Global Game Jam hack-a-thon begins in Halifax

A gaming hack-a-thon begins this evening in Halifax. The Global Game Jam is an annual event where developers, programmers and regular folks with ideas come together to create games.

By the end of the event they hope to have built a video game, board game or card game. The only catch is they only have 48 hours to create the game from beginning to end.

Global Game Jam is a worldwide phenomena; last year there were hack-a-thon's in more than 1,000 locations.

Halifax's Global Game Jam takes place a Volta, which is a startup house for technology-based companies located on Spring Garden Road.

Volta spokesperson Jill Shea says that having computer and code experience is not necessary for this event.

"We have idea-people who may not necessarily have any technical skills but they have a game idea that they'd like to build," she says.

"You can be a beginner to an expert and if you need help we're here to help you."

This is not the first time Volta has held a hack-a-thon. Back in November they held a similar event for hardware and software and built a group dating app.

The creators of that app are now in the process of turning the program into a viable business.

"The dating app is moving forward," Shea says. "They're currently talking to lawyers and accounting firms about where to go from here."

You may think that 48 hours is a limited amount of time, but Shea believes this process helps an idea grow from its beginning stage.

She's often amazed by what participants can come up with under pressure.

"It's amazing what they can do in 48 hours."

The Global Game Jam is open to the general public.