Day 1: Setting Sail

The theme was announced—metamorphosis—and my mind immediately started churning. I wanted something lighthearted but meaningful, a short story that could weave together imagination, growth, and reflection. The idea of a cluttered child’s room transforming into a pirate adventure popped into my head, and Thar They Go was born!

The core concept was clear: a kid (the player) would explore their messy room, reimagined as a pirate world, while making decisions about which "treasures" to keep, donate, or toss. The moral? Growth isn’t just about making space for new things—it’s about letting go of selfishness and learning to share.

With the idea locked in, I planned out the structure: three locations (The Pirate Ship, Laundry Island, and Dead Man’s Cave) where players could interact with objects, make choices, and affect the ending. To stay on track for the jam, I aimed to keep the scope small but polished.

Days 2 and 3: Smooth Sailing

With the core concept and framework established, the next two days were all about bringing the game to life. I focused on writing short, meaningful interactions, refining the dialogue to fit the playful, childlike tone, and tying everything back to the theme of personal growth.

The biggest challenge was balancing the decisions so they felt impactful while keeping the game short and sweet. I also worked on creating a simple navigation system and making sure the endings reflected the player's choices.

What I Learned

Even in the early stages of creating Thar She Goes, I’ve learned a lot about designing a compact but meaningful game:

• Themes tie everything together. Focusing on metamorphosis helped unify the story, gameplay, and moral, giving the game a sense of purpose.
• Less is more. Limiting the scope to three locations with two interactive objects each kept the game manageable while still offering players choices that mattered.
• Player perspective matters. Writing from a child’s point of view added charm and humor to the game, which made the experience feel more personal.

Final Thoughts

Though the project isn’t finished yet, it’s been a rewarding process so far. Thar She Goes is shaping up to be a fun, heartfelt little game about imagination, growth, and generosity.

The best part of this jam has been finding ways to turn simple ideas into something meaningful. I’m excited to finish it up and see how players respond to Captain [Insert Your Name Here]’s journey! (But no, for real, you can insert  your own name!!) XD