I Made a Rewindable Game - Brackeys Game Jam 2020.2

BenBonk
10 Aug 202013:33
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRGame developer Ben Bonk shares his experience participating in the Brackies Game Jam 2020.2 with collaborator Yannick. They tackled the 'rewind' theme, creating a dungeon game where players control multiple characters with unique abilities to progress through levels. Ben focused on art, learning pixel art techniques, while Yannick worked on programming, including a rewind system. Despite challenges, they submitted 'Divided Dungeon' with a polished look and soundtrack by Gizmodude, garnering positive feedback.

Takeaways
  • 🕹️ Ben Bonk participated in the Brackies Game Jam 2020.2, which was a new experience for him as he collaborated with another game developer, Yannick.
  • 🔄 The game jam theme was 'rewind,' which Ben initially found challenging and restrictive compared to previous themes.
  • 🤝 Ben and Yannick's plan was for Yannick to lead programming while Ben focused on art, marking the first week-long game jam for Ben.
  • 🏰 The game concept involved multiple characters with special abilities in a dungeon setting, where players could control characters in a sequence to reach the end of the level.
  • ⏱ The game featured a timer that, when expired, would rewind the character's actions, allowing players to switch to another character and utilize the previous character's actions to progress.
  • 🎨 Ben worked on creating a tile set for the game, initially struggling before using a tutorial from Adam C. Eunice to improve the design.
  • 🛠️ Ben utilized Unity's rule tile system to create structures quickly, which saved time in level design for both him and Yannick.
  • 👾 The game's main character, Jerry, was designed to be a human without special abilities, capable of running and jumping.
  • 🗡️ Additional characters like the knight and builder were created with specific abilities to interact with the game environment and enemies.
  • 👾 Ben also designed a goblin enemy for the knight character to attack, adding an element of combat to the game.
  • 🎮 Despite facing technical issues with exporting to WebGL, the team managed to submit their game, 'Divided Dungeon,' just in time for the game jam deadline.
Q & A

  • Who is Ben Bonk and what did he participate in?

    -Ben Bonk is a game developer who participated in the Brackies Game Jam 2020.2.

  • What was the theme of the Brackies Game Jam 2020.2?

    -The theme of the Brackies Game Jam 2020.2 was 'rewind'.

  • Who was Ben Bonk's collaborator for the game jam?

    -Ben Bonk collaborated with another game developer named Yannick.

  • What roles did Ben Bonk and Yannick plan to take on during the game jam?

    -Yannick was going to take the lead on programming, while Ben Bonk was going to take the lead on art.

  • What was the initial idea for the game they developed during the game jam?

    -The initial idea involved multiple characters in a dungeon setting with special abilities, where players could choose the order to send them in and complete levels with a timer and rewind mechanic.

  • Why did Ben Bonk decide to use a non-green color palette for the game's dungeon setting?

    -Ben Bonk felt that the dungeon wouldn't feel right with a green color palette and he needed more colors to make things clear.

  • What tutorial did Ben Bonk use to create the game's tile set?

    -Ben Bonk used a tile set tutorial from Adam C Eunice to create the game's tile set.

  • What character did Ben Bonk create first for the game's art?

    -Ben Bonk created the main player character first, who was a human with no special abilities but could run and jump.

  • What issues did Ben Bonk and Yannick encounter when trying to export the game to WebGL?

    -They encountered an issue where the game would load to 90% and then get stuck, not completing the loading process. This was later resolved by changing the compression format in Unity's export settings.

  • What was the name of the game they submitted for the game jam, and what does it refer to?

    -The name of the game they submitted was 'Divided Dungeon', referring to how the characters feel divided from each other.

  • Who was responsible for creating the soundtrack for the game, and what was the approach?

    -Gizmodude was responsible for creating the soundtrack, making four different versions for each different kind of character to match the game's theme.

Outlines
00:00
🎮 Entering the Brackies Game Jam

Ben Bonk discusses his entry into the Brackies Game Jam 2020.2, where he collaborated with another developer, Yannick. The theme was 'rewind,' and they brainstormed a dungeon game with characters having unique abilities. Ben started working on the art, including a tile set and characters, while Yannick focused on programming, particularly the rewind system.

05:01
👾 Creating Characters and Animations

Ben worked on the knight and builder characters, creating art and animations. The knight could attack enemies, while the builder could place blocks. Despite initial challenges, including fitting the builder into the game's art style, Ben succeeded in creating a cohesive visual design. Yannick made progress on the game's rewind system and implemented character mechanics.

