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Beginner Game Designer looking for a team

A topic by Arveis created Feb 08, 2022 Views: 174 Replies: 2
Viewing posts 1 to 2

Hey, I'm an inexperienced dev (working as a QA in the industry), but I would love to participate in a game jam, so if anyone is searching for a person who has a lot of time on hands and is able to:

  • Write understandable documentation for the project
  • Flesh out the story/narration aspects
  • Design/balance the levels
  • Design gameplay mechanics
  • Implement gameplay systems (Only via BP in UE4)
  • Tie loose ends in a passionate way (If something needs to be done, I'll give my best shot)

Hit me up here or at discord: Arveis#9248 Cheers!

You can check out my projects and showcases of previous game jams at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCit7qy_9iFUo_oPhEtQ0OFw

Kinda twiddling my thumbs a bit under prospective team hunting, if not doing this solo. But for Jam, I think I'd give some possible advice. Under what I'd suggest in priorities for game jam development, along with rapid prototyping.

Documentation!
For planning, even to an agile lens.

  1. Core Game idea/concept, under "how could you do this theme in a quick/fast manner?"
    1. Do it "iteratively". Under get your core functions done first, before anything fancy. For if/when technical constraints hit you.
  2. Design/planning, on how the gameplay would swim/function, sort of thing.
  3. Story/narration is last. Gameplay in general is more important than cutscenes. Though if you can include them, then great!

Talent
Solo is 'fun' to independent game development, in learning and knowing the full palette of roles. But if a team, consider how and what you can bring to the team.

In your case, being able to Game Director? manage the planning task management and support, on top of past experience in QA, could be a 'safe' default. Though odds are you're probably going to need at a core, programmers, modelists (or artists) alongside a musician, if you don't want to be stuck/trapped with Creative Commons sounds & music loops, or "asset packs" that might not be visually 'striking'.

Bug Fixing
Iteratively. Expect a lot of bug-fixing, and potential cut features. And that's internally as you test/ensure functions work, before building on that. Before the community figures out some 'game breaking' bug that makes the game unplayable, if not "too easy/boring" outside of the intended experience.

-

That is of course. Of the top of my head. Before depending on context, you'd have to consider other bands/avenues like say, "Game Maker" or "Unity Engine" as potential fields team member's could be more familiar with, compared to Unreal Engine, or Cry Engine, or any-other-engine nitch.

Hey, I appreciate your answer!

You pretty much identified the role I had in the previous game jams so far. Unfortunately, I have also done programming, which resulted in me being split into too many domains. 

The advice you gave pretty much sums up my experience and conclusions. I am always striving for a minimum viable product, while at the same time leaving place for further improvements if it is plausible. I do agree with all your points and how you triaged the planning.

I would love to work on other major engines such as Unity or Godot, however, up until now I've been the main pillar of the teams I've been working with and I'm worried that with an engine that I am not familiar with I won't be as useful as with Unreal. :)

Right now, I don't feel like leading a team for a game jam, so this time I am not gathering one - just hoping to help some people with their projects. If you're interested in jamming together, hit me up at Discord: Melchior#9248