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FAQ Sticky

A topic by phillip created Dec 01, 2020 Views: 1,780 Replies: 39
Viewing posts 1 to 17
Host (2 edits) (+1)

FAQ

Any other questions that are not listed here feel free to comment on this thread and I will get back to you when I can. 

Can I work with a team?

Yes.

Can I do ____ because it is more accurate to the original Nokia 3310? 

The chosen color palette is a must. Other specific technicalities that are only to make the game more accurate to the original Nokia 3310 are allowed but are not required.

When can I start working on my game? 

You should begin work on your game when the jam officially starts. If you are going to be building your own engine from scratch you can get to a point where you are on an even playing field with others using a pre-made engine before the start of the jam.

How many frames per second should my game run at? 

FPS is not listed in the restrictions but if you are trying to be as accurate as possible 15 fps. Otherwise stick with 30/60 fps.

For Pico 8 Devs 

Thanks to Tobias V. Langhoff and PaloBlancoGames here is how you can participate! 

"Make the game as normal in PICO-8 and change the colors manually for the HTML export that you submit to the jam."

"After exporting to html, open the generated javascript file. The pico-8 color palette is stored as RGB values, comma separated, no spaces. If you want to replace RED (index 8) with another color, just search for "255,0,77" and then swap these with your new desired RGB."

(+1)

Hi! Can I add a left and right button like the Nokia 3310?
<img src="https://img.itch.zone/aW1nLzQ3MzE4MDMuanBn/original/nzhfXK.jpg">
 Also, can an online mode be added? Greetings
(Sorry if you don't understand me very well, I don't speak English very well)
Host

I didn't include the left and right buttons because they were used for menu navigation outside of the game and 12 buttons is already quite a few for the average game that will be submitted. So for now stick with a maximum 12 controls. I don't have a specific rule for an online modes but right now it would be fine as long as your game follows all the other restrictions of the jam

What about if you include wasd and arrow keys. Do they each count for 4 buttons or does their interchangeability allow them to work with jam restrictions?

Host

As long as they are serving the same function they could be interchangeable. 

when can i start making the character texture

Host

You should make everything in your game during the jam period Feb 1st - Feb 8th

Submitted

1.My friend and I want to do the Jam, but the only problem is that between February 1st and February 8th, we both have real school (not online). Is that ok if we begin to make the game before it start?

2.When you said that "limit the number of pixels the player sees to 84 x 48. It must also be able to solely use the provided palette." What do you mean by that?

Host

1. The start date and time is in place so everyone is on a even playing field and has the same amount of time to make their game. The core of your game should be made within this timeframe. You can establish a base framework (see the templates on the resource page) and I can't stop you from thinking about what you would like to make since a theme is not enforced. But in the interest of fairness everyone should make their game within the time period specified. 

2. That particular line is talking about game engines. A game engine that has a set resolution can still be used if you can find a way so the player only sees 84x48 pixels of the space. If you're using a "mainstream" engine like GameMaker or Unity you don't really have to worry about this as you can just set the games resolution/camera viewport to 84x48. 

Submitted(+1)

I tried your "pico-8" trick and it worked except that in my export (latest pico-8 version), the colors components had a space between them (95, 87, 79 in my case). I only had to replace the first occurence in the js.

Hope this helps

Submitted (1 edit)

Hello, it's me again

In GDevelop 5, the engine I use for the game, I put the game resolution at 84 x 48, however, I can make it fullscreen when runnign the game. Is it allowed?

Host

Scaling the game up is completely fine as long as the base resolution is 84 x 48.

(1 edit)

Question, is the mouse a button?

Host (1 edit)

Mouse movement would not be allowed but one of your buttons could be a mouse click I suppose. I will be updating the jam page soon to clarify these rules.

Ok, good to know, thanks!

Host

Just to let you know I updated the rules to be keyboard only so its clear and simple.

Ok.

(1 edit)


"Games must have a resolution of 84 x 48. You may scale the game's resolution up as long as the base resolution is still 84 x 48. Your game can be either landscape or portrait." 

Does this mean I can scale up the resolution in multiples of 84 and 48?

Sorry if  it's a dumb question I am quite new in these stuff

Host

So if you scaled it up 5x it would be 420x240, 10x it would be 840x480, etc. The game itself would still technically be 84x48 just bigger so its easier to view on modern screens.

K thanks

(3 edits)

Hi, I'd like to ask:

1. Is there an age restriction?

2. Is it required to be in the discord  to join the jam?

3. Can I use any game engine? (I will be using Godot)

Host (2 edits)

1. No 

2. No. If you won you wouldn’t get the discord title but you would still get featured on next years page!

3. Yes! As long as the game engine is capable of working within the restrictions. There is even a starter template for Godot on our resource page if you’re interested! https://phillipp.itch.io/nokiajamresources

(+1)

Thank you!  I don't know how I missed the Godot starter template, somehow didn't see it :D

Submitted

I can make sound using SFXR program and it yes which?

squarewave

sawtooth

sinewave

noise

Host (4 edits)

As long as you try your best to get as close as you can to what the Nokia would have sounded like. I believe the best settings would be sawtooth with most of the low frequencies cut out. There are also a lot of free sound resources on the jam's resource page! https://phillipp.itch.io/nokiajamresources

Submitted

I think the Sinewave is more nokia like and I send this video 1:40 can hear what sound have a nokia 3310.

Submitted

Any idea when the theme will be up? Before the official start, or no? I'd love to start brainstorming some ideas.

Host

it will be revealed as soon as the jam starts on the jam page and in an email that goes out at the start.

Submitted

I was planning on making my game mobile friendly, and adding a virtual number pad imitating the Nokia's physical number pad.  I'm assuming this is fine as long as the playable area adheres to the restrictions, but I wanted to make sure.

Host

yes that would be fine!

Submitted

I can use a resolution smaller than 84 x 48, or it must be exactly 84 x 48?

Host (1 edit)

If you had a canvas of 84x48 to show the Nokia screen and then your game played within a smaller “window” within the screen

Submitted

So when the requirements say it needs to be 84x48 resolution, but can be portrait or landscape, does that mean the game can be 84x48 landscape, 48x84 portrait, or does that mean it can be portrait or landscape within the 84x48. Already started making the game in 48x84 and feel I might of jumped the gun on the assumptions!

Host

you are correct. The idea between 48x84 portrait is that you would literally be rotating your Nokia 90 degrees to play on it

Submitted

Hey phillip!!

More of just a fun question..

Do you actually own a nokia 3310?

Host

I don't but my dad has his old Nokia 1110 phone still. My memories playing games on that phone endlessly is what sparked my inspiration for this jam! Fun fact the Nokia 3310 actually never came to America. We got the Nokia 3390!

Submitted

cool!

Submitted
Deleted 3 years ago
Host

If you have game breaking bugs that need to be fixed the submissions are temporarily unlocked. Nothing else should be added. Otherwise you must wait until the rating period is over.

If you've taken part in a project, but are not the member who submitted it, but for example the composer, how do you have it show up on your profile that you have indeed done it?

Host

If you were marked as a contributor on the jam page by the submitter I believe it should show up on your profile and if it doesn't you may need to go to your dashboard and mark it as 'unhidden'. If none of those work you could create a collection of the games you've worked on and display that collection on your profile.