Despite storm Éowyn causing a red weather warning and the temporary closure of SETU’s Carlow campus, 41 students and graduates came together online and in person to participate in the 2025 Global Game Jam, the world’s largest game development event.
This is the 11th year that SETU students have participated in the event which saw students from the Bachelor of Science in Computing in Interactive Digital Art and Design (IDAD) and the Bachelor of Science in Computer Games Development collaborate on innovative gaming projects inspired by this year’s theme: Bubbles.
A resilient start
With campus closed on Friday, students adapted quickly, gathering on the online platform Discord to receive the theme and form teams of three to five members. Once the storm passed, participants reunited on the Saturday and Sunday in the “Game Development” computer labs, where their creativity and technical expertise flourished.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Nigel Whyte, Head of the Department of Computing at SETU in Carlow, commented, “SETU's participation in this year's Global Game Jam highlighted the energy, collaboration, and skill of our IDAD and Computer Games Development students which, as always, produced work to the very highest of standards.”
Creativity and collaboration
The Global Game Jam is a worldwide event that challenges participants to create a game from scratch in just 48 hours. SETU’s students embraced this challenge, blending programming, design, storytelling, and artistic expression to bring their unique bubble-themed games to life. The weekend provided an invaluable experience in teamwork and rapid problem-solving, key skills for aspiring game developers.
A hub for talent
SETU’s participation in the Global Game Jam highlights the University’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation in game development, software development, programming, and digital art and design. The event not only allowed students to push their technical and artistic skills but also provided an opportunity to network with fellow students and graduates, test new ideas, and gain industry-relevant experience.
Elisabeth Sykorova, student of Computing in Interactive Digital Art and Design said, "Game Jam is a fantastic opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about or interested in game development. Thanks to the dedication of those involved in making Game Jam accessible and fun for all participants, Peter Lowe especially, it’s an event that people love returning to, even years after graduating.”
As SETU continues to establish itself as a hub for digital art, programming, and development talent in Ireland, events like the Global Game Jam offer students a platform to experiment, learn, and showcase their abilities on a global scale.
For more information on digital art and design, gaming, and software development courses, visit setu.ie.
