International Recreation Jam Malaysia 2023 groups & developed video games listing

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Strolling into Xsolla’s Bangsar South workplace, I anticipated to discover a frigid setting the place tensions had been excessive and builders had been dashing to complete their video games.

In any case, the International Gam Jam (GGJ)—an occasion held worldwide the place sport creators come collectively to develop unique video video games in about two days—was in its ultimate hour.

But, the “vibes” at Xsolla had been chill, to say the least. A number of individuals had been milling in regards to the swanky new workplace of the online game commerce firm, which was sponsoring the occasion. Some had been sitting within the frequent space, whereas others had been tucked away in several assembly rooms.

Yee I-Van, the regional organiser of GGJ Malaysia (and MDEC Head of Incubation, neighborhood supervisor of GAMESHQ in addition to the creator behind HR: The Poisonous Office Recreation), informed me that the occasion isn’t a lot a contest quite than only a gathering of the minds.

There aren’t any winners and losers right here, which could clarify why the occasion was not as demanding as I imagined it to be.

Established in 2008, GGJ is 15 years outdated, and Malaysia has been collaborating each single 12 months save for the very first one.

The theme this 12 months is “roots”, which could sound easy sufficient at first. Nonetheless, as I-Van defined to me, it might additionally revolve round not simply literal plant roots, but additionally ancestral roots, root causes, and extra.

Particular person creators and pre-formed groups had been invited, although the latter teams should select between two extra challenges:

Randomise three names from “Random Recreation Identify Generator” and decide one to fulfil.
Ask ChatGPT for a sport suggestion.

With the theme and the added challenges in thoughts, I couldn’t wait to see how the Malaysian jammers would interpret the mission. Right here’s what they managed to prepare dinner up inside the two-day sport jam, and we’ve offered hyperlinks for these that may be performed already.

1. Roots Quest

As a pre-formed staff, Group Bingchill’s sport follows a immediate from ChatGPT, which was as such:

Roots Quest – A puzzle-adventure sport the place gamers tackle the function of a botanist exploring totally different environments to uncover the hidden roots and secrets and techniques of the plant kingdom.

The purpose of the sport is to gather samples of various plant species and examine their roots to find out about their skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Gamers should navigate by way of difficult puzzles, obstacles, and acquire power-ups to progress to the following stage and unlock new areas to discover.

The sport can even have an academic facet the place gamers can find out about totally different plant species and the function they play in our ecosystem.

The ultimate sport adopted the immediate quite carefully, that includes a robotic protagonist and a top-down perspective.

Play right here: https://arifimran.itch.io/rootsquest

2. Carnage Enterprise of Vengeance

5-person staff Tinder Tabbies constructed a 2.5D technique puzzle sport the place gamers tackle the function of a vigilante who aids others in exacting revenge.

To collect needed objects primarily based on the shopper’s request, gamers should journey alongside traces on the bottom to go to varied areas all through the town.

Gamers should select between totally different danger ranges whereas acquiring supplies. The upper the chance, the upper the rewards, however you may also find yourself being apprehended by the police, who then block that path so gamers won’t have the ability to return to the workplace.

As soon as the participant has all of the objects, they will efficiently full the shopper’s request and take dwelling the prize.

Play right here: https://missing-games.itch.io/carnage-business-of-vengeance

3. Subterranean Stick Anthology

Procaffeinate’s (which suggests procrastinating till you get espresso) sport is a Metroidvania title with a stick-figure protagonist.

The participant fights enemies underground whereas fixing motion puzzles and has an goal of uncovering and beating the darkish pressure that’s corrupting the roots of the world.

Dictionary time: Metroidvania, a portmanteau of in style video games Metroid and Castlevania, is a sport sub-genre targeted on guided non-linearity and utility-gated exploration and development.

The sport title, Subterranean Stick Anthology, was created by a random title generator. A immediate from ChatGPT as adopted was additionally used:

Subterranean Stick Anthology – A side-scrolling action-adventure sport the place gamers tackle the function of a stick determine exploring the roots of the earth. The sport is about in a world the place a robust pressure is threatening the soundness of the earth’s crust, inflicting large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The participant’s purpose is to navigate by way of underground caves and tunnels, preventing off monsters, fixing puzzles, and accumulating power-ups to uncover the supply of the disturbances and put an finish to the chaos.

The sport options a number of ranges, every with distinctive challenges, environments, and enemies. The sport could be performed solo or co-op with pals. The sport’s story is informed by way of stick determine animations, and the soundtrack is impressed by traditional online game music.

The staff initially meant to create a number of ranges, however because of the time constraint, determined to deal with the boss battle.

4. Melinda the Herbalist

Maybe the sport that garnered probably the most applause was Melinda the Herbalist, created by a one-person staff known as Group Church of Saint Godot (Godot being the sport engine used to create the sport).

Set in a post-apocalyptic world overtaken by robots, this sport follows Melinda, a green-haired herbalist who’s taking again the “root of the server” through the use of her crops to root into corrupted robots.

A 2D platformer sport, Melinda the Herbalist reveals nice promise when it comes to the premise, artwork, in addition to sport mechanics.

Play right here: https://globalgamejam.org/2023/video games/melinda-herbalist-0

5. Roots of Energy

In Roots of Energy by Akirassassin, gamers should defend themselves and their homeland from enemies by taking pictures at them. Gamers can solely shoot whereas rooted and might unroot themselves to dodge assaults.

After levelling up, gamers can select between just a few choices for a brand new tile that grants power-ups.

The sport was impressed by a ChatGPT immediate:

Roots of Energy – A quick-paced motion sport the place gamers tackle the function of a robust warrior who should defend their homeland from an invading military.

The participant is supplied with a magic weapon that’s rooted within the earth, and the participant’s energy will increase as they acquire the roots of historical timber scattered all through the sport world. The participant should battle in opposition to the enemy military, utilizing their weapon and magic skills to defeat the enemies and defend their dwelling.

The sport options quite a lot of weapons and magic skills, every with distinctive strengths and weaknesses, and gamers can select the trail they take by way of the sport world.

The sport could be performed solo or with pals in a cooperative multiplayer mode. The sport options vibrant, fast-paced motion and an exciting storyline that can preserve gamers engaged from starting to finish.

Roots of Energy seems to be a quite difficult however enjoyable sport to play and grasp, and the level-up system is a good addition to the unique immediate.

Play right here: https://akirassasin.itch.io/roots-of-power

6. Furry Gopher Farmer

In case you can’t already inform from the names of each the staff in addition to their sport, Group Analysis is Ache’s Furry Gopher Farmer is kind of the humorous title. After all, the sport title itself was randomly generated because the staff was a pre-formed one.

On this sport, gamers are furry gopher farmers (a gopher who can also be a farmer, not a farmer of gophers, thoughts you) who should discover the dear figurine they misplaced. They will assault enemies by chucking carrots, a capability that has a cooldown.

Play right here: https://kaleido-lee.itch.io/furry-gopher-farmer

7. Roots of Terror

Group Cope Bros’ Roots of Terror is a 2D horror sport following a younger boy who enters a darkish forest in the hunt for a lacking individual. Exploring a haunted forest with nothing however a trusty flashlight, the participant should find batteries to maintain their flashlights powered.

The beam of sunshine additionally acts as a weapon that may kill scary creatures. With Roots of Terror being a sport that’s actually and metaphorically darkish, these creatures come within the type of infants with spidery legs. *shudder*

Spoiler alert: On the finish of the sport, the terrifying thriller of the forest is revealed—the lacking individual has been swallowed by a tree, which is able to solely do the identical to the participant.

The ChatGPT immediate was:

Roots of Terror – A 2D horror sport the place gamers discover a haunted forest in the hunt for a lacking individual. The forest is suffering from unusual and scary creatures that emerge from the roots of the timber.

The participant should navigate by way of the darkish and creepy forest, utilizing solely their flashlight to mild the way in which and their wits to keep away from the hazards lurking within the shadows.

The participant should acquire objects, resolve puzzles, and use their fast reflexes to outwit the creepy creatures and unravel the thriller behind the lacking individual and the sinister forces that management the forest.

The sport options atmospheric visuals and sound results, making a tense and suspenseful ambiance. The sport could be performed solo or with a pal in native co-op mode.

Play right here: https://eres12day.itch.io/roots-of-terror

8. Energy Root

Created by Group Borger, which incorporates I-Van as a staff member, Energy Root is a unusual 2D puzzle platformer the place you play as Rootpert, a potato-looking character.

Set in an odd world full of bizarrely cute enemies resembling Ant-hony and Bee-linda, Rootpert has just a few skills that permit the potato grapple onto the platforms.

The sport options cute sound results voiced by one of many creators. The premise of the sport was prompted by ChatGPT, although it initially had a distinct title:

Roots of the Weird – A unusual 2D puzzle-platformer the place gamers tackle the function of a plant-like creature exploring an odd world full of weird creatures and obstacles. The participant’s purpose is to gather the roots of different crops scattered all through the sport world, utilizing them to develop and evolve their very own skills.

The participant can stretch their roots to grapple onto platforms, prolong their branches to succeed in far-off locations, and even use their roots to resolve puzzles and defeat enemies. The sport includes a whimsical artwork model, quirky sound results, and an odd and surreal world that can preserve gamers on their toes.

The sport could be performed solo or with a pal in native co-op mode. With its weird and unpredictable challenges, “Roots of the Weird” is a enjoyable and funky journey that can have gamers pondering and laughing on the identical time.

Play right here: https://alchymy.itch.io/power-root

9. Root of Energy

The one tabletop roleplay sport (TTRPG) was by a solo sport creator, Nik.

Set in Nusantara, the target of Root of Energy is to retrieve the uncommon and highly effective Root of Energy, AKA Tongkat Ali (a plant generally known as a standard Asian treatment for male sexual efficiency).

On this world, the Root of Energy is claimed to carry not simply immense power but additionally the facility to grant immortality.

This TTRPG could be performed by people or teams and doesn’t require a sport grasp, because the rulebook and character sheets suffice.

Play right here: https://windastella.itch.io/root-of-power-rpg

10. Tetrees

Created by Justin Oon, Tetrees is a puzzle sport that takes inspiration from Tetris, however as an alternative of stacking up, it spreads downwards.

The blocks are primarily roots, and there’s a well being bar indicating the quantity of water your tree has. You should attain the following droplet of water to replenish the well being bar.

Play right here: https://justinooncx.itch.io/tetrees

11. Rootbender

In Rootbender, gamers can management a root of a tree, utilizing it to kill bats that can hurt the tree.

For added problem, the foundation has a restricted size and should totally retract first earlier than gamers can management it once more.

Play right here: https://globalgamejam.org/2023/video games/rootbender-6

12. i_am_rooted

i_am_rooted is a sport by Jonathan Tang, also called Magthylius. The sport is paying homage to Dorfromantik what with the utilization of hexagonal tiles. Roots intuitively type alongside the tiles, connecting all the way in which again to the tree.

Submitting his sport a full day and 10 hours earlier than the deadline, Jonathan can also be the positioning organiser and Worldwide Recreation Builders Affiliation (IGDA) coordinator.

Play right here: https://magthylius.itch.io/i-am-rooted

13. Tangled Memori

Group Revival, a bunch that consists of first-time jammers (save for one), created a brief narrative-driven puzzle thriller sport.

Gamers play as Frank, a just lately deceased spirit who can’t keep in mind how he died. Via the sport, we’re capable of relive the final moments of his life, uncovering clues as to who killed him.

A side-scroller sport, Tangled Memori options themes of horror, humorous dialogue, and an fascinating plot besides. As a fan of nice narratives, Tangled Memori was certainly one of my favourites from the jam and a sport I hope will proceed to be developed.

Play right here: https://alacz.itch.io/tangled-memori

14. Ah Lengthy Dentist

Group Bytesized’s sport, Ah Lengthy Dentist, has a reasonably kooky however fascinating premise.

The participant is an “Ah Lengthy” (loanshark) dentist who has a household historical past of magic. After the participant’s great-grandma passes, he coerces the remainder of his members of the family to get their magical enamel extracted so he can use them to deliver his great-grandma again to life.

