Overview
Day 7 was focused on launch, submission, and getting the project across the finish line. Most of the work centered on final validation, capturing screenshots and gameplay footage for the Itch.io page, building the release version, and publishing the game before the jam deadline. I also did a few final playthroughs to confirm the build was working as intended before release. By the end of the day, the project was complete, playable, published on Itch.io, and officially submitted for the jam, which made the whole week feel like a real success.
Major Accomplishments
- Captured screenshots and gameplay footage for the Itch.io page.
- Did final playthroughs to validate the release build before publishing.
- Built and uploaded the game to Itch.io.
- Created and published the Itch.io page.
- Submitted the game to the jam before the deadline.
- Completed the project as a playable, published game jam release.
Systems Developed or Updated
Release Build Validation
- Confirms the final game build is stable enough for public release.
- Ran several final playthroughs before packaging and publishing to make sure the game behaved as intended in its release state.
- Current state: Functional
Store Page / Submission Assets
- Supports the public release by providing screenshots and gameplay media for the game page.
- Gathered screenshots and in-game footage for the Itch.io page so the project could be presented properly for launch and submission.
- Current state: Functional
Publishing and Submission Flow
- Handles the final step of packaging, uploading, publishing, and submitting the game.
- Uploaded the build to Itch.io, created the project page, published the game, and submitted it to the jam about an hour before the deadline.
- Current state: Functional
Problems Encountered and Solutions
Problem:
A game-breaking bug was discovered after the game had already been published.
Cause:
The bug appears to depend on a very specific sequence of player actions, which made it hard to catch during the final validation passes before release.
Solution:
The issue was narrowed down after publication, but because the build had already been submitted and time had run out, it was left as-is for the jam version. The game remains playable, though this bug removes much of the challenge if triggered.
Current Project State
The project is now complete for jam scope. The game is playable, publicly published on Itch.io, and officially submitted, which puts it beyond prototype status and into finished jam-release territory. While there are still known issues, including at least one serious post-launch bug, the overall result is a full playable product that went from planning to release in seven days.
Next Day Plan
- Wait for the jam evaluation period to finish.
- Review results and feedback once judging is complete.
- Keep note of the known post-launch bug and the narrowed-down cause for any future revisit.
- Carry forward the main lessons from the jam, especially around early planning, scope control, and relying on external assets or workarounds to stay focused on gameplay systems.
Day 7 also carries a clear personal takeaway: the jam succeeded not just because the game shipped, but because the production approach worked. The initial planning pass, task breakdown, and strict focus on gameplay-first scope were major reasons the project stayed manageable through the week.