Welcome to My First Game Jam: Winter 2018! For those of you just joining us, it's been a tradition to kick things off with a little getting-to-know-you questionnaire! For the first-time game developer, things can be pretty intimidating... which is why we want to show you you're not alone! This is not a required activity— it's just meant as a way to break into the community for returning jammers and newbies alike.

We'd love for you to share your influences, passions, and jam goals with the rest of us. Who knows — you might meet a potential team member, or even a new friend!

Onto the questions!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

Hiya!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

I go by Gabi/Goomy/whatever you'd like! I'm 23, and I use any pronouns (you can default to they/them if it's easiest for you)!

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

This is my first time trying out My First Game Jam, and it is coincidentally my first game jam! I'm very excited. I've been meaning to join some jams for a while now, but it's been hard to find the right community (and sometimes hard to feel confident in my skills, but I've gotten better)!

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

One of the first games I ever played was Sonic Adventure 2 on my cousin's Dreamcast, way back when. I still love that game a lot, and will absolutely engage in hardcore design and narrative discussions about it at any time because that's just how I live my life. Knuckles is best boy. ANYWAY, the games I love most are ones that aren't afraid to be silly, whimsical and wild for emotional impact. I've been a fan of the Tales Of series (a JRPG franchise) since middle school, and more recently I've gotten deeply invested in the Ace Attorney series. I think AA1 really encapsulates everything I love about a game - engaging plot, endearing characters, charming point and click elements, wild twists and turns, and most importantly, crossexamining parrots. 

I write games because I want to make the world a better place for lgbt people, and have a lotta fun while doing it! Positive representation is a big step on the path towards societal acceptance (and also on the path toward making us happy, so y'know, it's a win-win). The games I like bleed into this - there's a lot of tragic stories for us out there, but not enough that dare to dream of a happier world. Sometimes I wanna see lgbt characters as fantasy rpg protagonists and screaming lawyers! Why not make it happen myself?!

Other games I like: Super Paper Mario, Undertale, Tales From The Borderlands, Oxenfree, LoZ: Majora's Mask, OneShot, Okami, Professor Layton & The Unwound Future, etc.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I have mostly writing experience and some basic design under my belt. Twine, Yarn, and Ren'py are tools I'm familiar with, and I'm learning Unity piece by piece. I have and would like to learn RPGMaker MV, but it's kinda been pushed to my mental backlog in favor of other projects.

I'm working on my first point-and-click adventure game with a friend, and have been for about four months! When it comes out, I'd be honored if you guys gave it a try.  :-)

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Oh no, I've gotta pick just one... well, I already talked about lgbt rights, so I'd like to take this time to mention that fish monsters and all other scalie boyfriends are valid. Thank you for your time.

Just kidding! One of my favorite things is the concept of "everyday magic" - little things that happen that might just be magic, but you can't prove or disprove it. It's the feeling you get when meeting eyes with a stranger going the opposite direction on a subway, when autumn leaves blow in little tornadoes when the wind moves just right, y'know. I've always loved urban fantasy and magical realism, so I guess this plays into that.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

To finish something and work in a team! I love working in teams!!! It's like our very own rpg party, but in real life!!!!!!  

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

I'm not a veteran. But if I were, I'd ideally be writing this from a very expensive plushy chair in a silk bathrobe, holding a glass of grape juice aged for 45354365 years.  Or maybe just a fancy bean bag that's really soft.

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

Keep being you!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

My name's Kirsten, but I go by PK or PKLucky most places online. I'd prefer to be called PK online, though. It makes me feel weird being called by my real name by people I just met online OuO);;;

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

This is the first time I've participated! I feel that game jams really get my creative juices flowing, so I like joining one whenever I can!

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Puzzle games and RPGs of any kind are my faves. RPG Maker games also appeal to me. Indie games like OFF, Ib, and Yume Nikki made me realize that ANYONE can make a video game, and they inspired me to create games of my own!

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I've made games with RPG Maker VX Ace and RPG Maker 2003. My first game was Legend of Percivus, made with VX Ace. I also created two games for the Indie Game Maker Contest, one for 2015 and one for 2017. Slime Heart, my entry for IGMC 2015, was made with VX Ace, and I'm currently working on an update for it. I'd Cross the World for You was my entry for IGMC 2017 and was created with RPG Maker 2003.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I'm really passionate about creating things in general! Whether it be YouTube videos, art, video games... I just love creating things, and seeing people enjoy the things I create makes me really happy!

