Welcome to the first LowestPoly 🔻GameJam! This game jam's focus is to make 3d games where every poly counts. All skill levels are welcome. If you are a pro, take this opportunity to work on your 3D authoring skills. If you are a beginner to 3D modeling, consider this a challenge to learn something new. Also, if you are a beginner, check out the bottom of this page for resources to help you get started. This game jam is brought to you by AsFunAsFun. This is our first time hosting a game jam. GLHF!
AFAF stands with Ukraine ! Personally, I have worked with Ukrainian people for years. They are some of the nicest people on the planet.
Low Poly 3D
The poly count of a 3D model is something worth considering. When the poly count is high, your PC must do more work to render the model. If it's just one model, it isn't a problem for modern PCs. But most games need many 3D models on the screen at the same time. When 3D modelling was new, computers were not very good at drawing 3D images in real-time. It took weeks to render just a few seconds of 3D in motion. So clever game designers found ways to make 3D work in real-time eventually, but it wasn't perfect. The PlayStation 1 and the N64 could only handle so many polys on screen at a time. This challenged game designers and artists to effectively convey detail with just a few polys. This limitation forces the artist to carefully consider each vertex. The result of this limitation can be very beautiful. Pixel art has similar limitations and is also very beautiful. Is the beauty in the creation or in the medium? I think it is in both of course! The limitation in fidelity forces the observer to fill in the missing detail with their own imagination. This is an immersive experience and can make the work instantly personal to anyone who looks at it. That is why low poly art is still being created even though our computers can handle higher poly counts now. I hope this inspires you to try making your own!
Check out this thread over on the polycount forums for some examples of lowpoly
https://polycount.com/discussion/41232/lowpoly-or-the-optimisation-appreciation-...
Also check out r/ lowpoly
https://www.reddit.com/r/lowpoly/
Socials
Discord: https://discord.gg/azBQ9XsuXb (UPDATED INVITE 3/13/22)
Use #LowestPolyGameJam when tagging posts please.
Follow AsFunAsFun on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsFunAsFun
Theme
Based on 23 votes the theme for this jam is:
- SLOWMO -
Rules
Teams can be of any size.
Any 3D asset must be made by you or someone on your team. You may reuse older work, but it must be your creation.
Any 2D asset, code or audio assets may be from other sources, but you must have the proper rights .
If you have any questions or concerns, you may reach out to AsFunAsFun via discord or twitter.
Recommended Software
3D Modeling tools
https://jeiel.itch.io/sprytile
3D for beginners
https://tools.kenney.nl/kenshape/
https://zbrushcore.com/mini/index.php
https://unity.com/features/probuilder
More resources and tools here:
https://gamefromscratch.com/resources/
FAQ
Q: How can I make a game in a weekend?
A: As long as you keep the scope really low, you can finish in time and have time left over to playtest!. If you make a "game" where you have a really cool environment to walk around in than that works! Or even like a pong clone with an interesting paddle. The focus of this game jam is the assets, not so much the game play.
Q: How do I pack detail into a 3D model with polygon limitations?
A: Make the textures & the shaders do the work for you. You will need to be clever as well. Sometimes a quad that billboards to the camera is all you need. Try to use textures and strong shapes to show detail first. If the shape and texture isn't enough, then try more polys. Plan each model strategically and see what you can do with textures, vertex colors, edge hardness, metallic, roughness, emissive, etc.
Q: Is there a limit to how many polys a model can have?
A: No, just try to use as few as possible.
Q: Is the theme optional or required?
A: Optional.
A few tips:
- If it's small, use a transparent sprite to convey detail. For example a bag tied to a belt. Use a bag sprite and map it to a quad that is fixed to the waste.
- If it's large, use textures to convey micro details and as few polys as possible to convey the overall detail.
- In general use textures to your advantage!
- 3D objects don't have to connect! sometimes it takes fewer polys to have two objects intersect rather than connect. Good for elbows, knees and necks.
- Delete it if you can't see it. Any polys that will be forever hidden behind other polys should be deleted.
- Use Vertex color to convey details, lighting effects, highlights and shadows.
- Be clever! Strive to take it further and cram more detail into less.
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