My first game jam was in 2011. The second (I believe) Global Game Jam and the first one I participated in. It was a thrill. One weekend, way too many energy drinks and no sleep. But in the end there was a game. It was a bit crazy to me that this is even possible.
SInce then I participated every year in a game jam. EIther Global Game Jam or Ludum Dare other smaller or local jams. And it was always fun. But then a couple of years back I stopped. No time, too tired, other stuff to do... You know - just getting older.
But this weekend I grouped up with some people and worked on a game for the 59th Ludum Dare. The theme was "Signal". 72 hours, no energy drink and almost enough sleep. How times change. Nevertheless it was fun. While I used to mostly program or do UI design on Game Jams, I fully concentrated on the creation of 3d assets this time while professionals did the wiring in the Unreal engine. My contribution in the end consisted of 5 different building assets. A signal tower, fishermans hut, floating market, refuel station, shipyard and a bouy. A 6th asset - observatorium - did not make it into the game.
The result is a small strategic tower placement game. Ships are constantly leaving a shipyard and you have to strategically place signal towers to guide them to several locations. Either a fisher hut, market, refuel station or a bouy (final goal). Or any combination of those in a specific order. Of course you need to make sure the ships don't crash or run out of fuel on their way.
For 3 days and 6 people working on it I think the result is quite good. Nothing groundbreaking but solid and with almost no bugs. The graphics/art-style is way more polished than it has any right to be for a game jam game.
But hey, if you want to check it out for yourself, give it a go here: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/59/guiding-signal
And if not, here are at least some pictures.
