How to get maximum benefit (and fun) from participating in a game jam

At our game development studio, Pixonic, we've held numerous game jams over the years, and so we know that joining a game jam is a fantastic way to hone your development skills while having some fun. So, in this post, we’ll share tips to get the most out of the experience!

Before jumping in though, let’s talk about what a “game jam” actually involves.

The article is written by: Pavel Bokai-Poltavets, a Technical Game Designer at Pixonic (MY.GAMES), and Dmitry Osipov, Lead Project Manager at Pixonic (MY.GAMES).

What is a game jam?

The term "game jam" has its roots in music, in particular, that second word “jam”, which is both a noun and a verb. A “jam” is when some musicians gather (perhaps in a garage or apartment) to “jam”, that is play music both for enjoyment and with a feeling of spontaneous creation. Likewise, a game jam involves several people coming together to create something from scratch using their skills. The common thread between musical jams and game jams is the collaborative, spontaneous spirit of the creation process.

In terms of structure, game jams typically follow a familiar format: the participants, whether in teams or as individuals, come together as a theme is announced along with a specific deadline, and the challenge is to create a fully functional game within this limited time frame. Then, upon reaching the deadline, the judges (or audience) review the results and vote for their favorite creations.

The allotted time constraints can greatly vary; some jams demand rapid development periods, perhaps within just a couple of days, while others may allow up to a month or more. Naturally, shorter deadlines require heightened skill and focus from participants in order to deliver a polished product.

As you might imagine, taking part in a game jam is both a thrilling challenge and a true test of one’s knowledge and abilities. And while everyone likely dreams of packing their game full of exciting features and elements, the reality is often a struggle between ambition and practicality: many promising ideas must be sacrificed in the name of scope management and feasibility. Those who succeed in the world of game james recognize the importance of prioritization, because ultimately, the goal is to present the judges with a cohesive and finished product, even if more modest in scope, rather than coming up with a result that is ambitious but incomplete.

So, we understand what a game jam is, let’s talk about how to excel at them.

The playbook for a productive game jam

The preparation stage of a game jam is often misunderstood and underestimated. Many believe they can dive in empty-handed and rely solely on their improvisational skills, but this approach is flawed. This is because the success and benefits you’ll get out of participating in a game jam depend not only on your moment-to-moment creativity but also on effective teamwork, preparation, and post-event analysis. Arriving at a game jam unprepared with an empty toolbox is similar to setting the dinner table without any cutlery — in other words, some essential elements will be missing for the full experience.

Instead, to set yourself up for success, here's a guide on where to start.

Collect assets and prepare your tools

Taking the time to collect the necessary assets and prepare the tools you’ll use is a practice that not only saves time, but which will also enhance the overall quality and feasibility of your project.

With regards to assets, the internet offers a bunch of options: free art assets, open-source plugins, and other projects that can significantly accelerate the production of a game prototype. Further, by sourcing the necessary tools and materials ahead of time, you position yourself to focus on choosing the right ones from the list when the time comes.

Let’s go beyond theory and give some actionable help – here are some valuable websites and tools to consider for your pre-jam preparation:

Of course, some of the materials you prepare might not suit your final game concept (like having a sci-fi sound pack on hand for what ends up being a fantasy game). However, it's far better to have some options at your disposal rather than having to scramble and create everything from scratch once the clock starts ticking!

Strategize and stock up on placeholders

Even though the theme of a game jam is unknown in advance, this shouldn't prevent your team from preparing some versatile "placeholders" that can serve as foundations for various game genres.

To illustrate, you might create a basic 2D platformer or a fundamental 2.5D beat-em-up — in other words, simple prototypes where nondescript cubes represent characters, able to move from point A to point B while interacting minimally. Then, once the jam begins, these placeholders can be tweaked and expanded with thematic elements, narrative components, and refined mechanics.

Similarly, you could have a draft of an “Arkanoid”, a 3D adventure with interactive items, a basic visual novel with a set of draft mini-games, and so on.

Additionally, if you have ideas for any unique mechanics, at minimum, document them technically beforehand. This way, if they align with the given theme, you can jump straight into development. Don’t let unused yet creative ideas gather dust; repurpose these concepts and integrate them into your game jam project and get a head start.

Most game jam rules stipulate that the published game should not be a pre-existing release or something developed before the jam begins. However, these rules typically don't prohibit preparing individual components or assets in advance. So, it’s crucial to leverage this loophole to get a head start.

Starting development entirely from scratch will cost you crucial hours, perhaps even days. This lost time can be pivotal towards the end of your sprint, as those extra hours could be allocated to essential testing and debugging. Alternatively, it might allow you to pivot swiftly if your initial concept proves unfeasible. This scenario is not uncommon, and it's far better to realize and rectify it with ample time remaining.

The game core and team

Once your preparations are in place and the game jam officially begins, your focus should shift to effective task delegation and synchronization within your team.

