The Global Game Jam 2024 in Novska, organized by the Entrepreneurship Incubator PISMO powered by A1 and the Croatian Association of Game Developers HU-IZ-VI, once again had the highest number of participants across Croatia. Over 80 competitors formed 19 teams, competing for rich prizes provided by A1 Croatia Ltd., the White Shark gaming gear brand, VIDI media house, the regional gaming magazine Reboot, and Coeto. Participants from all over Croatia were welcomed by a large organizational team and numerous entertaining activities in Novska's sports hall.
The opening of the competition was hosted by Iris Pilipović, who introduced all those involved in the organization and greeted the attendees on behalf of the PISMO Incubator powered by A1. Welcome speeches were also given by Dominik Cvetkovski from the HU-IZ-VI association, Andreja Šeperac representing the Regional Coordinator of SMŽ and the Development Agency of Sisak-Moslavina County SI-MO-RE, Deputy Mayor of Novska Siniša Kesić, Benjamin Noah Maričak from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Maja Fistrić from A1 Croatia Ltd., and Mihael Jurić, Deputy County Prefect of Sisak-Moslavina County. They extended good wishes to the participants for a successful placement and expressed hopes for more gamedev events.
This year, a workshop was organized for participants, focusing on the importance of preserving online health – combating hate speech! #BetterOnline is a platform by A1 Croatia Ltd. aiming to make the internet a safer and more positive place for everyone. By highlighting the benefits and dangers of technology, the goal is to contribute to health, well-being, and connectivity. Participants had a moment for exercise, lifting themselves from their workstations to activate their bodies for a few minutes before returning to their development world.
The theme of this year's competition was "Make Me Laugh." The competition concluded on January 28th at 5 PM when completed works were presented and evaluated by the expert jury. The jury, consisting of Kristijan Škarica (Gepek, Coeto i Degenerika), Mladen Bošnjak (Misfit Village), Daniela Spasovska (MAGDA), Vedran Klanac (Ocean Media), and Dominik Cvetkovski (ANIQ), assessed completed video games. Besides the best video game, they evaluated the best gameplay, graphics, and the best presentation of completed works.
The winners, who received €1,500, a PlayStation 5 Bundle, and six months of VIDI content subscription, created a video game titled "No Need For Speed," which also had the best gameplay in the competition. The winners in the high school category were awarded WhiteShark brand equipment and a subscription to VIDI content, creating a video game called "Zagorje Simulator." In the adult category, awards were also given to the video games "Širok Šor" (2nd place and best graphics) and "Eggstinction" (3rd place). In the high school category, "Eggmageddon" took 2nd place, and the video game "Z.O.O." took 3rd place. The video game "Comic's Sons" received the award for the best presentation. The awards for the adult categories were presented by Maja Fistrić from A1 Croatia Ltd., Andreja Šeperac, and Ivana Matanović from the Regional Coordinator of SMŽ, while the high school awards were presented by the WhiteShark team.
"We are proud to be part of the Global Game Jam story where gaming enthusiasts showcase their skills and ideas, further contributing to the empowerment of this industry. Supporting this project is a continuation of the successful collaboration between A1 Croatia and the PISMO incubator powered by A1, based on a shared vision of the gaming ecosystem as a space for enhancing the knowledge and skills of young people and developing top-notch ideas responsibly. These values are implemented in all our projects, among which I would particularly highlight Reboot InfoGamer powered by A1, A1 Adria League, and the #BetterOnline platform through which we educate the public about responsible behavior in the online world and promote fair play," said Maja Fistrić, Corporate Communications Expert at A1 Croatia, during the award ceremony.
Well-known gaming influencer Anril congratulated the winners and emphasized that the WhiteShark brand always gladly supports young gamedevelopers, creating equipment precisely tailored to their and gamers' needs. With that goal in mind, the lightest mouse in Europe was created - Graphene, which is coming to market these days, weighing only 47 g, and was in the hands of the winning team.
Source: inkubator-pismo.hr, January 29, 2024.
