this is a lot of fun! thoroughly enjoyed. i'd love a longer or endless version as the gameplay loop is pretty addicting.

really cute! i enjoyed finding all of the combinations! one thing- it seems like after a few attempts putting sugar in my pot, it seems to no longer allow me to use sugar. 

Sorry for the late reply, but we do not encourage the reusing of assets. It’s not something we can technically moderate, so it’s something you could get away with, but we believe you are only depriving yourself of a learning experience. 

No worries! Here’s your submission link!

https://itch.io/jam/378344/add-game/2206324/46934?token=aYQXWUV9cbG4gyWiKOjXODS1zs

You can submit late if you’d like! There’s a thread for it in the community forum.

Here’s your submission link! Thank you for participating. :) 

https://itch.io/jam/378344/add-game/2206294/46934?token=jDRxOn5u4EdNrzfShVXcrq8iHU

If you need to submit your game late for any reason, please post here with a link to your game's page. You will receive a reply with a custom submission link for your game which should allow you to submit normally. Please make sure your game is public and published, as we cannot access password protected or drafted games.

Note: if you have submitted once, you do NOT need to submit again. Please only post if you have NOT submitted before.

Thanks for participating in MFGJ Summer 2023! 

Please use this form if you'd like critique on your game!

Game Title/URL: Self-explanatory.  Link your game here. 

Pitch/Information: A short description of the game.

I'd like feedback on: You can put a list, questions, or description of what you would like critique on. Can be "anything!" if you're not looking for anything specific.

I need help on: Optional; remove if unnecessary, but if you have a specific problem or bug that you would like help or advice with solving, put it here!

We ask you use a play-for-play model for giving and receiving feedback; if someone plays your game, try playing theirs.

Hello everyone! Thank you for joining us for another session of My First Game Jam! As with every jam before it, it's time for the post-jam wrap up and the best part— sharing your work! Now, what's next you ask?

A) Write a post-mortem!

A post-mortem is an analysis of a project's process—what was successful and what was less successful? The purpose of a post-mortem is to understand what really worked for you or your team and what broke down. Did you struggle or get stuck on one mechanic? Did your team communicate well? Did your audio person have enough resources to work with?

You can write your post-mortem as a final post to your devlog (and we encourage it for consistency!) or you can post it as a separate thread with [Post-mortem] selected as a tag.

Check out these post-mortems on Gamasutra for some inspiration (and maybe see if you can find your favorite titles!) Don't feel that you have to match the tone of these articles, though. Your post-mortem for the jam can be as formal or as informal as you'd like--all you really need to document is what worked and what didn't!

B) Share your games!

Time to show off what you finished (or didn't finish!) We’ve created a post-jam playtesting thread (located in jam community forum) where you can share your games and comment on others. Please follow the instructions provided if you'd like to receive critique on your game! 

C) Play some games!

Now this is the part where you get finally relax! Go check out your fellow jammers' work and don't forget to leave a comment and let them know how they're doing! The community is the lifeblood of this game jam, so we encourage you guys to reach out and leave feedback on your peers' games!

D) Let us know how we're doing!

If you have any comments, concerns, or ideas for future jams, please let us know! We rely on you guys to help us improve your jam experience so please don't hesitate to give us some feedback via our exit polls, which should be arriving in your inboxes shortly if you filled our pre-jam poll! If you have additional questions, head over to the FAQ stickied at the top of this forum or post them in this thread.

Thanks for joining us again, and we hope to see you guys again in the summer! 

There should be a submit button on the jam’s front page.

Mid-jam Playtesting!

Hi everyone! Having a good jam so far? On Saturday, July 29th through Monday, July 31st, we'll be having our mid-jam playtesting event as usual. Take a moment to see where you're at, and get to a point where you're comfortable sharing your game if you decide to participate! 

It's okay if you don't have your game done— you can still show us what you have so far! Doing this is optional, but we encourage you to post! We also HIGHLY encourage you to check out games with no feedback; let your fellow jammers know you're cheering them on!

If you'd like to participate, please post here with the following information. You may add or remove parts as needed:

Game Title/URL: Self-explanatory.  Link your game here. 

