If you're like me, the prospect of creating a quality game while challenging yourself within the course of a weekend is can be pretty exciting - but it is not without obstacles!
So here are some tips from me to you!
How to Survive a Game Jam:
Drink Water:
Water is the key to life. No seriously, water is the key element in life, without it we would not be here, and your body runs on it!
Make sure to drink plenty of water, and not just during the game jam, but at all times. Soda and coffee are fine in moderation, but you always need to be pumping water into your body! The average person should be drinking 3 liters of water a day, with that amount fluctuating depending on the diet. Check out this article here from the Mayo Clinic to learn more.
Get plenty of sleep:
Sleep is different for everyone, and you know how much you should be getting, but there are bad sleeping habits that lead to a strongly reduced amount of mental functionality and clarity. Ie: No sleep = fuzzy brain.
It doesn't take simply a lack of sleep either, but a system of sleep that is not consistent throws the body off. There is a reason your body gets tired after so long and wants to rest. In sleep we repair ourselves and rejuvenate the lost energy spent during the day - even mental energy! And although the clock is ticking for the game jam, make sure you get rest!
Take Breaks:
Taking breaks is essential to productive development. There are many positive reasons to take breaks every hour or so.
- Removes strain from the eyes. We've all been here.
- Moving around allows blood to flow and wakes up the body and mind.
- Clarity is quite often derived from changing your focus to something else. When you have a problem you can't solve or an idea you can't get right, you might have 'tunnel vision.' Stepping away from the problem for a bit can help see an answer your were blind to because you were focusing so intensely on the problem in the first place.
- Taking breaks reminds you to breath deep. People tend to fall into shallow-breathing while working and the body needs oxygen just as much as it needs water. Take slow, deep breaths. Let your body recoup a while and re-energize your focus.
Eat healthy:
Sugar is fun, sweets are delicious - but they are bad for you. The short-term sugar rush is only slightly-effective and wears off quite fast. While stimulating the body with chemicals such as cookies, candy, energy drink, etc,. are seemingly supportive of a long work sessions, the end results are actually worse for wear.
Sugar and energy drinks cause the body to chug whatever energy it has left through stimulation, and while you feel awake for a moment, the energy being spent is way more than you want.
Imagine pushing your gas pedal to the floor in your car and taking off super fast for a short while. It's great right? The downside of course is all the gas that it uses in order to achieve that speed. Sugar and energy drinks are essentially the same thing and in the end your mental clarity is only slightly adjusted. When that crash comes, you'll be far worse off than you were before.
Eating fruits and vegetables is a wonderful way to keep the body going. Not only are fruits sweet to taste, but they provide a natural sugar that is less harmful to the body and provide natural vitamins and minerals the body needs to keep going. You get your sugar rush AND you're eating healthy!
Sugar is fun, sweets are delicious - but they are bad for you. The short-term sugar rush is only slightly-effective and wears off quite fast. While stimulating the body with chemicals such as cookies, candy, energy drink, etc,. are seemingly supportive of a long work sessions, the end results are actually worse for wear.
Sugar and energy drinks cause the body to chug whatever energy it has left through stimulation, and while you feel awake for a moment, the energy being spent is way more than you want.
Imagine pushing your gas pedal to the floor in your car and taking off super fast for a short while. It's great right? The downside of course is all the gas that it uses in order to achieve that speed. Sugar and energy drinks are essentially the same thing and in the end your mental clarity is only slightly adjusted. When that crash comes, you'll be far worse off than you were before.
Eating fruits and vegetables is a wonderful way to keep the body going. Not only are fruits sweet to taste, but they provide a natural sugar that is less harmful to the body and provide natural vitamins and minerals the body needs to keep going. You get your sugar rush AND you're eating healthy!
Ok now on to the technical...
Stick with your tools:
Now is not the time to learn a new framework or programming language. Stick with something familiar. Challenge yourself to learn new things but keep it within reason. Your time is limited. The overall quality of work you put out will be equal to that of which you put in, and if you spend most of your time trying to figure out brand new technology you're only hindering your goal. Challenge yourself with the tools you know. Do something with them you've never done before, or design something you've always wanted but never have. Just don't try and swap out your toolkit at the last moment and expect rousing success.
Now is not the time to learn a new framework or programming language. Stick with something familiar. Challenge yourself to learn new things but keep it within reason. Your time is limited. The overall quality of work you put out will be equal to that of which you put in, and if you spend most of your time trying to figure out brand new technology you're only hindering your goal. Challenge yourself with the tools you know. Do something with them you've never done before, or design something you've always wanted but never have. Just don't try and swap out your toolkit at the last moment and expect rousing success.
Find your idea first:
Game design is an ever growing and changing process, we all know this, but you want to start with a good foundation for your ideas.
When the game theme is launched, spend an hour or two drawing/sketching out different ideas, (I like to use Photoshop to visualize my ideas quicker) keep them simple and remember what your limitations may be. Make a game-plan for your production schedule so you can make a successful game.
Most importantly:
FINISH YOUR GAME!
Game design is an ever growing and changing process, we all know this, but you want to start with a good foundation for your ideas.
When the game theme is launched, spend an hour or two drawing/sketching out different ideas, (I like to use Photoshop to visualize my ideas quicker) keep them simple and remember what your limitations may be. Make a game-plan for your production schedule so you can make a successful game.
Most importantly:
FINISH YOUR GAME!
It can be difficult to find fun in your game and you may get frustrated because it isn't happening the right way or you spent too much time in one area - that can happen, but don't let it get you down!
A finished game is 100% better than no game at all. Game Jams are about learning and having fun, and there is nothing fun about feeling bad or getting frustrated that you didn't finish your game.
A finished game is 100% better than no game at all. Game Jams are about learning and having fun, and there is nothing fun about feeling bad or getting frustrated that you didn't finish your game.
Trust me, even the most simple of games that are completed are a wonderful feeling. Make something.
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Remember a game Jam is about learning and fun. Have fun. Learn something. Challenge yourself. There are 100 different tips and suggestions people have and they are all nearly wonderful - but at the end of the day make sure you're doing what you think is fun.
Can't wait to see your games!
Can't wait to see your games!
-Michael
Released Projects
This is fantastic advice. I wholeheartedly, with every fibre of my being, agree that keeping yourself well *hydrated* is one of the most overlooked and most powerful game jam success techniques there is. Love it! I'm so sharing this with everyone in #1GAM.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work!
Kind regards,
Christer Kaitila
@McFunkypants
Hydration is one of the most overlooked issue, especially for youth. The body is remarkable but most people actually go through their day dehydrated. It's amazing what regular water intake does for you!
ReplyDeleteIt's super easy to fall into the "soda and coffee" routine while sitting at a desk for long hours so it's best to catch on early and let it become habitual. :)