So you’ve decided to take part in Ludum Dare – that’s awesome! Game jams are a great way to really test out your skills, connect with people, and create something new.
Whether you’re going to spend this weekend with friends, strangers, or working alone, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you. The added pressure of a 48-hour deadline can seem daunting, so I have put together a few tips which may help you stay on top of the clock and submit something that you’re really proud of.
The Tools
Choosing the tools that you’re going to use during LD30 is pretty much the only thing you can do before the theme is announced. This stage should be straight forward – go with something you’re comfortable working in. If you have only ever made games in Game Maker, then there’s no point trying to learn Unity over a weekend. Using tools that you’re already familiar with is going to save you a heap of time once the jam starts.
The Theme
Anyone who has participated in a jam before will know the feeling you get when the theme is announced – none of your existing ideas seem to fit with the theme, and no new ideas are coming to you. Avoid spending the weekend making Flappy Potato Salad and use this opportunity to take your first break. The way I approach this is by writing down a list of key words that relate to the theme, and then another list of words that branch out from each of those. Then I get up and walk away for about 30-45 minutes. This lets everything really sink in, and by the time I get back I will be able to look at my list and know which ideas are worth pursuing, and which need to be removed.
The Idea
Almost every jam you will hear someone say “Throw away your first 10 ideas – someone else is already making them”. Truer words have never been spoken, so I’m just going to repeat them. Throw away your first 10 ideas. This will encourage you to really think about what you’re going to make, and you will end up with something that provides a much richer experience because of it.
The Scope
Scope is one of the most important words you can use during a game jam. Whatever your idea is, you need to understand that you will most likely only end up building about 10% of it. Strip back all of you features and remind yourself how much time you have. Does your game really need 8 monster types? Will the fun be taken away if you don’t implement crafting? Find out what really needs to be in your game and concentrate on that. Move everything else to a feature list that you can come back to if you have time, or even after the jam has finished.
The Prototype
So it’s been about 2 hours since the theme was announced and you haven’t written any code. This may not seem like a good thing, but by now you should have a clear image in your head of how your game is going to play. Set yourself a timer (maybe 2-4 hours depending on experience) and a playable version of your game ready by this time. The code doesn’t need to be clean, the art can be ugly, but the game must be functional. The sooner you get this done the sooner you will know whether or not the idea is worth pursuing. Try not to feel discouraged if, when you play your game, you hate it. We’re only 6 hours into the jam, so you have plenty of time to try out a different idea if that what you feel is best.
The Sleep
The first day of a game jam is exhausting, and although you may feel like you can stay up all night, don’t. The best thing you can do for your game is to step away from it and get a good night sleep. When you wake up you will feel refreshed and will be much more productive.
The Audience
You are spending a whole weekend making this game, so you want people to play it! Submit your game in a way that is accessible to as many people as possible. Web builds are generally the best way to go, but if your engine allows you to easily compile for other platforms then it’s definitely worth taking the time to do so. Your game will reach a broader audience and you will get much more feedback as a result.
The Fun
This is, by far, the most important factor when participating in a game jam. If you’re not having fun then you will begin to feel like you’re wasting time. Once this happens, your chance of actually having something worth submitting drops of drastically. Take a break, remember why you’re taking part in the jam, look at how much you have accomplished so far, and find ways to build up your motivation again.
For those new to game jams I hope that these tips will help you to create something awesome over the coming days. I know that my suggestions may not apply to everyone, so if you already have a system that works for you then stick to it. I look forward to seeing all of the awesome games that are going to be created this weekend, and don’t forget to have fun!
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on Thursday, August 21st, 2014 at 5:36 pm and is filed under LD #30.
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