Lost Cartridge Design (/lɒst kɑːtrɪdʒ dɪˈzʌɪn/): The annual game jam where you create a Lost Cartridge Game.
The annual Lost Cartridge Jam is a game jam where you make a believable retro game. This is the results page for the 2020 Lost Cartridge Jam. A big thanks to the sponsors of this jam: Decemberborn, Elden Pixels, Ludosity and Something Classic.
These are the results in order of lowest to highest rating.
SNES
Attempting to recreate old school action platforming, this game offers high quality pixel art and fluid combat. It's not quite in line with the aesthetic of its intended platform - the SNES - but with more work the game has potential to become a solid full-length action game.
Sega Genesis
Inspired by games like Desert Strike, the game attempts to recreate a similar isometric helicopter action combat experience. Despite being more akin to a prototype, the game has potential to become an interesting action game.
PlayStation
With simple 3D arcade gameplay, the game offers a full end-to-end experience with lo-fi aesthetics that allude to the '90s, despite not fully adhering to its intended platform - the PlayStation. With additional work the game could become a quality arcade experience.
Sega Genesis
An arcade shooter that aims to adhere to the aesthetics and technical limtations of the Sega Geneis. Being more of a prototype or concept than a full game, it still manages to impress with solid graphics and some interesting combat ideas. With more work the game could be a great Sega Genesis-like game.
Sega Master System
An arcade platformer based around vertical farming using a jetpack, this game straddles the line between the Sega Master System and the Sega Genesis. The graphics are exemplary, and the gameplay is addictive. The game offers a full end-to-end experience, including a title screen, full-length level and an ending. The gameplay continuously evolves until the end, and as far as arcade platforming goes the scope of the gameplay formula exceeds any expectations.
NES
This shoot 'em up is not just inspired by the NES, but was actually developed for the platform. With its pitch black background, condensed gameplay and simple visual effects, the game both looks and feels like it could've been a late '80s NES release - especially given the fact that it employs item pickups, enemies and powerups in a way that were typical of games like Kid Icarus. Despite being a bit sparse throughout, the game offers a full end-to-end experience from title screen to a full level to a first and final boss that ends with an impressive explosive effect upon beating the game. It's a solid experience that if full-length could easily have been sold commercially back in the NES days.
Game Boy
Despite so much work having been put into producing a native Game Boy ROM, this game manages to also encompass everything that you'd expect from a commercial release - at least as much as can be reasonably be expected from a game jam-entry. Not only does it have a proper boot screen, prologue and ending, but as far as '90s Game Boy games go it cements a solid storyline, lore and plot progression. The game ties it all together with a pleasing aesthetic rooted in a solid soundtrack and classic '90s video game chibi graphics. All-in-all, it'd be hard to expect one lone game designer to be able to perform better than this in such a short timeframe. The game feels like a solid Game Boy-game through and through.
Thanks for participating in the Lost Cartridge Jam of 2020! Feel free to subscribe to the Astrojone newsletter to be notified of future game jams! We also have a communtiy Discord chat where we discuss- and help each other make retro-styled games, and of course notify of upcoming game jams.