How to Fail at Game Jams

[@Artindi]

Remember, game jams are...(fill in the blank)

[@s-viper1462]

Peenut butter

[@domi-no1826]

really hard because my attention span is crap

[@My2CentsOpinion]

easily the best way to learn basic programing skills and not a way to develop skills you already have at least a small degree of

[@KryyssTV]

... for masochists.

[@davidthecommenter]

"...evil and should never be hosted!" - AAA game producers, or something

[@gun8737]

Did you know, 99% of GameJam devs quit right before making GTA V in 2 days?

[@Artindi]

imagen a world with 6 billion GTA V's. What a loss our world is in.

[@Yaboibarel]

​@@Artindiclearly people need more caffeine

[@dumbvillage9253]

​@@Artindiassuming any of them would be good Next up: how to fail at Grand The-

[@destiny_02]

so that implies 1% make gta v in 2 days

[@AaronRotenberg]

​@@destiny_02 No, it's just that those 1% quit right before making Elden Ring or something.

[@phinblue4989]

how to fail a game jam: 1. eat the game jam

[@glads-bw6he]

Eat the game or the jam?

[@portman3950]

@@glads-bw6he yes

[@alu2901]

​@@glads-bw6heBoth

[@SkullTheLegless]

On toast, right?

[@BoonkiKinda]

@@SkullTheLegless no need for toast

[@Rydrake6]

"You have lots of time!" As a procrastinator, I feel personally called out.

[@Artindi]

When I wrote that line, I was thinking specifically of you.

[@Rydrake6]

@@Artindi D:

[@asdfghyter]

@@Artindi oh good, i was worried that you were thinking specifically of me!

[@philiphunt-bull5817]

Man, I thought you were talking about me!

[@artman40]

One more thing: If you truly wish to fail at game jam, you want to avoid making novel and bizarre gameplay design decisions. Your best bet is to fail is by making mistakes that have been done countless times before, or just not trying anything new at all. That way there's nothing new to learn.

[@Artindi]

exactly, no standing out, it's only brings trouble.

[@TulipsinAntartica]

0:36 Hah, jokes on you, my sleep cycle is always destroyed

[@Artindi]

Gasp!

[@thetageist]

Don't do that. '^_^

[@mortsllaf]

⁠​⁠@@thetageist No ^_^

[@lemiru]

Hmm, then maybe it would actually fix your sleep schedule?

[@funguy398]

Did a solo gamejam last month, with absolutely 0 experience in a godot. Finished in time and got 13 (or 19) place out of 50. Just pick a godot and reduce the scope of your game to a fun level.

[@Artindi]

Impressive! :D

[@infiniteraide1642]

May I know what game that is? I'd like to try it out!

[@buzzlightyearpfp7641]

that ending part was super real game jam games that are like 'yeah the stupid loser judges didnt understand my vision so im gonna make this into a real game to rub it in their face and then take months to deliver nothing'

[@Artindi]

exactly. :)

[@alu2901]

I mean, when I see people take their Game Jam games and make them into real games I usually think that the dev liked the idea and just wanted to expand on it, rather than just expanding it out of spite.

[@JBRedux]

@@alu2901Yeah, and that logic totally makes sense. If you're making a game jam game and you happen to stumble onto a really good core concept, why not expand on it?

[@jeremiahrosa1329]

One if the main games I’m working on, is one that I got the idea from in a jam. Definitely suffered to scope creep tho.

[@s-viper1462]

These vids are so helpful. I am going to make games that are horrible and then call them Triple A quality, which will be technically right.

[@Artindi]

ha. good one.

[@gregvs.theworld451]

You want to make Tripe A games? Might a I suggest a game where players need to buy a 30$ battle pass just to unlock core features of the game to make it playable in the first place?

[@EdKolis]

And the list of mandatory DLCs will grow from time to time! And every so often one will be banned or unbanned! Oh wait, there's already an online version of Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh, isn't there?

[@dynogamergurl]

Genius, lemme join in and help😂

[@jackunvailable]

This video would've been better with multiple endings, a skill tree, a secret unlockable boss, 60 more levels and 2 more playable characters but I'm sure those will come in the full version, right?

[@Artindi]

Yup. update 1.01. I promise.

