Game Jam

Description

This page contains details about the final project using the Game Jam variant.

Introduction

What is Game Jam? It is a type of creative contest, where participants rapidly prototype and create a game centered around a them and a common set of restraints. There is usually a prescribed time window, during which you can work on your game, which results in small but innovative and experimental games.

Since the time-limited nature is the essence of Game Jams, it is important to preserve it. However, this is quite problematic, especially during the end of the semester, when you probably have many other duties.

For this reason, this Game Jam will not be using a unified date, but will be based on your current time limitations - more on that in the registration chapter.

Apart from the game prototype itself, you will be expected to also have a short presentation of your results. It should consist of around 4-5 slides, detailing your theme, state of your final prototype, and some interesting features or problems you needed to solve. It will take place during the second half of January.

TLDR

A short overview of the GameJam project:

  • Classical GameJam with 72 hours to make a game, see details in Rules and Regulations
  • Can be realized any time between 1st December to 8th January
  • Timeline of your project (X is jour chosen start date):
    • X - 3 days : Send registration by e-mail, see details in Registration
    • X - 1 day : You receive your theme
    • <X , X + 3 days> : You work on your game
    • X + 4 days : Latest date by which time you must submit your game, see Submission
    • ~2nd half of January : Mandatory presentation of your prototype
  • For further details, please see the rest of this page.

Additional information is also given as a part of the lectures. Any further questions should be consulted either after the regular lecture or by e-mail to Tomas Polasek ().

Rules and Regulations

Now, for some common parameters of the Game Jam:

  • 72 hours : The length of the Game Jam
    • Do not worry about the timeframe, the grading will reflect this limit
  • Theme : Sufficiently general to allow for your creativity
    • You will receive it a day before your chosen starting date
    • The additional time can be used for planning and brainstorming
  • Genre, Mechanics, Style : Up to you! But keep to the theme…
  • Software : Generally anything goes, but:
    • Use the Unity Engine - exceptions possible, but must be consulted beforehand!
    • Prioritize open and free software, so that others may learn from your work
  • Platform : Completely up to you - WebGL, PC, Mobile, etc.
    • Please consult more exotic platforms - e.g., Switch, GameBoy, Calculator
  • Assets : Create them by yourself or use external sources
    • Do not create an “Asset Store” game, make it your original
    • Credit any external sources you use
    • Make sure to include license where appropriate
  • Teams : One person or many, this is up to you
    • Team members don’t have to be enrolled in this course
    • Be sure to keep track of what each member worked on
    • The larger the team, the higher will be my expectation
  • Time : Complete your game prototype before the time limit runs out
    • Keep in the spirit of Game Jam, the limited time is important
    • Submission may be posponed up to one day after the ending date

Registration

Your first task will be to assemble your team and think about a date interval in which you will have sufficient time to work on the Game Jam. The starting date may be anytime from December 1st to January 8th, so that last teams finish at the end of January 11th.

Please, be sure to give me enough lead time (2-3 days) before your selected start date, so that I have enough time to respond.

For an official registration, you need to send an e-mail to Tomas Polasek () containing the following information:

SUBJECT:

[1ZHERV] Game Jam Entry : <TEAM_NAME> <START_DATE>

BODY:

Team: <TEAM_NAME>
Members: 
 * <NAME_SURNAME_1> : <LOGIN_1>; <E_MAIL_1>; <P|E>
 * <NAME_SURNAME_2> : <LOGIN_2>; <E_MAIL_2>; <P|E>
Date: <START_DATE> - <END_DATE>
Specifics: 
<Optional requests or comments>

, where you fill in the missing information contained in the angled brackets. Choose any team name you feel appropriate. Specify all team members, even those not participating in this course. Fill in their name, login, and contact e-mail. Then, specify whether they are a participant of the course (P) or an external associate (E). Finally, you should choose a starting date, and calculate the corresponding end date. For example, for our 72h Game Jam you could have <START_DATE>=5.1.2024 00:00, while the <END_DATE>=8.1.2024 23:59. The time specification is optional, the default is start / end at midnight Lastly, you can specify any additional information under Specifics. This should include any exceptions we agreed on beforehand.

You should receive a confirmation of your registration within a few days.

Before the Jam

Before the Game Jam starts, you do not have to do anything specific. I would recommend completing all of the course exercises, since they may help you in creation of the game prototype. You can also look at the (materials)[#materials] section below, which has some additional useful tools and resources.

Since the theme will be quite general, you can also start thinking about some specifics of the game you will create. Optionally, you can even start working on some early prototypes. However, do not try to complete the game beforehand, that would be against the spirit of the Jam!

During the Jam

You should receive your theme around a day before your chosen starting date. Once you have it, you can start working on your game. You might want to do a little planning or brainstorming. Or jump straight into Jamming. It is up to you!

Start by designing the game and prototyping its base mechanics. Do not worry about polishing or being absolutely perfect. Play with various ideas. Do not be afraid to cut away everything that is not the substance of your idea. But, most importantly, have fun!

During the last day of your chosen time interval, you should start finalizing the game prototype. You should be finished with the game itself at the end of the interval.

Submission

Once the time runs out, you should have something resembling a working prototype. However, I know that there might be technical problems or other eventualities. For this reason, the submission itself can take place up to a day after, and for this reason

You will be required to submit the following:

  • Project sources with full assets included
  • Project build on your chosen platform

Once your game is ready, you can continue with the submission. It is again realized by sending an e-mail to Tomas Polasek () containing the following:

SUBJECT:

[1ZHERV] Game Jam Submit : <TEAM_NAME> <START_DATE>

BODY:

Team: <TEAM_NAME>
Members: 
 * <NAME_SURNAME_1> : <LOGIN_1>; <E_MAIL_1>; <P|E>
 * <NAME_SURNAME_2> : <LOGIN_2>; <E_MAIL_2>; <P|E>
Date: <START_DATE> - <END_DATE>
Sources: <SRC_LINK>
Build: <BUILD_LINK>
Sharing Consent: <Yes|No>

, where most of the information is the same as in the registration e-mail. Make sure to change the Subject to “Game Jam Submit”. The sources should be provided as a link to a git repository. Please make sure that it is accessible, or send an additional invite link if necessary.

When sharing the sources, please make sure you exclude any unnecessary files. For example, the Library folder in Unity project is automatically fetched (in most cases).

The build must be provided as a zip archive containing the executable files. You can use an external host (GDrive, OneDrive, …), faculty web hosting, or attach it to the e-mail. Be warned, that the size of e-mail attachments may be limited!

Finally, your project can also be hosted on the course website, for the future generations of students to admire. However, this is optional, and you should not feel forced to do this. Please make your choice and select either Yes or No for the Sharing Consent.

Dates and Deadlines

Important dates and deadlines for the Game Jam:

  • 3 days : The length of the Game Jam
  • 1st December to 8th January : Span of Game Jam starting dates, your choice is X
  • X - 1 day : You receive your theme
  • X to X + 3 days : You work on your prototype
  • X + 4 days : Latest date at which you can send your submission

FAQ

Following are some frequently asked questions and other pointers:

  • None so far!

Materials

Examples of Themes: Global Game Jam Resources and Assets:

Credits

This Game Jam is heavily inspired by other such ventures, including:

← Exercise 1 : Analysis of Mechanics
Lecture 1 : What is a Game →