One week to make a game

[Jim 0]

I recently installed RMXP as a diversion while I wait for my station to get back from repair.

Anyway I thought a great exercise in learning (and frustration :P) would be to see what kind of games could be produced in RMXP in roughly one week of work.

 

In some respects this contest is much like Ludum Dare, except much more focused.

 

So here is the breakdown.

 

The Challenge

The challenge is to complete a game in RMXP with one week worth of work-time (40 hour limit).

 

 

The Deadline

*Because many people can't dedicate a full work week to sit down and create an entire game, the time-limit is hour-based. Furthermore because people have varying schedules the actual deadline to use the full 40 hour limit will be two-weeks from the start date.

 

*Each participant will be permitted only 40 hours to complete their game. A participants time is only active when they are actually working on the game. Otherwise no time is charged towards the 40 hour limit.

 

*The challenge begins at the start of April 19th (12 AM or Midnight), and concludes at the start of May 3rd (12 AM or Midnight) according to Central Standard Time. Refer to http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/central-time/ for info on Central Standard Time.

 

*Entries may be posted at any time after the end of the contest. Note that any unused hours at the conclusion of the contest are forfeit.

 

*Anyone who wishes to join the challenge after it has already begun is welcome to do so providing there is at least 40 physical hours left between the time of joining and the deadline for the contest.

 

Acceptable Content

*First and foremost all entries must be created with RMXP.

 

*No game may be entered that was started before April 19th, 12 AM.

 

*One person to an entry.

 

*All participants are free to use material not created by them providing

1)they own the copyright.

or

2)have gained the permission of the content creator.

or

3)The source the content was obtained from permits reuse in non-commercial works.

 

*Credits to content owners are optional unless the owner specifies. Regardless, credits are strongly recommended if only it helps to spread a content creators name and work. :)

 

*The caveat to the above rule is that you may not include purchased content or media from commercial works unless you are the author . The RTP does not count. Not everyone is money bags and a game should not rely only on it's media. This keeps the playing field level.

 

 

Scoring

There are no judges except those who judge themselves. Post your work after the deadline for the community to enjoy and provided feedback on. Participants are free to modify or continue development of their game after the challenge has concluded.

 

 

The prize

The satisfaction of knowing you completed a game (even if only in a game maker) under time restrictions. I personally used to start a lot of projects and never finish them. It helps to motive people when they have deadlines. Now imagine how difficult this challenge would be if everything had to be done from scratch!

 

 

Participants

This is a list of participants. When starting your project please make a post in this thread with a name (placeholder or otherwise) for the game, and a short description. All participants and their entry-post will be edited in under the "participants" header.

[Wyzrd 12]

I kind of like the idea of this. The only thing I don't like is. How can you give a 40 hour time limit? Are you gonna stand over each person's shoulder as they work to make sure they only work on it for 40 hours?

[Jim 0]

It's the honor system. The prize of this contest is the experience gained, and the feeling of accomplishment, however small that may be. If someone cheats, the only person their cheating is themself.

 

Edit: I have spies with cameras watching everyone's monitors :P

[AbnormalHairGrowth 0]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the honor system, either. I've seen plenty of contests that operated solely on that, and it's usually been a rewarding and cheat-free experience for all concerned.

 

(The Cheat-free, on the other hand...)

 

This sounds like fun. I wonder if I can squeeze the 40 hours into my schedule between working on Weirdbeard. Let's see... the forty hours includes time for brainstorming, writing, etc., right? Or am I allowed to brainstorm during my time off (like a real game-maker would?)

 

Actually, I've got the same question about finding graphics (and other materials) as well. It strikes me that those who work with stuff they already have will have a decided advantage over those who don't have what they want yet. Have anything in mind to even that out?

 

Anyway, 40 hours is a standard 8-hour-day 5-day work week, so... three hours a day every day for two weeks (roughly) would cover it. That's not too daunting.

[Dark Den 4]

I don't think i'll join. It's taken me along time to make this game and it's still not finished and it's my first game i'm intent on finishing

[Broken Messiah 20]

Sure, I'm in. I havent used XP in a while. Almost all my games are for VX

[Broken Messiah 20]

Scratch that , I cant. No time.

[Jim 0]

To answer your question AbnormalHairGrowth, work on a game only counts toward the time-limit if your doing work on your computer. This puts a lot of emphasis on upfront planning, and setting milestones.

 

Again this isn't about making a game from scratch but your free to do so if you want. Otherwise I'd say grab a compiler and a graphics library and get to hardcoding everything.

 

A game with an interesting plot and carefully crafted world takes plenty of time on it's own without factoring in all the media that normally needs to be made. Yes those who have what they want are already at an advantage but that is irrelevant when the prize is the experience itself.

[AbnormalHairGrowth 0]

Okay, cool.

 

I'm guessing that the brainstorming, notes-taking, etc. that I write down on my computer doesn't technically count as computer work... but I'll probably use paper anyway. It's more fun that way.

 

I've got an AWESOME idea in the works here; let's see if I can make it happen.

[Jim 0]

Glad to hear your going to participate. This is going to be fun :P

 

Edit: Basically anytime RMXP is open on your computer or your creating/editing/searching for media thats when the clock should be ticking.

[AbnormalHairGrowth 0]

Yeah, that's what I figured.

 

I'm laying out all my current notes tonight. I have this totally CRACKED story that is going to be crazy wicked if I can make it work.

[Arkbennett 16]

I might do this.

[Wyzrd 12]

You should completely do it Ark. You've been complaining I don't love you enough. So put how I abuse your love into a game.

[AbnormalHairGrowth 0]

It's ON, man.

 

I'm doing concept art for my map right now. I figure the workload will be greatly reduced if I only have about seven locations in the game.

[Jim 0]

You should completely do it Ark. You've been complaining I don't love you enough. So put how I abuse your love into a game.

 

That was hilarious.

 

It's ON, man.

 

I'm doing concept art for my map right now. I figure the workload will be greatly reduced if I only have about seven locations in the game.

 

I once made the mistake of attempting a platformer and trying to make it completely cross-platform for MacOSX, Windows, and Linux. Lesson learned...start small, and never optimize early. Early Optimization is the root of all evil.

 

Anyway your off to a better start than half the projects I ever did. :P

[Arkbennett 16]

I will participate.

[Jim 0]

I will participate.

 

Huzzah! The more the merrier.

[AbnormalHairGrowth 0]

I think I'm good at this. I've got a plot in the works that will require three or four different tilesets, eleven or so different maps (less if I put some of 'em together), eight kinds of monsters (not including recolors/minor edits or bosses), and sixteen unique characters (with a few faceless ones thrown in).

 

I'm starting to think I can do this in under forty hours.

 

Edit: Well, here's my official game info:

 

Game Title: Sunset

Description: Classic film noir re-imagined as a Lovecraftian romance in the Old West. Likely to fail.

[Arkbennett 16]

I have a feeling that this contest is forfeit: It's creator, has not signed on for 2 weeks.