Game In A Week XIII

I was going to say earlier that doing these GIAW's has really helped me.

Go back and look at Pulsus. Too many cutscenes without enough action. It was a movie. Then look at those maps. WAY too much empty space. I've learned from that and the judges' critique.

With Eden, I aimed too high and spent too much time on things that ultimately didn't make it into the game.

So on my third go around I'm trying to use that and make a better game.

Thanks for the compliments guys!

Hmm, I wonder what I'll learn from the critiques...

In the past, I was far too shy to post any games, so I just sort of learned on my own (I probably made about 20 unfinished games before posting one). My first actual RPG Maker release was part of a GIAW (called Major Arcana). *__* I feel like I learned so much more from that than I ever could on my own!

So, its definitely a good idea to post whatever you can, and get whatever feedback you can!

I find that these are a great way to practice three things:

1) Working on the essentials FIRST - If you focus on some special effect or piece of art rather than the meat of the game, it'll suffer for it.
2) Scoping - If you dream too big, it'll bite ya.
3) Thinking Smart - If you design the game to be something that can be made easily, you'll do a lot better.

These to me are some of the most important qualities of a good game designer, even higher than designing good mechanics and such. If you can't handle these, none of those beautiful ideas will ever exist.

Oh god, I just remembered that I forgot to change the grass tile that the water autotile uses.

Spoiler for:

Spoiler for Great Truth:

I find that these are a great way to practice three things:

1) Working on the essentials FIRST - If you focus on some special effect or piece of art rather than the meat of the game, it'll suffer for it.
2) Scoping - If you dream too big, it'll bite ya.
3) Thinking Smart - If you design the game to be something that can be made easily, you'll do a lot better.

These to me are some of the most important qualities of a good game designer, even higher than designing good mechanics and such. If you can't handle these, none of those beautiful ideas will ever exist.

Exactly! I'd like to add that for games with big ideals, you can always add stuff on once you've got the important stuff done with!

But sometimes, working with the stuff you're used to can get boring and cause the "blank canvas" feeling. What has helped me in the past is to take database ideas from previous games and recycle those. So, you can get to the fun stuff sooner. ;o That applies to a lot of ideas for things that you don't enjoy, not just database (I kinda like database ok).

Definitely. It's way easier to fill in blanks than it is to draw on a blank canvas. I always make the names of every location in the game before I even begin to map them at all. Then I do THE most basic maps you'll ever see with no art, gameplay or events! It's just small jobs that lead to the final product! What's nice is that you can notice overarching problems early on and fix them before you commit any time to something.

Then I do THE most basic maps you'll ever see with no art, gameplay or events!

Awesome advice.

I can't do it.

Mapping is my joy when it comes to rpg maker. Nothing else gets me so pumped. Eventing and cutscenes are fun, but maps make the game alive to me!

But I may try to see if doing this helps me accomplish other things in the future. :-p

Great advice indeed!  I actually started with a test map for mechanics.  Worked on collision detection and other major mechanics, and caught a huge number of minor issues that would have been huge problems if I had started eventing or even map creation first.

Every map in my game shares about 40 events.  I tested these events on my test map.  Once I had my mechanics working correctly, I simply copied and pasted the test map (with all events) and then slapped down new mapping on top of it.  Literally every map is a pasted and modified version of my test map.  Doing things this way allowed me to make a much larger project than I otherwise could have in so little time. 


Really, bluntsword?  You like mapping that much?  You and I should talk... 

Ehh, I still think it would be nice to be able to get others together to work on various projects which on that note I wouldn't mind some artistic help at times either. :/

Working with teams is great, as long as you've got reliable partners beside you! It's also a nice way to get to know others.

tbh, I wouldn't mind doing more team challenges around the forums. B) Maybe a smaller form of the guilds or something.

That would be a lot of fun to do team challenges...

I'm doing a project with a friend already, and it's a big load off not having to tackle the whole darn thing... In fact, I'm getting motivated to work on it more just writing this!

ETA at this point is late Monday, though even that's not set in stone.

late Monday,
late Monday,
late Monday,



It's all good. Whichever judge is having personal problems, feel no pressure. Just patiently waiting to be able to belittle the top three's efforts.

I am waiting the scores...i want the scores...i am waiting the scores... - judge open the door -

Spoiler for:

GIVE ME THE SCOREEEEEEES!

Now really, no problem, but not more sure dates please xDDDD

Weer r teh scorezz?!!?

AUAGUGHH!



Meh, it's all cool

I catch Pokemonz every time I come to this thread

I catch Pokemonz every time I come to this thread

You went and jinxed it. 

Spoiler for:

did i? :3

*EDIT*
I think I did T_T

i have to confess something, i cant keep this a secret anymore
i slept with one of the contestants. i will continue being a judge but i just had to confess this to get it off my chest

Spoiler for:

sorry blunt i couldnt keep it a secret any longer ;~;

I thot it was gun b me

waei to brak my hart

LOL

bluntsword is probably the funniest clean member we have ;__;

bluntsword is probably the funniest clean member we have ;__;

Glad to fill the void!

I don't know how clean he is if he's sleeping with the judges...

bluntsword is probably the funniest clean member we have ;__;

Glad to fill the void!

Way to turn it dirty!