{"assets":[],"author_link":"author\/news\/","author_name":"news","cat":"MiniLD","categories":["MiniLD"],"comments":[],"epoch":1220230440,"event":"LD12","likes":1,"metadata":{"p_key":"76280","p_author":"news","p_authorkey":"0","p_urlkey":"284043","p_title":"Mini LD #3 Theme","p_cat":"MiniLD","p_event":"LD12","p_time":"1220230440","p_likes":"1","p_comments":"0","p_status":"WAYBACK","us_key":null,"us_name":null,"us_username":null,"event_start":"1218153600","event_key":"89","event_name":"LD12"},"source_url":"2008\/09\/01\/mini-ld-3-theme\/","text":"

Here it is.\u00a0 Bright and early Monday morning, the theme for Mini LD 3 is:<\/p>\n

Tool<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019re welcome to take our regular open interpretive approach to themes, but I\u2019d like you to hear me out first.<\/p>\n

There are a ridiculous number of possibilities for this theme, but I\u2019d like to focus on one.<\/p>\n

Think back to Ludum Dare 12, or any compo prior that you\u2019ve entered.\u00a0 In making or planning your game, what \u201csomething\u201d would have saved you hours of work, or allowed you to do that wilder game idea of yours?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s<\/span> what you\u2019re making this weekend.<\/p>\n

Now because this is a Mini LD, you\u2019re not required to share your source.\u00a0 You\u2019re welcome to collaborate with someone, and are encouraged discuss with others in IRC.\u00a0 And to shake things up, I\u2019ll throw in the added note that you\u2019re not even required to share your tool.\u00a0 You\u2019re encouraged to, but if you\u2019ve got some proprietary tool that you\u2019ve been meaning to make, this weekend is looking pretty good<\/em>.<\/p>\n

What I want from you though, is to talk about it on the blog.\u00a0 Your file format thought process; User interface considerations; What problem you\u2019re solving; How much you hate mappy; And so on.<\/p>\n

Tool development is a secret art of game development.\u00a0 Not that it\u2019s particularly difficult, just we don\u2019t really talk about it.\u00a0 That\u2019s my goal with this Mini LD.\u00a0 To get some genuine discussion out there for arguably one of the most important secrets of game development.<\/p>\n

And hey, if we get ourselves another sfxr in the process, that\u2019d rock too. \":)\"<\/p>\n

So take the week.\u00a0 As much or as little time as you need, and think about what you\u2019d like to make.\u00a0 What problems you\u2019ll need to solve, any preparations you\u2019ll need to make, and so on.\u00a0 Then join us this weekend and make it happen.<\/p>\n

Since this is a Mini LD, and the theme is known early, I doubt I can control the start time, or random bursts of inspiration.\u00a0 You\u2019re encouraged to schedule your work for a convenient start time the weekend.\u00a0 However, if preparations go too<\/em> well, tell us all about it<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be collecting and posting a summary of this week and weekends events on the Monday.\u00a0 Please let me know in your posts what you\u2019re actually making, and that you did (or didn\u2019t) finish.<\/p>\n

Not sure what to do?\u00a0 Here are some suggestions:<\/p>\n