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DOSember Pixel Jam Results
Pixel Jam Results: "It Was Supposed to Be a Jolly Holiday"
On December 19th, the Retro Computer Events Discord server buzzed with excitement as pixel artists from around the world gathered for the highly anticipated Pixel Jam competition. Streamed live on Twitch, this 30-minute showdown tested participants' creativity, skill, and adaptability under pressure. The event was hosted by @S1gnal and judged by a panel of experts, including @AshSaidHi, @AnnK_, and @Mel_Plays_Games.
The rules were simple yet challenging. Artists worked within a 64x40 pixel canvas using only the tools and colors specified in the event’s palette. An optional twist—mutators—added an extra layer of difficulty for those daring enough to take them on. Mutators ranged from limiting tools to using non-dominant hands, pushing participants to explore unconventional techniques and approaches.
This year's theme, "It Was Supposed to Be a Jolly Holiday," sparked a flurry of interpretations—from hilarious mishaps to post-apocalyptic chaos. The results were as diverse as they were imaginative, proving once again that creativity thrives under constraints.
The Artworks:
The theme was that it was supposed to be a jolly holiday, so I decided to take that literally and have it actually be one. Our protagonist has escaped the winter darkness and rain to a lovely tropical island and is seen here relaxing on the beach, enjoying a hot pizza and a bottle of wine as the beautiful near-full moon rises over the sea. The beach theme came to me as soon as I realized the colours in the palette could represent sand and sky. Yellow was an obvious choice for the extra color, but I kind of wish I'd gone for white instead.
When Christmas pud goes wrong, a seasonal "this is fine" moment. Inspired by memes (I have no creative integrity) "Pop Cat", "This is Fine" and "Always Room for Christmas Pud" combined to create this peak "It was supposed to be a jolly holiday" pixel art.
Enter scene, a city in burning disarray. Cars ablaze, sirens in the distance. Camera pans over to behind shot of grizzled Santa. Close up shot of his eyes squinting as he takes in the carnage he has left in his wake. "It was suppose to be a jolly Christmas"
It was supposed to be a jolly christmas, but then the truck driver decided to have that last slice while still working on deliveries (see pizza pixelart for reference) and it was soooo good they forgot everything around them and crashed straight into the newly erected tree in the city, starting a big fire and spilling all the toys for the kids onto the street... but hey, on the bright side (apart from the fire)... FREE TOYS!
It was supposed to be a jolly Christmas, but it was a dystopian apocalypse.
After an intense 30 minutes of pixelated creativity, the judging panel deliberated on the entries. Their evaluations considered originality, execution, and adherence to the theme and rules. The variety of approaches made for an engaging showcase, highlighting each artist’s unique style and vision.
As the event wrapped up, it was clear that Pixel Jam 2024 was a resounding success. Whether depicting sun-soaked escapes, burning cities, or dystopian ruins, the participants delivered work that captured both humor and drama. Congratulations to all who took part—you turned a jolly holiday into an unforgettable artistic adventure.