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About the Archives

This page contains all entries posted to GAMBIT in December 2010. They are listed from oldest to newest.

November 2010 is the previous archive.

January 2011 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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Update: Registration CLOSED for the Global Game Jam 2011 at GAMBIT!

The Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab will be a host site in the Boston/Cambridge area for the 3rd Annual Global Game Jam, from January 28 through 30, 2011. Other sites around the world will run game jams with similar rules and limitations, with one unique constraint at each site. This site will be creating games of all kinds: digital games for Windows, Mac OS X, and the web; and non-digital games of all types including board, card, and dice games.

How it works
A game jam is a cooperative gathering of game developers to encourage experimentation and innovation. It starts at 5pm on Friday with friendly introductions, followed by a run-through of the rules, the theme, and the constraints. Participants then quickly come up with ideas and pitch them to everyone else. Once everyone has formed or joined a team, the groups split up for further brainstorming around the idea, and reconvene in a shared workspace with the other teams to start development.

Finished games are handed in at 3pm on Sunday, after which everyone plays all the other games and votes for their favorite. The winners get kudos, and bragging rights. All finished games will be uploaded to the Global Game Jam website.

Some constraints
Participants should go home for a shower and a good night sleep in the evenings. The workspace will be closed from midnight to 9am in time for the last subway train. Breakfast will be provided on both mornings. Food will be provided for the participants by the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab. The rules of the game jam prohibit the use pre-made content (this includes program code, audio, graphics, models, etc.) unless it was publicly available at least a month prior to the game jam. Contact Rik Eberhardt if there are any questions.

Registration
Registrants must be over at least 18 years old to participate. The jam is largely targeted at game development professionals and college students with game development experience. Participants should not plan to register as teams. The jam is limited to 50 participants, with last-minute priority for professionals. There is no fee for registration.

If space is available, participants should receive an email confirmation within a week.

Registration is now CLOSED.

Location and Timing
The game jam will be held at the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab on the third floor of 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA. Participants should plan to arrive well before 5pm on Friday, January 28, 2011 and to participate for the full duration of the event, which should conclude by 6pm Sunday, January 30, 2011

Click here for a map

12/10/2010: Info Session for IAP and Spring UROP opportunities, this Friday, 4pm-6pm

For undergraduates eligible for MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunities (UROP):

Would you like to make games as a UROP at the GAMBIT Game Lab during the IAP and/or Spring Semesters?

Please come to our info session on Friday, December 10th from 4-6pm in the lab TV Lounge (NE25-3rd floor)

Attendance is required if you want to work with us during IAP!

We are hiring for the following positions for either pay or credit:
Programming (most games require Flash, but work experience in Python or Java will help)
Designer
Game Studies Research

We are working on games that involve the following topics during IAP and Spring:
Artificial Intelligence
Social & Facebook Games
Games for Android OS
Audio-only Games
Adventure games
Narrative design
Educational games
Bullying

We are also looking for someone interested in researching hate speech and verbal abuse within gaming communities.

All of our UROP positions are 6-10 hours of work per week in a team environment and in the lab. You can work for credit (6-12 credits) or pay (the standard UROP rate of $9.35/hour). All positions are open to anyone eligible for an MIT UROP.

Please RSVP by emailing Rik Eberhardt and sending the following:
- Statement of interest in this UROP
- Resume
- your known schedule for IAP and/or Spring
- Research topics or position you are interested in

Attendance is required if you want to work with us during IAP! If you cannot attend but would still like to work during IAP, let Rik know.

More information about GAMBIT's UROP program.

More information about MIT's UROP program.

Friday Games @ GAMBIT 12/03/10 - Warren Spector Retrospective

In honor of Epic Mickey being released this week, we are making Friday Games a retrospective on game designer/producer Warren Spector.

Epic Mickey is the first title Spector has released since 2004's Thief: Deadly Shadows, and the first he has had a direct creative hand in since 2000's Deus Ex. Deus Ex remains one of the most critically acclaimed games in the Western gaming world, cited as a watershed moment in game design for its complex AI, open level design, and moral choices.

How does Epic Mickey stack up to Spector's ample legacy? Come to the GAMBIT lounge after 4pm to find out. We'll be playing a few of Spector's older games--including Deus Ex--to give a little context, before loading up Epic Mickey to see what all the fuss is about.

GAMBIT Research Video Podcast Episode 10: "Fun In The Stacks: Games, Gaming and Gamers in Libraries"

In Episode 10 of the GAMBIT Research Video Podcast Series "FUN IN THE STACKS: GAMES, GAMING AND GAMERS IN LIBRARIES" Syracuse Assoc. Professor and the host of "Board Games With Scott", Scott Nicholson leads a discussion during the Nov 11, 2010 GAMBIT Research Meeting on the value of gaming programs in public libraries. A funny and interesting lecture and discussion you do not want to miss! Video Produced by Generoso Fierro, Edited by Garrett Beazley, Music by Abe Stein.

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