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

I'd like to learn more about RPG Maker 2000 and how far I can push its limitations. I realize that it's similar to RPG Maker 2003, however I feel that I didn't get a chance to fully realize what exactly the engine was capable of when I was working on I'd Cross the World for You.

I'd also like to create a procedure for myself when creating events in RPG Maker. I tend to create events in RPG Maker without much thought or planning put into them, so I'm hoping to actually have some planning into how I actually structure my games in the future.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

As a veteran general game jam participant, the biggest mistake I see rookies make is trying to create too big of a game within the given time limit. Start small! It's better to have a short, polished game than a large game with bugs and glitches everywhere.

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

Just keep doing what you can to keep this event enjoyable for everyone!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hi, my name is Toni and I like making video games.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I did not participate in the last jam, I joined because I like game jams.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Doom2 got me into game development as I wanted to make my own games after playing it.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

Yes ,I have made 6 games so far , 5 of them in the unity3d game engine and a mobile game in corona sdk.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Game development, music ,sports.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

Making a decent game.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

Not a veteran.

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hi, my name is Isaiah.  I am 19 and am attending college in Chicago studying computer science, and I love playing videogames.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

Never participated in a Jam before, but I love playing video games and have wanted to make them since I was little.  I've just never had the motivation to finish a game so I thought this would be a great way to motivate myself and find others to work with on a game.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Right now I love playing competitive games.  I love playing League of legends, and occasionally playing CSGO.  Growing up I played a lot of Nintendo games like Super Mario Sunshine, Legend of Zelda Windwaker, Luigi's Mansion, and many more and ever since then I've wanted to make my own video games when I was older.  

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I have experience in development in Unity, Game maker Studio, and in Java.  I also know how to program in Python though I've never made games in it before I would be willing to learn how.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I love programming.  I've been programming since about 7th grade, although I never really got into it until my Junior year of highschool when all of FIRST robotics switched systems and it was no longer the Lego NXT, and you had to learn Java.  That's when I really got into programming and really decided that I wanted to work in programming.  

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

My goals for this game Jam are to complete a game , meet and hopefully collaborate with some other people that also like to make game.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hi! I'm Alex, or rabbit, or whatever name I can get when I sign up to things. 

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

This is my first jam ever! I've always wanted to make games, but I do all these tutorials and then never really get going with my own ideas. I'm hoping that being in a jam will help to motivate me.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

I like a lot of games! But the three that have probably inspired me the most to pursue my own ideas are the Professor Layton series, Undertale and Ghost Trick, all wonderful and strange games which aren't afraid to do their own thing.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I've done tutorials with GameMaker (which I plan to use for this jam) and Unity. I haven't really produced anything of my own yet. If it counts, I made tons of levels for the game N years and years ago.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Professional wrestling! It's dumb as hell and I love it! I love my steel chairs soap operas! I'm also into puzzles (I'd like to learn more about the construction/design side of logic puzzles someday soon) and writing my own music (hopefully I can do something for the game jam).

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

I have an idea for a puzzle RPG which I want to make before anyone else does it. But I'm intimidated by the amount of work it will take, especially on the coding side of things - I've always disliked programming, for those times when an idea or function doesn't work and I just can't figure out why. In this game jam, I hope to get more comfortable with coding and do a lot of the heavy lifting on my idea by prototyping the central battle mechanic of this larger game. Depending on how much time I have left, I'd also like to construct the skeleton of the larger RPG project (dungeons, conversations, etc.) and prototype other puzzle systems.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hi! My name is Hub, I use he/his (but I don't really mind anything other than she/her) pronouns and I like software development!!

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I did! I plan to actually make something this time, haha. 

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

I love Megaman Battle Network and Megaman Legends, but recently I'm getting into Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Warframe. I love the "what it means to be human" narrative, and I try to incorporate that into a lot of my work. 

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I do! I have experience making my own game engines, and experience in AGS, XNA/Monogame, and Unity. 

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT MEGAMAN, MY SWEET SON

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

Finish something!

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

Have fun, don't stress, and don't feel bad if you don't get something out there! Keep on fighting!

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

Y'all are so sweet, keep engaging with the community and doing what you're doing!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

I'm Seren! Nice to meet you. I like video games and movies, and reviewing them, mentally, because I haven't worked up the courage to make a blog or Youtube channel. I'm studying computer science but would love to join some indie game company after graduation. 