[@EdKolis]

Rawr! I'm the secret unlockable dromeosaurus boss! And if you're not careful, I might just eat YOU!

[@soninhodev7851]

i love how the last third of the video went... its exactly what happens in game jams! (i guess so is the entire rest of the video, but that part was the one that made me laugh!)

[@Artindi]

I was struggling to figure out what to include in the script, and then I was like, oh... yeah... I can just be meta and say I ran out of time. lol

[@dominikrni]

​@@Artindiis it still okay to make something into a full game in some situations?

[@Artindi]

@@dominikrni of course. Especially if the game jam game is actually good. There are many game jam games that have become successful that started out as a little game made for a game jam. Such as Baba is You. I was just playing on the trope that often people think it will be their game jam game that can do that next, which typically isn't the case. But still possible. :)

[@Caitemis]

The fact that this appeared in my feed 2 days before the deadline of a hack jam I’m in is certainly fate

[@Artindi]

destiny has smiled upon us. :)

[@chris_devlog]

The way to fail a gamejam is to give up or not sign up in the first place! I love gamejams and they're just a great way to make something.. anything with a deadline you don't set for yourself. I've learned so much and met some great people through gamejams. Great video! Glad I found your channel you make fun vids!

[@Artindi]

I'm always impressed by how much I learn each time I do a game jam, it's really next level.

[@ascriptmaster]

But as the video says, if you never try you'll arguably never actually fail! So just sign up and then give up immediately

[@Mike-vy9ow]

Finally I understand the concept of game jams. Thanks for clarifying.

[@Artindi]

Happy I could help... or not help? 0.0

[@STIMULAT10N]

theyre tasty

[@nickleslicka]

I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE CALLED OUT IN MY LIFE

[@Artindi]

Take that. and that!

[@superfunink8508]

As a game design major this also applies to homework assignments where I have to make video games.

[@Artindi]

that doesn't sound like homework.... ;)

[@goshator]

Haha yeah. I'm not a game design major but we had a programming homework one time to make something with some stats like in an RPG and I decided to make an entire bloody Persona fangame. Ended up having to change it to a single screen of Earthbound-style random battles

[@prfctstrm]

Hello fellow gamedev student

[@superfunink8508]

@@prfctstrm Hello

[@PhonyLyzard]

Nothing better than a channel that gives me all the wrong information.

[@Artindi]

I'm here for you....

[@DataPotato]

I just joined a jam called the isou jam which is a sorta sillly title, I have no idea how to pronounce it, but anyway hopefully I will be able to apply these tactics there. Especially the asking the host to submit late one, i'm sure they love that. My favorite joke was the "The purpose of game jams is to help you fail more often", very good :)

[@Artindi]

yeah that sounds like a really stupid name for a jam, I don't know what you where thinking signing up for that one. :/

[@billmore6486]

For the longest time "in the end" was a motivational song for me. Wasnt till recently someone told me how weird that was

[@Artindi]

lol. The irony fueled you....

[@GiornoGiovannaGangstar]

i like to believe that "in the end nothing matters, so why worry about things no one else cares about? Care about the stuff you want, and everything else won't matter."

[@jaredjones6570]

It's not a motivational song? It seems motivational if you are too worried about how much something matters and are paralyzed with the complexity of the matter... Then it's inspiring to hear that nothing really matters in the end. Because if it isn't as important as you're making it seem, then maybe you don't need to get so worked up for nothing. Then you can just accomplish whatever you set out to do and stop worrying about whether or not you can do it. Because nothing really matters in the end...

[@wellingtonribeiro847]

​@jaredjones6570 If you are only reading this single line of the song,maybe. But in full context, he is saying that despite his efforts, it didn't work out. Not very motivational...

[@zixvirzjghamn737]

2:24 I came into this video expecting a slimekeep reference, and still laughed when I realised he was dissing slimekeep

[@Artindi]

I actually have no idea what slimekeep is, but yes. this was indeed targeted at slimekeep. ;)

[@carminewhite8786]

This might help with the jam, thanks :) Looking forward to how it goes

[@Artindi]

oh you betcha! :D

[@topshelftopshelf]

I personally think this video is good enough to make it into a feature length film and try to make it big on Steam, I mean Hollywood

[@Artindi]

Oh nice! I might do that! :D

[@ctilt]

I love this series, and I think it’s really helpful as I’m getting into game development! Thank you so much for making this series, and you’re amazing!

