On 24-26 January, the National Library of Estonia hosted the world’s largest game development marathon, Global Game Jam, which brought together 120 game development enthusiasts from around the world. The Global Game Jam is an international game development event where participants work in teams to create a game based on a theme given by the organisers. The marathon held in Tallinn was part of a global network that brings together both professional and amateur developers, offering them the opportunity to learn and expand their network of contacts.

The organisers of the event, GameDev Estonia, the Tallinn Business Incubator and the National Library of Estonia, invited both experienced game developers and beginners to put their skills to the test and create a brand new computer game in 48 hours, with the overall theme being “Bubble”. Teams were formed with participants from different backgrounds – developers, artists, musicians and writers – to ensure an inspiring and diverse environment.

In addition to creating games, participants were able to listen to presentations from experts in the field of game development. Speakers included internationally acclaimed filmmaker and game developer Nicola Piovesan, who talked about how to create an engaging story; game lecturer Mikhail Fiadotau, who shared tips on how to create your first game; and art director and creative design expert Julia Sereda, who showed how to choose the right visual style for your game.

Tallinn Global Game Jam offered a unique opportunity to develop skills, find new partners and create something completely new. The teams created 27 games, of which the game “BubbleFire AR” on the theme of disinfo won a special prize from the National Library of Estonia.