Join us at our annual meeting to discuss how you can get the most out of the Global Game Jam. This is always a great opportunity to meet fellow developers, form a team for the jam (and beyond), and figure out how to make the upcoming Global Game Jam serve you best!

Hi-Rez Studios and Skillshot will also be providing details on a special competition at the KSU Global Game Jam site. In coordination with Make-a-Wish Georgia, they are recruiting teams to make a game based on a Make-a-Wish child's design for one focused on battling cancer. Winners get mentoring from from Hi-Rez developers to finish the game following the game jam.

Speakers include Kathryn De Shields-Moon, Dr. Michael Franklin, Karen Williams, Jason Hillhouse, Renaud Marshall, Team Mop Boy members Jordan Eggleston and Charleston Ford, and more.

Also check out Strongbox, an innovative co-work environment already hosting game developers.

Where: Strongbox West, 1040 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

6-7 pm: Networking
7-8 pm: Announcements and panel on Game Jam Success
8-9 pm: Networking

Parking: Substantial free parking at Strongbox

Free for GGDA and TAG members, $10 all others

The Global Game Jam itself is Jan. 31-Feb. 2, with these Georgia locations:

Georgia State University

Kennesaw State University

SCAD-Savannah

Speakers

Karen Williams

Karen is a game developer at Eclipse Gaming Systems by day and an indie by night. As an independent developer, she created Hiccup Interactive LLC to develop games that foster applicable skills through play. She has spoken on her views and passions for edutainment on panels and community events. Her goals as a board member of the IGDA is to encourage those within the game community to embrace creativity and to see games as an invaluable medium for empathy and understanding.

Jason Hillhouse

Jason Hillhouse is a 3D Generalist working on the game, Looking for Heals, for PC, Xbox, and Switch. Over the years he has worked as a Character Animator, Tech Artist, Engine Generalist, and Gameplay Programmer to name a few. Previously worked on Dungeon Defenders for all platforms, and has been developing Unity projects professionally for the last 6 years.

Kat De Shields-Moon

Kat’s first taste of gaming came from watching her parents play Myst together. Ever since, she’s been an avid gamer with a deep love for eccentric and heartfelt indie games. After a few years as a newspaper journalist, she entered the marketing and PR world working for nonprofits, publicly traded companies, and small businesses. Her first role in the gaming industry was Communications Manager for GameSkinny followed by a social media marketing role for Novy Unlimited. Currently, she works at Skillshot Media, a subsidiary of Hi-Rez studios, as a Senior Esports Community Manager for Realm Royale. Kat has a BA in Journalism from Hampton University and an MFA in Writi