[@Artindi]

Glad it can help. And glad to hear you are giving game dev'ing a try! :D

[@PabloTheDinamic]

I love how 1/170 of this video is a Linkin Park reference. Every video ever should have at least that amount of it.

[@thetageist]

"There's nothing on my mind." Artindi is no thoughts, head empty. Only watermelon.

[@Artindi]

watermelons every day. ah day ere day.

[@HeroBot930]

Loving this series! It feels like the game dev equivalent of the channel "Terrible Writing Advice."

[@winteriris13]

another good idea i haven't seen talked about is reading the rules!! understanding what the game jam is actually about will only hurt your creative juices from flowing!! and if you submit something that doesn't follow guidelines, then thats on the organizers for trying to keep you from winning. you should always ignore the prompts and start your game a week early to get a leg up on the competition

[@Bonasomnium]

I joined a 1 hour game jam. 5 hours later (because its not serious) I made a really cool game I'm proud of. You'd be surprised what you can do in such short time. Keep going

[@RandomizedYoutuber012]

I actually made a game that took me a week to make with all your guides to help me Thanks for all the helpful advice My friends hated it☺️

[@Artindi]

perfect! :D Let the hate flow through you...

[@makisprites]

So did you succeed?... at failing?

[@RandomizedYoutuber012]

@@makisprites *TASK WAS FAILED SUCCESSFULLY*

[@disappointedcreeper]

can't wait for you to make the documentary :3

[@Artindi]

in the works, should be coming out in just a few weeks. I promise.

[@Taro4012ITG]

1:13-1:32 sequence made me smile a lot

[@ill-FatedStudios]

Perfect, just what I needed 5 days before the NGJ jam! I will follow your instructions, wish me luck!

[@ctilt]

Could you make a fighting game one? I really love your series and think it’d be really helpful (and funny) if you made one since I’m trying to get into serious game development and I love fighting games. Thanks for reading this, and you’re amazing!

[@EdKolis]

Step 1: Try to make a Smash Bros clone Step 2: Fail Step 3: Make an MMORPG instead, it's way easier 😂

[@Artindi]

you are not the first, and eventually I will, but the order I make the episodes is mostly by what's popular. So we will see how soon. :)

[@DataPotato]

@@Artindi Maybe a community poll?

[@hagaygiller9352]

Reminds me of my first Ludum Dare entry back in 2011: Trying to make a point and click adventure game from scratch in 72 hours, we spent 2 days on making a simple engine then tried to cram in everything at the last second. We then decided to finish the game one day when we have the time. 13 years later we still think about it randomly every once in a while

[@valet_noir]

"trust your internet connection" feels a bit too real from you 🤣🤣🤣

[@Artindi]

shhh... :)

[@SuperStarStudiosPlush]

Alright, very helpful! I’ve never been in a game jam, but it looks fun! I’ll look out for upcoming ones! :D

[@Artindi]

It's a really great way to learn more about game development, because it forces you do do everything, I recommend for sure! :D

[@mrpekoni]

A fun episode could be one about doing everything yourself, like I mean everything. Who needs free 3D models from the internet or free tilemap packs to kickstart your game off. How could it possibly be unique then? Obviously you must do all the art, music, programming and playtesting to assure that you maintain your absolute game direction. You wouldn't want other people with unique ideas to "contribute" to the project because your very important game direction would be lost!

[@PokemonJacob-vi2li]

Great video! keep going! I just started watching this series, and it's one of the most fun series I have watched in a while! The one complaint I have is that the video's are quite short, but that's not a huge complaint since you're not the only youtuber I watch. (Is saying it's too short a complaint or compliment?)

[@The-E-Base]

dang. I've already been bound to succeed at failure from the start. Guess I came very prepared for all this.

[@Artindi]

a natural. 0.0

[@The-E-Base]

@@Artindi a very unfortunate natural indeed.

[@StarMighty.]

Give me the feature length film! I want it! now! (I'm glad to be 50% of the good comments) You better don't forget about it!

