Lightbearer: Time Management

As a student and working developer, participating in a game jam can be a challenging task when it comes to time management. With limited time, I had to carefully plan out my schedule and prioritize what needed to be done. 

The Jam

I specifically selected this particular game jam, as it allowed for the use of public domain and preexisting assets, which made the development process a bit easier. I am not an artist, nor a musician, so not having to create these types of assets saved me a lot of time I was able to allocate to the development itself. Additionally, the two-week timeframe provided a reasonable amount of time to develop a functional and polished game, without feeling overly rushed or constrained.

The Start

At the beginning of the jam, I ran into a few issues that prevented me from allocating the time I wanted to the project. With work obligations taking up the majority of my time, I had to adjust my schedule and make sacrifices in other areas to free up more time for the jam.

This meant that I had to work extra hard to make up for the lost time later on in the jam. I knew that I had to be strategic with my time and focus on the most critical tasks to ensure that I would complete the game on time.

Despite the initial setbacks, I remained determined and committed to the project. I found that taking breaks to clear my mind and refocus my energy was essential in maintaining my productivity.

Priorities

I started by focusing on building the game mechanics, which took up the majority of my time. With limited time left, I had to make the tough decision to focus on the game's core features and leave level design until the end.

One of the tools that helped me the most in managing my time was the Godot game engine. With its ease of use and quick implementation of features, I was able to build and test ideas quickly. Sometimes, I was even surprised at how quickly I was able to build certain features.

While it was tempting to keep polishing features until they were perfect, I had to learn to step away and move on to the next task. This allowed me to keep a good pace and ensured that I had enough time to complete everything before the deadline.

Cutting Features

Throughout the development process of Lightbearer, I came up with many ideas for additional features and mechanics that could enhance the gameplay and overall experience. However, due to the time constraints of the game jam, I had to make the difficult decision not to pursue these ideas and instead focus on the core mechanics of the game.

While it was tempting to keep adding features, I knew that doing so could potentially harm the quality of the final product. By sticking to a clear vision and focusing on the most critical aspects of the game, I was able to create a polished and engaging experience within the limited timeframe of the jam. 

Promotion

In addition to development work, it's important to allocate time to other essential tasks, such as writing devlogs, designing game pages, sharing progress on social media, and managing open-source repositories. These tasks are often overlooked by developers in a jam or in game development in general but are crucial in building a successful and engaging game. By giving them proper attention and planning, developers can ensure that their game is not only technically sound but also visually appealing, well-documented, and properly marketed.

Writing devlogs was an essential part of the development process, as it allowed me to reflect on my progress and plan for the future. It was crucial to take breaks from coding and focus on writing devlogs to ensure that I was on track and staying true to my vision for the game.

Designing the game page was another important task that required attention to detail and creativity. I wanted to create a page that accurately represented the game and conveyed its unique features and mechanics.

Sharing progress on social media platforms like Twitter and Discord was also crucial in generating interest in the game and receiving valuable feedback from other developers and players. I found that interacting with other participants in the game jam community was incredibly rewarding and helped me stay motivated throughout the development process.

Finally, managing the open-source GitHub repository was an important task that required regular attention. It was essential to keep the repository organized and up-to-date, as other developers might be interested in using or building upon my code in the future.

Finalizing

With careful planning and a bit of luck, I was able to complete Lightbearer within the timeframe of the jam. The most important thing was to submit something, even if it wasn't perfect. While it was challenging to balance the jam with work and studies, I made sure to prioritize a healthy development schedule and not to overwork myself.

If a feature or task didn't fit within the given timeframe or if it was causing unnecessary stress, I didn't try to cram it in. Instead, I focused on completing the core mechanics of the game and creating an enjoyable experience for players.

Participating in this game jam taught me valuable lessons in time management, creativity, and perseverance. It also showed me the importance of taking a step back and remembering why I love game development in the first place – to have fun and create something that I am proud of.