Hello all and happy jamming! I have learned game dev for a year and 1 month. Here are some tips I have learned after 9 game jams as a solo dev (just my humble opinions). All my games are here: https://neatgames.itch.io/ & I have a 100% successful submission rate lol.
- Theme Brainstorming
- Draw a Mind Map
- Think of all possible ideas
- Pick your favorite, then Mind Map that (and repeat)
- How to be a 100% finisher
- Don't over scope/Don't be over zealous.
- Don't be afraid to cut features (design by subtraction). Focus on the core mechanic.
- Do something you know already, but improve it or add to it. (Expand on a tutorial even)
- #1 goal is to upload something and learn :D Be proud of the journey not just the outcome.
- Eat healthy and sleep regularly as well.
- Make a Web browser game! WebGL in Unity
- These get (literally) triple the amounts of plays/rates/comments.
- People are lazy and a web browser game is just easier to play.
- If you can't, make a Video or Game-play trailer to entice a download.
- Visuals
- Don't worry if you can't "draw"
- Several game jams I have been in the best games just used solid shapes as graphics/player (squares/cubes etc.) Prototype style.
- it's all about GAME JUICE/FEEL
- Lecture showing how game juice makes a simple boring pong game epic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy0aCDmgnxg
- Sound is a must
- No excuse. If you have no sound "skills" just use the famous game jam sound generator: http://www.drpetter.se/project_sfxr.html
- Lots of free ambient sounds and music online as well.
- How to get FEEDBACK/COMMENTS/RATINGS
- Spamming the community tab/discord your game link does NOT work.
- Best method: Sort games by Karma in submission list. (Games with high Karma mean they actively rate and comment on other's games) Play those and leave meaningful feedback/complements and invite to play your game. *Don't be a jerk and demotivate other devs, we are all learning.
- Itch automatically posts your entry with your comment, so don't need a game link.
- 50% comment to playback rate
- GIFs are your friend
- GIFs give a quick/clear impression of your game, thus motivates others to click organically.
- Make your itch game page look nice as well. (Shows you are passionate about your game.)
- Quality over Quantity
- Usually people only play games for a few minutes.
- So, don't put your "best stuff" at the end of the game.
- Start with a bang. Don't use walls of text.
I hope this was helpful for some :) Finally, don't compare your skills to others, compare your game to your own previous work. Such a variety of skill levels in a game jam . Just try your best and improve! (If I think of more I will update ㅋㅋㅋ)