the games. Second year Video Game Design students will take turns hosting hourly tournaments with their own original games for CNA swag prizes,” she said.
 
“They will also answer questions about the games and the program. They will showcase the game jam games, plus other examples of their 2D and 3D games, and board games. Students look forward to these events which add value to their educational experience at CNA, and take them out of their familiar setting. They return energized and enthusiastic about their work.”
 
For more information about Atlanti-con 3 and the CNA Game Jam being held this weekend in Corner Brook, visit www.atlanti-con.com
 
 
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Media Contact:
 
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca