Last week, the 8th Wall community teed off the Ultimate Mini Golf Game Jam with a live info session led by our own Rigel Benton (Lead Designer) and George Butler (Developer Support Engineer).

This month-long jam challenges developers to create one-of-a-kind mini golf holes in 8th Wall Studio using our Putt Putt Paradise sample project as a starting point. The best submissions will share in a $10,000 prize pool and may even be combined into a single “Ultimate Mini Golf” experience published by 8th Wall.

But building a winning hole isn’t just about creativity—it’s also about making sure your game runs smoothly for every player, whether they’re playing on a PC or a phone on mobile data. That’s where George Butler’s advice comes in.

Tips for Smooth Cross-Platform Play

George’s top tips centered on one simple truth: if your game only works perfectly on the device you built it on, you’re leaving players (and judges) behind.

Here’s how to make sure your mini golf hole and other games perform on both desktop and mobile:

1. Always Give Players a Way to Interact Without a Keyboard or Mouse

On mobile, there’s no WASD, no arrow keys, no right-click. If you add a new mechanic, whether it’s a jump, a special power-up, or a custom camera view, give mobile players an on-screen button to trigger it.

“If all you’ve done is test with WASD, it’ll feel great on your laptop—but the moment a judge tries it on their phone and can’t control it, the experience falls apart,” George reminded us.

2. Complement Desktop Controls with Mobile-Friendly Options

PC players might prefer mouse or keyboard precision, but mobile players can benefit from features like:

• Touch buttons for rotation, swing, or special abilities.
• Swipe gestures for quick actions (e.g., flicking the ball).
• Gyroscope controls for camera movement.

The sample project already includes mobile-friendly swing and rotation buttons. Explore these for more functionality: 

• Player Controller: This project shows how to implement a Player controller that responds to input actions and touch gestures.
• Gyroscope Controller: Discover and learn a new gameplay mechanic using your phone's gyroscope! Tilt left or right to control your character's movement.
  

3. Optimize Assets for Mobile Data Speeds

Not every mobile player is on fast Wi-Fi. Large textures and high-poly models can cause long load times or lag.

• Keep textures smaller where possible.
• Use low-poly versions of models for mobile.
• Be mindful of asset size, even if the scene runs fine on your dev machine.
  

This is especially important for a physics-heavy game like mini golf, where smooth motion and quick load times keep the fun flowing.

4. Test Early, Test Often on All Platforms

Don’t wait until the final day to check mobile performance. Regular testing on both desktop and mobile will help you catch:

• Control schemes that don’t translate well.
• UI elements that appear off-screen on smaller displays.
• Physics glitches that appear under lower frame rates.
  

Why This Matters for the Game Jam

One of the judging criteria is technical execution and performance, and that includes how well your level runs on different devices. Following George’s tips can be the difference between a creative-but-buggy submission and one that feels polished everywhere.
As George put it: “I don’t want these things to hamper your creativity. Go wild, but make sure everyone can play your creation.”

📅 Submission window: August 16–25, 2025, sign up early to receive exclusive tips and updates.

💰 Prize pool: $10,000 + Honorable Mentions

🎯 Goal: Create a unique, playable mini golf hole that shines on both mobile and desktop.

Ready to put George’s advice into action? Clone the Putt Putt Paradise sample project, start experimenting, and share your progress in the 8th Wall Discord. We can’t wait to see your hole-in-one ideas!