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

Yes! I'm hoping to make my game a more satisfying experience this time (the last one was "finished" but not really, yanno?), and to make it from mostly-scratch. Last time I used Ren'Py, but this time I'll just be using straight-up Java. 

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Honestly, too many to count, and I have some favorites across all genres. Overwatch and Borderlands for shooters, Mario Odyssey for platforming, BOTW for sandbox, Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright for puzzles, Dangan Ronpa for visual novels, um...there's a lot more. I think all of them collectively have inspired me, especially the early Zelda and Pokemon games which I played religiously. I just want to give people a fun time.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

Nooot really! Just the last game jam, which was a visual novel/kind of  memory-puzzle game in Ren'Py. 

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Animal husbandry! I care very much about animals and would like them all to be treated well with all the misconceptions out there cleared up (especially with fish!!!!). I'm also very into clean energy and stuff like that.  Can't have a good time if the planet's gone, yanno.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

To present a finished product and to provide multiple routes in the story! I'm hoping to make an overall satisfying experience, something more polished than my last attempt. I'm also going to be basically self-teaching myself all the stuff you need to know to make video games in Java--I've never done anything but class assignments in it!

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

Don't be afraid to cut back! Last jam I cut what must've been 3/4 of my game, but I'm so happy I did it, because I walked away with a finished product. Having something you can really share with others and present as something "finished" is a great feeling, and those features you cut out can always be added later.

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

Can't think of too much! Maybe more forum interaction as far as updates with people's games go? I honestly didn't go on the forums much last year (so I don't know what would need to be improved) but I will be this time.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hello world! My name is  Melissa and I'm a 24 year old service rep from the planet Earth. Surprising fact about me: I love video games. (shocking I know) 

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

This is my first jam! While I didn't participate in the last jam I did watch it unfold, like a pining lover watches their crush. After much self debate I decided to try it! I've always wanted to try making a game and this seemed like a good place to start!

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Platformers, RPGs, and Visual Novels are my favorites. While I don't play it as much as other genres, I also have a weakness for a good Horror game. 

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I've dabbled a bit with the basics of Unity, but that's about it. Frankly: I'm a noob.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Other than video games, I love to write and draw. I love to build worlds and fill them with characters. 

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

To dip a toe in the waters of creative challenge. I'm not expecting to make a masterpiece, or even a fully developed game. But I want to try to follow my passion. Baby steps. I'm hoping to finish a basic prototype. 

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

I'm not a veteran but I have heard several veterans say to  make something that you would want to play. 

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hi my name is Nikhil .  I am a 19 year old from India and i am in college pursuing computer science. I love to create and play Games.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?4

This is my first Jam participating! I am really excited .  I am still a learner i.e I am still learning from the Tutorials for Developing my Skills . By joining  a Game Jam i might express my own ideas and work with it and see how far i have come. 

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

My first Game was Empire Earth a PC Strategy Games and is still one of my  favorite strategic games of all time. As I started playing more and more Games i became curious on how these games were made , the level of Detailing. These things inspired me to make Games. 

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I have Good Experience with Unity3d Game Engine . I have created 10 Games with the help of Tutorials .

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I love Football,My favorite team being Real Madrid. I love playing Video Games and obviously Developing Games.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

Opening up to my Ideas and check where I stand and Enjoy the Work  Process.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

hi. im yunus, working as a software developer.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

no

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

roguelikes. unbeatable but a new story of failure every time. 

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

got some unfinished command line games.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

food&cooking, trying to figure out how things work and being able to fix them,

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

at work i code boring stuff and get paid. now it will be opposite i think.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

me? a veteran? no.

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

My name is Mo.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do
you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for
joining?

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

I am a fan of platformers both 2D and 3D. One game that stands out for me in Donkey Kong Country 2 on SNES. I like games from other genres too. I always wanted to make games - don't have any particular reason - just that I enjoy it.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

A bit of experience using Unity.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Games, Football.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

Finish a game polished or unpolished within 2 weeks.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

My name is Quinn and I've recently graduated with a bachelor's in English. I'm not really sure what else to say!

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If not, what's your reason for joining?

No, this is the first time I've heard of the Jam. I want to learn something and try to go out of my comfort zone. I haven't created anything in years and I miss that. I miss being able to make things and have fun with creation. My perfectionism tends to really hurt me but  with  the time constraint I'll have to just do my best instead of obsessing over Unobtainable perfection, I hope. 

