Top 5 Game Dev Mistakes! - (Game Jam Edition)

Here are the top 5 game dev mistakes developers seem to make in game jams!

I collected some data from the jam I hosted lately, so now I think I have a pretty good idea of all of the things that went wrong.

On top of that I also want to provide you with some actionable tips and tricks to help you make a better video game next time!

Game design is a challenging endeavor, especially if your time is that limited. You all did a good job and I'm proud of what you've accomplished!

[hztcpfx]

"I don't want to point fingers at anybody"
Points finger at himself

[jamado]

Tip 6: Sound Design

This is a very important
aspect in your game, it helps you player know what is going on, and also makes the game more alive

[geekworthy]

One of the great things about the original Zelda was discovering everything and learning "I can do that? Wow!"

[savvasgamingchannel]

The secret to pacing a game is by the use of having as many people (of varying skill levels) as possible play testing your game. It is good for gameplay too.

[arcturus]

You're channel is honestly one of the most important for learning developers

[ModBros]

The kind of tutorial I really like is when it just shows you a controller prompt, but you instantly understand the mechanic once you press that button

[thehambone]

Honestly, great tips! You actually know your gamedev stuffs!

[Lugmillord]

As for your pacing examples: It sounds like most of the examples you showed were about resetting after failure and repetition of level parts. Well, the easy solution for that particular point would be to have some sort of check point, such that the fall is not too long. Other than that, I like to let the player calm down after an especially intense section so they can refocus and get the stress level down a bit. Of course, that applies more to larger games than small arcade experiences so that probably can't be implemented that easily in a small game jam game.

[Obeu]

2:36 | oops. You circled “player feedback” instead of “balancing” :D

[olddogscanlearnnewtricks]

Checkpoints implementation is a solution for better pacing in some games.

[JamAttack]

3:28 *cough* mario maker 2 spike hitboxes *cough*

[victfv]

If you're having trouble with color schemes, just go with Quake/2009 games color schemes: brown.

[barrethxc]

Great video. I basically made all these mistakes my first game jam game but my second one I learned from the feedback. I'll have to remember this video for the next game jam I do

[robdaytona]

Awesome video, lots of great points well presented, great work Jonas!

[zitronekoma]

Dein Tutorial XD ich muss jetzt einfach das Sandra Spiel spielen

[Abraham-omib]

"Why is Emma Watson in the thumbnai—Oh..."

[brickblockhd]

"Leider ist Sandra dümmer als die Polizei erlaubt"

[misterttocs]

Another good video! Keep up the good work!

[mikesirman]

Think you would be interested in doing a tutorial on how you made that glow effect in your LD game? I find it hard to get good glow effects and how to seperate it so not everything in your entire scene glows

[josiahnation]

could you do an fps tutorial, im having trouble adding multiple animations to my gun object. Thanks you're the best!