I joined the Kenney 2025 Game Jam, the same as last year, and this year I came in 2nd with my game Sparknoid. This time I wasn’t 100% sure if I was even going to join. I just felt a ton of pressure (mostly that I put on myself), but since I came in 3rd last year I felt like if I didn’t do better it would be a letdown.
I came up with a neat idea. It had been done before, honestly, but I really wanted to see if it was something I could produce myself and keep on theme in just 48 hours. I think I did a great job. I wish I had just a few more hours—maybe six more—and I could have implemented the small details that might have pushed it into first place. My theming was a little tacked on. I wanted to implement power boxes, lightning when the stage started so the Sparknoid would bolt into the scene, and sparking effects when he went back into the wiring. Just small touches. But I left most of the polish for the end and ran out of time.
I felt somewhat down right after uploading it because in my mind it wasn’t complete, and I figured people would get stuck on stage 3 because I goofed there. But people loved it! As far as I can tell, my game had more comments and positive feedback than any other game in the jam, and I also won two categories again. I won two categories in 2024 as well.
All this to say, I love making games. I have realistically questioned if I should be doing this or if I’m wasting my time. But with back-to-back top 3 placements in game jams with over 700 entries, coming out in the top 3 two years in a row is proof enough that I am in my field. I believe I am finally 100% ready to create NEXIFY and get back to making that game and doing daily progress report blogs about it.
You can play SparkNoid here: www.pixelpun.com
