I’m in and positively giddy about LD29! Again, I’m going to make a browser-based game, either 2D with plain CSS or 3D with WebGL, depending on whatever I’ll come up with for an idea. I’m going to use these:

• Text editor: Coda
• Image editor: Pixelmator
• Audio editor: Audacity
• Music: GarageBand
• 3D: Cinema 4D
• Cuteness and motivation provided by: the cat

Tips from (Limited) Past LD Experience

Based on my totally subjective and potentially unrepresentative opinions:

Don’t Sweat the Theme

Every LD there are some people who are very unsatisfied with the theme, and to some degree they have a point: the kind of themes we collectively choose tend to be limiting, yet somewhat bland and sometimes baffling. However, I’d like to tell you that it only matters if you decide it matters.

The theme is part of the challenge, open yourself up to it and run with it. Do not shoehorn your pre-conceived pre-LD idea onto the theme. Let go of any baggage and be positive about it. Ideas will come once you accept the theme, as opposed to working around it.

Start from Scratch

Don’t kid yourself, a piece of code you’ve written a few days before the compo to make your development easier is not a “framework”. Providing a download link to it a few hours before LD starts doesn’t change that fact.

The other reason why pre-made games suck is there’s no way you can know the theme in advance. It’s pretty much guaranteed that a pre-coded “framework” will severely limit your potential for creativity.

Update Often

Commit yourself to regular blog updates. In doing so, you will not only spread inspiration to the other Darers, you will find it easier to judge your own progress. Personally, the thought “what have I accomplished since the last update” is hugely helpful because it can steer the development process back to issues that matter (especially if you’re prone to meandering about as I am).

Have Fun and Support Others

Remember this is all for fun. Not sleeping for three days is not fun, nor is it fun to obsess about things that don’t work out. It might sound paradoxical, but keeping a healthy detachment often makes people more productive.

Finally, take time to check out what other people are doing. They too have cool stuff to show, and they might need a little encouragement or help. Be generous.