Changelog
[12/30] Added new and improved FAQ. Added Free Asset list.
[1/1] Added engine flowchart to link list.
[1/2] Tiny update regarding images on the forum (see last post)
Useful Links
* PRE-JAM SURVEY
* FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
* BEGINNER GAME-MAKING RESOURCES
* ENGINE FLOWCHART
* JAM TUMBLR
* ORIGINAL JAM TWEET
* ORIGINAL TUMBLR POST
* #MYFIRSTGAMEJAM ON TWITTER
* #MYFIRSTGAMEJAM ON TUMBLR
* PARTICIPANT DIRECTORY - WIP
* FREE ASSETS & RESOURCES
* GAME JAM GUIDE - also below!
My First Game Jam Guide
— From this post
My First Game Jam is a two week jam in which participants learn how to create a game. We encourage absolute beginners to participate, but game developers of all skill levels can join and commit to learning a new skill! We've put together a short guide for game jam newcomers.
If you haven't already, take our poll before you start. We will also post a poll after the jam finishes—we want to hear about your experience!
Submissions
We encourage you to upload even if your game isn't finished—be proud and show us what you learned in two weeks! On our itch.io game jam page, click Submit your project then Upload game. Here you can upload your project. If you need help or aren't sure what kind of project to upload, shoot us a message with the engine you're using. The jam will accept submissions beginning January 2nd at 12AM and close exactly on January 16th at 11:59PM. If you miss the deadline but would still like to submit, upload your game to itch.io and contact us with your itch.io username and the game's URL.
Although itch.io has very few restrictions on projects, and we're very confident in your judgement and submissions, we can still reject games with harmful or malicious content from the jam.
Picking a Game Engine
There's so many engines out there—how can someone possibly pick one to use? If you find yourself asking this question, we've put together a little guide to help you through the selection process.
Dailies
Although everyone works at their own pace, we encourage you to post daily screenshots and WIPs to #myfirstgamejam and show everyone what you've been working on! On Saturdays, you could also post to the more popularly used #screenshotsaturday. Definitely check out the tag for some inspiration!
We also created a participant directory based on engine so you can check out the progress of fellow jammers using the same engine!
Tips
For the first time game jammer, starting can seem like an intimidating process. However, game jams are a great way to motivate yourself to learn new skills in a short amount of time, and it's incredibly rewarding. Here's a few things to keep in mind while you jam:
- Your game doesn't need to be a masterpiece. Think of it more as an experiment or prototype; something you can use to learn and test out an idea or an engine's capabilities. In fact, some game jam prototypes are later used as the groundwork for much more polished commercial games. Consider it a rough draft, or a timed essay— it doesn't need to be perfect.
- Going solo or joining a team—both are fine!
- Need help with ideas? If you can't decide on one concept to work with, just pick the simplest one you've got—or if you have something you've been wanting to do for some time, try it out! If not, write down a list of things you like. Mix them up. Find a prompt generator online. Seriously, just have fun with it.
- Mechanics first. Make sure you understand the way your engine and game works before you do all your assets. Use placeholder assets to test functionality before you create real ones, or you may end up having to adjust things later on.
- Play to your skills! If there's something you're good at, showcase it!
- Baby steps! Try not to bite off more than you can chew, or you'll find yourself frustrated and burnt out long before the deadline. Don't forget to feed yourself, drink lots of water, and take lots of breaks to keep yourself from getting drained.
- Most importantly, have fun! Don't stress too much about how good your game is—the point of a jam is to learn, improve, and have fun. So if you're not enjoying yourself, you're doing it wrong!
- Further reading: How to Get the Most Out of a Game Jam, excerpt from The Game Jam Survival Guide
Contact Info
If you've got any questions, you can reach us at the game jam's blog, or at the following places:
J
@yurigods
cloudhime@tumblr
jbtuason[@]gmail.com
Lysander
@kreutzerland
heliotype[@]mail.com