Bulldogs Capture Multiple Awards in National 24-Hour Game Development Competition

Alabama A&M University students showcased their creativity, technical skills and teamwork at the 2026 HBCU Game Jam, earning multiple top honors during the 24-hour competition held at Spelman College. The annual event brings together students from historically Black colleges and universities across the country to design and build original video games in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

A total of 18 AAMU students representing computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and finance participated in the beginner-friendly hackathon, which also included a Game Development Day Conference. Students formed teams of four, applied to compete and worked around the clock to develop fully playable games for industry-sponsored judging.

Several Bulldog teams stood out among competitors:

Game Dawgs earned Best Game Art: AI for their game “Slice of Memories,” a narrative-driven experience centered on family, grief and rediscovering a lost recipe through intergenerational storytelling. Team members included Emilio Angel, Emily Omezi, Rachel Harris and Taylor Pippins.

Team Amunite received Best Executed Game (2D) and Best Twist Integration for “Annie’s Divide,” a 2D survival game where the main character relies on strategy and her pet companion’s unpredictable loyalty to overcome enemies. Team members included Mauyon Wusu, Mitchel Onyebuchi, Samuel Oyedian and Osamwengumwenro Oni-Ojo.

Spencer Autery also contributed to a collaborative team, AUC Baddies + 1, which earned second place overall along with Best Game Art: Original, Best Game Concept and Best Narrative/World Building for “Erika & Me,” a 2D action thriller exploring the relationship between a protagonist and an evil AI system.

The HBCU Game Jam, hosted at Spelman’s Center for Innovation and the Arts, is designed to introduce students to the full game development process while fostering innovation, collaboration and career exploration in the tech and gaming industries.

Front row, from left: Emily Omezi, Taylor Pippin, Mauyon Wusu and Osamwengumwenro Oni-Ojo, Back row from left: Spencer Autery, Emilio Angel-Gallon, Rachel Harris, Mitchel Onyebuchi and Samuel Oyediran.