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Pokémon will always be the closest to my heart but a recent favorite is Mariokart. Final Fantasy IX & all of the Tactics are also games I really adore. I've thought, mostly jokingly, that it'd be fun to be in the design team for a game. Coding and building aren't something I thought I'd ever try, just the concept and designs of things.

4. Do you have experience with game development?

Nope, I'm very much a first-timer.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Civil rights and diversity are very important to me. I can't think of a character in media that's like me and that kind of sucks. Resource conservation is something to work forward with too.. I also feel strongly about pineapple on pizza- it's the superior topping. 

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

Just to try and do my best and learn something new. I can only get better since I'm new.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hi, I'm Noah. I own and solely operate Upside-Down Camel around a school and extracurricular schedule. Here at Upside-Down Camel, we make games that don't take a lot of time to play, are infinitely re-playable, and are easy-to-learn-hard-to-master. 

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I did not participate in the last jam you held, though I was in GitHub's Game Off 2017. I thought I'd do well, but I finished about halfway through, an average finish. I think that this is because I spent all my time working on squeezing out bugs and freshening up graphics and all that that I never added anything new. This time, I'm going to focus on the players and the game content. I joined this to talk to other developers, get some inspiration, and, most of all, make a game and have fun.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

My favorite game of all time would have to be Destiny 2. For a one man team, making something like that would be a huge undertaking, so I went more of the Ketchapp route, making infinitely re-playable games that were fun for all ages. But, I want to be my own developer. Each game is a new concept, and is carefully planned out ahead of time.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I do have experience with game development. The game I am making for this jam is Zip, which is a follow up to my first game. I created Trials, a retro bumper-car style combat using Unity3D.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I am very passionate about the people playing my game, and I want the best for them. Whether that means delving into categories I am not fond of or do not know, learning a whole new way of coding, or working extra hours, I want to make sure that our players are having the best time possible playing our games.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

My goals for this game jam are to rank well and learn. Knowledge is very valuable, and I intend to absorb some that will help Upside-Down Camel in the future. Ranking well? I'll just have to hope that the viewers like my game.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

All new jammers, here is some device: Do not be upset when you don't rank well. Look at the categories you did sub-par in and learn, so, in the next jam, you can do well.

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

I have no complaints for the admins.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

I'm Setsune. Live in Ohio, in the US.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I didn't participate in the last jam; I wasn't aware of it. I joined this as a good friend recommended it, and I've had a hard time jumpstarting my own projects independently. The game jam format and low impact nature of the jam might help with that.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Mario games, including SMB3, Galaxy 1 & 2, and now Odyssey, some Sonic games, Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger, and some assorted others.

I did take various stabs at making amateur Sonic games years ago, and scripted out a Mario fan game, but ultimately didn't get far with actual production of either. I'm focused on original works now, but of course I want to echo good game design concepts those titles introduced or refined.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

Years ago I used to tinker with the predecessors of Clickteam Fusion, including The Games Factory, Click & Create, and several versions of Multimedia Fusion, which became the current Clickteam Fusion. You can actually get fairly far with those engines with a lot of custom override code, something a friend of mine is particularly good at, but ultimately I found it to be massively inconsistent and a pain to fight with. I hit several roadblocks I couldn't work out on my own, and it discouraged me from development for some time.

I picked up Unity a little over a year ago, and while I've made a few starts on projects, it's pretty hard to stay motivated.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I really like VR. I think it's going to be the future of some games (not all, at least not until virtual screens are nice to use). In the past I've had the Oculus Rift DK1 and DK2, and the Gear VR, and currently I have my HTC Vive and a dedicated space for Room Scale VR.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

I want to get a project out there that's playable, something that can at least somewhat be considered finished. I'd like to learn more about the tools I use, through collaboration and practice. And if possible, I'd like to work with a team, as self-motivation has been an issue in the past. It's hard to stay dedicated when you believe no one cares about your work.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

Not Applicable.

