Nairobi Jaffery Academy has claimed victory in the 3rd Crawford International School Game Jam, with Oshwal Academy taking second place and Brookhurst School securing third.
The three-day competition attracted over 100 students from eleven Nairobi-based schools, all aged between 12 and 18, who developed games from scratch for evaluation.
Participants were judged on four key criteria: programming, graphics, sound, and gameplay, with emphasis on innovation, quality, and project completion. The winning team received Ksh100,000, while the first runner-up was awarded Ksh60,000 and the second runner-up took home Ksh30,000.
The event aims to inspire Kenyan students with a talent for gaming to create their own games and engage in healthy competition with peers. It also provides a platform for students to network and build connections that enhance their skills in coding, graphics, language, and the arts.
Ezekiel Muriithi, Head of Marketing and Communications at Crawford International School, expressed excitement about the turnout, stating,
“Our goal was to create an engaging and fun environment for students to connect, utilize their skills, and learn from experts. We were thrilled to witness the incredible talent among our schools.”
Muriithi highlighted the Game Jam as an excellent entry point for young individuals into programming and design, noting that participants gain valuable experience working under pressure in a game development setting. This experience can benefit them as they pursue various fields in the future.
Beyond entertainment and networking, e-gaming is increasingly recognized as a powerful educational tool, fostering a dynamic learning environment. By making learning enjoyable, educational games can enhance cognitive skills such as memory, attention, and spatial reasoning, while accommodating different learning styles and paces for personalized experiences.
