Johan Linder and Tim Leinert are two of the key organizers behind the Arctic Game Global Game Jam.
The Arctic Game Global Game Jam, held for the second time at the Jörn Hotel last weekend, drew 120 participants and around 30 industry stakeholders. "Our Global Game Jam was once again one of the largest in Sweden, which is fantastic," said Tim Leinert, Skellefteå project manager for the Arctic Game regional game cluster.
Participants created 22 games during the 48-hour event.
– This year's theme was 'bubbles,' which inspired many mobile games and a new genre: 'cozy horror,' said Johan Linder, business developer at Arctic Game.
Kent Karlsson used AI to write the source code.
Participants travelled from across Sweden, as well as from Poland, Germany, and Colombia. Among them were Isa and Marie Hellström, originally from Frankfurt and Hannover, Germany. After a two-year stint at Spelkollektivet in Växjö, they now live and work in game development in Ramsjö, near Ljusdal.
– It’s surprising to see so much happening in gaming here in rural Jörn, said Isa, who transitioned to game development after 18 years as a chemist in a German laboratory.
– The atmosphere is fantastic, and everyone is so welcoming.
120 participants, from all over Europe and Colombia developed games at the Arctic Game Global Game Jam.
– This is a great place to network without stress, says Marie.
Kent Karlsson, from Muskus, outside Älvsbyn, was also in Jörn last year. This time he wanted to try something completely new.
22 games were developed during the event..
– I used AI to write the game code, and it worked out really well, said Kent, who grew up in Slagnäs. He noted that AI is increasingly used in game development for tasks like level generation and performance optimization.
The participants at the Arctic Game Global Game Jam.
Kent, who spent 13 years as a software architect at an IT company in California before returning to Sweden, sees rapid prototyping as another important application of AI.
– Being able to quickly test new ideas, rather than focusing solely on optimization, is crucial, he said. After a period in Stockholm, he is now the chief architect at Blikk, a systems development company in Piteå.
Our Global Game Jam once again became one of the largest in Sweden, which is absolutely fantastic,” says Tim Leinert.
– Developing my own games is a passion I’d love to pursue full-time if it were financially viable, said Kent.
The game he and Morgan Nyman of Skellefteå created during the 48-hour game jam in Jörn is called Bubble Planet Chase.
– I’ll see if my two children, ages eight and ten, like it. They’re tough critics, Kent concluded.
Marie Hellström created a game together with Ida Hellström.