This is a game about making (sometimes permanent) choices. Many games that I have played involve making a choice to stay in the confines of what you can see, or to venture into the unknown. From my personal experience, many modern games do not allow you to venture far from a linear path. In this game, I've (hopefully) emphasized on this choice.
If you have any comments or find any bugs, tweet at me @ayyang9.
SIDE NOTES - I programmed this thing from scratch using LibGDX, a Java library. I used some code structures from what I've learned using LibGDX in the past, but all the code came straight from my head. - I did assets with Adobe Photoshop CS6. - I didn't have time to add sounds, music, or any substantial fluff. It's more barebones than I would have liked. - There's not enough level design, I know! I spent the majority of my dev time on the engine and art. - Sorry I didn't have time to package anything but an executable jar. You'll need the latest version of Java installed. You can run the same jar across Mac/PC/Linux though.
PS first completed Ludum Dare, managed to make it to the compo! Back to studying for finals :\
Cool concept of having to choose between the exit or a shiny coin! You could definitely expand on the idea by introducing some other difficult choices into the mix. Good job :)
I'm a little conflicted here. I'm not sure if you were making a satirical jab at linear games and the fallacy of choice, or a legitimate game that forces you to make permanent permanent decisions. The stem of the confusion is that it is possible to get all the coins and get to all the rooms (unless there is something hidden I missed). I would have thought there would have been some sort of trade-off where it would not be possible to get everything.
Toning the metaphor analysis down though you have a solid game engine and a nice art style so props for your first LD entry.
The art feels really consistent. and I definitely like the fishbowl feature. I wish it did something more than just be a hat though. Plus you can spam E to go through open doors if they are already unlocked
I loved how it looked and felt to play, but I'm not sure what my objective was or if I could win. Still, the use of theme was superb and I liked the message/moral I picked up
Really great work - especially for a first Ludum Dare! Having to tap E again to go through an open door was odd, it took me a while to figure that out. It says "you only get one key" ... except for that time when I was carrying three ;) Lovely graphics and great use of colour.
Good first entry, your first is always the most difficult. In terms of feedback what you had was good, you just needed a more content.
Being able to do more basically just comes with practice, but starting with a premade engine does definitely help a lot more. I hope you keep on practicing and entering!
I really liked the clean pixels, and also the space room. I managed to get all 3 coins on my second try (I would've liked a retry key instead of exiting the game). This game is motivating me to go back and try making another (strictly) top-down game (probably exploration)! Though small, I loved the sense of exploration I got from this. I can imagine a full-scale game that requires you to make much big final decisions like in this game. Also, congratulations on your first LD entry! I hope to see more games from you here at LD in the future!
I really like what you're trying to do, in terms of the permanence of choice and nonlinearity, but at the end of the day, it feels like a puzzle game with only one desirable objective (get all the coins) and one solution. Either to stick to the correct linear path, or you fall off and have to restart. Nonlinearity and permanence are much more meaningful when there is no clearly optimal choice. Fishbowl hat is super cute though.
Pixel graphics are great. The movement is good too. I liked that the first time a played I used the key on to get the coin and not the door to get out! haha, great job!
really nice looking entry, great job and congrats on your first LD! i like the concept a lot of having to make these really obvious decisions - what to use the key on? i can see it getting more complex as the game goes and really becoming challenging.
C
Cake&Code2 Jan 2014, 09:19
Interesting game! I lost on the first playthrough since I neglected door and went straight for the money (wonder what that says about me :P) but after that I picked up on the pacing of the game where I explored everything before I engaged on the cages. It was brief, but I think you did a great job for your first LD! :) (You should totally do a post-mortem for GameCraft ;D)
Graphics look good. This is a very promising start for a bigger game. I didn't find it exactly non-linear though, rather it seemed to me like those old-fashioned games where you get stuck when you make one bad choice.
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Art was also quite pleasing!
Toning the metaphor analysis down though you have a solid game engine and a nice art style so props for your first LD entry.
Great work, pretty graphics and absolutely YOGO-gameplay. :)
I might have needed a reset key a few times, had to restart the whole game every time. But sweet art and nice concept!
Being able to do more basically just comes with practice, but starting with a premade engine does definitely help a lot more. I hope you keep on practicing and entering!
Fishbowl hat is super cute though.