[@Cuprite1024]

As someone who just finished a game jam game about a week or two ago... yeah... especially the parts about destroying your sleep schedule. Lol. (Tho I actually don't think I did all that bad with mine tbh, but I definitely *do* have a lot of things to fix up. Mostly just QoL stuff)

[@Artindi]

yeah, Qol stuff can go a long way! :D

[@TryingCode]

I never thought of it that way before! Can't wait to fail my next jam!

[@MaxwellRomig]

This is the best channel for under five min videos

[@ThinkWithGames]

Just in time for the Ludum Dare game jam, good luck everyone!

[@Artindi]

completely by accident. (like really, I didn't know Ludum Dare was going down this weekend till just a few days ago. lol)

[@TiaKatt]

I think I have the opposite issue with scope. I do just fine with the small scope of game jams. I absolutely love the Ludum Dare Compo. Really helps me focus. The problem is then taking my little game jam project (which might even rank reasonably well in a category or 2) and moving it past that. For me they all pretty much just stay little game jam projects, and it's not like these are among the larger scope game jam projects in the first place - there are some *really* impressive jammers out there. They mostly do what I had intended them to for purposes of the jam itself, and I find it tough to find a place to take them from there.

[@Zytrome]

The ending was genius

[@Artindi]

This comment was genius

[@Blackholefourspam]

It’s okay… I guess.

[@Pokemon-Master]

This feels a bit like CGP Grey… I LIKE IT! 👏

[@Sam-Pound]

Yo, just failed my first GameJam! Thanks!

[@elijahloiacono]

I saw your ISOU Game jam on the discord but if I'm bein honest, I don't know what game jams are or how they work and came here to find out! Unfortunately I learned nothing and failed to learn how a game jam works.

[@Artindi]

A game jam is a challenge to make a game in a limited amount of time, usually 2 days but mine is a week. Often there is a theme or other stipulations. The idea being that limitations foster creativity. Game jams are useful because they force you to focus on the most important aspects of game development and help you learn new skills and gain new knowledge, they can he very helpful for indie devs learning development and have often cased some great games to be made, even some somewhat famous games started out as a fame jam game such as Baba Is You. TLDR: game jams are a challenge to make a complete game in only a few days.

[@humman007]

If you do something, anything in this two days, it isn't fail, knowledge for this short days may by usefully in next projects

[@KryyssTV]

Not sure what's worse, failing at a regular game jam or failing the Epic Megajam where you have months to prep and a week to develop...

[@Artindi]

from an outside perspective I wanna say the megajam. lol.

[@EdKolis]

If in a regular jam you don't have any time to prep then definitely it's worse to fail when you actually do have time. I dunno, I've only done the 7 Day Roguelike Challenge which does allow prep time, and I've succeeded a few times and failed a few times, usually due to not having enough free time that week but the first time I bit off more than I can chew. Oh yeah, then the second time I scaled way back and made something that's arguably a puzzle game and not a roguelike but no one noticed so yay I guess?

[@KryyssTV]

@@EdKolis To be fair rogue-likes are deceptvely complicated to get right. I'm currently in pre-production for the genre as I'm going to do several with each building upon the systems of the last (so I don't end up biting off more than I can chew with one big project) so I'd say that unless someone has prior experience it's not really a game-jammable (?) genre. It's very easy to end up with it just being a basic dungeon crawler, puzzler or card game.

[@joesak1997]

If only there was an upcoming game jam I could put all these failure practices to use in in order to fail!!

[@Artindi]

if only there was one that was starting like. in like 14 hours from now. 0.0

[@gauracappelletti3893]

1:28 too real

[@ballom29]

You forgot an important point : missing the point of the jam "sure that's aa fine game you've made there..but what does it had to do with the jam's theme ?"

[@TiaKatt]

It's really okay though! Ludum Dare, for example, makes it clear that while it'll hit your scoring from other participants, it's better to submit a game that doesn't really fit the theme if that's the idea that *really* hit you and you're having more trouble with something that tightly fits the theme, since the primary purpose of having a theme in the first place is to combat the Blank Page problem. The idea is to have fun making and sharing games, and if that means a few people go off-theme here or there, so be it.

