Team Lobster Wins Global Game Jam 2025 with “Dirty Bubbles”

A large group of people seated in a lecture hall watch a colorful presentation on a big screen at the front of the room. The screen displays the words "Global Game Jam 2025" with vibrant graphics. Attendees appear to be participants or guests of the event, many with laptops, notebooks, or plates of food. The room is equipped with projectors, presentation equipment, and catering tables along the side wall.

This quarter, the Bellevue College XR Lab had the opportunity to interview the Global Game Jam 2025 champions from Bellevue College: Team Lobster. Team members Sophia Gonzalez, Leia Guedez, Lucie Hartlova, and Radhika Tambe—all Digital Media Arts students with a focus on 3D Art—came together to create Dirty Bubbles (AR), an augmented reality game addressing the issue of ocean pollution.

The theme of this year’s Global Game Jam was “Bubbles,” which inspired Team Lobster to design a water-themed experience. Drawing from recent coursework in the XR Development class and their introduction to the Bezi platform, the team created a mobile AR game that tasks players with collecting and sorting underwater trash before running out of oxygen.

Dirty Bubbles is available for play in both AR and VR formats and highlights the importance of environmental awareness through interactive gameplay. In the game, players act as scuba divers on their first day on the job, tasked with locating six pieces of trash and sorting them into the correct recycling bins within a three-minute time limit.

Team Lobster described the creative process as highly collaborative. While Sophia and Lucy focused on applying the Bezi AR development tool, all team members contributed to 3D and 2D asset creation, concept development, and problem-solving during the rapid two-day event. Despite being relatively new to Bezi and AR development, the team successfully navigated technical challenges and time constraints to complete their project.

A group of five people sits in a semi-circle having a recorded discussion inside the Bellevue College XR Lab. A camera and studio light are set up in the foreground, indicating a video or podcast-style interview. A red laptop and microphone are on the table in the center. Behind the group, three large, colorful abstract art pieces hang on the wall, and a sign on the door reads “D126R XR Lab Room Booking.” A Bellevue College XR Lab banner is visible in the background.

During the interview, the students shared that one of the most significant challenges was balancing their ambition for the game’s scope with the limited development time available. They emphasized the importance of supporting one another, staying adaptable, and focusing on building a complete and functional experience.

As winners of the event, Team Lobster earned a VIP tour of Wizards of the Coast! They expressed excitement about visiting a professional game studio for the first time and are looking forward to making new industry connections.

Reflecting on their achievement, the team shared that participating in Global Game Jam was a transformative experience, helping them realize how far they have come in their technical skills, collaboration, and confidence as game creators. Their advice for future participants: “Just do it. No matter what happens, you will always gain something from the experience.”

Play Dirty Bubbles (AR):

  • Access the game here
  • For iPhone users: Download the ‘XR browser’ from the App Store and open the link through the app
  • For Android users: Open the link in the Chrome browser

You can also view their project on the Global Game Jam website.

The XR Lab congratulates Team Lobster on their outstanding achievement and looks forward to seeing how they continue to grow in the world of immersive technology and digital media arts!

Four women stand smiling side by side in front of a colorful abstract art wall display inside the Bellevue College XR Lab. They appear to be participants or collaborators in a project or event, showing a strong sense of camaraderie. The background features three large, vibrant panels with layered digital art in shades of blue, purple, orange, and pink.

Last Updated May 27, 2025