Pitch/Information: A short description of the game.

I'd like feedback on: You can put a list, questions, or description of what you would like critique on. Can be "anything!" if you're not looking for anything specific.

I need help on: If you have a specific problem or bug that you would like help or advice with solving, put it here!

Have fun, and don't forget to play each other's games!

Rvinator is correct, we only allow submissions that were made ONLY during AND only for this game jam. The game you submitted was created 35 days ago and has been cross submitted to several other jams, which is against our submission rules.

Sorry, that is against the submission rules. We only allow games that were made during the game jam, otherwise it’s cheating.

Unfortunately I have to say no to this, since the point of this event -is- to make a game. If you don’t want to use Unity, there are other much more writer-friendly engines such as Twine, or example, that is suited for text-based gameplay.

We only accept submissions made for this jam specifically.

Other languages are fine!

Your  game is password protected and cannot be viewed by anyone, by the way!

gx.games is a website for hosting games, not software, but as corvus said, it's recommended you wait until after the game jam if you're going to submit it to another platform. after the jam, you can do whatever you want with your game!

bixnoodles (my partner) and i figured out that minotaurs at a high enough number can basically spawn camp enemies at the beginning of the map. they're also able to slide out of bounds at a high enough speed and they show up outside the map area! when enemies were killed outside the map, it got difficult to access their dropped chests, which probably helped prevent me from getting an even higher score 😂 excited to hear this news! good luck to you and the dev team. would be happy to provide more feedback if needed. :)

might have gone a bit overboard... this is very fun! great job. would love to see this continued as a full project in the future.

❗ If you still have any additional questions after reading this, comment on this thread and we'll get to you ASAP! 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What’s a game jam?

A game jam is an event where participants try to make a video game as quickly as possible.

— thank you google.

Most game jams take place over the course of a weekend—24 to 48 hours is a typical length for a game jam, and they can take place online or in person. This particular jam is completely online—you sign up and submit entirely on itch.io. Jams usually have a theme, may have team restrictions, and sometimes can include a competition with voting, but overall the idea is to create a functional game or prototype in a short length of time. LDJam is probably one of the more popular ones, and you can browse currently running jams on itch.io if you want to get a better idea of what jams can be about.

• So what do I need to do for this game jam?

Make a game (or some kind of functional interactive work) in two weeks! While weekend-long game jams can be exciting and terrifying for experienced game developers, this jam’s length is meant to encourage absolute beginners to take the time to learn how to make a game. Even if you have development experience, you should be learning something new—whether engine, language, or creating a kind of game you’ve never tried to make before.

• Who can join?

Anyone! This jam is especially welcoming for people who have never made games before—you just may find that it’s not that terrifying or difficult with the right resources and commitment. Experienced devs are encouraged to learn something new–whether it’s an engine, language, or type of game they’ve never created before. In addition, you may enter solo or with a team of people. For the sake of the jam, we encourage everyone to be learning something new in their field!

• What if I don’t finish? What if my game is terrible?

You might not! That’s okay. Terrible games are also completely fine! We encourage you to submit anyway. The goal is that by the end of the two week period, you will have learned a useful skill in some area of game design. Even better, you just might have a really cool prototype that people would love to play.

• Sounds pretty cool, actually. Where can I sign up?

Click the "Join" button on the jam's official blog. It'll redirect you to our most recent game jam on itch.io. You’ll have to sign up to join and submit a game.

• I’ve participated in this game jam before! Can I do it again?

Sure! We encourage repeat jammers, as long as you’re trying something new.

• The information on my pre-jam poll form is no longer accurate! Do I need to notify anyone? 

Nope! Just let us know what changes were made in the exit poll. We only use these to get an idea of how to best help the jammers, so it’s not urgent that you change your information. This includes changes to teams, game genre, engine, etc.

• If I'm working on a team, do we all need to fill the form out?

Only one person needs to fill it out.

• Can I start working before the jam?

Brainstorming, planning, and outlining before the jam starts is completely fine! However, actual game assets should be created within the jam timeframe.

