Topic: Any Game Developers Out there?
Greetings ICers...
No...., not you, or you, or the guy over there that smells funny. I am posting to any game developers who happen along this post.
I am a bit geeked up. Its been a while since I played IC but I have been filling some of my time doinking around with creating video games. So it tickles me greatly in areas that I won't describe to mention that this week end is the Ludum Dare (Starts Friday the 15th)... I am am taking it!
So what other game devs are ready for the 35th Ludum Dare!?
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Who has no idea what a Ludum Dare is and why you should do it?
The Ludum Dare is one of the worlds largest game jams where the goal is to make a game in just 3 days. That's right my friends, 3 days. On day one the theme for the Dare is announced and game designers from around the world see what they can slap together in that short amount of time.
I know what your thinking, "No way can I build a great game in just 3 days". My answer is - you are probably right and if that is your goal you might be missing the point of the Dare.
The Dare is mechanism to help you over come one of a game devs greatest demons - perfectionism. How many of you have started a game and got bogged down with setting the lighting up just right or getting a certain game mechanic to work or getting a character to have a certain style? How many of you have ground out out soooo many hours tweaking the minutia that you eventually lost interest in what you were doing and gave up. And now instead of a library of games you have made, you instead have folders full of projects you started and quit. I am guessing I am seeing a lot of hands up right now (I know mine is... making typing really difficult but if you have read this far into this post than its a hardship I am willing to endure).
Having the 3 day deadline forces you to ignore these stumbling blocks, teaches you that you can iterate after you have a playable game, it stokes your creativity on how you will work around these issues and best of all - you will actually complete a game.
As a bonus - 100's of others who have accepted the Dare will be putting out games for you to look at and critique. You can find some really interesting concepts, game mechanics and short cuts that other devs use. It truly just as much a learning experience as it will be a gaming one.
Hope to see you there... or if you are waiting 15 ticks for your fleet to arrive, stop by and play test of the the dare entries.
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