Game jams are fun but intense! You're always scrambling to fix bugs to make the game more playable. Wouldn't it be nice if we had enough time to just work on polish, look, and feel? Eye Candy Game Jam is the game jam that gives you that time!
Are you a programmer who'd like to graduate from only using "programmer art"? Let's learn together at Eye Candy Game Jam! Join this jam if you would like to build skills in:
- Shaders (mainly Shader Graph in Unity3D)
- Realtime post processing effects
- Particle effects for aesthetics
- Using realtime and baked lighting to make things look and feel nice
- General VFX relevant to games
The game jam opens two weeks in advance of the main theme being revealed at the launch night you can register at this Humanitix event. You can use this time to bring together any pre-made assets and frameworks that you need to make a functional game. This framework should be general enough to be able to take into account an as yet unannounced theme.
In the leadup to launch night, we will periodically be releasing some short and easy to digest tutorial videos about making your game look better than just basic programmer art. This will cover shader graph, real-time post processing effects, real-time/baked lighting, and general UI/UX principles for games.
At the launch night, we will have the following:
- Free food!
- The main theme reveal.
- Talks and workshops to elaborate on game eye candy techniques
- Expert mentors from AAA industry and Academia!
We have our organisers listed below. Don't forget to get your free ticket from Humanitix!
Host:
- Dr. Matt Cabanag - Winner of Multiple Game Jams and International Hackathons, AR/VR Associate Lecturer at UNSW Art & Design (A&D)
Judges:
- Dr. Ali Darejeh - AR/VR Lecturer at the UNSW's School of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
- Xi (Ma) Chen - Rendering Lead at Take 2 Interactive, Graduate of UNSW CSE
- Emily Tang - Animation & 3D Art Lecturer at UNSW A&D
- Dr. Vedant Sansare - Game Design Lecturer at UNSW A&D
Mentors:
- Bradley Lin - GMSoc Events Director, PhD Student at USyd and UNSW Sessional Academic (multiple UNSW schools)
- Chris Leung - Master of Simulation and Immersive Technologies (MSIT) graduate, A&D
- Dr. Guy Lobwein - Game Art Lecturer, Game Art/Design Discipline Lead at A&D
- Harman Singh - GMSoc Vice President, Master of IT Student and Sessional Academic at CSE
- Pierre Azzi - Former AAA Game Developer (Rockstar Australia), Sessional Academic at CSE
Key Milestones:
- Jam Starts: (Friday, 18 Sep) Itch.io page open to join.
- Launch Night: (Friday, 2 Oct) Main theme announcements and VFX workshops at UNSW CBD Campus (FREE FOOD) Register HERE!
- Showcase Day: (Friday, 16 Oct) Present work at UNSW CBD Campus on laptops courtesy of MSI. Register HERE!
Overall Structure:
- Week 1 (18 Sep - 24 Sep) - Itch.io page opening. Work on functional framework.
- Week 2 (25 Sep - 1 Oct) - Work on functional framework. Game VFX tutorial videos slowly posted.
- Week 3 (2 Oct - 8 Oct) - Main Theme Revealed! Work on polish, look, and feel.
- Week 4 (9 Oct - 15 Oct) - Final sprint before final submission.
- Showcase Day (16 October) - Showcase and judging at UNSW CBD Campus.
- There will be prizes (to be announced)! Entries judged by a panel of experts.
Organised by Dr. Matt Cabanag and Bradley Lin, with the UNSW Game Making Society, and IGDA Sydney. 2D eye candy image by Daniel Lee. Eye Candy Game Jam is part of the Sydney Games Festival.
Disclaimer Please note, this game jam is intended for those who are able to attend the in-person events described in the "Key Milestones" section of this description. If you don't already live in Sydney, AU, and are unable to travel to Sydney, this jam is probably not for you.
