They say sometimes life imitates art, but in the case of a video game where the idea is to throw bricks at Mexicans escaping into America across a barely constructed wall, the two may soon be a little too close for comfort.
That was just one of the madcap ideas born out of Jamchester this weekend - a three day "game jam" held in the heart of Manchester. Game jams, if you're unaware, are events where the idea is to create a new game completely from scratch, based around a particular theme.
There's no going home or nipping off to a four-star hotel for a kip - the developers eat, sleep and shit all under the same roof. Think of it as being like the kind of sleep over you had back at school, but instead of playing games you're making them. Oh, and everyone involved has a beard. Seriously, everyone.
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In the case of Jamchester, teams from all over the UK came together to make a game based around the theme of the player having 'already won'. Given most games are built around the idea of challenging the player to win, setting up a release where the winning has already taken place was an undertaking and a half, but one that led to an impressive array of different styles.
As hinted at, one of the games cast the player in the role of Donald Trump after winning the US election later this year. His first job? Building a wall between the US and Mexico, all while lobbing bricks at Mexicans attempting to escape across the border. It was of course, called The Great Wall of Trump.
It's the kind of game I can imagine blowing up around election time.
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Other games created in the three day frenzy included one that forced players to answer to the families of the enemies they'd slayed, while another tasked you with going back in time in order to shield the foe you'd mercilessly popped a bullet in just minutes earlier. Deep stuff.
Virtual Reality was also popular among the 39 games created at Jamchester.
A VR prize went to a game faintly dubbed as 'The Crystal Maze does VR'. Officially called Sigtrap, the game is a multiplayer affair where one player dons a VR headset and attempts to walk around an Aztec maze, while the rest of the team guides them via a second screen. Cue lots of shouting, a lot of walking into a walls, and a fair amount of laughing.
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Possibly the favourite game to come out of the three days, was the most bizarre.
In Best In Show, you and a friend control a pantomime cow attempting to escape from a hotel, one handling the front, one taking charge of the back.
Having set out with the dastardly plan to win the prize of 'Best Cow' at a country fete, you then find yourself trapped in a hotel room - still dressed as a cow - after the organisers throw a party in your honour to celebrate.
It's your job to sneak out of said hotel without being spotted by the over-zealous bell boys, making sure you don't arouse suspicion by bumping into too much furniture or splitting apart completely. If this isn't the start of a new 'cow stealth' genre, then there's something wrong with the world.
While there were categories aplenty for the hundreds of devs who made their way into the city, the ultimate winner was a game called Head Home by Manchester-based studio Acid Nerve (and guest dev Angus Dick), where the idea is to carry a defeated end of game boss through the streets packed with cheering crowds, all without dropping it along the way.
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"I haven't been doing jams very long, but this is the best jam I've ever been to," said animator Angus Dick of his team's victory. "The environment - everyone hanging in between doing stuff and playing games - has just been so good. I'm obviously from London, but I don't want to do any other jams but Jamchester any more."
Dick spoke the truth. Of my three lengthy wanders around Jamchester, you'd have struggled to grasp that the teams were actually in competition with each other. Devs drank together, gossiped together, slept on bean bags together, and even a few showered together. Well, that's just a rumour, but one I'm happy to spread about.
Either way, there were three things I took from Jamchester; firstly, UK game devs can create some damn good shit in just a couple of days. Secondly, given all the ticket money that went to gaming charity Special Effect, Jamchester did more than just give a pack load of bearded guys somewhere to sleep for the weekend. And finally, I wouldn't be surprised if, after a dose of spit and polish, many of the games made here end up hitting the shops. You know, being sold for actual money.
Some of the best games made in recent times have their roots in a game jam somewhere or other, and Jamchester was up there with the very best.
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What's more, you can download and play all of the games made in the jam for free over on the official Jamchester Devpost page. Play them now before EA picks up the best ones and slaps a £59.99 price tag on them.
Words by Keith Andrew
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Donald Trump