#fgj17

[drawinglobster]

Now, a month and a half later after the fact, I present you this comic about this year’s Global Game Jam!

Here’s a link to download the game:

http://globalgamejam.org/2017/games/alvar-aalto-experience

[lizardhazardgames]

How to Survive a Game Jam

Game Jam’s can be brutal, especially Global Game Jam which only lasts for 48 hours. But have no fear: Tips from a 3-time GGJ -veteran ahead!

First, for those who don’t know, a game jam is an event where you make a game in a very limited time, like 48 hours in the case of Global Game Jam. The Global Game Jam is an experience that will either bring you joy, motivation and a finished game, or despair and both physical and mental pain. Sometimes both at the same time. You probably can’t avoid the negative side effect altogether (after all, you’ll probably be working A LOT with very little to no sleep), but you can tip the scales and make the postives far outweigh the negatives. Preparing The first thing to remember about game jams is that you should mimic scouts and BE PREPARED. I’m going to assume here that you’re planning to join an official jam site as opposed to jamming from your home. Pack everything except your computer two days in advance or at least the day before - if you’re a nerd like me, you probably need your computer up until you leave for the Jam. Here’s a handy checklist of things you’ll need: -Toothbrush -Towel -Other hygiene products, like soap or tampons -A change of clothes, even if you got the official jam t-shirt (trust me, you’ll feel better when you’re not completely filthy) -A warm sweater, tired often means cold as well -Sleeping bag/blanket and something soft-ish to sleep on -Pillow, if rolling up clothes under your head isn’t your thing -Your Computer & Screen -All of the necessary chords (double check!) -Keyboard & mouse -Drawing tablet if you’re an artist -Portable music equipment if you’re a musician -Headphones -Enough food to last the first day, unless you’re sure there’s a store nearby -Wallet -Keys, etc Extras: -Gamepads or controllers -Extra screens or other equipment -Energy drinks -Pens and paper to do messy designs and ideas on If you own a PC/a desktop computer, you should give yourself at least an hour to pack it before you leave. Hurry means forgotten chords, which means either a very awkward and non-digital jam or a trip back home. It’s a good idea to pack all of your small items like chords and headphones in one bag, your screen in one, and just carry your PC as it is, since that monstrosity will never fit in a bag anyway, and you’ll end up hating yourself if the bag’s handle breaks. When you travel to them jam, you probably want to be hugging your rig the whole time, or at least stroking it gently to make sure it feels safe and doesn’t move around. You may even want to wrap the seatbelt around it because that thing is probably more important to you than your firstborn child. Another option is to put it in the trunk, but make sure it can’t move around, and that you small items can’t get crushed under anything heavy. At the Jam

When you get to the Jam, you probably need to register and maybe sign a form to allow the event show you on their stream and other possible materials. After that, follow instructions at the site and find a place to sit. If you have a team, you can set up your computers but if you’re alone, you can literally walk around asking who needs help - teams that are gathered on-site are a great way to meet new people. For me, it’s part of the experience, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Once the theme is announced, you can start working on your game. If you don’t have a team yet, ask the organizers for help - they’ll be happy to assist you. Of course you can also jam alone, but where’s the fun in that? The first thing to do is to design your game. Remember the age-old rule: KISS - keep it simple, stupid. You only have 48 hours, so concentrate on creating just a tiny game - one level or a few minutes of gameplay is a reasonable goal, and a lot of teams fail to deliver even that. Plan what you’re going to do, and stick to the plan. Don’t add more features unless you’ve already completed everything else. Every time a teammate says “hey, what about this cool thing”, slap them or if you’re nonviolent, tell them it’s gonna be in the sequel.

When you’ve worked for a few hours, you probably start feeling pretty gross. That means it’s time to be a human being again: walk around a bit, eat, go to the toilet and wash your face if that helps you. Breaks are completely okay, they help you focus and be more productive. Keeping up an acceptable level of hygiene will also make you feel better, as crazy as it sounds.

How much you sleep during the jam is completely up to you, but I suggest getting at least 4 hours of sleep the first night and at least one on the second night. This is basically the minimum I need to function somehow, but everyone’s body is different so you might need more - I highly discourage sleeping less than that though, especially if you need to do ANYTHING on Monday. If you have work the next week, I seriously suggest you sleep a solid 5 and 5. The jam rules will most likely suggest you to start uploading your game 2 hours before the deadline. If you can, FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS. You might feel like it’ll only take 5 minutes to compile and upload a game, but you’ll probably end up taking a hour to fix game-crashing bugs and another fighting with the laggy servers - remember, thousands and thousands of people are uploading their games at the same time. You’ll save yourself from panic and stress if you give yourself enough time to  When you leave the jam site, remember to clean up your trash. Don’t be an asshole. To summarize: -EAT -SLEEP; min. 4 and 1 if you don’t have work, 5 and 5 if you do. -KISS -HYGIENE You can check out the game my team made in GGJ17 here: http://globalgamejam.org/2017/games/tentacles-two If you’ve enjoyed this little survival package, consider following Lizard Hazard Games and/or Your Royal Gayness on social media - we have tumblr, twitter and facebook. We’d really appreciate the support. Thanks!

[puffsan]

My first ever Global Game Jam game is finished and up for download! If you feel like it give it a go, my coder team was amazingly skilled and the sound effects are cute as heck

Amoeba in the Waves

[dlsphjournalism]

The Agenda with Steve Paikin -  Therapy Gets off the Couch

Interview with Rebecca Fortin (FGJ ‘17) -  As anyone who has sought help for mental illness knows, it can take a long time to see a psychiatrist in Ontario. Since necessity is the mother of invention, numerous innovations are emerging to help patients connect with therapists, mental-health coaches, and other clinicians. The Agenda discusses whether access to alternative health professionals and the increasing use of teletherapy is the answer? Are patients still getting good care if they aren't able to have a therapeutic face-to-face relationship with a psychiatrist? WATCH HERE

[dlsphjournalism]

MEDIUM --  Why Changing Your Mind about Donald Trump is Easier than You Think

BY AMITHA KALAICHANDRAN (FGJ ‘17) -  During the Fall of 2011, twenty-five female subjects were recruited at the University of Texas in Austin to help Neuroscience Professor Jamil Bhanji study which areas of the brain are involved when we change our minds about others. READ MORE

[dlsphjournalism]

HUFFINGTON POST -- How Did Journalists Fail To Diagnose A Trump Win?

BY AMITHA KALAICHANDRAN (FGJ ‘17) -  It might have been his Boston Red Sox baseball cap, his hybrid car, or his kindness towards me as a female first generation immigrant, but after speaking with Victor T from Tucson, Arizona, for an article about election stress, I felt pretty confident he would vote for Hillary Clinton. READ MORE 

[dlsphjournalism]

FINANCIAL POST - First Nations take to designing their own apps to preserve their languages and cultures

BY GERALDINE MALONE (FGJ ‘17) - Byron Bates is meticulously adding more than 100 Cree words about medicine, pain and doctors into the mobile app he created, called ATC Cree.The app developer and Athabasca Tribal Council member built his app in an effort to maintain the languages of his community, made up of about 5,000 Cree and Dene people in the Fort McMurray area. It launched early in March with 120 Cree words translated into English, and includes audio pronunciations. Now he’s working on more. READ MORE

[iva-ivdza]

Some characters that I did for GGJ17 funny Crowd Surf Brawl

http://globalgamejam.org/2017/games/crowd-surf-brawl