Global Game Jam Vancouver photos

Additional pictures from the final day of the event.

Overall the jam was a success with many participants coming away with solid prototypes, new collaborators, and inspiration to last them through the year. 48 hours to make a functional game with total strangers... all the game jam participants proved it was possible. Some had professional experience, others were students, or graduates of various University or tech school game design programs. In the end it didn't matter what your background was, as long as you were able to contribute to the project. A good example of how the game industry functions.

GameCareerGuide also posted a short summary about the game jams from around the world.

Most notably, Team Treelings (pictured above), came away with what judges considered to be the most complete of all the games. Players play a vine which must navigate through obstacles to reach the top of the level, in a cute traditionally animated style that brought to mind Sonic the Hedgehog, and NiGHTs with the versatile movement of the vine.

Be sure to play these games at the Global Game Jam site.

http://ggjvancouver09.blogspot.com/

http://globalgamejam.org/games/shame http://globalgamejam.org/games/treelings http://globalgamejam.org/games/scorched-physics http://globalgamejam.org/games/blob-and-his-boy http://globalgamejam.org/games/slast

The Maw from Twisted Pixel Games

The MAW, likes nomming on stuff. Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom.

This game is hilarious! Despite it's lack of challenge, and lack of any real depth, (or complexity), the game remains a charming, and visually entertaining adventure that's worth adding to your library. For an XBLA title, I was really impressed with the cinematic scope of 3D visuals, and the excellent animation. As an animator myself, that's usually the first thing that I notice, and the Maw definitely caught my attention. Gotta love that Squash and Stretch! Did I mention it looks amazing on my 24" Samsung SyncMaster 2493Hm monitor?

For a second I thought this was a Naughty Dog or Insomniac game, in it's heavy key-framed, animation inspired world and characters. There's some really good cinematic action scenes for such a small game. It even has a certain personality to it, that's reminiscent of retro gaming ToeJam & Earl, and Earthworm Jim.

Players play Maw, feed Maw, and use Maw to get through different areas on a planet they've crashed on. Maw grows, and changes form depending on what he eats taking on various abilities, which helps when getting past obstacles. Though the game isn't perfect, for what it is, it's a decent game, if you can get over it's rudimentary gameplay and design. It ain't no Rayman, it ain't no Ratchet & Clank, it most definitely ain't Super Mario.

Short, simple, and basic, The Maw is a good entry for Twisted Pixel Games to the XBLA. I'm definitely looking forward to more original IP from the developer, a follow-up to The Maw, and whatever else is in their future.

If they ever need to outsource their animation, I'd be interested! HAHA. Maw looks like tons of fun to animate.

PS. Someone needs to make vinyl toys out of these characters!