CANTON -- Faculty from the SUNY Canton graphic and multimedia design (GMMD) program invite anyone with an interest in developing games to a Global Game Jam 48-hour event at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, in Nevaldine North Room 112.

The Global Game Jam is purported to be the largest game creation and game development event taking place at coinciding times and multiple locations. SUNY Canton students and other participants will join gamers from around the world to create games based on a shared theme, according to Christopher Sweeney, an associate professor who teaches in the GMMD program.

"One of our founding advisory board members in the program is the founder and president of the Global Game Jam," Sweeney said. "Susan Gold, a professor at Northeastern University, created this record-breaking game-making event, which is now hosted in nearly 80 countries. Some of our most creative students are eager to design, develop and make their own new games within the set timeframe."

Participants can either create video or board games at the SUNY Canton event and then will have the chance to share their creations with other participants. During last January's event, 500 locations created more than 5,400 games in just one weekend.

The event is free and open to game enthusiasts, but contributors should register at http://globalgamejam.org/2016/jam-sites/gmmd-media-lab. Computers, printers and the necessary software will be provided. For more information, contact 386-7424 or sweeneyc@canton.edu.