10:01
🎨 Polishing the Game and Overcoming Issues

Ben focused on polishing the game's art and creating additional elements like enemies, switches, and pressure plates. He also added a white outline to characters to enhance visibility. The team faced challenges with exporting the game to WebGL, which Ben eventually resolved by changing the compression format. Despite setbacks, they successfully submitted their game, 'Divided Dungeon,' and received positive feedback.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Brackies Game Jam
The Brackies Game Jam is an event where game developers come together to create games within a short time frame, often with a specific theme. In the video, the narrator, Ben Bonk, mentions participating in the 2020.2 edition, which was a week-long challenge. This concept is central to the video as it sets the stage for the entire game development process discussed.
💡Game Development
Game development is the process of creating a video game. It involves various stages, including planning, designing, programming, and creating art assets. In the script, Ben Bonk discusses his experience of game development during the Brackies Game Jam, highlighting the collaborative effort with another developer, Yannick, and the challenges they faced.
💡Theme - Rewind
In the context of the game jam, 'Rewind' is the theme provided to the participants, which they must incorporate into their game's concept. Ben Bonk found this theme challenging and restrictive compared to past jams, but it ultimately led to the creation of a game mechanic where characters can rewind their actions, which is a central mechanic in their game.
💡Pixel Art
Pixel art is a form of digital art where images are created on the pixel level. In the video, Ben discusses using pixel art for creating the game's tile set and character sprites. He mentions using a tutorial from Adam C. Eunice to improve his pixel art skills and to ensure the game's visual appeal.
💡Unity
Unity is a popular game development engine used to create and deploy games across various platforms. Ben Bonk mentions using Unity's rule tile system for creating game levels more efficiently. It is also where he and Yannick implemented the game mechanics and polished the game's appearance.
💡Game Mechanics
Game mechanics refer to the systems and rules that govern how a game works. In the script, Ben describes creating mechanics such as character abilities, a timer, and a rewind system, which are integral to the gameplay of their game. These mechanics contribute to the player's interaction with the game and the overall gaming experience.
💡Character Abilities
Character abilities are special powers or skills that a player character can use within a game. Ben talks about designing characters with unique abilities, such as a builder who can create paths and a knight who can kill enemies, which are essential for solving puzzles and progressing through the game's levels.
💡Level Design
Level design is the process of creating the structure and challenges within a game's levels. Ben and Yannick spent a significant amount of time creating and balancing levels for their game, ensuring they start easy and become progressively more difficult to maintain player engagement.
💡Polish
In game development, 'polish' refers to the final touches added to a game to enhance its quality and player experience. Ben mentions adding animations, background elements, and a white outline to the sprites to make the game visually pop and improve the overall aesthetic.
💡WebGL
WebGL is a technology that enables interactive 2D and 3D graphics within any compatible web browser without the use of plugins. Ben and Yannick faced issues when trying to export their game to WebGL format, which caused the game to get stuck during loading. Eventually, changing the compression format in Unity's export settings resolved the issue.
💡Post-Processing
Post-processing in game development refers to the techniques applied to a rendered image to improve its visual appearance. Ben mentions adding post-processing effects to the game's levels to enhance the visual experience and create a more polished look.
Highlights

Ben Bonk and Yannick collaborated on a game for the Brackies Game Jam 2020.2 with 'rewind' as the theme.

Yannick led programming while Ben focused on art for the game, marking Ben's first week-long game jam.

The game concept involves multiple characters with special abilities navigating a dungeon, with a mechanic to rewind time and change characters.

Ben decided against using a green color palette for the dungeon, opting for a more diverse color scheme.

Ben utilized a tile set tutorial from Adam C. Eunice to improve the game's visual appeal.

Unity's rule tile system was employed to streamline level creation and save time.

Ben created character art for a human, knight, and builder, each with unique abilities and roles in gameplay.

Yannick developed the rewind system, allowing characters to return to their starting positions after a set time.

Ben made animations for the main character, enhancing the game's dynamic feel.

The game includes interactive elements like levers and pressure plates to unlock doors.

Ben added a white outline to all sprites for better visibility against dark backgrounds.

Custom UI elements and character selection cards were created for a polished look.

Ben and Yannick faced challenges with GitHub and Unity scene files, causing delays.

The game, 'Divided Dungeon', was named to reflect the separation of characters within the game.

Gizmodude composed a soundtrack with different versions for each character, adding depth to the game.

The team encountered issues building the game for WebGL, but resolved it by changing the compression format.

The game was submitted successfully to the game jam with only minutes to spare, showcasing effective teamwork.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Game JamDivided DungeonRewind MechanicsPixel ArtLevel DesignUnity EngineCharacter CreationGame DevelopmentCollaborative ProjectIndie Game