Global Game Jam

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Global Game Jam

Abbreviation	GGJ
Formation	2008, with first Game Jam held January 30–February 1, 2009
Type	non-profit charity 501(c)(3)
Headquarters	San Luis Obispo, California[1]
Region served	International
President	JC Lau
Key people	Executive Director: Tim Cullings Director of Communications: Tarja Porkka-Kontturi Director of Operations: Charly Harbord
Parent organization	Global Game Jam, Inc.
Staff	3
Volunteers	1000+
Website	globalgamejam.org

The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is an annual distributed game jam. Inspired by the Nordic Game Jam, and created by Susan Gold, Ian Schreiber, Gorm Lai and Foaad Khosmood, originally developed under the International Game Developers Association Education SIG to bring together the elements of creativity, collaboration and experimentation. At each site, participants gather to develop ideas, form small groups, create new, creative, innovative games, and present them to their peers and the global community, all in a limited time span. As of 2013, GGJ is managed by Global Game Jam Incorporated.^[1] Current and past board directors include the founders Elonka Dunin, Lindsay Grace and Zuraida Buter. 2022 staff members are Executive Director Tim Cullings, Director of Operations Charly Harbord,^[2] and Senior Director of Communications Tarja Porkka-Kontturi.^[3][4]

In January 2019, GGJ generated teams in 860 sites in 113 countries, who over the course of one weekend created 9,010 games.^[5] The Global Game Jam carries a registered trademark.

In January 2022, GGJ lasted 10 days and nights and was the longest jam in organization's 14-year history. 33,000 jammers registered at 680 sites in 100 countries.