• The jam dates don’t work for me. Are you guys planning to do another jam?

We host this jam biannually! (But don’t let that be an excuse for you to put it off!) If you can’t make the current jam, follow us and check back in the summer or winter.

• I work a job/I’m busy! Is there enough time for me to participate in the jam?

The amount of time you put into your game is entirely up to you, so yes. Keep in mind that if you’re on a limited schedule, you may want to make something proportionate to the time you’re able to spend making it. If you’re a very busy person, don’t make something big— instead, aim small.

• Can I get some friends to work with me?

Absolutely! Team work makes game jamming a ton of fun, and plenty of devs work together in teams!

• Is there a limit for team size?

Nope! However, we recommend you keep your team size relatively small so that communication is less likely to break down.

• Can I make a tabletop, card, or analog game?

Yes! Jammers have made these games before and itch.io is very open to different game media!

• Can I make a mobile game?

Mobile games are tricky to distribute through itch.io but we won’t discourage you from submitting them! At the moment, iOS can only be distributed through the app store. You can, however, upload Android application packages.

• Can I use _____ to make a game?

There are no strict limitations on what engines you can use to create a game. You just need to be able to upload it to Itch.

• Can I join the jam after it’s started?

Yes! Just sign up on itch.io and submit your project when it’s done!

• I can’t draw/pixel/compose/etc. Can I use someone else’s work or asset packs? Are contestants allowed to use already made assets?

Yes, but only if you have the rights to it. It depends on the copyright attached to the resource you have in question. Make sure you are 100% sure a resource is free for use, or is under a Creative Commons License. If you’re not sure, it’s always safe to ask the content creator! However, your best bet is to use resources in the public domain.

A list of free resources has been compiled here.

• Can I use purchased assets?

Yes, that's fine! We encourage you to try your hand at making your own, but you're absolutely allowed to use free assets or buy them.

• How do I credit third-party resources in my game?

In either the game credits or the game’s information page on itch.io, simply state what resources were used and the content-creator’s name, and a link to where they can be looked up. (i.e., Art by cool_artist)

• Can I make a fangame?

See the notes about copyright in the above questions. While we don’t boot fangames, we are not legally responsible.

• Can I submit my game to another jam?

In fairness to your fellow jammers, you may only submit your game to My First Game Jam! In addition, we boot games that have been created and submitted before the jam’s timeline.

• Is the jam ranked? 

No, we don't rank games.

• Should I mention the game jam in my credits?

Yes! While you don’t absolutely have to, it is common practice to link the jam you create a game for.

• Can I sell my jam game? Do I give up any rights to my game?

You retain all rights to your game and are free to sell it. We recommend “pay what you want” as a payment model to make your game accessible but allow people to tip you if they want!

• What is a game engine?

A game engine is a program you use to make a game. For example, RPG Maker is a popular game engine used to create RPGs.

• I’m nervous! This all seems like a lot of work!

Don’t be afraid! Just relax and focus on having fun! Think of it as a 2 week time-span where you can focus on experimenting with a cool new medium! That’s what we’re all here for— to do something we haven’t done before!

• Are games rated or placed? Do you have prizes?

We don’t rate or place games or offer prizes. The jam isn’t a competition–it’s a community!

• Can I update my game after I’ve submitted it?

Yes! You can update your game after submitting it–even after the jam.

• Help! I’m late to submitting! What do I do?

If you’re on our Discord server, message one of the available mods with a link to your game’s page on itch.io (which means, you need to upload it to the site.) If you’re not on the server, you can also reach us via tumblr. If submitting by ask, make sure you’re logged in and do not submit as anonymous. We need to send you a link back to allow you to add your game to the jam collection. Alternatively, you can also reach us by email:  myfirstgamejam[@]gmail[.]com

• Does this cost money?

The jam is completely free to join! Some tools to develop games can cost money, but there are still free options.

• Does (insert type of game) count for the jam?

If it is a game, it’s acceptable (though we won’t get into semantics here!) This includes interactive fiction, visual novels, physical games made by hand, etc.

• Can I get outside help from someone not in the jam?