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

Not Applicable.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Yo. I'm Dean "ICanEditzComicz/ccooldean" K. I've made *one* full game so far. I also make memes on my mildly successful youtube channel that I'm currently neglecting.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I wanna make a new game, man! And this is the perfect motivation for it. Plus, I've always wanted to do a jam.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

ViViD is what has inspired my one and only game "This Game Is Impossible"

I also accidentally came up with the idea for DDLC before it ever came out, but was never able to make it myself so I'm glad at least someone could ^^

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

GameMaker 8.1 is where I started and stuck for honestly wayyyy longer than I should have. Now I'm on GameMaker: Studio, but have periodically dipped my toes in the lukewarm pool that is GameMaker: Studio 2.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

VIDEOGAMES AND MEMES

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

To make a game I enjoy.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

No 'cause I'm not lol

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

HET I'm not lol

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hello! my name is Robert Kroll, i am extremely new at making games for the past week i have been attempting to learn how to make a game through multiple sources im 18 and i have been around games all my life and they have been a huge part in my life i love the creativity around games they are something someone thought of and then put into a playable game this game we play is someones ideas and thoughts and i love that and i want to learn how to do that myself as best i can i will try as hard as i can to learn how.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

This is my very first game jam my friend who knew i was working on learning games showed this to me.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Monster hunter is my favorite game in general but in terms of inspiration and making me want to make my own that was probally crash bandicoot on the ps1 when i was little.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

i have no experience in terms of code and texture mapping but i have learned some of the very basics of Unity and Blender 

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Im very passionate in learning about things that interest me i suppose such as gaming and the creations of games (i know very simple answer but its true)

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

My goals are to learn about game development and hopefully start making small games nothing to complicated yet 

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

N/A

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

N/A

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

I'm Marius, I'm 18
I started a dev school (EPITECH) and i dev since I'm 13
I live in Montpellier, France so I don't speak English like French :D
I'ts my first game jam

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I never participate to a game jam but i have the experiance and i wanted to see if i can do it !

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

I realy love the managment games but i like to do any types of games !
I was inspired by narrative games and top down adventure

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I dev since I was 13 so now I'm 18, I have 5 years of experiance, i know the most used languages, and I very like C#
I created mini games and some tools but never a real game
I want to create a real game on unity

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I really like rap music and programming, I spend the most of my time to dev with a background music everyday
I like the flight simulation, I can fly a Boeing 737 during 3 hours without problems :)

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

I want to make a real game that I can show to my friends, my familly. I always stopped my projects because it's always too big.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hey! I'm Kenna May! This is my first time using itch.io as well as participating in a game jam, and I'm VERY excited if also extremely nervous. I'm also going to be blogging during the jam at gamingofkenna.tumblr.com.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

Nope! First jam ever! I've been interested in game writing and design for a couple years now, but have been too busy to do much about it. I've been planning on practicing game design using a bunch of different introductory programs, so when I heard about My First Game Jam it was the PERFECT opportunity to finally move on to RPGMaker, the free version of which I've had sitting on my computer for over a year.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Too many to name, but for the project I'm working on this year I was particularly inspired by the games Battle Chasers: Nightwar, Birdland, Undertale, the entire Ace Attorney series, and Supergiant's game (Bastion/Transister/Pyre). I'm particularly fond of adventure games like Legend of Zelda, and Assassin's Creed, as well. I haven't played many tabletop games, though what I have had the chance to play I've highly enjoyed.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

Last year I created a game in Twine for the Interactive Fiction Competition, which is the only completed project I've ever worked on. I've played around a bit with RPGMaker (VX Ace) before, and I have coding experience from school/working on personal projects online. I'm working on another Twine game now as well.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Stories! My lifelong dream has been to work in storytelling, and in the last decade or so I've been fascinated with the idea of using games to tell stories. I really love how the stories that games can tell are different from the kinds of stories you find elsewhere. I also love writing and particularly editing (what I actually went to school for), as well as graphic design, and lately audio drama and podcasts.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

To create a finished game! Or, baring that, to get as close to that as possible. I want to get proficient in a new program, and learn skills in creating my own game assets. I'd also like to get better at project management.

Sorry for being a bit late on this! Was busy with work! D:

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hi my name is Steven! I'm 22 and currently live in Montreal, Quebec. Send me a DM Steven#4726 if you want to talk or have any questions!(I'll do my best to answer them! :o) 

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I haven't participating in the jam since the very first MFGJ but since then I've been mostly helping others as a mentor!  

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

My favorite games are Puzzle games, action rpgs and competitive games . However, the games that inspire me the most now a days are games that delve into quirky themes or mechanics.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I have about 4 years of experience as a "hobbyist" game developer. I've participated in many game jams and graduated from a gamedev course.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I'm passionate about games and the many ways it could be use to teach and entertain!

