Hey guys,

was a really create LD for MrUnicornator and me C64Gamer. Lets have fun in the next days playing our created games.

Our LD43 - Cowmando: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/43/cowmando

Mike can you fix that pls? ;-)

... have a look into the wallpaper thread:

https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/46/$182395/ludum-dare-44-wallpaper-thread

Ohh no!!! Is the official wallpaper post missing or i'm not able to find it ? ;-)

Here is my HD wallpaper entry:

I did a lot of game jams in the past 10 years and have more then 10+ Ludum Dare entries. Here are my 10 tips for you if you are doing a jam the first time:

1. Be prepared

It is important that you are starting prepared in a game jam. Don't install the latest version of your game engine or IDE 5 mins before the jam is starting. Create and prepare everything you need before the jam starts.Doing those upgrades to late or in the jam can lead to time problems because you are more fixing your problems than creating a game.

2. Know your toolset

You are having only 48h to create a game. It is really important that you know your tools. Know your programming language, know how the tools you want to use are working, know how to export your game or how you have to use a version control system. If you struggle sit down before and practice.

3. Don't think too big

People are really often underestimating 48 hours. Find a game that is doable in 48h. A tip can be to find a game idea with only one core mechanic. Not more. If you have time left you can add more stuff at the end.

4. Prototyping

Try when you are starting with your game to have a runnable and playable prototype working as fast a possible. Don't spend to much time into the first feature of your game with polished graphics, nice sounds, etc. It happens too often that you have to change the idea of your game and throwing parts of it away. If you had then spent 5 hours into creating the best possible inventory system you can ... this would be waste of time.

5. Have a timeline

48h is not much time. If you think about it then you will see that 48h are nearly no time. It is not only the character that has to run around. Think about points like Inventory System, Animations, Game Logic, Game States, Restart Level, Score Counter, Menu System, Interactions, Game Over / Win States, etc.

A good tip is to have a playable prototype done by the end of the first day. On the second day, you have time to do all the bug fixing, polishing, etc.

6. Work healthy

Get enough sleep and eat healthy food while you are in a game jam. People tend to not sleep from Saturday to Sunday or eating only fast food. In my opinion, this is the biggest failure you can do. Stay healthy and plan enough breaks over the day. Take a short 10mins walk outside. You will be surprised what these 10mins are giving to you. It is a game jam and should be fun.

7. Have a web version

People underestimating the power of a web version. If you have only an installable downloadable version of your game people often are not willed to play your game. They have to download it, extract it from a zip / rar file and then install it. People are afraid of getting a virus on their pc etc. If possible try always to have a web version ready. You will see that you will get tons of additional ratings when people need only one click to play your game.

8. One Minute Rule

Don't forget that people are rating after the Ludum Dare tons of games. Normally more than 2000 games are created over one weekend. Get sure that a person who is playing your game is able to understand your game in under one minute. If you are lucky the person will play your game maybe 2 or 3 minutes.

If people are not able to understand your game in the first minute they tend to not play it. The tip here is to explain your game mechanics and the game controls well directly at the beginning.

9. Rate games

Rating games after the Ludum Dare is an important point. Play and rate as many games as you can in the first 48h after the jam. The more ratings you are doing the higher is your rating score. Your game will be more suggested to be rated next for people. It is also normal if you have rated a game that this person is also rating your game.

10. Listen

Listen to the feedback. The Ludum Dare community is a nice one. You have hobby game developers here and people who are doing this every day at work. Listen to the feedback people are writing as a comment under your game. Maybe plan to create a second version of your game after the Ludum Dare implementing all the feedback you got. This can help you a lot in jumping your skills forward.

45mins left guys! Lets have fun and good luck to everyone :-)

Hey guys DONE Was able to commit my game right in time into the jam :-) Hype!

Good luck to everyone and LETS PLAY GAMES!!!!!

My game: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/47/loop-wood-shire

How fast can you type a loop on your keyboard? :-)

Game: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/47/loop-wood-shire

I did a lot of game jams in the past 10 years and have more then 10+ Ludum Dare entries. Here are my 10 tips for you if you are doing a jam the first time:

1. Be prepared

It is important that you are starting prepared in a game jam. Don’t install the latest version of your game engine or IDE 5 mins before the jam is starting. Create and prepare everything you need before the jam starts.Doing those upgrades to late or in the jam can lead to time problems because you are more fixing your problems than creating a game.

2. Know your toolset

You are having only 48h to create a game. It is really important that you know your tools. Know your programming language, know how the tools you want to use are working, know how to export your game or how you have to use a version control system. If you struggle sit down before and practice.

3. Don’t think too big

People are really often underestimating 48 hours. Find a game that is doable in 48h. A tip can be to find a game idea with only one core mechanic. Not more. If you have time left you can add more stuff at the end.

4. Prototyping

Try when you are starting with your game to have a runnable and playable prototype working as fast a possible. Don’t spend to much time into the first feature of your game with polished graphics, nice sounds, etc. It happens too often that you have to change the idea of your game and throwing parts of it away. If you had then spent 5 hours into creating the best possible inventory system you can … this would be waste of time.

5. Have a timeline

48h is not much time. If you think about it then you will see that 48h are nearly no time. It is not only the character that has to run around. Think about points like Inventory System, Animations, Game Logic, Game States, Restart Level, Score Counter, Menu System, Interactions, Game Over / Win States, etc.

A good tip is to have a playable prototype done by the end of the first day. On the second day, you have time to do all the bug fixing, polishing, etc.

6. Work healthy

Get enough sleep and eat healthy food while you are in a game jam. People tend to not sleep from Saturday to Sunday or eating only fast food. In my opinion, this is the biggest failure you can do. Stay healthy and plan enough breaks over the day. Take a short 10mins walk outside. You will be surprised what these 10mins are giving to you. It is a game jam and should be fun.

7. Have a web version

This is not a must have but people underestimating the power of a web version. If you have only an installable downloadable version of your game people are sometimes not willed to play your game. They have to download it, extract it from a zip / rar file and then install it. People are afraid of getting a virus on their pc etc. If possible try to have a web version ready. You will see that you will get tons of additional comments/ratings when people need only one click to play your game.

8. One Minute Rule

Don’t forget that people are rating after the Ludum Dare tons of games. Normally more than 2000+ games are created over one weekend. Get sure that a person who is playing your game is able to understand your game in under one minute. If you are lucky the person will play your game maybe 2 or 3 minutes.

If people are not able to understand your game in the first minute they tend to not play it. The tip here is to explain your game mechanics and the game controls well directly at the beginning.

9. Rate games

Rating games after the Ludum Dare is an important point. Playing and rating a lot of games in the first 48h after the jam can be a good idea. Don't speedrun ratings. Take your time. It is also normal if you have rated a game that this person is also rating your game. Try to give constructive neutral feedback.

10. Listen

Listen to the feedback. The Ludum Dare community is a nice one. You have hobby game developers here and people who are doing this every day at work. Listen to the feedback people are writing as a comment under your game. Maybe plan to create a second version of your game after the Ludum Dare implementing all the feedback you got. This can help you a lot in jumping your skills forward.

I did it! I'm happy that I had the time to participate in LD50 and finished in time. Have fun with playing my game: "Flower Power" and thanks a lot for this amazing Ludum Dare community. You are awesome guys.

https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/50/flowerpower

Hey guys. I wish you all a great day. Play this game and take some flowers with you :-). Have a productive day guys.

https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/50/flowerpower

Hey guys,

no day without flowers and good mood. Take some flowers with you and have a nice Thursday guys. :-)

https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/50/flowerpower