The Shorter, The Better GameJam

Create a short game, with a narrative, that does not exceed 5 minutes long.

FAQ - The Shorter, The Better

Versión española | Estem treballant en la traducció al català

Before searching through this document, make sure you have read the Rules, What you can and cannot do on the Itch page.

Is there a Discord channel for the GameJam?

Yes: The Shorter, The Better

Are there winners? Are there prizes? Is it a contest?

There are no winners or losers, there are no prizes, and a game jam is not a contest.

A game jam is an event to bring out our creativity by making a small game within a limited time and based on a specific theme.

And to have fun in the process, which is the most important part.

But there is a ranking!

We only use the ranking to assess whether the submitted game meets the core rule of the game jam (<5 minutes) and to highlight interesting games in the future as examples for upcoming editions.

If you publish, you’ve already won. But you can't win because there are no winners. But you’ve already won.

Will the ranking be public?

Yes. We will publish it on the Itch page and on Discord.

Who votes on the ranking?

In this first edition, the game jam organizers will be responsible for the ranking. This might change in future editions.

What will be evaluated?

We will evaluate how short the game is (<5m), the use of the main theme, and the story (both the story itself and how it is told). The use of the modifier is completely optional; it's just an extra challenge.

Will other participants be able to play the Gamejam games?

Yes, all of them are accessible from the Gamejam's Itch page.

How can I tell a story with a 5-minute game?

We want the games to have a strong narrative focus, but everyone decides their own methods.

As a personal preference of the jam organizers, it would be ideal for the story to be explained while playing, rather than at the end of the game through a block of text like in Resident Evil 7 (avoid "lore dumps").

Having a lot of text is not a problem, but you have to try to put yourselves in the shoes of someone who is reading it for the first time and might take a bit longer to read than you think.

But... exactly 5 minutes?

We will play in a relaxed way, only looking at the clock to know when we start and when we finish. If the game doesn't last exactly 5 minutes, that's fine. Although we won't count on it, we'll take in to account our pauses, reading the chat, our own mistakes, etc. We'll be pretty lenient about that.

What we want to avoid is games lasting significantly longer than 5 minutes, even when played with a clear understanding of the game's structure (without attempting a speedrun). Keep in mind that a game that lasts 7.5 minutes is 50% longer than it should be.

Recommendation: Design the game to last less than 5 minutes. If you aim for 4 minutes, it will probably end up being 5.

Note: Remember that the game can last LESS THAN 5 MINUTES.

What if it lasts more than 5 minutes?

Weeeell... it shouldn't, but if it does: you can still submit it, although it wouldn't be included in the time category of the ranking. However, we will most likely end up testing it anyway, as long as you tell us how much time you estimate it takes to end the game and provided that it's within reason (take in mind that 7.5 minutes is already 50% more than the desired time).

Relax, making a game, with a narrative, that lasts about 6-8 minutes is quite an achievement.

What kind of game can I make?

Any kind really, as you can use classic mechanics as a common thread for the narrative, as well as use the environment, puzzles, sounds, animations, conversations, etc.

Examples of directly narrative playable genres

These examples are, above all, if you want to participate and, even though you have a story, you can't figure out the type of game to implement:

Examples of playable genres not typically narrative

You can turn a genre on its head in such a way that you can tell a story:

Games that can inspire you:

Obviously, short games... short 5-minute games are difficult. But here are some that could inspire you:

Note: We are not talking about the subjective or objective quality of the games, we are talking about using the medium to communicate.

Is the MODIFIER mandatory?

The modifier is entirely optional. It serves to give you an extra challenge and, possibly, help with inspiration.

If you use it, we will only consider it in terms of the final impression. If there are two equally good games, but one of them makes good use of the modifier, then that one will be considered "better" (relatively). If there is an excellent game that doesn't use the modifier, it can still be considered the best (relatively).

NO AI??? What?? is this 2023??

No. Using AI for a Game Jam like this is like entering a Spanish 'Tortilla' contest with a store-bought one. Don't be tacky.

This is a game jam about making a very short game. Anything you create with your own means will be well received.

Take this opportunity to learn, share, and experiment.

But I'm not an artist/musician/programmer

First of all, consider joining a group that is looking for help with what you know. Remember that the Discord is available for you.

There are countless websites with public domain resources, free licenses, or very permissive terms for projects like this one.

Below, we provide you with free/open-source/copyleft resources that you can use however you like:

Assets:

Music/Sounds:

Remember: Don't use music with restrictions. First, because it's not cool for a game jam... and second, because we are going to stream it live and upload it on video.

Creating games WITHOUT coding:

All of these game engines allow you to create without programming (or with very little of it), and they also support exporting to the web.

Credits? What do I need to include?

You must indicate in the credits the people who participated in the project and the source of the materials you used, complying with their corresponding licenses.

NO NSFW???

NSFW is not equivalent to banning adult themes.

In short, nothing that cannot be shown on platforms like Twitch or YouTube: nudity, explicit sex, scatology, extreme violence towards people or animals, self-harm, etc.

Adult themes can be addressed, but in a non-explicit way, without showing anything (visually or audibly).

Note: Check the Trigger Warnings section.

Warnings / Trigger Warning

If the game contains any type of content that could affect the player, please indicate it. This includes:

What about the children? Won't somebody please think of the children?

Can I submit my game at any time?

Yes, you don't need to wait until the end of the game jam to upload it.

In fact, we recommend doing a quick practice run of the publishing process a few days before the jam ends. This way, you will avoid any last-minute errors or technical issues.

Can I submit more than one project?

Yes, that's not a problem since Itch allows you to link each project to a game jam.

Do we need to create an Itch page for the submission?

Yes, you need to create a page for the project...

Although it doesn't need to be perfect, we think it's important that you spend a little time making it look nice including screenshots, instructions on how to play, etc.

What if there are multiple participants?

The entire team doesn't need to be registered for the game jam. Only the person or the group account uploading the project needs to be.

What language can we make the game in?

You can make it in your native language, but keep in mind that the people playing it will know Spanish, Catalan, and English. If your language is none of these, try to make it in English anyway. The more people who can play it, the better.

If you have enough time, you could try to make it available in multiple languages.

Can I reuse my old assets or code?

If it's just a few specific things, of course you can. But if those assets or code make up the bulk of the project, the game jam loses its spark.

You can reuse assets for characters, objects, locations... but try to make sure they aren't the main focus of your game.

The same goes for code: you can reuse options menus (for volume, gamma, etc.), pause screens, or even an aiming system, among other things.

Think of it this way: you can use third-party assets, but you would never use all of another person's assets, right?

Do I have to release the source code of my project?

You don't have to. If you feel like doing it and you do, put the link on your Itch page. If you need help with the license, we can guide you on Discord.

Can I post my progress on social media?

Of course!!! Plus, use the hashtag #theshorterthebetter so we can follow along and share what you're making.

Tip: Be mysterious; don't reveal the plot or show more than you need to.