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

Help out newcomers!

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

This might not be too practical but it might be something worth mentioning :o (I wanted to try out something new I guess)

If you're coming into this as a new jammer, it really help to get into the mentality of improving your skills or learning  new skill(s) instead of proving yourself to others.  Be the best you !

Also and most importantly :  go easy on yourself/take care of yourself!!!!!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

I'm GuessTheNameSlick, but a lot of people just call me Slick! I've always wanted to develop a game, so I'm going to try doing that now!

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I did apply for the Winter Jam 2017, but I never even created a submission after school got hectic v_v. Hopefully this time around I'll be better in managing life and getting a finished project!

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

Hyper Light Drifter, Undertale, and N++ stand out for me. I feel like Undertale has influenced my story telling and character development, Hyper Light Drifter has influenced my atmospheric decisions and musical style, and N++ has given me a slight sense of masochism.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I've messed around in GameMaker, Unity, and RPGmaker VX Ace, but I've never made a finished product. I haven't even made a small demo ; _ ;

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Drawing and Music! I practice art and doodle almost every day, and I use Musescore to try and write songs. I also have recently taken up knitting, which is quite relaxing.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

Make a finished product and have a completed project! The more I think about it the more I realize I can't recall a single finished project that I voluntarily did, so getting a finished (or semi-finished) result would mean a lot to me.

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hello! I'm Stevo. You betcha I want to introduce myself! :) Nice to meet everyone.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

Nope, this is the first organized game jam I've participated in. I've noodled around with making games in Clickteam Fusion before years back in high/middle-school, and I want to get back in the saddle and get in the habit of making things again.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

I really enjoy videogames, and I love to try all different kinds to see what's out there. The Legend of Zelda series is one of my favorites though,particularly the 2D ones (...plus Breath of the Wild of course :), and that seemed like an easy enough style game that my teammate and I could make a bite-sized game in 2 weeks.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

Just Clickteam Fusion. I've got a little experience in computer programming, and helped a very tiny bit with a friend who built an RPG engine in Java. I'd love to really get down into the weeds with programming more in-depth games in the future.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Being happy. I believe being happy is a choice - I like being happy, so I chose to be happy, and that makes me happy. It's not quite as easy as that, but it's a great way to live.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

My goals are: (1) To practice working on a team, and (2) To get in the habit of making projects again and jamming.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

The advice that seems to help me the most is just to keep sticking with it, and scale back. Start with the tiniest thing, see if you can make that, and if you end up making that in 1 day, great! Add some more detail/levels/polish/etc. It's so easy for me to overcommit.

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

I'm a newbie, but it seems like y'all are doing a great job! Keep it up!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hello you beautiful people!! I go by juicemin, and I'm currently a sophomore majoring in Computer Game Science. I'm new to itch.io as well as making games, so I'm a bit nervous but excited! 

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

Nope, this is my very first online game jam! I decided to join purely because I would like to gain more experience making games; it also feels a lot less intimidating/more encouraging when there's a bunch of other beginners doing it as well!

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

I love games with an interesting narrative;; so I'm mostly into VNs and RPGs. But my favorite games include the KH series, Ib, and Undertale.  It's not like these specific games inspired me, but generally I fell in love with how video games are like another level of immersion as opposed to reading books and watching a movie. I just think it's really cool being able to create your own story/world and having others immerse themselves and have fun with you too!

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

Not much, I took one class in high school and one in college so far; I can't really remember the engine I used in HS, but I recently used scratch for a class and created 3 small mini games: pong , a platformer, and tower of hanoi.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

I love art, dancing, and taekwondo! I also really love anime/manga (if that isn't too cringey to saY LMAO) HMU IF U WANT SUM ANIME RECS

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

I'd like to actually finish my game before the jam is over, learn how to use RPGMaker, and develop my skills in digital/pixel art to create my own characters/visuals! Any form of progress for the latter two I will be content with LOL so my real goal is to finish making a game.

MAN im posting this with 99.9% shame b/c i have no idea if i can get ANYTHING done to present by the end of this jam due to sched problems, but

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

yes, hello! i'm poke. i go by h2o2/h3o3, pilumvane and princepoke/p.poke around as well, but feel free to call me anything ya want.
i draw, and like to explore, adventure and create! i usually/mostly do illustrations, character designs, and graphics(?) assets - usually for pet sites! stuff like item art, pet art, etc, etc. I always love to learn new things tho, and try out different things, so I also do stuff like backgrounds/sceneries, pixel art, and other smtimes. I also love to design and create merchandise stuff, and table in cons once in a blue moon.

