Fukushima Game Jam Aims To Overcome Difficulty With Fun

Organisers from IGDA Japan and Ubiquitous Entertainment are set to hold a game jam in Minamisoma, Japan, in aid of supporting the recovering Tohoku region after the devastating earthquake earlier this year. The Fukushima Game Jam [Japanese language information] will be held this weekend, August 27-28, and has been brought together through the student game development contest 9Leap, with full support from the Minamisoma city government. Eight teams of developers will attempt to create games over the course of 30 hours, with help from students in the area. The organisers hope the jam will create an energetic vibe and show signs of perseverance amongst participants. Minamisoma is one of the areas that was most heavily damaged by the disaster due to the meltdown at the nearby Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, and hence the core concept of the game jam is the phrase 'Fun Overcomes Difficulty'. In a statement, organisers of the event explained, "We’re going to show the world that we are going to make it through, by showing our enthusiasm and energy." The organisers also hope that the game jam will act as a test model for a much larger development project in the area. The 'Tohoku IT Concept' is a project that is looking to build a new industry in the area, based around creating lots of IT companies through digital media. The event will be streamed online via the Ustream service, and the final games will be available to download for free afterwards.