Games [4Health] Jam 2011 - Impression of the 50 hours of Game Development

This is an impression of the Games [4Health] Jam 2011. www.gamesjam.nl

This 50 hour game development contest was won by: Team CalmCuttleFish with the game SUMO SALAD!

The very enjoyable game SumoSalad was developed as part of the Games [4 Health] Jam 2011, by NHTV students Trevor van Hooff, Chris Hekman, Niels van Haandel, Richel van Halteren, and Vladimir Bondarev. This weekend (October 7-9), 65 students and alumni from the Netherlands and abroad engaged in a game design competition, focused on developing games that motivate teenagers to be physically active. This gamejam was organized by the Fontys Hogeschool ICT and the Eindhoven University of Technology.

In SumoSalad, four players simultaneously try to catch as many vegetables as possible, by moving in front of a camera. The computer analyses the position of the players, and translates this into the game itself. Finding the right spot in front of the camera, or obstructing others from reaching it, proved to be a highly enjoyable and active experience.

The professional judges selected this game from the twelve other competitors, because the game was not only highly enjoyable, but it managed to score very well on the additional design requirements. These requirements originated from the PlayFit consortium, a design-research project that focuses on motivating teenagers to be physically active throughout the day, by means of gaming and playful interaction.

The team will present their work to 500+ professionals on the Games for Health Europe conference (October 24-25 in Amsterdam), together with finalists RageSquid (Pony Panic), Professinoal Procrastinators (Your Personal Flashmob), Team Cola (ShadowRun) and BlackLiquid (Cacomorphobia).

In total, 12 games were developed by the 65 particants, in a timeframe of 50 hours. Seventeen of the participants study at the Fontys Hogeschool ICT, two of the teams are finalists. During the 50 hours of game jamming, the participants have worked all day (and most of the nights) to finish their games in time.

All games and photos from the Games [4health] Jam can be found at http://www.gamesjam.nl

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• games
• game development
• game jam
• gamejam
• Games for Health
• Games 4health Jam
• Games [4health] Jam 2011
• Menno Deen
• Rob Tieben