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: all of the tutorials and resources you’ll most likely be using to help you create were, in fact, created by someone else. It’s okay to reply on external aids to learn!

• Is the Jam going to have an theme?

There is an optional theme announced a few days before the jam, so yes. You don’t have to use it— it’s only there to help encourage ideas.

• Where is the theme? I don't see it!

Please be patient with us; the theme will be announced sometime before the jam starts.

• How am I supposed to interpret the theme? 

Interpret it in any way you want! Be creative!

• Can I use AI art, music, or writing for my game?

Generative AI (as in machine learning) is not allowed for the total creation of game assets or ideas. This means you cannot have an AI create whole portions of your game for you, like backgrounds, music, art, portraits, writing, etc. We do not allow the use of exploitative generative AI-- AI art trained on content made by nonconsenting individuals.

However you may use AI to assist in tasks involved with the game creation process as long as you are doing the bulk of the work yourself, are using it to edit or add to an existing creative work, and the AI is trained on non-exploitative sources. We cannot judge every individual program, so please use your best judgment as to what is or isn't exploitative-- that is, using the content of nonconsenting individuals to generate content for you.

Here are some examples of appropriate uses of AI:

• Microsoft Sam, Vocaloids, etc.
• Content aware fills (like for tiling photogrammetry assets)
• Tools for assisting in authoring animation

Procedural generation is exempt from this rule and is not considered generative AI for the purposes of this jam.

• Still have a question?

Send us a message or comment on this thread!

Team Finding

Making a game all by yourself can be a daunting task. Joining a team helps make the workload manageable and connects you with other people who share the same interests. If you're looking to team up with other people for this jam, here's the place to do it! 

Looking to create a team for your game concept? Post a pitch!

Say you've got a great idea for a game but you need some help accomplishing it. Here's your chance to pitch your idea to other jammers! Bear in mind that the bullets below are not rules but suggestions for what to include in your post in case you're not sure where to start. If you are someone looking to join a team, skip to the section below.

• Introduce yourself! Include any basic information you wish for people to know. I.e., Name, timezone, pronouns, etc. Or go all out and give your entire life philosophy; it's up to you!
• Your game concept! It doesn't have to be fully thought out and realized— your team is there to help you flesh out ideas. However, it's best to have a working idea of your game ideas and goals so it's easier to find people to fulfill the roles you need. Images may help get your ideas across, so don't be afraid to use them!
• What skills you have/roles you need filled. Say you know how to code, but need art assets, or vice versa. This is where you describe what kind of skills you have and need so others can apply to be a part of your team. Include stuff you know how to do, kind of know how to do, and are willing to learn.  Also include engines or programs (for any use, be it art, music, game dev, animation, etc) and languages you are familiar with or specifically require.
• Preferred method of contact. Communication is one of the most important things in a team, so having a clearly established method of correspondence in your post is essential. We suggest creating a group discord server for ease of organization, but do whatever works best for you. 
• Other stuff! Anything else you need to let others know, or anything you'd like to say! If you need ideas, consider communication styles, schedules, non-game goals, level of polish, etc.

Looking to join a team? Reply to a pitch!

Below each post, there is a small reply button that looks like this.

If you see a pitch that interests you, hit reply and follow up with your skillsets, maybe a portfolio, programs and tools you're familiar with, and contact information. It's that simple!

Team Tips & Tricks

• Communication is key! If you have concerns, frustrations, stress, other commitments, it is your responsibility to inform your team so they can help resolve the issue or accommodate. Most of these tips can be simplified down to good communication.
• Can't do your part? Tell your team. If you have real life obligations, let your team members know so they can either lessen your work load or find someone else to help out.
• Stay focused! Working together can be fun, but make sure you get things done! This is especially tricky for teams who know eachother well; sometimes the camaraderie can be a distraction.
• Set clear, manageable goals. This helps everyone stay on the same page and facilitates productivity.
• Dealing with stress/illness? If you have a history of health problems, whether it is physical or mental, please be up front about it. No one will blame you for needing to take it easy!
• Use productivity apps/file sharing sites! There's a plethora of resources for effective team/file management. Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, and Trello are just a few of them. A list will soon be added here for anyone who wants to give them a whirl.
• Again: file sharing. Mentioned in the point above, but important enough to warrant its own point. Using a file sharing service like Dropbox of Google Drive enables everyone to work on the same things at the same time as well as allow real-time updates. An artist can stick assets into a shared folder, thus allowing the programmer to instantly access it. 
• Frustrated with your group? Nothing is perfect. Even with people you get along with, you're bound to have conflict. Keep a cool head and remember: even terrible game jam experiences have value. Be willing to carry on and don't give up!

