A guide to the LD48

how to not crack under the incredible pressure

by mrfun

If this is your first LD48, you probably have a lot of questions running through your mind such as:

• What kind of superhuman can make a good game in only 48 hours?
• Are there health risks?
• Have people actually died during these events, and if so, why do they keep running them?
• Do I have an emergency plan for food?
• How to deal with the family during this difficult time?

Let's start with food and nourishment.

If you're one of the lucky few, a family member will bring you drinks and hot food when summoned with a golden bell.

If you're the rest of us, you can't count on anything but blank stares and subtle innuendo that you're antisocial, a bad father, or even hikikomori, depending on your situation.

Be smart, be safe. Stock up food stuffs that can be prepared in under a minute.

A healthy assortment of easy to prepare 'meals'.

Next, be aware that severe injuries are reported each event. You can dramatically decrease your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome by wearing proper programming gear.

These wrist braces will allow nonstop hardcore coding with reduced wrist strain.

Perhaps the most important consumable goods will be taken in fluid form. A refrigerator (or servant) should be located no more than 1 meter from your workstation for quick access. Time wasted going to the kitchen could be the difference between success and ending the contest in a fetal position.

A mini vending machine stocked with caffeine drinks. American coffee is like normal coffee but just more American. Hope that clears that up.

And now, a closely guarded secret that has been passed down from generation to generation: When you hit the wall, boost your blood sugar to get over the hump. Most medical doctors agree chocolate is the best way to reach this goal, the rest are just quacks.

Low blood sugar? No problem, charge up hula style!

And perhaps most importantly, know your competition. Spend all day chatting in IRC, because man, it's just fun.

LD48 isn't your average pig-toss competition, it's an international event by jove! Updated map here!

That's all you need to know! Now get to it! Historically, less than 20% of contestants submit a final entry. Don't let this happen to you!

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938 people have learned much here and vowed to finish their entry.