#procjam 2017

ProcJam Tutorials Released

Not to be all ProcJam all the time--though it is getting to be that time of year--but I definitely wanted to tell you about the ProcJam tutorials they're posting this year. They have an excellent selection of experts lined up, and the first two tutorials were posted today.

I'm always on the lookout for material that can help introduce people to the world of generation, whether its analog/paper generation, a Unity3D tutorial, or an intro to installing neural net software for poets. (Do send me links if you know of more resources for this!)

Once you have something to play around with it can be easy to teach yourself (or at least you have a clear path) but that first step can be a hard one. And with so many frameworks and different approaches out there, there are sometimes many different first steps, like so many procedurally generated staircases to climb.

ProcJam Art Packs for 2017

The art packs for the 2017 ProcJam have been released, and they are as amazing as expected. Together with the art packs from previous years, this means hundreds of 3d models and sprites are available under a CC0 license for anyone who wants to use them.

The artists should be congratulated. It’s not a topic that gets discussed much, outside of the circles of artists who are working on generative projects, but there’s a number of additional constraints and considerations when you’re working on art that’s going to be used as part of a generative output. They have to work as individual art pieces and when repeated and fit in with the surrounding art--often with no idea of exactly what that art might be. It’s like tiling texture design turned up to 11.

For many generators, the choice of content is an intrinsic part of the system itself: a text generator working with a Tracery grammar is defined by the text that’s put into that grammar. A level generator can only work with the tiles it is given.

This even holds in a larger sense: for example, if transitions between terrain types are part of a tiled map generator, then the shape and kind of transitions that are allowed are dictated by what art assets are available. These relationships are sometimes addressed programmatically--you can always add more generativity within generativity, after all--but the general idea remains.

The 2017 ProcJam Grant

Due to the Kickstarter funding, this year ProcJam is announcing a grant to support someone working with generative software. If this sounds like you, you should definitely apply. They’ve got a great panel of experts who will be reviewing the shortlist. I’m very happy to see the community get support like this.

Funding ProcJam 2017

I don’t usually talk about Kickstarters or crowdfunding here, for various reasons. But this one is different, because it’s not looking to fund a game or even a generator. It’s looking to fund ProcJam.

While the university funding for past ProcJams has been beneficial, I agree that it’s better to have the community sustain the project. The funding will go towards new art packs, video coverage, and another issue of Seeds, plus the thing that I’m most excited about: tutorials on procedural generation.

I’m always looking for more ways to show people how they can make things that make things, so I endorse this whole thing. I’m looking forward to seeing what ProcJam 2017 can accomplish.