October 2020 Game Jam

Who: Solo or teams, this should already be decided along with job roles and studio name.
What: A game jam is an event where participants aim to make a game as quickly as possible. This is your challenge.
When: Your game must be on itch.io (with accurate credit for everyone’s work) with the link submitted on teams by:

09:00 Friday 23/10/20

Your game will then be on available to play with people encouraged to vote first, second, third in the following categories:

Fun, Feel, Innovation, Humour and Theme

Where: Voting takes place through a google form after submission. Anyone can come to play your game and vote. The winner will be announced on the first day back. You are allowed to work on your game in your spare time.

Why: Games Jams are an excellent way to test your skills and work to a deadline. The time and technical constraints force you to think of creative solutions and focus on the fundamentals of a game. Many games have come from jams and they are an excellent opportunity to network and showcase your talent.

Theme: Grow

Remember!

Look after yourself: Game jams are supposed to be fun. Make sure you’re eating, staying hydrated, washing and getting your rest. You will produce better work if you are taking care of yourself.

Keep it simple: Time is not your friend here. You should think of your idea on the trip and make use of the resources provided. Prioritise what is important in the game: High Priority (game will not function without) to Low Priority (that unlockable character with a hundred weapons can wait). Below is an example of how you could manage your time (it is a recommendation not a rule):

Art can wait, you cannot: You’re game only needs to be whiteboxed at this stage. In groups make sure you all understand what you should be doing. If you are waiting for other people to finish their jobs before you can do something you are not managing your time correctly at all. Art is not a category your game is being judged on, juice/feel is.

Test: Test your game, run your layout, preview your animation. We will sing this on the bus until it sticks. All together now: I’ll test my game! I’ll run my layout! I’ll preview my animations!

Be prepared: Build on what you already know, make use of tutorials and what has been covered before to help you here.

Finish your game: Your objective is to complete your game. Even if you submit something small you will have completed a game!

Have fun: If you are arguing you aren’t working on your game. Decide in advance how decisions in your team will be made, accept it and move on. Game jams are supposed to be fun.