The most important aspect here is to think through the "core" of the game, because frankly, the rest is not that important: a game that is not fundamentally interesting to play – even if it is stylish and beautifully designed – will not bring you winning points or votes. So, don’t be afraid if the prototype looks unexciting. A cool gameplay idea can be evident even if demonstrated using cubes that lack cool animations, interfaces, or sounds.

Additionally, it’s important to note that the team must have a defined leader. This person will introduce the team during the pitch (assuming this stage is present at your jam), and they are also responsible for internal coordination and being a part-time project manager. To illustrate the importance of this, I will share a personal experience: there was a case when, due to my oversight, two people on our team actually did the same tasks, only with different approaches, and this overlap did not benefit meeting our deadlines.

It’s also important to remember that leadership in this case is not a matter of some piece of ephemeral status or one’s ego. Ideally, the team leader should be someone who has already managed projects or is at least willing to take on the responsibility for planning and management. It’s best to leave your ego at the door: there’s no need to fight for this position if you see that there is a much more competent candidate for the job.

Optimizing team size for effective collaboration

Empirically, the optimal team for a game jam is up to 4 members, and the reason for this lies in the mathematics of team dynamics. The number of connections within a team increases according to the formula X=N*(N-1)/2, where N is the number of participants. Take, for example, a 4-person team. The number of connections is 6 = 4(4-1)/2. In contrast, a 7-person team has 21 =7(7-1)/2. By adding just 3 more members, the number of connections more than triples.

Put more plainly, a larger number of participants often lead to increased resource expenditure on communication, which can be particularly burdensome under tight deadlines. Even with a clear leader, it’s essential to equally weigh everyone’s opinions to foster creativity and productivity. Games are the result of hard work, creativity, and fun. Without these elements, success is unattainable. Engaging in an enjoyable and creative process is a foundational aspect your team should emphasize.

Though a solo effort might suggest fewer communication issues, it lacks the collaborative creativity and feedback a team environment provides.

Engaging with your audience

When it comes to feedback, sharing your Work-in-Progress (WIP) during the jam and receiving feedback is very important. But this is not just an abstract process, it’s a very real task that is labor-intensive, which is also important to consider. So, is it worth investing in this step, especially in the case of a solo team? Let’s weigh this.

Sharing a WIP keeps your audience engaged and invested in your project. Practically speaking, this can provide valuable feedback that might enhance your game. Further, the encouragement from an engaged audience can provide mental and emotional support during the jam. If the jam format allows for audience voting on top of jury voting, engaging with a broader audience can significantly impact the reception and ranking of your game.

In practice, many jam participants utilize platforms like Twitch and YouTube to conduct live streams, showcasing their game development process in real-time. This approach not only allows developers to receive immediate feedback and support but also attracts votes and engagement from a significantly larger audience. The difference in ratings can be substantial; your game could be reviewed by 20 people or 120, dramatically influencing its reception and success.

Finally, it's important to remember that judges are also human. They observe audience reactions, the level of engagement, and the overall sentiment towards your game. These factors can significantly influence their perception and final judgments, potentially tipping the scales in your favor.

Seek guidance and embrace failure

If you're new to project management, don't hesitate to seek advice from someone with more experience, ideally an active project manager. Asking them detailed questions about organizing work can offer fresh perspectives and invaluable insights you may not have considered.

Once equipped with this advice, it's time to take the "leap of faith" and dive into participation. Your initial attempts at a game jam — whether solo or as part of a team — may not immediately yield prizes or awards. However, these experiences are invaluable for your growth. Focus on the lessons learned rather than immediate success. Remember, not trying is far worse than failing!

Completing your prototype

Finishing a game jam is an accomplishment in itself and winning a prize is a fantastic bonus, but not winning shouldn’t be a source of discouragement. It doesn't indicate that your idea is flawed or unworkable – it may simply require more refinement.

After the jam, have an open discussion with your team about continuing the project. Check if everyone is committed to polishing the game to a playable state that meets your original vision. Completing the project will not only help consolidate the lessons learned during the jam, but it will also create a valuable addition to your portfolio. Even if your finished game doesn't garner millions of downloads or thousands of reviews, the process will contribute significantly to your professional growth. Your next project will undoubtedly benefit from the experience and dedication you put into this one.

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Participating in a game jam offers immense value for both teams and solo indie developers. Let’s list three key reasons for that. First, game jams impose strict deadlines and specific themes, compelling participants to make swift and often challenging decisions. Second, with limited time and resources, game jams strip away many external factors, showcasing your raw talent and skills in game development. This environment allows for significant self-reflection and personal growth, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Third, game jams can be a breeding ground for innovative ideas that have the potential to evolve into successful indie games. (For example, a game like Loop Hero, started as a jam project.)

Let’s sum up with some essential takeaways: