Code in the Schools’ GameJam saw twice as many participants this year

A healthy diet of carrots led John, Betsy and David Klopcic to victory on Saturday. The three siblings who made up Team K-Force won the top prize at Code in the Schools’ daylong GameJam.
The family members from southern Pennsylvania, created “Carrot Quest,” an adventure game complete with intros, levels and other story elements. The team’s hats made them easy to spot.
During a demo, Betsy Klopcic pointed at big carrots that were fired across the screen at various menacing figures.
“They’re flaming carrots of doom,” she said.
Along with the other 18 teams, the trio had about 11 hours to complete their game. They arrived at Code in the Schools’ new shared offices with Sparkypants in the Centre Theatre in Station North early on the final day of Baltimore Innovation Week.
“They come in at 8 a.m. and get started, and work all day long,” said Code in the Schools Executive Director Gretchen LeGrand. Awards were handed out close to 8 p.m.

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Creativity was on display, from games depicting planet-hopping foxes to frog princesses in need of water.
Along with learning how to make games, LeGrand said the event is a way to introduce the students to coding. The third edition showed more traction for the event.
“We had twice as many kids here as last year,” she said.
And at least one game lives on after the day is complete. The Klopcic siblings will see their game displayed on the giant LED screen during Artscape next year.