Red River College to host community video game development event, Peg Jam 2018
By Rein Cabalquinto
Albertine Watson, a newly employed game developer at Infinite Ammo Inc., says that she was inspired by the many kids at last year’s Game Jam to be part of this year’s panel again to help out new beginners. Watson decides on a game to play at Across the Board Game Café on Oct. 13, 2018./REIN CABALQUINTO
Get your game faces ready as New Media Manitoba and The Winnipeg Game Collective host a video game developer event in early November.
From November 1 to 4, anyone can participate in Peg Jam, a four-day game developer event at Red River College and ACE Project Space. The event gives participants a look inside the gaming industry, encourages team building and helps participants develop their own game.
“New Media Manitoba’s job is to grow the interactive sector, and we’ve seen that within game development,” says JonathanLê, one of the main organizers for Peg Jam. “Collaboration, having access to other ideas and other skill sets are a great way to do that.”
The event will help those new to game development learn new skills about creating a video game and test the knowledge of individuals already familiar with the industry.
“You can be working on your assets – whether that’s developing a character, creating music or codes,” says Lê.
Peg Jam will include a panel of industry speakers, like Albertine Watson, a game developer from Infinite Ammo Inc., to talk about their experience in the field and development process on Thursday, November 1.
“I’m excited to see what comes out of it,” says Watson. “Peg Jam is the largest jam that happens in Winnipeg for the whole entire year because it’s Winnipeg’s own Jam.”
No matter the age, newbies can still show off their game developing skills and join a team.
“There were kids at [last year’s] game jam,” says Watson. “There were people my age and older. I was really impressed by their boldness and willingness to try this new thing in a big room full of adults.”
For those who aren’t developers themselves, they can still come and join in the hype.
“It’s a fun community event,” says Watson. “Even if you don’t make anything when you go, you can just hang out and meet people you know or don’t know and take in some good presentations. It’s like a huge community bond.”
James Couture, a Digital Media Design student at Red River College who attended Ludum Dare 42 Game Jam over the summer, says that it was a good experience.
“I have never experienced making a game in a single weekend,” says Couture. “There were lots of people willing to help a noob, such as myself, and offer advice.”
Lê says there will be world-class people and people who work in large studios at the event.“They’ll be there to help you. It’s a great way to learn.”
To find out more on how you can participate in Peg Jam, visit pegjam.com
