How to Set Yourself Up for Success Before Game Jams

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All right! You've just signed up for a Game Jam!

Its just a month or three away and you're very enthusiastic (perhaps in part because you've read my article about how you can benefit from game jams)!

Now you just need to... wait... I guess?

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Or Do You?

Now, lets take a minute to weigh our options.

Yes we could simply show up to a game jam - and if one is already engaged in the games industry (or is otherwise really busy) then this may make sense - as for such a person one's game jam objectives tends to be more of a relaxing or recreational nature. This is fine.

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Of course, a professional game developer or an otherwise busy person seeking to learn or improve upon a new skill may still find it desirable to lay some groundwork prior to the Game Jam.

On the other hand, one could regard the Game Jam as an up-coming challenge - kind of like an Olympic event - and thus like any sportsperson one could endeavor to prepare the self for the event for the best chances at success.

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The rest of this post shall be with this latter category of participants in mind (and you will still find this beneficial even if you approach Game Jams with less seriousness than an Olympics participant) - and in this post I shall be covering the period between pondering sign-up to the immediate approach to the event.

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Clear Your Schedule:

This is something that some people can overlook up until that point when its too late. Its the first point for a reason.

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The day the Game Jam begins: Usually a Friday.

Not only to ensure that you are fully prepared but also to take a good nap prior to the Game Jam. It'll benefit your creativity and productivity during the Game Jam.

The day following the Game Jam: Usually a Monday.

You've just spent a few days of intensive game development with less sleep than normal.

Whether you'd rather relax and unwind or channel your left-over creative energies into more game design (or a meeting with your team mates), you'll thank yourself for the day off.

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Know What is Involved:

While the gaming spectrum is very broad and so the skill-set required to make one game (such as Mario-like platformer) will vary from that required to make another (like a Tetris-like puzzler), the 'essential' skill-sets required to make a digital game* typically is as follows:

• Game Development Environment Proficiency and Programming
• Artwork and Visual Effects
• Music and Sound Effects

Other areas such as Game Design and Narrative are not unimportant - but they 'tend' to be present in the skill-set of persons with the above skills.

(* a table-top game does not generally require programming or music)

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Know and Better Yourself:

Having a good awareness of what you can or cannot do will be very helpful when forming teams at the Game Jam. It is also helpful if you plan on going it alone.

If at all possible I would recommend at least gaining or improving upon a fundamental understanding and proficiency of 'any' of the three above-mentioned essential skills for game development.

This will make you more 'desirable', come the team-up phase of the Game Jam.

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Speaking of which...

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Know Your Potential Partners

Do you go alone or do you go with a team?

Teams have an advantage in that their dynamic is already established prior to the beginning of the Game Jam event.

Individuals have the theoretical advantage of having a choice of any person or team in the Game Jam - but how do you really know what each person is about and what each person can do?

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Well the ideal situation is that participants in a Game Jam are aware of each other 'prior' to the date. Unless the Game Jam allows you access to the list of participants, ask the organizers for one. Start contacting persons and introduce yourself and inquire as to whether s/he has a team for the Game Jam.

If not, then you can get chatting. Get to know what kinds of games you like - and what roles you would respectively like to play in the up-coming jam. If this person is covering a skill then you could adjust your learning accordingly. Just try not to end up focusing on too 'narrow' a skill set (such as UV texture mapping in Blender without other related, more fundamental skills).

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Prepare To Jam!

How much 'stuff' do you need for the Game Jam?

Do you plan on sleeping at the location of the Game Jam?

Will you have access to provisions at any point during the event?

Will you drive (and may therefore leave a few things in the trunk of your car)?

These are but a few of the important question that you'll be needing to answer prior to the Game Jam - and these answers will affect what, and how much you pack.

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Some things that you'll be packing may not even require physical space but rather will take the form of data. Such could be libraries of sounds or images or other things that could prove handy in the Game Jam (always ensure to use legitimate sources with proper attribution where applicable) - which can be handy if internet access is expected to be a problem. Even if it isn't - better safe than sorry!

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And there you have it! An overview of a number of things that you can do from long before a Game Jam begins to help ensure not only that you have a great experience but also that it'll prove to be a productive Jam.

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What do you think of these tips? Do you have any further tips of your own to add to the mix?

Let me know down in comments and lets have a discussion about it. Game on!

Also, if you found this post interesting and would like to share this with your followers and friends then your resteem would be appreciated. :c)

I'm also open to other feedback if you have any. Lets talk in comments. A civil conversation can go a long way.

Sincerely,

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