48 Hour Game Jam

Ars Technica has a series of three articles up about a 48 hour game jam in Australia.  Teams of 1-6 people had 48 hours to make playable video games based on the word "badger, suit, key".  The winning game "The Fifth Suit" sounds like a lot of fun, its sort of like a multiplayer Bomberman/musical chairs with built in trolling for people who lose early.

Here is a video of the Fifth Suit Gameplay.  The badgers need to collect a bunch of cards that match their suit, then a key will appear, which they need to get and take to the top wall.  Last one out loses and has to play as a ghost next round.  The ghost mechanisms looks fun because you get to keep playing, you run at half speed, and pick up other peoples cards, then run and hide from them.  Great way to get revenge.

While I was reading the articles I thought "could we do a 48 hour board game jam?"  It turns out the answer is yes, people have not only thought of this, they do it.  There is Board Game Jam Toronto where they have a bunch of supplies, they give you a mini-tutorial on board game design, then let you go at it.  The next day you work a bit more, then everybody plays all the games, and prizes are awarded for the best games.  It doesn't look like these are wide spread, maybe somebody should start one in the Front Range of Colorado!