AWS GameDay is an engaging, hands-on learning event where participants tackle real-world technical challenges using AWS solutions in a team-based environment. Unlike traditional workshops, GameDays are open-ended and encourage creative problem-solving.

To foster collaboration among AWS User Groups in Romania, we organized a GameDay event focused on building cost-effective applications and mastering cost-efficiency strategies. We chose the "Frugality Fest" theme, a trending topic for 2024, because it aligns well with our evening meetup schedule, typically starting at 18:30. This ensured the event wouldn't stretch late into the night, making it convenient for participants who join after their workday.

Each AWS Usergroup from Romania (Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Bucuresti, Iasi) and Moldova hosted on-site events coordinated remotely by AWS Romania. Each location had a dedicated AWS Romania representative to help with organization and coordination.

Teams of four participated, with some pre-formed and others assembled ad-hoc. The event kicked off with a 30 minute introduction covering the event's objectives, the scenario and the rules.

At 18:30, the game began and all 17 teams accessed their resources. Each venue featured a live scoreboard displayed prominently, updating in real-time.

The game ran for 2.5 hours, filled with intense communication, laughter, frustration and calls for help. After the clock stopped, we captured a screenshot of the final scoreboard. The top three teams were the most experienced but everyone enjoyed the event and eagerly asked about the next GameDay.

While I won't spoil the specific tasks, they involved AWS services like EC2, RDS, S3, VPC and CloudWatch. A tip from the winners: prioritize database optimization!

If you'd like more details about this event, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn. If you’re interested in organizing a similar event, make sure to contact your local AWS Solutions Architect or Technical Account Manager.

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