I've been doing art for about 5 yrs now, and I also sing/play the guitar on the side as a hobby (have been doin it for abt a yr-ish). 
ya can find me on twitter @moRonsense and on tumblr @pilumvane (inactive rn)

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

yeah! i joined the last two jams in teams, and sadly we weren't able to release a game. This time around, I'm hoping to go solo, and try to actually try learning something on the coding side, even if its very basic. I'm also planning to tackle things at a much smaller scale, with a smaller game (literally. LAFFS)

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

i love mystery/puzzle games, rhythm games and slice-of-life games, like professor layton, and rhythm hero/elite beat agents, and stardew valley/animal crossing respectively. I absolutely love satire genre as a whole tho (games included). I think they definitely have made me want to make my own games, definitely! I'd love to make sum very very simple games such as The Farmer (if.... anyone knows this flash game sdahjkd... absolute best imo), and games like tamagochi where u take care of smthing.... or fishing mechanics hehe

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

nnno;; ahahaha i do have VXAce, bu never got around to using it as of yet.

i am hoping to explore game dev with renpy this game jam tho! starting with small steps,,

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

i love learning/exploring in general!! as well as soft/melancholic themes and space. i love ambient things in general, and the peace and calmness of gray noise. 

doing different things, hobbies, and enjoying general life things is something i passionately try to do in general, i think. im very enthusiastic about the small steps. small joys.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

i'm aiming to actually get a game out, no matter how small it is! but more than anything, my main goal is to learn how to code at least a lil bit :-0c
the most code tinkering i've gotten the chance to do until now has all be design-based, so id def love to be able to at least learn how to do the smallest hings :-)c

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

overall, if ur working in a team, I think delegating tasks are definitely very important. often times, the work of the writer can get overlapped into the coder's work, as they're the ones who usually have more knowledge of what theyre capable of making (from my experience at least!!) and this can slow down the pace of the coding and game-making process overall. so delegating tasks are very important, i think!!

and definitely gauging how much work you can do, and at least giving urself small deadlines, so u can finish things within teh time is a good idea as well, i think.

tho definitely overall, the most important thing is to definitely enjoy the process!! no matter what, as long as u walk away with the tiniest bit of added joy, pride, knowledge or fun, the others are second already i think!! but mayb thats just me (ahahaha)

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

i think the admins are doing an amazing job! perhaps lil motivators in the discord could b great! but definitely not necessary, as the community, and all the dev logs are rlly nice motivators :-0cc

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Howdy! My name IRL is Guilherme, on the internet I go by Keyb or Keyband. I'm brazilian and currently coursing Physics Engineering.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

 Nope. I'm joining because it seems a good game jam to be my first! Also, there's a lot of people participating, and I believe the feedback will be big and precious. After this one I plan participating on other ones, like (one day maybe) Ludum Dare.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

SNES' games have a place in my heart. I find as an inspiration almost any game from that era, in at least one thing: like the gameplay, graphics, the creativity. If I were to pick, would select Super Mario World, ALttP, Megaman X, and Street Fighter 2. 

 But what made me want to make my own game is that nowadays it's easier to develop a game, and maybe I can make something as good as it is in my mind.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I already tried making some minor projects, completing none. Tried Game Maker and Unity, but the licensing of the first and some particular issues with the second got me away from them. Now I use the outstanding Godot Engine 3.0, in the second beta at the moment. It is a very good engine, albeit kinda hard to understand on the beginning!

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Well, I love playing games. Sleeping is nice too. And physics are OK I guess! (laughs)

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

I'm participating with a friend of mine, called Sklaiser. We're aiming to make a very small Megaman X-like game, with its own charm. Since this will be the first project we will finish, I expect to learn lots of stuff, from coding to graphics to music.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

--

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

--

So when the game jam was starting, I was having crazy weather with power outages, so I missed the community section of this jam and went straight to making my game, so I’m super late with this lol

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?
Hello! My name is Liz, I made Ziquirrel Games so I didn’t have to release games under my actual name. Ziquirrel is shortened version of Zippy Squirrel, the name of my first car and my favorite animal! I’m a self-taught graphic designer that has been in love with video games and computer games, even though I’m not the best at them, for as long as I can remember! I’ve always wanted try to make my own games, and finally in 2018, I decided to try!

