Make Games Minijam 16th of April (in Cape Town)
If you're staying at home wondering why other people are getting ahead and you are falling behind, it's because you're not at the Make Games Monthly Minijam.
There is an 8 hour jam hosted by The Bandwidth Barn in Woodstock on Saturday the 16th of April.
This event will happen monthly and is free to attend for everyone, but if you want to be fed at the event it'll cost R100.
The idea is that everyone arrives at 11, and at 11:30 we reveal a few secret (optional) modifiers and everyone brainstorms, jamming starts at 12 and everyone stops jamming 8 hours later (with lunch happening somewhere in between).
We all eat pizza (or some pizza equivalent) at 8:00 and at 8:30 everyone presents whatever they've built (to rapturous applause and cheering).
For this month's Make Games Minijam the theme is:
Jamming For A Feeling.
The goal for this jam is picking a feeling or emotion and then building an experience that elicits it.
Much like is outlined in this article: http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ShaneMcCafferty/20150430/242288/Pick_a_Feeling_Chase_it.php
There's so many feelings that are so underexplored. The world has plenty of challenging games, games that frustrate or make us feel powerful or clever, but what about games that make us feel shy, doubtful, or relaxed, or full of wonder or longing?
Of course, if you participate, you don't have to stick to the theme. If you find inspiration elsewhere then use it. The only requirement is that after 8 hours you present what you've made and tell the group what you've learned, even if what you've made doesn't function, and what you've learned is that you were too ambitious.
There is an 8 hour jam hosted by The Bandwidth Barn in Woodstock on Saturday the 16th of April.
This event will happen monthly and is free to attend for everyone, but if you want to be fed at the event it'll cost R100.
The idea is that everyone arrives at 11, and at 11:30 we reveal a few secret (optional) modifiers and everyone brainstorms, jamming starts at 12 and everyone stops jamming 8 hours later (with lunch happening somewhere in between).
We all eat pizza (or some pizza equivalent) at 8:00 and at 8:30 everyone presents whatever they've built (to rapturous applause and cheering).
For this month's Make Games Minijam the theme is:
Jamming For A Feeling.
The goal for this jam is picking a feeling or emotion and then building an experience that elicits it.
Much like is outlined in this article: http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ShaneMcCafferty/20150430/242288/Pick_a_Feeling_Chase_it.php
There's so many feelings that are so underexplored. The world has plenty of challenging games, games that frustrate or make us feel powerful or clever, but what about games that make us feel shy, doubtful, or relaxed, or full of wonder or longing?
Of course, if you participate, you don't have to stick to the theme. If you find inspiration elsewhere then use it. The only requirement is that after 8 hours you present what you've made and tell the group what you've learned, even if what you've made doesn't function, and what you've learned is that you were too ambitious.
Comments
Jam a game for Evan
It's time to put on your thinking caps, folks! What makes Evan tick? What sort of games would titillate and excite him? How do we truly crawl into his headspace, put ourselves into his shoes and think of a truly Evan-esque experience that would change his life specifically?
Of course, if we think this is too narrow, we could always go with the themes "Evan and Leeroy", "A Day in the (Free) Life of Evan" or simply the word "Evan"
Or we just stick to the regular topic, no biggie. I'll come along regardless.
It's my birthday the day before the jam! (and I'm not doing a party, I just want to jam with my friends).
I'm not against timeless themes like "Evan and Leeroy" or "Who uses the Jacuzzi when the lights go out?", whatever inspires you!
The results were pretty spectacular: http://makegamessa.com/discussion/3267/post-mortem-free-lives-8-hour-jam-on-june-13th
No food for me, thanks.
I've put in the order for food now. There is probably going to be plenty (if last month is anything to go by).
There may be cake as well.
We had about 15 jammers in the end. And three of the teams (that I know of) expressed the desire to work further on their projects.
There were the beginnings of some great projects on show (including an AI that could fall in love). And I finally learned the meaning of "Shadenfreude".
I worked with Jason Sutherland and Filip Orekhov... I think what we made was both visually and auditorially pretty (for 8 hours). Here's a couple screenshots with bits of Filip's art.
The screenshots don't really do it justice though (and neither would a gif) because I think the audio was such a big part of the experience. Here's a video:
We didn't get the flying controls working the way we wanted, so that's what we'll be playing with soon.
I'm really happy with what we made in a short time, and out of the 15-20 games I've jammed in my life so far, I think this is my favourite! :D
I went home and carried on messing with stuff. Maybe it'll turn into something with actual gameplay - hopefully it'll stay calming. Really enjoyed the report-back session after the 8 (ish?) hours, definitely think we should have regular update sessions like that during longer jams too.