More than 30 students from the School of Creative Technologies (CTK), the Wonsook Kim School of Art, and the School of Information Technology collaborated in small teams to create eight games in just 72 hours during Illinois State University’s second CTK Game Jam, October 25-28, in the Center for the Visual Arts.

Competition organizer Simone Downie, an assistant professor of CTK who ran the event with help from other faculty in the game design sequence, said the Game Jam aims to foster creativity and incorporate socially relevant themes. “Students can be more experimental and bring personal interests into their designs, which is something we want to encourage,” Downie said.  

This semester’s theme focused on identity and asked participants to explore how games can influence discussions around empathy and social issues.  

The winning entries included Anonymous Book Club, a digital game in which players recommend books to customers dealing with personal struggles, and Dungeon of My Making, also a digital game, which uses a 3D labyrinth to simulate experiences of depression.  

“We want students to understand the impact games can have and form connections with peers that will support their careers,” Downie said. The success of this fall’s event signals an expanding future for the Game Jam, which was first held during the spring 2024 semester.  

Of the Anonymous Book Club team, graduate student Aidan Mellon highlighted the importance of collaboration and practical application while participating in the Game Jam, which pushed teams to create a game from scratch during a three-day span. “It’s something you can’t really get in a classroom setting,” he explained.  

Mellon’s team created Anonymous Book Club, a digital game where players assume the role of a bookstore owner recommending books to patrons based on anonymous letters about personal struggles. Initially, the team considered a radio show format but found that a bookstore setting felt more immersive. “We liked the idea of looking through books and sending gifts based on each person’s needs,” he said.  

Reflecting on his experience, Mellon emphasized the Game Jam’s impact on his understanding of game creation scope and planning.

“It really helped to have gone through the process start to finish before, so we kind of knew what we could do for scope,” Mellon said. He also encouraged other students, even beginners, to join future Game Jams, describing them as “a good learning opportunity” for anyone interested in game design.  

Ani Carol, a game design major at Illinois State, was part of the team that created a digital game focused on depression and the feeling of being trapped in one’s mind.  

In their game, A Dungeon of My Making, players navigate a dark dungeon that symbolizes the human mind, while encountering monsters that represent different emotions like envy and sloth. 

“You have to carry around this light the whole time,” Carol said. “The monsters are manifestations of emotions, and you defeat them with the light to get to the end.”

Carol noted the rewarding social aspect of the Game Jam, mentioning that it helped them connect with new people in their field.  

“I really enjoy game jams for the sense of friendship and community,” Carol added. “I have made friends and gained experience, so if you’re interested in making games, it’s definitely something worth trying.”  

Illinois State’s CTK Game Jam is held annually each fall semester. Students who are interested in the Game Jam are also encouraged to participate in the public Games and Comics Showcase in the spring.

Students interested in participating can contact Simone Downie at asdowni@IllinoisState.edu.