Game developers around the country are preparing for the fourth annual Global Game Jam, an event which gives teams just 48 hours to create an engaging computer game from scratch.

Participants will be given a theme for their games at 5pm on Friday January 27, and will then work flat out in small teams until Sunday night to complete their creations. The event is held in 120 locations in 44 countries around the world, with teams in New Zealand kicking off first as we are closest to the date line.

Stephen Knightly, chairperson of the New Zealand Game Developers Association, says you don't have to be an expert to join in.

"Innovation comes from having a mix of people and ideas,” Knightly says.

"It helps if you know games and have some basic knowledge of game development, but the only rule is a willingness to join a team on the night and contribute ideas.

Kiwi participants will gather at the Media Design School in Auckland, the University of Waikato in Hamilton and the office of Digital Confectioners in Christchurch.

Anyone with an interest in making games is invited to register, including programmers, 2D and 3D artists, designers, animators, sound artists and musicians.

In the 2011 event, 75 local developers produced 15 games around the theme of ‘extinction', including titles such as Exdrinktion, Tree Chugger and Purge (pictured).

Knightly says the kiwi game industry employs over 360 full-time game developers, and the sector is worth $90 billion globally.

Go here to register your interest, or here to see footage of the 2011 event.