It’s been almost a year since the last GBJam took place, so needless to say, this fourth iteration is long overdue! As such, it’s almost time to craft a brand new GameBoy-themed game yet again, for the fourth GBJam! Oh, and the above screenshot is just for reference – no one’s saying you have to make something of such quality. Would be very cool though…
For those not familiar with the GameBoy’s design/specs, we’re talking four colours and 160×144 here, meaning your creation has to abide by those ‘limitations’. Making the game run at x2 or x3 scaling is something I’d highly recommend, however, so that players won’t have a hard time telling objects apart; most do after all sit at a comfortable distance from their screen.
You can use a different set of 4 colors when moving to another screen, similar to Pokemon R/B/Y. Alpha transparency, anti-alias, fading and gradients create unwanted colors, and so are not allowed.
Now, while the above quote was taken from the GBJam 3 FAQ, I’m fairly certain it also applies to GBJam 4. I mean, why wouldn’t it? Same concept, the same rules (however few) and the same organizer, after all. That said, for authenticity, you could go all in, either utilizing only four shades of grey or a greenish pastel palette. That is after all how games looked on the original and rather bulky model.
So if you feel like participating, head over to the website for a quick “what’s what” and… well, clear your schedule from August 8th to August 18th. Remember, ain’t no blast like a blast from the past!