During my undergrad years at Shawnee State I participated in several "game jams". These jams are super fun events where the whole point is to create a game from start to finish in either 48 or 72 hours. Games are encouraged to adhere to a theme that is kept secret until the start of the game. You'll never know what you get! I would definitely recommend game jams to anyone interested in game dev, regardless of skill level. They are an excellent way of honing your existing skills, learning new skills, and making lasting friendships!
Jam: Global Game Jam 2018
Engine/Library: Unreal Engine 4.17
Theme: Transmission
Idea/Premise: The Audio Nimbus rappers have gotten word of your fire mixtape and trying to stop you! Traverse through the map using your sick dubstep skating skills and collect copies of your mixtapes that have been littered across the street. (Modified from GGJam synopsis)
Engine/Library: Unreal Engine 4.17
Theme: Transmission
Idea/Premise: The Audio Nimbus rappers have gotten word of your fire mixtape and trying to stop you! Traverse through the map using your sick dubstep skating skills and collect copies of your mixtapes that have been littered across the street. (Modified from GGJam synopsis)
Programmers:
- Logan Boggs
- Austin Ferguson
- Andrew Polanco
- Kyle Fox
- Matt Green
- Caroline Lakatos
- Marvin Lee
- Cory Smock
Special Notes:
- The artists used SSU's motion capture studio to create out animations. Matt had a pair of skates and they were able to get actual skating animations with it! So cool!
- We had a huge team, but we also had a wonderful time!
- Not only is he an animation master, but Marvin also made the music! You have to collect mixtapes to make it louder!
Jam: Game Devs of Shawnee (_GDoS) Fall 2017 Jam #2
Engine/Library: Unity
Theme: Attraction
Idea/Premise: You are a security worker at a carnival, and some visitors have been misbehaving! You need to track down and taze the perpetrators. We have their pictures, but everyone looks pretty similar...
Engine/Library: Unity
Theme: Attraction
Idea/Premise: You are a security worker at a carnival, and some visitors have been misbehaving! You need to track down and taze the perpetrators. We have their pictures, but everyone looks pretty similar...
Programmers:
- Nick Bridges
- Austin Ferguson
- Andrew Polanco
- Matt Green
- Caroline Lakatos
Special Notes:
- Each individual is unique, but they only vary on color, hats, and facial items. You really have to pay attention!
- Matt and Caroline really did a great job making the carnival feel lively with awesome art!
- Nick handled NPC movement patterns. If you're too slow your target will have moved.
Jam: Global Game Jam 2017
Engine/Library: libtcod in C++
Theme: Waves
Idea/Premise: ASCII-based game about a travelling worm merchant. The player will have to manage resources in order to fend off the hungry fish! (Copied from GGJam synopsis)
Engine/Library: libtcod in C++
Theme: Waves
Idea/Premise: ASCII-based game about a travelling worm merchant. The player will have to manage resources in order to fend off the hungry fish! (Copied from GGJam synopsis)
Programmers:
- Austin Ferguson
- Andrew Polanco
- Mitch Wright
- None
Special Notes:
- We have a weird obsession with ASCII graphics. Even today, we are drawn to them.
- This is by far our most unfinished games, but still one of my favorites!
- Some things do work, though: the travel map, the worm economy, parts of the boat editor, and of course, beautiful waves!
Jam: Shawnee State Universtiy Game Jam Fall 2017
Engine/Library: Unity v?
Theme: Tick Tock, Watch the Clock
Idea/Premise: This is just a simple game of freeze tag, only the person who is "it" changes with the clock!
Engine/Library: Unity v?
Theme: Tick Tock, Watch the Clock
Idea/Premise: This is just a simple game of freeze tag, only the person who is "it" changes with the clock!
Programmers:
- Austin Ferguson
- Andrew Polanco
- Mitch Wright
- Matt Green
Special Notes:
- This was both our first game with an artist and also the first game with 3D animation!
- Matt managed to make all the art even though he was just starting his classes. He learned how to animate during the jam!
- We put way too much work into hats and accessories, but it was worth it!
Jam: Global Game Jam 2016
Engine/Library: OpenGL in Java
Theme: Ritual
Idea/Premise: Everyone knows the ritual of pinata smashing is what makes a birthday. Make sure lil Timmy has the best birthday ever by getting as much candy as possible! More kids = more smashing power, and the more green the pinata is, the more candy it holds. (Copied from GGJam synopsis)
Engine/Library: OpenGL in Java
Theme: Ritual
Idea/Premise: Everyone knows the ritual of pinata smashing is what makes a birthday. Make sure lil Timmy has the best birthday ever by getting as much candy as possible! More kids = more smashing power, and the more green the pinata is, the more candy it holds. (Copied from GGJam synopsis)
Programmers:
- Austin Ferguson
- Andrew Polanco
- Mitch Wright
- None
Special Notes:
- This was our first game that involved a taste of 3D graphics!
- This is by far our most competetive game. Trying for a high score is actually fun!
- I somehow made two Global Game Jam accounts. I still haven't figured that one out...
Jam: Shawnee State Universtiy Game Jam Fall 2015
Engine/Library: Slick Graphics for Java
Theme: ???
Idea/Premise: You're the fearless Something Guy(tm) travelling through an ancient ruin. Watch out for ghosts!
Engine/Library: Slick Graphics for Java
Theme: ???
Idea/Premise: You're the fearless Something Guy(tm) travelling through an ancient ruin. Watch out for ghosts!
Programmers:
- Austin Ferguson
- Andrew Polanco
- Mitch Wright
- None
Special Notes:
- This was out first "finished" game jam game!
- I was not able to attend too much of this jam, but Mitch and Andrew killed it!
- The spookiest part of this game? The sound made by the super fast ghost....
Something Bear
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Jam: ???
Engine/Library: Unity
Theme: ???
Idea/Premise: You're being attacked by bears while out camping! Quick, throw stuff at them to run them off!
Engine/Library: Unity
Theme: ???
Idea/Premise: You're being attacked by bears while out camping! Quick, throw stuff at them to run them off!
Programmers:
- Austin Ferguson
- Andrew Polanco
- Mitch Wright
- None
Special Notes:
- This was my first game jam, and the first time Mitch, Andrew, and myself all worked together on a game.
- You may have noticed a theme in our names. That all started with this game and continued through all the games the three of us made.
- This was the most disorganized game development ever. I worked remotely via Facebook Messenger. If we can pull this off, you can make a game, regardless of who you are! We still had an excellent time!