Just how good of a computer game can you create from scratch in 27 hours?  Computer game development students from DePaul University will find out as they go mouse-to-mouse with teams from around the world when Global Game Jam 2009 gets underway on Jan. 31.

Eight teams composed of five DePaul student members each will work to create entirely new games that attempt to go where no video games have gone before.  The results will be judged by industry professionals, including executives from Raw Thrills, Midway Games, Day 1 Studios and Wideload Games. The completed games will be judged based on visual design, creativity, functionality and quality of game play. Winners will receive prizes courtesy of Midway Games and Day 1 Studios.

At the same time, teams in more than 50 cities on six continents and 16 time zones around the world – ranging from Ankara, Turkey to Caracas, Venezuela and Kyoto, Japan to Cape Town, South Africa – also will participate in this first-ever global event.

DePaul’s computer game development major is one of the most rapidly growing fields of study at the university and has increased enrollment to more than 200 undergraduate majors since its inception in 2004. 

“DePaul has long been a pioneer in the computer game arena,” said Scott Roberts, associate professor in CDM’s School of Cinema & Interactive Media who is part of the core game development faculty.  “This is the second time in the past year that DePaul students will be participating in a Game Jam, only this time they will be competing with developers around the world and not just their DePaul colleagues.  The stakes are much higher.”

This event is partially sponsored by Midway Games.  The Chicago-based game development company will underwrite some event costs and provide volunteers to serve as consultants to participating teams in areas including art, animation and programming. 

In the past year, DePaul’s game development program added top industry professionals to its faculty, including Game Designer-in-Residence Eugene Jarvis, founder and CEO of Raw Thrills, Inc., and the creator of classic video arcade games such as “Defender” and “Robotron.” William Muehl, senior producer at Midway Games, joined DePaul’s program as a lecturer in the fall. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Media are invited to attend the competition as it concludes, beginning at 11 a.m. Feb. 1 at DePaul’s College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM), 243 S. Wabash Ave.  Final presentations and judging will commence at 11:30 a.m. in Room 924.  Media interested in covering this event should contact John Holden at (312) 362-7165 or (312) 391-5798.