MCBACON JAM

You know, I actually floated an event idea like this about a year or so ago and it met with varied meh's and 'nahs'. I'd like to see something like this go ahead.

I was thinking more random assignments and just making do with what the RNG gods gave you. Two graphical people? Well, at least the game will be pretty, and it gives you a chance to stretch your ability to work on a small story. Two writers? Make a strong story, maybe focus on puzzles instead of combat.

It would make for an interesting bunch of games.

Hell, you could do a forfeit if someone doesn't come through - say... loss of any rights to the game in question and thus no MS.

Honestly, part of being in a team is learning to deal with flakes. That's part of the experience and how you deal with that shows you more about yourself and your skills - and helps you grow those skills - in the long run than just sailing by easily each time. Bumps are expected so let them work.

Besides, if someone signs up for this, they should make a concentrated effort to actually work through it. Like I say with the Secret Santa - if you don't think you can stick with it til the end, don't bother signing up. Commitment is a major part of an event like this and if you don't have it then maybe this event isn't the one for you.

Personally I'm all for two hats - one for artistic side, one for technical - and pulling names out. Groups of three so that if one person does flake, there's two who can still work together.

The deal with an event like this is to look at each others skills and what they can bring to the table and work with them. Plan small but interesting - something that can be accomplished within the time limit and skill expectations, then go for it. Don't expect a hulking mass of game time. Something short, simple and effective.

Do note that simple does not mean boring. For example; The Mirror Lied is simple, but it is not boring.

I could do technical or artsy things. I was going to wait until I had a partner to decide - I don't want to be forced into a category before I'm even paired!

I'd be down for this is if it were longer than a week (e.g. 2 weeks) - reason being quite a few of us have full-time jobs, so it'd be difficult to get a decent amount of work done in a shorter timeframe.

author=Yellow Magic
I'd be down for this is if it were longer than a week (e.g. 2 weeks) - reason being quite a few of us have full-time jobs, so it'd be difficult to get a decent amount of work done in a shorter timeframe.

I agree with Yellow Magic. 1 week is too short, 2 weeks is good.

Find a common ground. Design a game with the best of both worlds. That's part of the issues with having a team - being flexible and getting the job done. ^.^

That's part of the fun and challenge~

author=Link_2112

Well, it is often said that everybody wants to be the "ideas man". Letting the "top-dogs" work as "consultants", would allow them to help everybody at a minimum effort. If they desire to get more involved then I suppose they could, but ideally, people in the upper tiers should help the most teams as possible... This is so less people get to resent they didn't get to team up with their rmn crushes. Considering that's what sparked interest in this event I thought it was important to consider.

But anyway, it's not like I'm too invested on this idea or anything. So if its true that we're all big boys and girls, then I'm game too.
_
Another thing to consider, however, is what Rpg Maker to use? I'm afraid, ultimately, teams will have to be made around that. xD

yeah within reason the longer this is time wise the better...

I'm also pleased to see this in the appropriate forum.

I'm interested in doing this kind of thing, especially if the development window is short. I'd need to see a full list of rules, though. I'm not sure how I'd feel about randomized choices; I think it would be really easy to run into someone with opposing sensibilities or bad work ethic that would result in, as Max said, a fight to make something not embarrassing. I mean, if you get a lucky roll, then you might wind up with a person you never expected to work well with, and the result could be really fantastic, but that feels like wishful thinking. If the game development window is short enough, though (like three days or something), I'd be okay with that risk. Or, if you wanted to do a cycle of random pairings for really short game jams, then that'd be a cool way to expose you to a lot of people. I'd be fine with just picking people, too.

I think random teams could work provided the teams were comprised of three people as opposed to pairs. That way, any sort of design/development deadlocks could be broken by the final person.

Oh, and Liberty's round-robin idea is fantastic as well.