[@black_lemon5258]

Using an idea, especially one you really like, that you made before the game jam and trying to make it fit the theme is another common way to fail. That or making the project file before the date instead of collecting basic scripts/plugins. Just ignore the ‘Don’t start early’ signs on the rules ^^ (I’m actually surprised at how often people must do this to have it featured lol)

[@NoomStuff]

Will be using all of this for ISOU

[@Artindi]

excellent! The timing is perfect! :D

[@JellySword8]

2:03 Soo then does that mean that I can just copy and paste components from my other projects? How is that any different than starting on the project before the jam is even started?

[@Artindi]

It depend on the jam, some say you must create completely original everything, othersay you can use common bit's of code from you code base. Sometimes it just comes down to your personal integrity.

[@TiaKatt]

Ludum Dare even runs 2 concurrent events! One (Compo) where you are solo and do everything from scratch in 48 hours, and one (Jam) where you can have a team and reuse code and assets from other projects and are given 72 hours. That one's also nice because people who don't finish in time for the Compo can at least still submit to the Jam. They won't necessarily rank as well since they lack the other Jam advantages, but they still get good feedback and get to explore and give feedback to other participants.

[@NickShvelidze]

The best way to fail is to go to an in person game jam and realize you don't know anyone there and end up working alone when everyone else is in a team.

[@Mikewee777]

> " It is ok, I guess " 02:15

[@Taro4012ITG]

OF COURSE YOU PUT THE WATERMELON IN AGAIN LOL

[@drakewahl7609]

I tried doing a gamejam once and just kinda got busy with school and couldnt really find time to work on it. I definately want to join and complete one some day.

[@Artindi]

it's super worth it if you can stick to it. :)

[@afriendlyfox]

I don't mind wasting some time just listening to you, I like your voice, so I guess that wasn't a waste

[@szabiTM]

if the reward aint moneys, i am eating the game jam

[@Banarnar-og5eo]

the ending gag fooled me for a moment

[@Vubuwu]

Thank you for video

[@Artindi]

Thank you for comment

[@mz_eth]

God damn it, that scoop creep call out 😡

[@Enbynails]

Everyone knows working on a creative project is best approached while in a state of half-asleep, caffeine-fueled delirium.

[@yemree13]

Thanks for the tutorial! I will definitely use these tips in the ISOU Game Jam!

[@Artindi]

oh you bettah! :)

[@Kyun9432]

I absolutely agree! You should quit your day-job and make this into a full 2 hour film! It will succeed. Add all kinds of things you have planned to the script and make sure the script does things that has never done before!

[@HoloTheDrunk]

I always make sure to pick the hardest tech stack I know the least about and I never produce anything. A mystery.

[@TheWorstestPro]

I've been watching your videos for a while now and I only just realised that you don't have 500 thousand subscribers, surely this is an error.

[@Artindi]

What?! I don't?! 0.0

[@enderfire3379]

I signed up for one once. Then i learned the lesson that ADHD, Lack of coding skills, And limited time schedule do not mix well. In short: i didnt do shit

[@alexmcfly31415]

One more big thing: Get a team. It's way harder to get de-motivated and say "nah, this makes no sense" when there's someone else relying on you.

[@roquejo6194]

excellent video friend! loved it!

[@Artindi]

excellent comment friend! loved it!

[@robotzr.8348]

Best video on KZbin...

[@OtakuKrap]

Ironically updating software was a big reason I failed and decided to never do game jams again

[@snes90]

At the time of writing this comment, Ludum Dare 55 is in three hours. Let the failure commence!!

[@Artindi]

yeah, the timing was a happy accident. :) hopefully the video helps... or doesn't help... 0.0

[@TiaKatt]

Ah, the first quarter LD I miss most years because it so often coincides with when I'm doing overtime at the tax office and taking no days off for weekends. I forgot about it entirely this year, not that, again, I could have participated anyway. At least there's the fall one I can easily do!

[@ellotheearthling]

PLEASE do how to fail at rhythm games

[@Artindi]

du du du du I du du will du du du eve du du du tualy du du du.

