Inside a Game Jam: creating games in just days
Ever wondered what it’s really like to create a game from scratch in just a few days? Game Jams at LSBU give you the chance to do exactly that - working in a team, experimenting with ideas, and bringing a playable game to life under tight deadlines.
Julianne, Games Design and Development BA (Hons) student, shares her experience working as an artist in a Game Jam, from creating pixel art characters and environments to implementing assets in Unity. She reflects on the challenges of collaboration, the excitement of rapid development, and how experiences like this help build a strong, industry-ready portfolio.
My role in the Game Jam
My role in the Game Jam was as an Artist. I helped create characters, interactable objects, and backgrounds for the game. We decided to develop everything in 2D pixel art, which gave the project a clear visual style from the start.
Alongside creating assets, I also supported implementation in Unity - helping integrate backgrounds, character animations, and other elements so they were ready to use in the game.
The most challenging part of the Game Jam was making sure everyone was aligned.
Working in a fast-paced Game Jam
The most challenging part of the Game Jam was making sure everyone was aligned. Communication is essential, especially at the beginning, to ensure there are no conflicting ideas around assets or direction.
Establishing how we approach the game early on helps streamline the process and prevents issues later. It also means everyone knows what they’re responsible for and how their work fits into the wider project.
We do often stay later in university during Game Jams, but it’s a really fun and collaborative experience.
I had the opportunity to experiment with animating NPCs with different styles of movement.
Bringing the characters to life in Unity
During this Game Jam, I had the opportunity to experiment with animating NPCs with different styles of movement. Some were more rubbery and elastic, while others were more dynamic and fluid.
I also worked on translating designs into fully realised assets based on what the team needed, making sure the visual style matched the overall concept of the game.
Creating under pressure
When working under time pressure, teams naturally simplify concepts and designs to make sure we can deliver within the deadline. Once we have a solid base, we can then build on it if time allows.
We also plan around availability and workloads, as people have different commitments outside university. This helps reduce stress and ensures work can be redistributed if needed.
Communication is constant throughout, often through Discord, with dedicated channels for different areas like programming progress or Unity implementation.
The experience of a Game Jam is incredibly valuable for building a portfolio.
Why Game Jams matter
The experience of a Game Jam is incredibly valuable for building a portfolio. It shows employers that you can work to tight deadlines, collaborate effectively, and produce high-quality work under pressure.
It also demonstrates your ability to work as part of a team and, depending on the project, pitch ideas and develop concepts collaboratively - skills that are essential in the games industry.