GMTK Game Jam 2020 Notes

Overview

• Duration: 48 hours
• Theme: Out of Control
• Goal: Create a complete game within the time limit.

Initial Idea (Friday 3:00 PM)

• Chose to work with Cellular Automata.
• Example: Conway's Game of Life
  • Grid of cells, each can be dead or alive.
  • Based on neighbor states, cells can die, survive, or become alive.
  • Zero-player game: After setup, simulation runs on its own.
• Plan: Create a game around cell interactions on a grid with various cell types.

Game Development Progress

Friday Evening

• Initial progress: Created a blue square moving on the screen.
• Encountered programming challenges, but brainstormed ideas and sketched levels.

Saturday Morning

• Started over, focusing on a free-moving cell concept.
• Created placeholder art and implemented multiple moving squares.
• Developed cells with abilities:
  • Push Cell: Can be pushed by other cells.
  • Generator Cell: Duplicates the cell behind it.
  • Mover Cell: Pushes the duplicated block.
• Difficulty: Understanding visual feedback; cells jumped to positions too quickly.

Saturday Afternoon

• Implemented animations to enhance visual clarity.
• Developed Enemy Cells: Store position, check for collisions, and destroy upon impact.
• Added player control by allowing dragging and dropping cells.
• Built UI buttons for play, pause, and step functionalities.

Saturday Evening

• Introduced additional cell types:
  • Rotator Cell: Rotates adjacent cells.
  • Slide Cell: Pushable in designated direction only.
• Created level navigation and new levels.
  • Initial levels to introduce cell types; aimed for balanced difficulty.

Art and Level Design

• Faced challenges with creating pixel art due to lack of experience.
• Developed random patterns for shading in the game.
• Created various levels with unique obstacles and mechanics:
  • Levels include Generators and Rotating Machines.
  • Special favorite level: Requires strategic planning to defeat enemies.

Polish and Submission (Sunday)

• Focused on polishing the game, including:
  • Post-processing effects to enhance visuals.
  • Sound effects and a title screen.
  • Created a tutorial and level select menu.
• Total levels created: 17.
• Used random note placement for music due to time constraints.
• Built the game and prepared for submission.

Final Thoughts

• Submitted the game with room for improvements and bug fixes.
• Considered the experience and potential for future game jams.