Hello All! I plan to do this solo and post updates in a separate thread! For this one I figured us experienced devs can give some general tips and tricks for others here! 

1. SCOPE CREEP: We all hate it. Take your idea and cut it in half. No seriously. The time frame you think you can complete everything in? You will not hit it. Something will go wrong. You will get sick. Your family will need something. Ect. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed and give up because you can't hit your arbitrary goal for a game jam game that's way bigger than you can handle. 

2. BUG TESTING: While we have about 4 weeks to make a game, I plan to not move forward with this assumption. I have 3 weeks to make a game, and 1 week to address bugs, make my game page banner/icon, and do a LOT of playtesting.

3. THIS IS A GAME JAM: Specifically not an art one. While art can win over players, if your gameplay loop sucks well... At the end of the day your entry won't do well if it's pretty but unplayable.

4. HAVE FUN: No seriously. There's almost 800 of us joining. 99.99% of us aren't winning the cash prize. Focus on making something you'll be proud of. Try out a new plugin. At the end of the day chances are you won't win, but you'll have something finished. My first public game was completed for the IGMC about *mumbles* years ago. It's hot garbage now, but finishing something led me to love this engine and make more things in it. 

5. GAME FIRST, ADVERTISE LATER: While not the best advice for a commercial release... this is a game jam. You don't have to spend an hour each week on update posts for your game. I tend to make this mistake myself, and will be careful about it this year.

So join a team! Work solo! LET'S JAM!!!