Games
Back in university I used to develop video games as a hobby. Game development provides a lot of unique technical challenges. Video games are the intersection of many types of art, and actually seeing somebody enjoy the game you have built is the most magical thing.
"Juice it or lose it" is a great motto in game development. Juice can be described as anything that doesn't change the functionality of a program, but just makes it feel better.
🕹️ Ludum Dare
Ludum Dare is the biggest online gamejam that is held three times per year. In the solo competition, you are given a theme and 48 hours to create everything from scratch. That includes art, music and sound effects!
Full Tilt
Ludum Dare 49 - Unstable
My latest Ludum Dare entry, featuring a boring game with a novel input method. You control the game by tilting you phone. It received the #1 score for innovation in the gamejam! Cloudflare invited me to write a blog post for their blog about the technical details.
Super unique concept, and controls work surprisingly well. A couple complaints. A lot of the dots tend to be on the edge. Early on it makes the game far too challenging. As well, There is no punishment for NOT going after the dots. If I wanted to I could prop my phone up at an angle and it would continue to go in circles and earn points forever(provided my speed was low enough). Obstacles as well as making the dots larger would incentivize collecting them. Regardless, really interesting mechanic!
— October 4, 2021
Extremely imaginative concept. Love it! The actual game isn’t that fun but I can understand that the main focus was the novelty of it. Great entry!
— October 4, 2021
⚙️ Phaser (Javascript), Cloudflare Workers, Durable Objects | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/49/full-tilt | source code | Cloudflare Guest blog post
Asphyxia
Ludum Dare 28 - You Only Get One
My first Ludum Dare entry, featuring a rather sad story and three mini-games. I was able to complete a much bigger game than I anticipated, and it was received pretty well. This game is what got me hooked on gamejams during university.
[...] the opening is a tad slow. But the atmosphere and mood is perfect! Love the gameplay and design choice.
— December 16, 2013
Very touching and beautiful. I completed the first two levels in a dream-like determination that I knew Sam would feel. But I failed the third level without realizing the crucial thing that might've kept him alive. A sad game. Stunning end sequence.
— December 16, 2013
⚙️ Unity3D (C#) | project page | source code | Rocket launch (.gif)
Sub Bomber
Ludum Dare 29 - Beneath the surface
I only had four hours for this gamejam, but managed to create a flappy bird-esque game. You are a submarine and can only steer and propel yourself underwater, so once you are out of the water all you can do is pray as you aim for the hole in the obstacle.
I really like the game. It's kinda like flappy birds - takes time to learn but once you do, you're hooked.
— April 28, 2014
I got to 9. I can die a happy man.
— May 2, 2014
⚙️ Unity3D (C#) | project page | google play store
Hello World
Ludum Dare 30 - Connected Worlds
My most succesful gamejam game, and the one I am most proud of. It ended up 5th in theme, and 6th overall (out of more than 2500 entries)! Also it got featured on the Unity blog :D
In this game you place satellites in orbit and make a message transmission mesh to ensure cat videos can be sent throughout the solar system without package loss. Calm music, a parallax space scene, and an embedded police tracker (LAPD) make for an amazing atmosphere.
This is one of the most inventive ideas that I've seen thus far. Great job.
— August 29, 2014
Man, this is why there's a "mood" category. So flippin' cool!
— September 14, 2014
⚙️ Unity3D (C#) | project page | Source code | Unity Blog feature
Flying Blind
Ludum Dare 31 - Entire Game On One Screen
Technically challenging game to implement (Phaser.js was not really made for this kind of game), but ended up being too hard. It was bang on with the theme though, reaching 6th place in theme. First game I applied a vector graphics style (made in Inkscape).
Really polished product, and very cool concept, beautifully executed. =) Pacing is a bit off.
— December 10, 2014
Great take on the theme. Gets a bit difficult a bit fast though.
— September 14, 2014
⚙️ Phaser.js | project page | Source code
Glide Bomb
Ludum Dare 32 - An Unconventional Weapon
Line rider for bombs. It was alright.
Really really impressive game! The mechanic turned out to be a lot more fun than I initially expected and the puzzles were perfectly matched as I learned. Look like a great deal of polish went into this, really makes it shine.
It also feels really awesome when you draw a perfect ramp and the sled just flies right off into the target :D
— May 9, 2015
⚙️ Unity3D (C#) | project page | Source code | Someone playing it
🥓 Bacon Game Jam (BGJ)
Bacon Game Jam is the continuation of the Reddit Game Jam, organised by the biggest subreddit for game development.
Shadow Infiltration
Bacon Game Jam 5 - Lights Out
The product of the first gamejam I ever participated in. In this game you avoid lights to infiltrate a base; it's a sneaking game, I was very proud to have finished it, and people seemed to like it :).
This was actually one of the more purely fun games I played during the jam. Good job. I'd love to see you flesh it out.
— June, 2013
Clever puzzles and a very good learn-as-you-go introduction to the game
— June, 2013
⚙️ Unity3D (C#) | project page | Source code
Kyoob, Adventure of the Unicorncone Crown
Bacon Game Jam 6 - Lights Out
A very ambitious project for a 48 hour competition, a top down game in which you can unlock file spells to solve puzzles and beat enemies. I partnered up with an internet stranger who created some 3D assets. The review by Broxxar below sums up my learnings perfectly.
An impressive amount of content and mechanics for a 48 hour jam, though some areas of the game felt like the needed a bit of polish. I think you could create a stronger jam game if you put quality before quantity. Great work on this though; a lengthy and complete feeling game is impressive in just 48 hours.
— October, 2013
⚙️ Unity3D (C#) | project page | Source code
🔗 Chain Jam
Chain Jam was a one-off gamejam in which all participants created a local multiplayer game that would then be played in succession with the other participants' games. Creating something similar to Mario Party mini-games.
Climb, Freeze.
Chain Jam
A simple local multiplayer game that tries to do one thing with a lot of juice and polish. Players jump and then freeze themselves, creating a stepping stone for the next life. The goal is to get as high as possible. Created in around 5 hours.
⚙️ Unity3D (C#) | chain jam about page | Source code
🎮 Other games
Slaim
Game Development As A Hobby - Invited Talk
A one versus one slime soccer game, created to demonstrate the effectiveness of juice.
Joris and I decided that it was worth creating a
game in which we could introduce juice incrementally during our talk on game
development as a hobby, Unity, and juice.
The final product is a surprisingly fun game that I have seen friends play for hours
(really). It has over the top screenshake, disco colour background, hitmarkers, music
that keeps going faster, slow-mo goals, and more juice.
⚙️ Unity3D (C#) | play it here! (WebGL) | Source code