SSU 2025 Fall Fest & Family Weekend: Game Jam Recap
Relive the magic of our SSU 2025 Fall Fest & Family Weekend: Game Jam where students & alumni built, collaborated, and celebrated creativity.
During Shawnee State University's Fall Fest & Family Weekend, something special was cooking in the Advanced Technology Center. For the first time, our Game Jam was entirely organized by a dedicated team of SSU alumni, bringing together past and present Bears for a weekend of creation.
The response was incredible. We had 33 registered jammers on itch.io, plus even more unregistered participants diving in. Everyone gathered around the theme "Window," ready to build something extraordinary in just 48 hours.
The Quest Begins
Every great adventure needs a memorable start, and ours began with... a wedding. In a moment of pure, spontaneous fun, students from the Computing Houses hosted a mock wedding for our two motion capture mannequins. With vows, cheers, and a bouquet toss, the community officially named them Charles Babbage (PhaseSpace LED mocap suit) and Anna Lovelace (PrioVR mocap & VR suit).
Afterward, Instr. Travis Lynn welcomed everyone, thanking the SSU Fall Fest & Family Weekend organizers for including the Game Jam in the official schedule. They then went on to introduce and recognize the Game Jam planning committee comprised of all SSU alumni: Jack Bixby, Elijah Wickerham, Blayde Gilley, Cadence Calhoun, Kory Byrne, and Prof. Michael Reynolds.
Speaking of Elijah Wickerham, we also shared exciting news about "Gnomad," the game from his company, Jolly Ware, which has advanced to the second round of the Blue Ocean Rising Tide 2 Challenge!
Support fellow Bears and vote for Gnomad in the Blue Ocean Rising Tide 2 Challenge!
"You are going to crush it, and I can not wait for Sunday." - Kory Byrne
The kickoff also featured a powerful keynote from SSU graduate Kory Byrne, Life Lessons for Game Jams. He shared five key tips:
- 💙 Take care of yourself: Rest, hydration, and breaks make better developers and better games.
- 🤝 Assume positive intent: Communicate with kindness.
- 🔍 Lead with curiosity: Iterate on ideas and let them grow, be curious.
- 💞 Cherish relationships: Jams build lasting friendships.
- 🧠 You are smarter than you think: Jam skills translate to professional success.
Watch the full kickoff, from the wedding to the keynote.
Jamming in Full Swing
For the next 48 hours, the ATC game studios buzzed with energy as jammers formed teams across all experience levels. Alumni and students worked side by side on code, art, and sound, with remote collaborators joining in digitally to contribute to all the projects taking shape.
48 hours of creativity and collaboration. Photos By: Haley Magee, Travis Lynn
Saturday, Prof. Reynolds became the day's hero, making delicious homemade pizzas for everyone. Instr. Lynn served as the dedicated food courier, taking orders and delivering meals to keep our creators fueled and focused.
The Grand Finale
By 5:00 PM Sunday, the final builds were in. Jammers could finally breathe and take a break for a well-earned dinner before the grand finale.
At 6:00 PM, the moment of truth arrived. Hosted by alumnus Elijah Wickerham, teams took the stage to present their unique takes on "Window." We saw everything from charming dating sims and clever puzzle games to photography adventures and fast paced platformers. Each one was a testament to the creativity that flourished over the weekend. The technical diversity was just as impressive, with some games built in Python, Godot, and even some exported to run in web browsers.
The alumni planning committee closed things out with a few special awards to recognize the efforts all the Jammers put in over the last 48 hours.
A huge congratulations to our award recipients!
- 🗳️ Jammers' Choice Award: The Light, The Cryptid, and The Wormhole
- 🔊 Best Use of Sound: ADough-Bee Baker
- 🎨 Best Art Direction: ShutterMoth
- 💡 Best Use of Theme: The Light, The Cryptid, and The Wormhole
- 🏆 The Golden Game Award: ADough-Bee Baker
Reflecting on the incredible work he'd just witnessed, Kory shared:
"I’m very impressed by the collaboration between artists and programmers in the degrees. When I was a student it wasn’t like that, only a handful of artists were able to participate. I’m excited to see what the future holds with this much collaboration between the programs."
See all the game presentations & awards.
What Comes Next
The jam may be over, but the journey continues. Here's how to keep the momentum going:
- 🎮 Explore the Games: Play all the incredible creations from the jam and see what our community built in just 48 hours. https://itch.io/jam/ssugames-fall-2025-game-jam/entries
- 🤝 Join Our Discord: Connect with fellow developers and stay in the loop for future events. https://discord.ssugames.org
- 🌟 Share Your Experience: Post your favorite jam moments on social media and tag SSUGames.
- 💡 Keep Creating: Whether it's polishing your jam game or starting something new, keep those creative juices flowing
- 🎯 Mentor Others: Pay it forward by helping newcomers in our community.
This weekend was about more than games. It was about the connections made through shared creativity, the skills honed under pressure, and the community we continue to build together. Let's carry this energy forward. We can't wait to see what you create next!
Stay connected for future jams, workshops, and events through our SSUGames Discord and social media channels.