Salvage, 2009
"Our game is about teamwork and the problems that arise from this wondrous union. You play as Girl who gets lost and falls into an abandoned factory, she finds a robot and helps him, Robot then agrees to help her find the way home. This game is a throwback into the 80s 8bit games. You will be able to switch between Girl and Robot using their different abilities to solve puzzles and navigate obstacles. Will they ever find the way out?" (http://globalgamejam.org/games/salvage)
During the final weekend of January, 2009, I joined six of my students (from the Art Institute) on a creative voyage to Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida to participate in the first annual Global Game Jam. I was placed on a team where I served as puzzle designer and pixel artist (for environments).
The team included three programming students from Full Sail: Sean Hamstra, Anthony Lundquist, and Adam Steward. The team also included my student Hector Robles, who served as art director and character designer. He has since graduated to become a game designer in his own right.
From the perspective of an artist and designer, a critical component of the event was an opportunity to work with Full Sail's Game Programming students. Working with programmers makes amazing things possible, even within a short time frame. The programming students at Full Sail proved to be diligent, focused, talented, and a pleasure to work with. The experience was a great opportunity to improve skills in communicating with the technical half of the game design studio.
Without doubt, this was one of the most rewarding learning experiences of my life! Also, I am so proud of the efforts and artistic contributions of my students to these projects.
For more information, visit the Salvage Game Jam Site.