January 26, 2014

For a full 48 hours, from January 24th-26th, members of Drexel's International Game Developers Association hosted their own Global Game Jam at the ExCITe Center. 17 students and Philadelphia locals came together over the weekend to develop games based on this year's theme: "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." Participants split off into three groups, and after developing tirelessly for the duration of the event, presented their projects: Snow Globe, Doors and Explosions, and Home.

In addition to focusing on the given theme, developers also fulfilled different challenges, such as passing the Bechdel test and creating a game accessible by players with disabilities. Snow Globe, for example, overcame a challenge by utilizing rotation as a primary mechanic. Players take on the role of a snowman wandering through a world covered in desert. As the player explores, the snowman melts, leaving plant growth in its wake. The goal is to revitalize the earth. Doors and Explosions, on the other hand, places players in a Victorian-style home that isn't what it seems. The goal is to navigate through the home successfully, and if you haven't guessed, the catch is that choosing the wrong door results in a deadly explosion. The last game, Home, focuses on exploration of the self and what "home" means to everyone. Players step into the shoes of a time traveler stranded in an unfamiliar realm. Their actions determine where the time traveler settles and his eventual fate. To learn more or play each game, visit the IGDA's Global Game Jam website below.

IGDA Global Game Jam site