InnoGames Game Jam #15: Crafting 24 Computer Games in 48 Hours — A Comedy of Errors and Triumphs!
Ladies and gentlemen, gather round as we take a light-hearted peek into the madness that was the 15th InnoGames Game Jam! Picture this: 130 programmers, graphic artists, sound designers, and those who probably just wandered in after a pizza run, all crammed into one space, armed with little more than a desire to create chaotic fun and possibly skip a few showers. And they had only 48 hours to do it! It’s like watching a special edition of Survivor, but with more caffeine and less sunscreen.
The Jam: Bottlenecks and Breakthroughs
Held in Hamburg, this event, known affectionately in neatly laminated folders as IGJAM, revolved around the tantalizing theme of “Bottleneck.” But judging from the creative outburst, it seems there wasn’t much bottlenecking happening at all! More like a creative geyser erupted, with ideas bursting forth like confetti at a toddler’s birthday party. Imagine those poor souls trying to keep their thoughts organized while dodging pizza slices — it’s an absolute wonder that they didn’t end up with 24 games about pizza fighting for their survival!
What Came Out of the Chaos?
Let’s talk numbers: 24 new games! Yes, folks, in the time it takes some of us to make a cup of tea, these budding game developers delivered a smorgasbord of digital delights! Now, if you expected each game to be polished to perfection, you might want to lower those expectations just a tad. After all, we’re talking about creations spawned from sleepless nights, questionable caffeine consumption, and those weird yet magical moments of inspiration that come just after you regret that extra slice of pizza.
Game Categories and Wacky Titles
The competition wasn’t just about sheer numbers. Participants also duked it out in three exciting categories: Graphics, Gameplay, and the very theme they were meant to tackle: Bottleneck. Honestly, with such titles, it feels like they were creating game names rather than actual games themselves! Like “Bubbleneck”, which is a co-op game pitting players against each other in laughter and shenanigans. It’s a title perfect for family game night — or should I say “family argument night”?
- Graphics Winner: Neko Pa-nya – Because if you’re not including adorable cats, are you really even game developing?
- Gameplay Winner: Bubbleneck – A game that probably doubles as a workout for the fingers; don’t forget to stretch!
- Best Representation of Bottlenecks: Bottle to Neck – Clever pun or graphic design malfunction? You decide!
Participant Statements: Gushing Praise and Anticipation
Hendrik Rakemann, the Software Developer and Project Manager, summed it up nicely: "We experienced the exact opposite of a bottleneck." So, basically, they were a bunch of creative juggernauts speeding full-throttle away from organizational chaos, creating more than anyone expected. In terms of bottled creativity, there was clearly champagne gushing everywhere, folks!
Looking Ahead: More Game Jams on the Horizon!
Now, if you want to catch the next round of intense pixel-painting, keep your eyes peeled on the official Game Jam website. Because let’s face it, where else are you going to see determined humans locked in a room, battling each other for digital glory and bragging rights over who can design the sillier game? The excitement is palpable!
So, if you fancy a future of questionable gaming concepts and potentially life-altering ideas borne from sheer pizza-fueled madness, then the InnoGames Game Jam is an event you won’t want to miss next year. Just remember to bring your creativity…and possibly a comfy chair!
And there you have it! The messy brilliance of the InnoGames Game Jam #15, where gaming dreams went from scribbles on napkins to actual playable escapades. Now, if anyone wants to fund a Game Jam inspired cooking show, I’m available!
Press release
24 new computer games to experience – that is the enjoyable result of the 15th InnoGames Game Jam. On the second weekend in November, 130 budding and professional programmers, graphic artists, and game and sound designers showed off all their creative skills over a grueling 48-hour marathon.
Innovation, collaboration, and the joy of experimentation – combined with pizza, sleeping bags, and lots of fun: this is what the popular Game Jams from InnoGames, one of the leading developers and publishers of mobile and browser games, stand for in the jammer scene. The IGJAM is not only one of the most popular, but also one of the most traditional game jams in Germany, having gained a loyal following over its 15 editions to date.
With 130 participants, the current edition attracted a particularly large number of talented individuals. Accordingly, the second weekend in November was packed with action: in the bustling ‘Townhall,’ the in-house event location of the Hamburg game developer, a myriad of fresh game ideas were developed around the theme ‘Bottleneck’ in just 48 hours.
The focus was on fun. Participants, for whom competition adds an exciting edge, were not neglected during the event: after the end, all players had the thrilling opportunity to experience and evaluate all the games they had created at several play stations set up for this purpose.
This year’s Jam introduced three additional categories beyond the overall rating: Graphics, Gameplay, and Theme, encouraging participants to delve deeper into their creative efforts.
An overview of all the games developed, including details, can be found at https://igjam.eu/jams/igjam-15/games/1
Overview of the winners and runners-up by category:
Category: Graphics – 1st place: Neko Pa-nya by team ‘SalsaShark’. Platform: Windows.
Category: Gameplay – 1st place: Bubbleneck by team ‘Bubbleneck’. Platforms: Linux, Windows.
Category: Realisation of the “bottleneck” theme – 1st place: Bottle to Neck by team ‘Die Kampfbläser’. Platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows.
Overall ranking – 1st place: Bubbleneck by team Bubbleneck. Platforms: Linux, Windows. A couch co-op game in which players fight each other.
2nd place: (shared): Gamecon Mania by team ‘Kipfele + Friends.’ Platforms: Linux, Windows. The biggest gaming trade fair opens its doors once again.
2nd place: (shared): Starboard by team ‘Anderley’. Platform: Windows. After a long journey, the player reaches a mysterious destination.