Behavior & Conduct in Teams

Not every jam experience is a positive one, but we, the hosts, cannot micromanage teams or team discords except in cases of emergency. What happens in your group's discord chat is ultimately your responsibility, but if a team member breaks MFGJ's code of conduct, please let us know so we can deal with it accordingly. Remember: Discrimination or harassment based on a jammer’s prior experience, age, gender, race, religion, ability, or sexuality will not be tolerated and will result in an instant ban from both the official discord and the jam itself.

Welcome to My First Game Jam: Summer 2023! For those of you just joining us, it's been a tradition to kick things off with a little getting-to-know-you questionnaire! For the first-time game developer, things can be pretty intimidating... which is why we want to show you you're not alone! This is not a required activity— it's just meant as a way to break into the community for returning jammers and newbies alike.

We'd love for you to share your influences, passions, and jam goals with the rest of us. Who knows — you might meet a potential team member, or even a new friend!

(These questions are entirely optional; they're just here to warm things up, so feel free to skip them as needed!)

Onto the questions!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself? 

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?  

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?  

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?  

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!  6. What are your goals for this game jam?

For returning jammers:

7. Any advice to new participants?   

8. What can the admins do to improve your jam experience?   

9. What are some of the past works you've made for the jam? Show off your favorites!   

10. Got any question suggestions? Let us know for next year!

Getting Started!

Hello everyone and welcome to our Summer 2023 edition of My First Game Jam! For the uninitiated, this game jam is designed for beginner game developers to try their hand at making something new, or for experienced developers to practice new skills and experiment. If you'd like to take a look at past jams, check out this link!

Here's a few tips and links to help you get the most out of the jam. If we didn't cover something in this guide, try our FAQ or message us on tumblr or twitter.  Additionally,  familiarize yourself with our community's Code of Conduct. Remember, this jam is meant to be a safe space for everyone. 

We highly suggest you go over this post thoroughly.

Check out our resources!

We've compiled tons and tons of lists and threads for you guys in order to help you out on your jam journey. These lists are not comprehensive but they're here to get you started if you don't know where to go. 

Wondering what engine to use? We've got a post for that.  Still stuck on your concept? Try some of these idea generators.  Completely clueless as to where to start? Try this thread. Need a team for the jam? Check the teamfinding channel on our Discord. Looking for gamedev resources? We got you covered.  Looking for free assets? Guess what— we've got a list for that too.

Still need some help? Shoot us a question and we'll see what we can do. Remember, you can always Google!

Make a dev log on the community!

A development blog is a blog in which a game developer or team talks about the process they've made over the course of the game's creation. Maintaining a devblog keeps your audience in the know and helps facilitate productivity so you'll have something to blog about. It also serves as a record of problems you encounter as well as the solutions you find for those problems.

Development logs are essentially the same thing, except we'll be using the jam forums rather than a blog. However, you are free to use both the forums and your own blog as you develop your game.

Doing so is not necessary at all, but check out all the logs from our first jam! In order to get the most out of your jam experience, it is vital that you interact with your fellow jammers and the community surrounding it. They'll provide valuable feedback and support to help you along the way. So please, we encourage you to mingle, post in other logs, and of course post your own!

In addition, you are encouraged to add images and gifs. Here's some programs to help facilitate that:

• Greenshot - a free and open source screenshot tool for productivity
• Lightshot — screenshot tool for Mac & Win
• Gyazo
• ScreenToGif
• Licecap

Post daily updates!

