The Vega Game Jam provides a valuable platform for students to meet and network with other
would-be game-makers as well as professional game developers in the industry, offering students
the unique opportunity to learn and work alongside experienced developers.
Participation in the Vega Game Jam also allows students to beef up their portfolios, which is
particularly rewarding for students hoping to find jobs in the game-making industry.
The Vega Game Jam, a gruelling 48 hours
of game-making, which took place at Vega
campuses in Johannesburg and Cape Town from
26-28 January 2018, formed part of the local
leg of Global Game Jam® (GGJ). Global Game
Jam® (GGJ) is the world’s largest event of its
kind, which takes place at various locations
around the world.
Considered a ‘hackathon focused on game
development’, the event sees some of the
most talented young minds come together
to share their creativity and create unique
video game experiences – all in no more
than two days.
The students each contribute a different
set of skills and talents to the group
from what they’ve learned in their
respective courses and qualifications,
including animation design and web
development.
IIE Vega students flexed their mental muscles for another gruelling two-day ‘Game Jam’,
that took place at the school’s Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town campuses from 21
to 22 April 2018.
The Game Jam saw students, professional game developers and gaming hobbyists, came
together as teams to create a new digital game in just one weekend. The event forms part
of the international Ludum Dare (LD) platform – an accelerated video game development
event. It’s both the longest running, and the largest online Game Jam in the world.
“A game jam is a true test of mental and creative endurance, where students flex their
various skills in the hopes of creating an epic and unique game,” says Lizette Carstens,
National Creative Programme Manager at Vega. Students work as part of a team to
find ways of making their game ideas come to life, while gaining practical knowledge
and expertise in each other’s disciplines. The Vega Game Jam not only benefits
participants academically during their time as students, but will also broaden their
horizons, career-wise. The most valuable part of participating in the Vega Game
Jam is that our students spend time actively engaged in a gaming development
project. This affords young talent a unique opportunity to grow their skill sets and
build a strong, co mprehensive portfolio that demonstrates their understanding of
game development to prospective employers.
A variety of The IIE accredited design, development, and creative qualifications,
tailored to meet gaming industry standards, are offered Vega. Vega’s participation
in the LD Game Jam is another step towards establishing the institution as the
choice tertiary institution for young people hoping to pursue careers in the
gaming industry.
This is Vega’s second Ludum Game Jam, and we plan to host two of these
events each year, with the intention of building them into the curriculum for
all students.