[@passthedonuts]

you are never a waste of time

[@doodledude2d295]

why do I find it so HARD for me to finish a project that needs more time then a day :(

[@Zakru]

"The best way to fail is to never try" applies ESPECIALLY well in game jams. If you're a new game dev and want to fail at trying out a concept, ALWAYS spend the time to create a polished version of your game. NEVER try out how different mechanics would work in the limited and horribly claustrophobic scope of a game jam.

[@YoungDigitalInteractive]

Thanks for posting this right before I'm about to spend all weekend working on a game jam. Haha. Time to maybe rethink some of my plans... JK

[@Artindi]

good luck! :D

[@slackamacgaming6721]

Oohhhh...so THAT'S what a game jam is...man I've been wondering....i thought it was like game juice...just ya know, the jelly version or something 🤣🤣🤣

[@Artindi]

it's that game juice, but extra thick!

[@darkrozen4110]

What's the best way to fail at strawberry jams?

[@Artindi]

have it be chunky, because everyone loves the feel of a soggy slug of a strawberry slice slithering down your throat.

[@slavsquatsuperstar]

You should definitely make your scope video 1 hour long :P

[@erniebeasley8521]

Just joined one, ready to fail

[@Davian2073]

Funnily enough, a GameDev I know already does all of this, and won several Game Jams xD

[@Artindi]

SEE! It works.... 0.0

[@_GhostMiner]

*1:50** or the entire website get basically ddosed as everyone's submitting their game at the same time*

[@theConcernedWyvern]

Jokes on you, caffeine doesn't even work on me!

[@Naoseioqcolocoaqscrr]

Im trying to make a game for a first game jam and still have 7 days, i hope i can finish the game during this time cuz i only made one full game in my whole life and it was on scratch😭

[@Artindi]

You can do it! :D

[@verm_ms]

when i was like 13 i wanted to join a game jam that was for a no code based engine, i had a week and i stopped day one cuz of how hard it was (i hadnt made a game before it yet too so i basically had no experience)

[@KettLovahr]

Just in time for Ludum Dare 55 huh?

[@RedstoNeman0]

sad you only alluded to in the description how the biggest jams are self-referencing circles where the jam is owned, made, and gives awards to specific schools which then proudly say they have x number of game jam awards (also still fail jam when)

[@EdKolis]

Pyramid schemes don't exist, that would imply the existence of pyramids and everyone knows ancient Egyptians aren't real!

[@Artindi]

really? I was just bs'ing in my description, do they actually do that? lol

[@RedstoNeman0]

@@Artindi idk if it changed but there was a graph a few years back with almost all judges in ludum dare being teachers at a game design school or related and then said school(s) bragging about winning a lot of ludum dare jams. obviously the more prestigious ones need funding and reach, so in turn that means they are also mostly organised by schools, and end up as some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy

[@TiaKatt]

@@RedstoNeman0 Wait...the judges for Ludum Dare are...literally every person who actually submits a game and bothers to give feedback to other jammers. I don't understand what you're talking about unless you're talking about *very* early LDs. Sure, the Jammers with more professional experience have an edge over us hobbyist schlubs, and I'm sure there are organized groups which engage in shenanigans with vote trading, but ultimately we're *all* judges.

[@RahulABhola]

Thanks for this informative tutorial! P.s. could you do shooter games next?

[@Artindi]

Yup, I think that's next on the list. :)

[@yassintarek1350]

who let bro cook 💀💀

[@Artindi]

I let myself into the kitchen while nobody was looking.

[@yassintarek1350]

​@@Artindikeep on cooking really your content is gold

[@cirecrux]

I’m so ready to fail!

[@StolenFantasy]

It’s okay… I guess.

[@humanoidbig3679]

Supprised you didn’t mention your game jam (how did that go anyways)

[@Artindi]

Mine starts tomorrow, but I try to avoid adding content in a video that won't make sense 4 years later on. Maybe it's a mistake but I don't know. just me I guess. :)

[@humanoidbig3679]

No that makes sense

[@thecoolguy6573]

Do not. I'm telling myself this now... do not make it about my Characters backstory... opps, it's all about my characters' backstory, not much game play... whatever, I'll just put it on The game jam anyways... wait, why didn't I win? My games story was so cool.

[@Artindi]

ha

[@zandraxofnebulon]

I love how you can reverse engineer good advice from these videos by doing the opposite of whatever they say