Post screenshots or fun mishaps to your dev log, twitter, tumblr, or your own blog to track your progress and get feedback. Tag your posts as #MyFirstGameJam so other jammers can find your work! To get the most exposure you can also tag #gamedev or #ScreenshotSaturday for Saturdays! Share your work and link back to your devlog to get feedback.

Manage your time and tasks!

We compiled a list here of useful time and task management tools. Set goals early and keep track of how fast it takes you to reach them!

Join the jam chat!

You can go to the discord chat here! Not only is it a great place to interact with other jammers, but it's also a great place to get instant advice, help, and feedback on your progress. You can also get in touch with your jam hosts this way if you have any questions, or are looking for a team.

Be nice!

No one likes being told their game sucks. That's just how it is. And while it's true that in the real world one must face harsh criticize, here at My First Game Jam we aim to create a constructive atmosphere and encourage rather than discourage. Don't be a jerk, and don't give unsolicited critique unless you've been asked to. Always remember to highlight strong points as well as weak points. And, please remember, no one here is trying to put you down. Before you react, ask for clarification. Chances are that no one meant any harm.

Aaaand good luck!

Gamedev can be exciting, frustrating, and extremely rewarding. We hope to give you the tools to help you succeed in your goals in the next two weeks! Remember, if you have any questions please feel free to contact one of your jam hosts. You can message one of us in the discord chat, post on our FAQ thread, or tweet/send an ask to our Twitter or Tumblr.

Some last minute tips:

• Don't overestimate your skills. Gamedev is a hard and often rocky road and is the culmination of skills that often take years to master. You're going to find yourself getting frustrated, so it's okay to scale back your game.
• Communicate with your team. It's unwise to let salt build up and be passive-aggressive— this will only take away from your work. Be honest, be clear, and be understanding.
• 2 weeks isn't enough time to make your magnum opus. You'll set yourself up for disappointment that way. Instead, try to set realistic goals for yourself for your schedule and your allotted work time.
• Interact with other developers! This will vastly improve your game jam experience, and you'll get to share content, meet new people, and hopefully make friends along the way!
• Google is your friend.  I don't think this can be stressed  enough. A lot of programming and coding is... essentially knowing how to google things. Don't be afraid to google the shit out of your questions, because it's extremely likely that someone's had the same issue as you at some point.
• Check out game engine forums. Usually these come attached to the sites you download the engine from, and they're usually stuffed full of information on how to use your engine of choice. We've linked a few resources on our resource list, but this will save you (and us) a lot of time.
• Remember to take breaks and hydrate! You're gonna be sitting at your PC for hours at a time— so don't forget to stretch your legs every so often.
• Can't finish your game? Submit it anyway! Be proud of whatever you did, even if you only got through one stage of your platformer or only the first route of your VN.
• Lys, my game sucks! Hey! Don't be hard on yourself— remember that we're here to learn and as long as you learned something, you'll be another step closer to success! Two weeks is not a lot of time to work in. Sacrifices may be necessary. Your game may not be as great as you hoped. But as long as you take something away from this experience, you've accomplished what we hope for for all jammers! 
• And most importantly, have fun! Remember— the goal is not just to make a game, but to enjoy the process as well!

As a reminder, you can contact any of the hosts via our social media on Twitter and Tumblr as linked below. Don't hesitate to let us know if there's something we can help with!

Let's go make some games!

Official Accounts

• Official Tumblr
• Official Twitter
• Email: myfirstgamejam at gmail

Hosts

Lee/Lysander Twitter: @kreutzerland

J Twitter: @jbtuason

Addie Twitter: @addie_lombardo

Social

• Discord Chat - Chat with other jammers!
• Tumblr Hashtag
• Twitter Hashtag

Here's your submission link!

Here's your submission link!

Here's your submission link!

Here is your submission link!

Here is your submission link!

Here is your submission link!

This is already submitted.

Here's your submission link!

Here is your submission link!

Here is your submission link!

Here is your submission link!

Your project is already submitted.

Your project is already submitted.

All of the jam ending threads have been posted as of right now!

Here is your submission link!