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?
This Game Jam ever; I joined because I found the itch.io website through a random article and I decided 2018 was the year I finally try making video games! I’ve done similar type events when I was in film school, where I had to make a complete movie in 36 hours, so I thought a Game Jam would be a fun way to learn how to make games 

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?
I have a weird and varied taste in games; I like simulation games most I guess, followed by racing, fighting/beat-em-up games, and strategy games, I especially love early Maxis simulation games plus The Sims series, early Blizzard Entertainment games/Diablo 3, the Saints Row Series, and Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons/Stardew Valley type games. I don’t really know what game inspired me in general, but I think what most influenced me to try jump starting on making games was Stardew Valley, because I’ve always been thinking “ugh if I could make my own version of Harvest Moon, I would do this, this and this” etc, but didn’t really it was a feasible game idea until Stardew Valley 

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?
I have 0 actual game development experience, I’m using the Construct 3 game engine to make my game. I have a very basic knowledge of Python, plus some experience being a Producer/Production Manager in film, that normally translates to the video game industry, and my self-taught Art Design and Graphic design experience; though I’m not very good at pixel art, which is something I want to work on

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!
Well besides computer games and video games, I’m very passionate about cooking, Japanese culture, art, filmmaking, and photography

6. What are your goals for this game jam?
Well basically to figure out making a game in the Construct 3 game engine, also one of my big goals is to go from being very bad at pixel art to being maybe-not-so-bad at pixel art

7 & 8 are not applicable to me because I have NO IDEA what I am doing lol

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

My name is Christopher. im from Colombia.

Im an amateur game developer, im nineteen years old, and i take game development as a hobby and a passion alike.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

• I did not, this would be my second attempt in participating a Jam, even though last attempt i didn't uploaded anything.
•  The reason why i decided to join this jam, is mainly because this would be the first time i try to make a narrative game. 

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

• Faster Than Light,  this game is just simply amazing, I've wasted dozens of hours in FTL, and i think it was great inspiration for a lot of tiny things i've written about Sci-Fi
• Nuclear Throne, Shmup, awesome game, awesome gameplay, one of the best out there.
• Super Paper Mario.
• Grears of War Franchise.
• Pokemon saga, i fell in love with pokemon games sinse im a small child, and its just covers my entire childhood.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

• I do have experience, however, its very limited, it mainly consists of a lot of different attempts to complete a proyect, yet i never seem to have enough motivation to advance past the main menu hahaha... :(

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

• Astronomy, you can tell ill make a lot of space games in the future xd.
• Game development overall.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

• Learn something, meet new people, and have a good time exploring new ideas regarding game development.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

• Yo, don't join when the submission countdown is two days remaining... like i did...

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

• Time management, if you have a lot of doubts regarding story, let me tell you that some times, Gameplay > Lore (Some times)...

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

Hi, I'm Jayesh. I've been a software dev for a long time, but only recently I decided to take game dev seriously. "Fold Wars" is my first game that I developed for others to play. It's a 2D Tower Defense game. I want to experiment with art style and music, to make this an interesting strategy game. It's still in early stages of development, but it's playable on itch.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

Nope, missed that one. Only recently became active on itch.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

My first favorite was "Age of Empires". Then StarCraft. I also have favorites in other genre - Bioshock Infinite, Dirt Rally, Braid, Limbo, Inside

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

Not exactly. I've lot of experience with programming and also in graphics programming (both 2D and 3D). But games are more than programming. I haven't been confident enough with my artistic abilities to venture into game development ... that is until now! 

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Dreaming about new possibilities with my software projects.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

Meet other newbie game devs like me. Get feedback from people on my game.

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

I'm new myself!

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

Thanks for organizing.

Hi!

1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?

I'm Jamal. I've been programming for a while, and have always want to try my hand at game development.

2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?

I did not. I joined this jam to finally get more motivation to work on a game.

3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?

I'm a big fan of JRPGs and adventure games. The game Kentucky Route Zero is one of the more recent ones that made me want to try this.

4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?

I tried one of the Unity tutorials a while ago.

5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!

Passionate about learning stuff, and the capacity of people to learn.

6. What are your goals for this game jam?

To create a simple arcade game, and to learn the basics of PICO-8

7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?

n/a

8. If you're a returning jammer, what can the admins do to improve your jam experience?

n/a