WICS Game Jam Participants ‘Keep it Retro'
Team Comprising Single Registrants Band Together to Win Top Prize
Student team “Gator Byte Studios” took home the overall prize on Sunday at the Women in Computer Science’s (WICS) second annual Game Jam, a three-day campus event where teams are tasked with creating an original video game based on a specific theme. The team, which included four students of varying age and education, kept with the event theme “Keeping it Retro” with their game “Back in the Day.”
The goal of the game is to defend the year 1988 by collecting a series of soda cans for points, all while navigating obstacles and dodging invading technology, including iPhone 7 earbuds and exploding Samsung Galaxy phones.
Judges attribute the team’s win to stunning graphics, a user-friendly experience and creative interpretation of the theme. Winning prizes included various video games from sponsors, Amazon gift cards, and books on coding and professional development.
Interestingly, while some participants entered Game Jam with teams, the members of Gator Byte Studios were complete strangers. They entered the competition as individuals and then were placed on a team together.
In addition to Gator Byte Studios, the competition hosted 13 other teams. Approximately 70 students took part in Game Jam.
Attendees who took to social media during the event agreed the Game Jam was fun—even if they did not get a lot of sleep. Throughout the event, WICS provided food and mentorship. Sponsors set up booths where teams could take a break to network or play games.
“Everyone was so supportive of all the teams,” said WICS Vice President Jackie Robinson, a computer science senior. “It was a fun and happy environment!”
WICS members, sponsors, volunteers and participants helped to make Game Jam another success, officers said, and WICS looks forward to an even bigger and better Game Jam next year.
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For more information, contact Caroline Byrne at cbyrne4@lsu.edu. To learn more about the student organization or to access games presented at Game Jam, visit www.wicsgamejam.com.