Invitation from Fukushima

Fukushima Game Jam will come back! IGDA Japan chapter has made an agreement with local government of Minami-souma city, Fukushima prefecture in Japan and will hold the local game jam event “Fukushima Game Jam (FGJ) 2012” from June 4^th to 5^th there.

All attendances are separated between Tokyo and north east part of Japan. The attendees from Tokyo will depart Akihabara city to Minami-souma city by bus at midnight. Attendance fee is free or at a very low cost. We welcome attendance from people living in other countries.

In last year, we held FGJ 2011 six months past the big earthquake and tsunami of 3.11. The industry and local community there had been damaged by those events. Especially, Minami-souma city had big damage because it was very near from nuclear plants in Fukushima and half the area of the city was evacuated.

We were upset with the situation because we would have liked to help them but could not find any solutions as game developers. Finally, we found one and it was the Game Jam. We are game developers. we could help them through games, and fortunately, the local people wanted it.

People in general were afraid of the nuclear event affecting farming and produce. The economy of Minami-souam and Fukushima was in very bad shape. But people thought that game industry were different. They thought that new industry of Fukushima could be games. It was a consensus between local government and IGDA Japan, and we held the FGJ 2011.

It was very successful. We would like continue growing this small endeavor and bring the possibility of a new industry in little by little. There are no game studios in Fukushima but it could be the next local industry. For that reason, we decided to have the FGJ 2012 return to Fukushima. It is very much an honor to make that announcement for every chapter of IGDA in Japan.

The outline of FGJ is very similar to other game jams. Professional game developers and students who live in Tokyo and the north east area of Japan will jam and develop many games under one theme. Last year, about 60 attendances joined and developed 22 games in 30 hours. Not only the hall of Minami-souma but also some satellites joined it. This year, Chinese Taipei will join it.

We welcome all nations and persons. This event is not only for Japanese but for everyone. It will be a very good chance for all non-residents in Fukushima to look at the current situation after 3.11.

I guess many persons from other countries (and some Japanese) believe that Fukushima had terrible damage and is filled with nuclear contamination. However that is an incorrect perspective.

Surely, some areas were damaged heavily and there are huge spaces where you can’t enter because of radiation. But there are many people who live there and continue the recovery. I hope many people learn the reality of the situation and contribute to our efforts through game design.

There are three missions in FGJ 2012. 1) To pass techniques of game development to the younger generation who are affected by the disasters, through the game jam. 2) To send positive messages from the former disaster area to the world. 3) To consider ways of growing the game and IT industry in Fukushima and north east area of Japan. It is a great chance to join a huge project through game development.

As this is a very important massage and please let me tell it to you again. We are welcoming every nation and every person to the FGJ 2012. We want you to join FGJ 2012 and see for yourselves how we are coping and rising from the disasters. We want you to have the rare experience to change games in the world from this unique perspective. In it is true that, games can change the world. What a wonderful experience to have as game developers.

Kenji Ono (IGDA Japan)

INFORMATION

Date 　August 4^th to 5^th

Location 　“Yume-hatto” event hall in Minami-souma city, Fukushima Prefecture

Schedule

August 4^th

0:00 Bus departures from Akihabara, Tokyo

10:00 Game Jam starts

August 5^th

18:30 Presentation and close the event

0:00 Bus departures from Minami-souma, Fukushima prefecture

August 6^th

7:00 Bus arrives at Akihabara and dissolution

Please note that all expenses, including airfare, lodging, ground transportation to Akihabara, and insurance in Japan, will be the attendees’ responsibility.

For inquiries please send us email at info@igda.jp.

—–

More from: June 2012 | IGDA Perspectives Newsletter: Prototyping

• A Failing Attitude, Jason Della Roca
• Thwacke!, Sebastian Alvarado
• IndieSpective: Powerful Prototyping, Robert Madsen
• Game Design Aspect of the Month: Simple Prototypes, Complex Virtual Worlds, Ricardo Rademacher
• Invitation from Fukushima, Kenji Ono
• Behind the Scenes of IGDA Chapter Japan, Kenji Ono
• Events
• E-Reader version