UPDATE: =========================================== Many people complained they could not play the game because it's multiplayer only. So we have put up a dedicated server!
To join the server: Click the "Updated Version" below - there are Linux, Windows and Mac versions there. (Linux users, install the awesome Löve framework: "sudo apt-get install love" or similar) Start the game, press "p" to enter your username.
! Address of the dedicated server: germanunkol.de (enter this in the IP field by pressing 'i', then connect using 'c'.)
We have not really added any other features. Still, if you feel that's cheating, the old links can still be found below - they work fine. In this case, please rate using those.
Grid Cars - a competitive racing game ============================================
Ludum Dare 31 entry. Made in one weekend.
Multiplayer only! This game is intended as an "in-betweener" at LAN Parties.
All cars are grid based. You have 10 seconds to make your move. Your velocity is "saved" between moves - so the faster you went last round, the further you can go this round!
Once the round has started, use WASD to look ahead and the mouse wheel to zoom out.
Make sure to send us your custom maps if you make them!
Features: --------------------- - Multiplayer! - Custom maps! - Absolutely no sounds. - Full map really DOES fit onto one screen (zoom out to see) :P
I love this and really really wish there were people on to play against.
The whole mechanic seems fleshed out and really works surprisingly well. You need to truly look ahead and plan your breaking and driving line. This is a great party game. It controls very well, too.
Also, impressive stuff setting up multiplayer and a level import system up in this timespan.
If we get the chance to put up a dedicated server later this week, I'll make sure to post the address here, so that everyone can join the same server. Until then, get some friends or family together - it's really fun to play with others! :D
I've seen a game like this before ages ago for windows 98! it was a favorite of mine and your recreation of it is very nice! I cant wait to play it with some friends!
Sorry, the jam was too short to include a tutorial :) Click on one of the highlighted grid joints around the car. Then the car will move to that grid. In future moves, the highlighted grids (i.e. the places you can go) will always depend on the past move. The fast you go, the faster you will go next round.
Very innovative! Me and Felix (@Mach60KAS) played your game earlier. Glad to see more multiplayer games this LD! We've seen 4 online ones so far, including our own.
I mentioned that the two main problems were server configuration: how it kicked me for not readying while waiting for someone (they actually got in, but got instantly kicked) and how the people attempting to join your server had to repeatedly try connecting for about 5 minutes, instead of joining as a spectator or at least waiting in a queue, with chat access.
The game itself was a really interesting twist on a racer, though I wasn't very good at it. :| It was incredibly hard to turn and slow down at the same time - it would have been nice to have some "drift mode" or whatever that you enter through turning harshly that slows you down and turns you while leaving tracks on the floor. (but obviously makes it really hard to turn the other way)
The chat was hilarious, but the server spamming messages kind of took away from the real p2p chat. I was also mega confused since the chat added at the top instead of the bottom. Either ways thanks for making this, I had fun.
O
obskyr11 Dec 2014, 20:30
Hahhahah, I've played this with pen and paper! Was that where you got the idea?
Great game, awesome to see a multiplayer, I guess its a challenge to get players, but this is definitely something that will be really fun at a LAN party!
Great game, awesome to see a multiplayer, I guess its a challenge to get players, but this is definitely something that will be really fun at a LAN party!
Very cool mechanic, really hard at first but great to play with friends. Played with one of the devs (as "Felix"), they were very helpful with teaching the game! Maps are varied, with plenty of shortcuts if you get the hang of the mechanics. Keep up the good work!
Although I only could try it solo, it was a very interesting, unique and fun game! Impressive that you had time to implement multiplayer support, I will test it out with some friends later.
Happy too see another awesome Löve game, well done! :)
Hey everyone - thanks for the great comments! Really encouraging! :)
@ RHY3756547: Thanks a lot for the extensive feedback. We implemented a few of your suggested changes: - Server is no longer commenting on each - The kicking of non-ready users had been taken out about 10 minutes after you left. It was a measure against idling people in the lobby, but it wasn't well executed. Instead, we added spectating now - everyone who isn't ready in time will just spectate. - This also takes care of the joining issue: Now everyone can join, even during a game -> they'll just be spectators (Great idea here.) We have not changed any game mechanics - I feel that would be "cheating", post ludum-dare. Also, I kind of like the simplicity of it, usually this game is played on pen and paper. But the server-side issues should all be fixed. Thanks for playing!!
Very interesting and innovative! I liked it a lot! I was really fun playing with you. The controls are hard, but make sence! Very good game. I wish it had some sound.
What a neat way to blend racing and strategy. I had to play by myself but it handled really well. It was nice to see that you could move faster if you made the proper moves. Once I figured it out I really enjoyed it. This one could really benefit from a tutorial level. Multiplayer in a jam game is hugely impressive, though not having a player-base ruins that experience. The visuals were great and the whole thing feels well realized. Would be a great iOS or web portal game. Great work here.
Very interesting game idea. Reminds me of a turn based board game called Race where you get cards to move your cars forward in a race track.
I miss documentation about what keys to use to zoom in/out. Especially as your game is otherwise very well documented on what key to press for what action. Only after trying your game I saw that your game entry tells that there is a zoom functionality, which will sure be a great help when you play in MP and don't want to crash into the walls. :)
That's a fun game! I'm sure I'd play it more if there were more people online. I'd like chat messages to have different colors depending on what kind of message it is. So, server and player messages should be easily distinguishable. Also, I want alternative controls for zooming, my mouse wheel doesn't work properly. The idea isn't new. That would still make a great racing game if you continue working on it. Also, couldn't find a way to make/import levels.
@Madball, thanks for checking it out and thanks for the feedback! Different coloured chat is def. something we would have to add if we continue to update this. Alternate controls is a good point - they would make sense not only for zooming but also for the UI. For making your own maps, we wrote a tutorial, check this out: http://www.indiedb.com/games/gridcars/tutorials/create-new-custom-maps
S
SK16 Games28 Dec 2014, 17:15
Really innovative and fun to play game! You should develop this further, maybe upload it to some web-game site. I was "Sixten" in game, fun playing with you!
Awesome!! Just got off the server after racing with you and a few others. It's a whole lot like real racing. It relies more on strategy then quick thinking, which sets it apart from most racing games. The server can be pretty funny with its comments sometimes, too! :)
cool mechanic!