Green Bay Reporter

Gamers and developers from across the state will converge this weekend for the Global Game Jam (GGJ) in Green Bay. The event, set to start at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2025, will be hosted at the Urban Hub in downtown Green Bay. UW-Green Bay’s Center for Games and Interactive Media is a sponsor of the event.

The GGJ is an annual gathering where participants create games within a 48-hour timeframe at one of many sites worldwide. Known as 'jammers,' participants receive a theme such as "waves" to guide their creations. They can make any type of game they wish, whether digital or tabletop, with some skills in art, music, coding, or writing being beneficial but not required.

The event has gained traction in Green Bay partly due to the influence of Midwest Games and its founder Ben Kvalo, a UW-Green Bay alumnus. UW-Green Bay Assistant Professor Kris Purzycki credits Lecturer Ben Geisler’s ties to local subcultures as influential in shaping the event's welcoming atmosphere. “This ethos resonates throughout the 48-hours of the jam: all are welcome so long as there is a desire to make games,” says Purzycki.

Beyond creating games, GGJ fosters community building through collaboration and idea-sharing among participants. “The only requirement is that you have to want to make a game,” Purzycki stated. Following its success as Wisconsin's largest GGJ site last year, organizers anticipate even greater participation this year.

UW-Green Bay serves over 11,000 students annually across four campuses and offers numerous academic programs. It prides itself on fostering growth through education since its establishment in 1965.