Global Game Jam 2018
A four player split screen vehicle shooter, with an information economy twist.
Preparation
Global Game Jam is an international event geared toward challenging game makers from all walks to collaborate on the construction of small games and apps in a very short amount of time.
A prompt is given to all the teams in a big kick event after which all participants are given 48 hours to complete their games.
My primary concern was infighting.
I spent about a week pre-planning
I wound up breaking the process into four distinct phases.
48 Hours
The key challenge with this event was the time crunch.
It was like end of production crunch on steroids. If there was anything that could be cut it was cut.
We had to rethink what it was we were making.
Reinforcing in the team that this would not be a perfectly polished finished product.
This would be a vertical slice, or, at best, a proof of concept.
A Learning Experience
This was the seminal event in my dive into production and project management.
I approached this project thinking I would also be part of the art team as an animator, but we didn’t really need an animator.
I found this initially frustrating.
It’s hard not to want to help lighten the load.
Turns our managing the project does lighten the load.
Looking back on this small production, the major bit of experience that I am taking with me into future projects with crunch is to never underestimate the power of a solid night’s sleep.
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Max Bennett - Level Design & Gameplay Programming
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Nadya S. Surjoko - Production & Concept
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Yu Te - Programming
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Andy Brenneke - Programming
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Varrick Grimm - Environment Art
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Sophia Arnout - Environment Art
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Jerryd Perry - Hard Surface & Sound Design
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Justin Semke - Hard Surface
