Global Game Jam: Disappointment, Frustration, Satisfaction

In a turn of events late Sunday, each team was informed that no judging will be available at our location. This was very disappointing at first because the three teams that showed wanted to have their game crowned as “The Best Game”. The moods of the Jammers did not change. We all took comfort in having finished what most consider possible portfolio pieces. We had created a game in 48 hours with very little sleep and all the obstacles presented to us.

Disappointment
When we first signed up for the Pyramid Atlantic Arts center, we anticipated a larger venue with an equipped facility. The staff of the Pyramid Atlantic tried their best to provide a great location but not all was well. No lab or available computers unless you brought you own (Which luckily every team did), the multiple crashes of wireless internet, and that is before we started working on the game. Coming up with a game idea seemed to work great, but the execution kept falling apart. My team scrapped about 3-4 nearly complete games before deciding on the final submission. Ideas from side scrolling, first person games, strategy games, arcade style games all came up during discussion. While team debating was already something that had us frustrated, it did not help that the Arts Center was still open to other guest and project personnel outside of the game jam enforcers. One team almost lost all their data because of a unplugged computer! We had to move our work station multiple times to accommodate the boxes, the painter painting, the party going on in the next room, and some of this was happening around the final hours of crunch time.

Frustration
Debating and executing was our main issue. As noted above, we scrapped a couple games that could have easily have been submitted. Last minute decisions on how the games would play out, perspective of the player and what type of mechanics changed our mind. Maybe in our first Game Jam, inexperience played a role. Time was not our enemy, but sticking with an idea and pulling it into a complete game that everyone was satisfied with, now that was a problem. We could also say lack of sleep played a big part also. In a very small venue making it feel compact and crowded, sooo cold with no heat pumping throughout the room. More elements than we expected.

Satisfaction
Participating in the “Global Game Jam” through all the obstacles was a great experience. We may not have had our game judged as planned but we created a simple flash game that had great entertainment value. We also created another game that possibly may have portfolio potential when complete from revisions for future endeavors. We meet really cool people who made the experience fun. We worked as a team even when it was shaky. There was so much going on and sacrifices had to be made. We will be back next year more prepared, more fine tuned, more eager, and with more experience.

THE GAME!
Our game we created called SNATCH! You play a spy who uses disguises to hide form a security guard until he can capture the gem inside the Gem Exhibit. Play SNATCH! Now