Hendrik Rakemann, Software Developer and Project Manager, comments: ‘The theme was “bottleneck”, but we experienced the exact opposite: once again, the creative ideas just bubbled out of the jammers! Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to all participants and co-organisers. Without you, this jam would not have been possible. I’m already looking forward to next year!’
Looking ahead to the announcement of future Game Jams, it’s worth keeping an eye on the official Game Jam website https://www.igjam.eu/ and InnoGames’ social media channels.
About InnoGames
InnoGames (www.innogames.com) is one of the leading developers and publishers of mobile and browser games and a certified Great Place to Work®. The climate-neutral company based in Hamburg was founded in 2007 and is now part of Modern Times Group (MTG). Together with 350+ employees from over 40 nations, the company founders develop unique games that provide many years of fun for millions of players around the world. InnoGames is best known for Forge of Empires, Elvenar, and Tribal Wars, but the company continually expands its portfolio across various genres.
What games won awards at the recent InnoGames game jam?
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### Game Jam Results
**1st Place:**
– **Game:** [Bubbleneck](https://u15817233.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.ZEpYD2V8JfEerbzpGopAPF92fu1r3p-2Ft4wpEHFEpGzKHLRz6muaHdPoeuiMS8LvF-AprPsfObNrOPDHEa3zsWai4CFxB2Nv85659nVAEdDmt0ztU7LW-2FmmzKBGbYgJgmrFq2rmFm110dLqrr1qAQZHKWlLSZ-2Fjs0ApcyFQ8NgaC3Smn1IwnnDJebc1F6EQR9MntDH6D1VsjNCLg-YZK7M5WYxv6igU3LRHmvaI1Y5H47S6-3D) by team Bubbleneck
– **Platforms:** Linux, Windows
– **Description:** A couch co-op game where players fight against each other.
**2nd Place:** (shared)
– **Game:** [Gamecon Mania](https://u15817233.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.ZEpYD2V8JfEerbzpGopAPF92fu1r3p-2Ft4wpEHFEpGzEOaUtMRSn8-2BF9V8wHEO0rEOuWW_UCE4dJ2Y3UOdbO0wjXc8y97zAttE4HNfZRZxsWULju9G15Y3TkcdU6hCzYmMrFSzRO7m5KoBtM4WHoIVKPS2yx3r5frYJYjYq3WGrgueMe88zNXrwsYt0J28QrkTQ7q33QiDAP6Jp6CQTOs24WjJ0tVn3hGJUerTgrAjO9lCElQbYAnNqTbYZ5O3PXJ6rdiP6JZ995bmhzf7dH2stUIMvbAO3hB8DyLqxuC8j-2F-2BqIJNHs9zSD2Gk9sx3f1DJJ5uim-2FF6R1pfjlABpCFwMEIIXTPPNlu46z4tgR9dcrgoipidpt3Z2ggb6fWsWTdZUqmL6I9r3otCxd4K0yoloL5aYtCisunjmLksQUMENHDrtbLce1-2B3mXeZ2LddaMJrn87-2FJzQzWeHhzSl7TJ2WhrgsgdBhWSEVorIe-2BWDq7vnYSF-2FXAdlY0EftTgKWymelnHvkGFqeQVlBc7va5-2BVLcsCoAhbhgegOHmtdxdISODrrJEs-3D) by team ‘Kipfele + Friends’
– **Platforms:** Linux, Windows
– **Description:** A gaming trade fair simulation.
– **Game:** [Starboard](https://u15817233.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.ZEpYD2V8JfEerbzpGopAPF92fu1r3p-2Ft4wpEHFEpGzHurOaIaDJPGyLWHOzVlRExp2as_UCE4dJ2Y3UOdbO0wjXc8y97zAttE4HNfZRZxsWULju9G15Y3TkcdU6hCzYmMrFSzRO7m5KoBtM4WHoIVKPS2yx3r5frYJYjYq3WGrgueMe88zNXrwsYt0J28QrkTQ7q33QiDAP6Jp6CQTOs24WjJ0tVn3hGJUerTgrAjO9lCElQbYAnNqTbYZ5O3PXJ6rdiP6JZ995bmhzf7dH2stUIMvbAO3hB8DyLqxuC8j-2F-2BqIJNHs9zSD2Gk9sx3f1DJJ5uim-2FF6R1pfjlABpCFwMEIIXTPPNlu46z4tgR9dcrgoipidpt3Z2ggb6fWsWTdZUqmLaP3bK0IyJ9t6KSJBp9NfftlsgArTUR697EdIgKMMNP2H6mf6PBDt-2B6FdoOaWirbWlgINqOWgmjy7Seea7Ku5cnKzJc7g7VrGxLEabsbr1u6RODxuUMe592wA4BW8UqZvHSDWbIQcD6UIyvyE4nM9vUVpW1PuyTUAdS1ttiNJl88-3D) by team ‘Anderley’
– **Platforms:** Windows
– **Description:** A journey to a mysterious destination.
### Closing Remarks
Hendrik Rakemann, a Software Developer and Project Manager at InnoGames, praised the creativity of participants despite the theme “bottleneck,” indicating that the jam was a success.
For future updates regarding upcoming game jams, participants and interested individuals are encouraged to check the official Game Jam website [here](https://www.igjam.eu/) and InnoGames’ social media channels.
### About InnoGames
InnoGames is a notable developer and publisher of mobile and browser games, known for titles like Forge of Empires and Tribal Wars. The company is based in Hamburg and focuses on creating engaging gaming experiences.
If you need more details or specific information about the games or the event, feel free to ask!