The Computer Science Department at The University of Waikato in Hamilton is hosting a tutorial on game development using the Unity game engine and a site for the 18th Global Game Jam - GGJ 2026. The tutorial will be an in-person event on Tuesday 27th January. The game jam will be also an in-person event, although if there is demand, we will support on-line jam participation via Discord. It runs from 5pm Friday 30th January to the evening of Sunday 1st February. We are hopeful that people will be able to be on site for the jam. So, come and join us for one or both of the tutorial and the 48 hours of video game development. There is no charge for the tutorial. The attendance fee for the game jam is $25 - to cover food, drink and an event t-shirt.

Scroll down for registration. (Registration on site on the day is allowed, but we would appreciate early registration, so that we have some advance idea of numbers.)

The Tutorial

An introduction to the Godot game engine and making a small game project. The tutorial will be run by Brogan King. Brogan is an experienced game developer. He is a founder of Mainframe Games - a New Zealand indie studio, and a contractor to RocketWerkz.

What is a Game Jam?

In a Game Jam, participants form teams to make video games or board games around a theme announced at the start of the jam. The goal is a complete playable game developed over a limited time period. With a small time frame, the games tend to be innovative and experimental.

The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is usually a 48 hour game jam that takes place nearly simultaneously all over the world during a 72 hour period (48 hours adjusted to suit local time zones). This year the event can be held at times chosen by local organisers over the period from 26th January to 1st February. For the Waikato site, we have chosen to stick with the normal 48 hour timetable, starting at 5:00 PM Friday, January 30th and running for 48 hours, through to 5:00 PM Sunday, February 1st. We will also follow our usual pattern of running a local show, tell, and choose-favourite event after 5.00 PM on the Sunday, which will be finished by 6:30/7.00 PM. All participants in the Global Game Jam will be constrained by the same theme, rules and limitations, although each time zone may have some small distinguishing options.

How does it work?

Everyone arrives at or connects to the game jam on Friday. At 5pm local organisers will share the theme, constraints and rules for the game jam. Teams are formed in a period of discussion on Friday evening, and have until 3:00 PM on Sunday to create their games. Games are uploaded to the international web site from 3:00 PM and local evaluation begins at 5.00 PM. Finished and partially built games should be uploaded to the Global Game Jam website for anyone to play.

Teams may continue to work on games after the jam and may post updates to the website, provided that they posted an initial version during the jam.

Who can participate?

Anyone, 16 years old or over, can participate in a game jam: experienced professionals, students and wannabes. Younger people can participate, but must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian. You do not have to form teams to register, teams will be formed at each of the local jams. In particular, you can come as an individual.

What will Waikato University provide for in-person jammers?

T shirt, food and drink. We will provide breakfasts, lunches and dinners. There will also be soft drinks and some snack food available throughout the jam. We have space for those who bring their own computers, and we will make University lab computers (Windows 11 with basic utility software) available. Lab computers will give you admin access to let you to install any development software you require. Internet access is provided.

What will we provide for online participants?

Coordination and encouragement via Discord.

Game Development

There are no restrictions on the software and hardware you use for development, other than that it should be possible to post a version of your game, including source code where appropriate, at the end of the contest. Teams in previous years have used systems from pure text interaction, through to the Unreal Game Engine. Particularly popular in recent years has been use of the Unity engine.

The rules of the GGJ preclude you from using pre-made content (this includes program code, audio, graphics, models, etc.) unless it was publicly available at least a month prior to the GGJ. The idea is that we want to see what people can create within the 48 hours. If you have any questions about the appropriateness of content/code, please contact us prior to the GGJ.

What do I need to provide?

If attending in person bring yourself and if you wish, your own computer. If online you will need your own computer with internet access and whatever software you choose to use for game development.

How Do I Get Involved?

1. Be sure to mark 30th January to 1st February 2026 on your calendar.
2. Sign up and register for the Waikato University site for the GGJ (registration form is below).
3. Show up in person, or on Discord (details will be sent to you closer to the event) at 5:00 PM on Friday.
4. Have fun and plan to work through Sunday late afternoon (final ceremony and wrap-up from 5:00 PM).