Helsinki, May 11th 2020

classheikki games releases “i didn’t make a game for this jam”

A self-reflective interactive fiction on the sadness of not performing during a game jam

As part of the Games Now! Online Jam #2, classheikki (aka. Christina ‘Chride’ Lassheikki) has created and released the interactive fiction “i didn’t make a game for this jam”. The self-reflective short piece lets players reflect on the constant need to stay productive, and the sadness that comes from not meeting your own expectations, whilst offering comfort.

Created in the early morning hours of Mothers day – on May 10th 2020 – the piece could be classified as an interactive non(?)fiction. The story deals with the stress and emotional conflict of not delivering a game during a game jam. In the piece, the player discusses with classheikki in a straight-forward, intimate way on why she didn’t make a game even if she could have, and on what she made instead during the game jam. Is it a game? Is it honest? Does it even matter, if it can elicit feelings and is relatable?

“I pulled this cute and quirky game last-minute out of nowhere to the surprise of my friends at the jam, without so much as a ‘ta-dah’. It features really intricate graphics and a cool idea based on the theme,” classheikki describes the process of creation in-game.

Games Now! Online Jam #2 was organized on itch.io by the Aalto University Department of Media course Games Now!, and ran from May 4th to May 10th. The theme of the jam was ‘sad games’, and the jam was introduced, and concluded, by talkshows on twitch with researchers Annakaisa Kultima, Ville Kankainen and Elisa Mekler from Aalto University.

‘i didn’t make a game for this jam’ is available to play on itch.io for free. The interactive fiction was created in Twine, and can be played in-browser on mobiles and PC.

Play ‘i didn’t make a game for this jam’ on itch.io: https://classheikki.itch.io/i-didnt-make-a-game 

To find out more, send an email to: classheikki [at] gmail.com

Reviews:

“Well written and personal experience. I kept replaying this for a while to find everything. Some things in this resonated with me. It really takes courage to open up like that for people to see, respect! It also made me think a lot. When should one rest and recover for later, and when should one just power through? Where is the line?”
Player review by user Guron on itch.io

Game screenshots and logo:

About the developer:

classheikki games is the solo developer project of Christina “Chride” Lassheikki. Lassheikki, born in 1992, is a Helsinki-based narrative designer and illustrator who is currently studying toward an MA in Game Design and Production at Aalto University. Known for her heartfelt and quirky explorative games, she is an avid game jammer and firm believer in empowering other game creators. She is currently working on several unannounced interactive fiction and indie game works.

Find out more on: https://classheikki.itch.io/