My First Game Jam Experience: A Rollercoaster of Emotions 🎮

So, I recently participated in my first-ever Game Jam, and wow, what a ride! After the theme was announced, I was so excited that half of the first day flew by, and I still didn’t have a solid idea. 😅 By the end of the day, I finally came up with something and jumped straight into development.

That first night? Completely sleepless. And looking back, I regret it. My brain was operating at 10% capacity, and I could barely make any progress. I honestly should have just slept and let my mind recharge because my first day ended up being less productive than I had hoped.

Day two, however, was a different story. After a few hours of sleep, I felt much better. I spent the day polishing the game, and things started to come together. But as the end of the jam approached, I realized I wasn’t going to make the 48-hour deadline for the "Compo" category (solo dev). I was close, but not close enough.

In the end, I decided to push for the 72-hour deadline in the "Jam" category, where teams usually participate. Even though I was going up against teams, I thought it was better to submit a polished game than a broken one rushed for the 48-hour deadline.

It was a challenging but amazing experience, and I learned so much. If you’re considering joining a Game Jam, my advice would be: get some sleep! 😅