The 3D Paradise Asset Jam #1 – What is it about?
A jam is basically a collaborative event that runs for a set period of time and usually comes with a fun theme. People jump in, create something cool, submit it, and check out what everyone else made.
We at The 3D Paradise Discord server thought: why not host one ourselves? But instead of a general jam, we’re focusing on asset packs. The challenge: to design and release an asset pack within 30 days (all of September), with at least 30 assets inside. These can be 2D, 3D, or even audio (everything counts!).
You can join & participate for free by clicking HERE, alone or with friends!
Missed the start? No problem. You can still hop in late, and we’re even cool with late submissions. So don’t stress if the deadline sneaks up on you. 👍
Tips to take on a jam!
During a jam, you might feel tempted to spend 72hs entirely working on your project, without a single second of sleep, endlessly adding new features to your never-ending game (or asset pack, in this case), while learning random things like “what does scope really mean?”
So before you dive in, here are some tips that might actually help.
🔍 Define the scope of your project
Don’t be like No Man’s Sky or Cyberpunk 2077
In case you missed the reference: both games launched in a horrendous state, with absurd downgrades and game-breaking bugs.
When you design a product (yes, product, not just a game or an asset pack), you need to decide what to include and what to leave out. It’s always tempting to add more and more features, but ask yourself a few questions first:
- How experienced are you at making this kind of product?
- Is it your first time attempting any of those features?
- How much time do you actually have to design, build, and publish it?
- Are the features even compatible with each other?
- Are those features genuinely interesting?
- How much effort will they take to implement?
You can change “product” to anything you want, such as “game” or “3D Asset Pack”. The logic stays the same.
In most cases, you’ll hit a wall around the third question. Designing takes time. Implementing takes time. Publishing takes time. (I do all of these myself, so trust me when I say: it all takes time).
A jam might last a few days, a week, or, like the 3D Paradise Asset Pack Jam, an entire month. That’s plenty of time to make something cool, but not enough to build Half-Life 3. So plan accordingly.
So do yourself a favor: aim for something quick, achievable, but with a fun twist. The goal is to learn new skills and have a good time, not “develop anxiety”.
(Unless “anxiety” is the chosen theme, in that case you need to develop one that also creatively distinguishes from others 😅 joke)
⏰ Organize yourself, manage your time
With proper organization, you can enjoy your jam without rushing
Whether you’re making a game, a render, a drawing, or an asset pack, every project has phases (design, implementation, testing, etc.). Each one takes time and attention.
Usually, the flow looks kind of like this:
- Get references
- Design
- Implement
- Test
- Publish
This way you’ll define your project early and will work towards completing its different goals. No surprises, no “random new features” halfway through, no incompatibilities, no time wasted.
🧠 Use references and other free resources
Get inspiration, follow tutorials, and please don’t reinvent the wheel
Look at images, videos, and finished projects for inspiration. If you’re making a game, check how others handled mechanics, art styles, what worked and what you should definitively avoid.
When it comes to tutorials
If you’re new to gamedev, you can try with Brackeys, CodeMonkey, or BlackThorn.
For 3D artists who are new to the wonderful world of Blender, I recommend Imphenzia or BlenderGuru (this one’s a classic already).
You also have free resources (2D, 3D, animations, BGs, tools, etc) on Itch.io, PolyHaven (for HDRI and textures), or the already known assets made by Kenney.
Obviously also make sure to consider our free low-poly sets!
✋ Ask for help
There’s always a community ready to back you up
Working on your project, you’ll eventually hit a wall, a problem you can’t solve alone. That’s normal, expected. The smart move? Ask for help.
On itch.io jams, there’s even a “Community” section where participants can post questions, get/provide feedback, and share ideas (like a mini-forum). Otherwise take a look at their Discord server (most jams already feature one).
And often, you can also team up with others, which is super valuable specially if you’re new. Random groups with different skills (dev, artist, sound, music, etc.) can complement each other, or you can just stick with your friends. Either way, collaboration adds a lot.
✅ Finish your project, no matter what
Mandatory for indie devs: just finish it
Jams are important because they represent an excuse for you to start and finish a project, with proper emphasis on *finish*. Too often, new devs plan their “Grand Half-Strike: Lolnite Royale Edition RTX” masterpiece, which of course takes more than 2 days, so they join a 72-hour jam instead (because hey, 72 > 2, what could go wrong? Simple math 😄).
Two days later, they realize that math did go wrong, Math lied. Units matter 🤷♂️. Well, there’s only one thing you can do in such situation: make it somehow functional enough and submit it.
Yes. And that’s okay. Making mistakes means you’re still learning how to manage projects. But the important part is you’ll finish something, gain confidence, collect feedback (which is priceless), and feel proud of yourself for getting it out there.
It’s not about a perfect release. It’s about personal growth, motivation, and having something to show for your effort. (Plus, you’ll probably meet new people and maybe even learn teamwork along the way.)
3D Paradise Asset Pack Jam details
What’s your personal goal for the jam? ☕
The 3D Paradise Asset Pack Jam is pretty straightforward: you make an asset pack. But even so, you might be wondering what direction to take. Here are a few possible goals:
- You want something to showcase: Maybe you don’t care about selling assets or building a brand, you just want something cool to show off. That’s totally fine! There aren’t really limitations here, so go wild and be as creative as you want.
- You’ll use your own assets for a project: Maybe your focus isn’t on other creators at all, but on players (you’re making something for your own game or project). In that case, the jam works as a great excuse to polish and publish those assets so others can use them too. You’ll be already showcasing these in your own project!
- You would like to establish a brand or sell assets: You’ll want to research what people actually need, what styles are in demand, and how you can balance your own preferences with market trends (what fits you but also what’s trendy).
- You want to learn while having fun: This might be your chance to experiment, try something totally new, and see what it’s like to publish something, whether you’re doing it solo or as a fun challenge with friends 👍.
Submission details
Since the jam is all about motivation, sharing, and finishing something, submissions should include:
- A ZIP file containing the assets
- Photos/videos/audios samples showing what’s inside
- A cute project page
👉 We strongly advise against paid submissions. If people can’t actually access your pack, they can’t give you useful feedback later.
The Project page 📃
When setting up your project page, think of it as your showcase:
- Add images (or videos/audio samples for animations, sounds, or music) that highlight everything in the pack.
- Show the assets both individually and in action. (For example: 3D models on their own, then together in a sample scene).
- Include short descriptions listing the main features (e.g., “modular buildings,” “low-poly art style,” or the jam’s chosen theme, Cafe in this case).
- Add technical details, too: things like the average poly count, texture resolution, number of assets, file formats, etc… That info is always appreciated.
Join the 3D Paradise Asset Pack Jam #1 now!
