Game Jams and Game Culture

Abstract

Chapter 10 by Kati Alha and Riikka Aurava focuses on ‘game jams’ – events of collaborative experimental and playful game creation. Since 2002, multiple kinds of different game jams have been organized around different themes, around the world. The Global Game Jam with its tens of thousands of participants is the largest event in this field, but the smaller, more targeted events may provide equally important experiences for their participants. Game jams are not, after all, just about creating interesting games or about learning the craft of game making; they are also an important form of game cultural participation.