Impressed by Surgeon Simulator, this first-person sport allows you to pluck out enamel along with your proper hand whereas blocking assaults from the sufferers along with your left.

The three self-explanatory assaults are Chomp, Cough, and Dangerous Breath.

Watch the demo right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoocyKIWPGE

Play right here: https://sillee.itch.io/ah-long-dentists

15. Root For You!

Within the rhythm sport Root For You!, you get to manage a bunch of followers who cheer on the principle “participant” of the sport.

By precisely copying the cheers of the enemy, followers can primarily inform the “participant” the opponent’s strikes. You can begin your cheers at any time, however when you begin, you might want to comply with the rhythm of the opponent’s sample.

Though the sport wasn’t very fleshed out but by the top of the occasion, the builders had labored to incorporate some colour-blindness accessibility choices.

16. CorROOTion

It is a sport created by FunGuys, which options the youngest individuals on the ages of 12 and 14.

Mikael Wong, the dad, is the programmer, whereas 14-year-old Adrian is the sport director and sound designer. 12-year-old sister Maisarah additionally participated because the 2D/UI Artist.

One other Metroidvania sport, CorROOTion includes a corrupted politician by the title of TUNEP (turnip).

Cronyism, bribery, and embezzlement battle again in a type of root greens (who signify the great politicians). Gamers should win in opposition to the corruption to cease your complete ROOT vegetable kingdom from being became soup.

Play right here: https://hjcina.itch.io/corrootion

17. Golden Roots

Golden Roots is a top-down, native multiplayer sport the place gamers compete to dig out useful roots to achieve factors in a restricted time.

Through the use of the shovel, gamers can hit and stun one another, making Golden Roots fairly a enjoyable aggressive sport.

Watch the gameplay right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmG6M7oFYf0

Play right here: https://realpotatocat.itch.io/golden-root

18. Elven Roots

Consisting of 4 creators, Group Talent Difficulty’s Elven Roots is a 2D side-scroller platformer. Gamers tackle the function of a femme fatale who’s on a quest to research the darkish runic arts and cease the evil roots which might be terrorising the peace of her elven village.

Watch the gameplay right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSBMOYXCfM0

Play right here: https://s34nn.itch.io/elven-roots

19. /Root_

Created by Reiyx, /Root_ is centred round a virus deployed by a hacker, tasked to navigate by way of a posh, maze-like server system to succeed in the “/root” listing.

The server is guarded by firewalls that slowly encroach upon the participant, who is consistently rolling ahead with out pause. Gamers can management their mouse horizontally in addition to alter the velocity at which they’re rolling, however watch out—the sooner you roll, the trickier the dealing with turns into.

To keep away from falling into the void areas of the system, you should additionally take note of the mini map of the maze within the high nook of the display.

The “hacker” idea of the sport is quite refreshing. Aesthetics apart, gamers should enter /begin to start the sport and kind in /assist to entry the settings.

Play right here: https://reiyx.itch.io/root

20. Haunted Flatulence Universe

Created by Group 8hours (who joined the sport jam with solely eight hours left), Haunted Flatulence Universe is a sport the place gamers are offered with two pictures—one drawn by an actual individual, and one generated by AI.

Choose the best reply and your tree’s roots will diverge in two paths, permitting you to succeed in extra cash. Gamers who get greater than half proper will cross the sport, securing their identities as people.

The premise is that people are actually haunted by the dominance of AI in our lives, so should survive or be deported to a really darkish and lonely flatulent universe.

To stay to the randomly generated title, the sport has a cultured fart sound when the participant loses.

-//-

Whereas I-Van was giving me a tour of the area, he talked about that one of many objectives of the occasion is to indicate that Malaysians can jam simply in addition to anybody else.

Watching the shows, I realised that these sport jams aren’t solely alternatives for native skills to place their capabilities to the check, however a good way for the neighborhood to guarantee one another of the nice potential in Malaysia, no matter age or skilled expertise. Networking, connections, and publicity are a particular plus, too.

On the time of writing, not all of the video games that had been offered have been uploaded to itch.io, however a devoted web page has been made for them. If any of the video games sound fascinating to you, remember to bookmark the web page.