Tales of the Rampant Coyote

Adventures in Indie Gaming!

The Game Jam Survival Guide

Posted by Rampant Coyote on April 9, 2012

I suck at game jams. Yes, I know, I even wrote an article about a game-in-a-week experience once upon a time, and I have found I need to review my own article and take my own advice. I think a lot of my failings in the game jam setting are the same failings I have in actual game development – especially as (but not limited to) being a self-directed indie. What failings? What could I do better? How might I learn to suck less?

Christer Kaitila (AKA “Breakdance McFunkypants”) is an experienced “Game Jammer,” and Ludum Dare administrator. He has gotten together with a fewer other seasoned Game Jam veterans from that community and put together a “how-to” guide to surviving (and really, succeeding in) a 48-hour game jam environment. Called The Game Jam Survival Guide, it’s available in both physical and digital formats.

I don’t often participate in game jams because I feel they cut into time I could be devoting to whatever my main project is. But really, I believe those exercises would be good for me as a developer. In my experience, I have found that while there are some obvious differences between a 48-hour game jam style project and an actual commercial release, the process is remarkably similar. I keep trying to get better at both, but I think the game jam experience – given whatever constraints (game-in-a-day, game-in-a-week, 48-hour, commercial-game-in-a-month, even game-in-an-hour) is full of valuable lessons for anybody in game development – seasoned vet or total newbie. I know a few very veteran full-time game developers who agree, so I’m in good company.

Would the advice be scalable to larger projects? Based on the short excerpt I’ve read so far, some of it would be.

More Info: The Game Jam Survival Guide


Filed Under: Game Development, Indie Evangelism - Comments: Read the First Comment



  • Breakdance McFunkypants said,

    I agree – game jams can be an amazing learning experience – to let go of your inner critic and power through difficulties with abandon is both invigorating and illuminating. Every time I participate in one I learn a new technique that ends up finding its way into more long-term projects.

    Even more important than the new skills you learn, I find that short sprints like these are a great “break” for long-term, slow, tedious, and mind-numbing pro projects that can span months (or even years). There’s something so fun about starting and finising when the excitement is still there. At the end of the weekend – you’re done! You can dust off your hands and walk away. Love it.

    Thanks so much for mentioning my new book. As a huge fan of your blog I’m honoured. You are awesome!

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