Wednesday, February 4, 2009

WPI hosting GameJam with Schilling’s 38 Studios

By Mass High Tech staff

Game developers are expected to descend upon the hills of Worcester this weekend, as Worcester Polytechnic Institute hosts gaming students from colleges and universities across New England for the second annual three-day GameJam, sponsored by WPI’s Game Development Club in affiliation with Curt Schilling’s gaming company 38 Studios LLC.

Budding video game developers will have 24 hours over three days to create video games based on Maynard-based 38 Studios’ virtual mascot, Munch and his alter ego, Mean Munch. At the end of the contest participating teams can choose to enter the game they create into 38 Studios’ second annual Massachusetts Game Challenge (MGC).

"Given our goals with everything  from movies to comics, to toys and online games, and the talent needed to help us achieve those goals, it makes no sense not to focus on the talent in our own 'backyard'," Schilling said in an emailed response. "Some of the most talented people in the gaming industry are being created right here, right down the street from our studio."

The MGC is open to students from colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. Last year, a team of WPI first-year students won third place in the contest. The deadline for entering the MGC is March 2, 2009, and the top prize is $1,500 per team member.

WPI launched its Interactive Media and Game Development major four years ago, which it terms the first in the nation. 38 Studios was founded in 2006 by Schilling and is creating an original fantasy property based on the work of co-founders fantasy author R. A. Salvatore and comic book creator and toy designer Todd McFarlane. The company will produce a massively immersive online product it describes as being much more than current MMO games, as well as novels, comics, toys, movies, TV and more.