Pingu's Devlog

Joining my first game jam was an exciting experience. As a Unity developer with a passion for pixel art, I was eager to learn more about working in a group setting and enhance my skills in both areas. For this Game jam I wanted to get better at Pixel art, so I joined toghetter with a Godot developer to create a game. This blog post aims to share my journey throughout the game jam, the challenges I faced, and the valuable lessons I learned.

Learning Pixel Art and Working in a Team: Having some prior experience in pixel art, I was excited to showcase my skills during the game jam. However, this event provided a unique opportunity for me to not only improve my art but also understand how it fits into a team project. One helpful tool we decided to use, was "Tiled," a tool that allowed me to create levels and experiment with my pixel art sprites independently, even without using Godot. This flexibility enabled me to work on art and level design while the rest of the team focused on other aspects of the game's development.

Throughout the game jam, I made the most of online tutorials available on YouTube to enhance my pixel art skills. These tutorials proved invaluable, helping me understand various techniques and methods for creating visually appealing pixel art assets. I discovered new approaches to shading, color palettes, and animation, which greatly contributed to the overall quality of our game's visuals.

Collaborating with a small team of two was a good learning experience. As this was my first game jam, I quickly realized the importance of effective communication and cooperation. Using software like Discord, we were able to divide tasks efficiently and make progress on multiple fronts simultaneously. The collaborative environment fostered creative problemsolving, and we were able to bounce ideas off each other to find the best solutions.

The Challenges of Creating a Platformer and Game Feel: Developing a platformer presented numerous challenges. One of the most significant form e was designing and implementing the various wall variants required for smooth and visually pleasing gameplay. Ensuring that the tiles fit together seamlessly and creating a cohesive tileset demanded attention to detail. However, by leveraging my newly acquired pixel art skills, we were able to overcome these challenges.

Another aspect that proved challenging was creating a satisfying game feel. It's crucial for a game to be responsive and provide an enjoyable experience for players. Through active communication on Discord, we shared feedback and playtested our game, fine-tuning movement mechanics, level desing, and the art. This allowed us to continually improve the game's feel, making it more engaging.

Participating in my first game jam was an incredible experience that taught me the value of teamwork, improved my pixel art skills, and provided insights into the challenges of creating a platformer. From leveraging tools like "Tiled" to independently refine my art to collaborating closely with my teammate, every step was a learning opportunity. By seeking guidance from online tutorials and actively engaging with the game development community on platforms like Discord, I was able to overcome challenges and deliver a game that exceeded my initial expectations. I look forward to future game jams and further enhancing my skills as a Unity developer and pixel artist.