MEGATON

by sytech
Overall★★★★★★★★★★3.84
Fun★★★★★★★★★★3.40
Innovation★★★★★★★★★★3.61
Theme★★★★★★★★★★3.35
Graphics★★★★★★★★★★4.00
Audio★★★★★★★★★★3.23
Humor★★★★★★★★★★3.08
Mood★★★★★★★★★★3.92
Coolness★★★★★★★★★★82%
This is my second Ludum Dare entry. It was made in 37 hours.
In this game you are a cold war Soviet officer who commands launches of unconventional weapons like nuclear, biological and chemical missiles towards targets all over the world.

I made the game look like an old Game Boy game, although this is hardly a game you'd ever see for the Game Boy!

Introduction:
Take control of your own nuclear arsenal!

The year is 1987. In 1986 General Secretary Gorbachev's Central Commitee was overthrown in a Coup d'état. The Central Commitee is now controlled by the Soviet Army. No more glasnost or perestrojka!
You are a Soviet commander of a nuclear missile command central situated deep inside a mountain complex somewhere in the Soviet union. You constantly get new orders from the Kreml. Will you always blindly follow the orders of the Kreml or do you have the guts to try something else?
How many million people will you kill?

You make the launch commands through a computer terminal.
To see what your current objectives are, go to DATA LINK MSGS and CURRENT ORDERS. If you don't have any objectives, wait a couple of seconds and you'll receive a new message and new orders.

Controls:
-Up/Down - Select menu objects.
-Return - Enter the selected menu.
-Left/Right - Select target or number of warheads and type.
-X - Go back one step in the menu tree.
-Z - Scroll down in the Data Link Message que.

Menus:
ORDER LAUNCH - From here you choose type of warhead, number of missiles and orders the launch. Select at least one warhead and a target that hasn't been nuked before.
WORLD MAP - A map where you select your target. A skull indicates if you've already nuked a country.
DATA LINK MSGS - In this menu you can view new or old data link messages and view your current mission objectives. When you receive a new message a sound will play and a notification can be seen on the main menu.
STATISTICS - In this menu you can see casualty statistics of own and enemy countries, view your and Soviet relations to allied, NATO and neutral countries. You can also view your current stockpile.

Tools used:
-C++ with SFML 2.2
-PooBoy2 VST for music
-BFXR for sound effects
-mtPaint for graphics

Bugfixed version (2015-04-20):
-Gamebreaking bug fixed where you could get stuck if you fired a missile without orders.
-Text message for the ending was barely visible, shows longer now.
Bug fixed source: http://www.gridlockgames.net/filer/spel/megaton_ludumdare32_src_bugfixed.zip

LINUX:
-To run the Linux port, you need to install libsfml with your packet manager.

MAC OS:
-To run the Mac OS port, right click (or hold down CTRL and left click) on the app and choose Open and confirm that you want to run a third-party application.

I didn't have time to add all the scenarios I wanted, but I hope it will be a little bit of fun to play! There are three different endings.

Comments32

Jungle
Jungle20 Apr 2015, 17:12
The graphics are really great! But I guess the weapons are not that unconventional.
benmcnelly
benmcnelly20 Apr 2015, 17:13
Nailed it on art style, and I think it fits the theme just fine :)
Hyoga-3D
Hyoga-3D20 Apr 2015, 17:13
Graphics are \o/
Tselmek
Tselmek20 Apr 2015, 17:15
Neat art style and interesting mechanics.
Adam Gould20 Apr 2015, 17:15
I really like the atmosphere. I got a real Papers Please vibe from the uncomfortable nature of your orders.
StefanDJagers
StefanDJagers20 Apr 2015, 17:19
First of all... The concept. This... concept... is... truly amazing!!! I have never seen a game like this!
The simple graphics fit perfectly. Just a true recommendation for everyone!
Great game for sure!!
TwiiK
TwiiK20 Apr 2015, 17:21
Very cool. Love the authentic graphics. The sound effects and music were nice as well. They actually fit the look of the game, which isn't often the case with Bfxr sound effects. :p
Komos20 Apr 2015, 17:22
I have one problem with the game, I can hear my PC hissing... According to fraps it's running at ~2000fps, you should probably cap the frame rate.
DaniDK21 Apr 2015, 18:23
Wow... This was amazing, I absolutely loved it. It is awesome to see such depth in a Game Jam, Loved the fact that all the major cities had defining characteristics to them. 5/5
Fanttum
Fanttum21 Apr 2015, 19:09
Dude I love the look of this and what to play. Any chance for a web build? I'm on a mac.
Huo-cuo
Huo-cuo21 Apr 2015, 19:13
Killing people is always fun.
emmelineprufrock
emmelineprufrock24 Apr 2015, 04:02
Ignored orders. Killed a million people. Was hung.

Totally understandable.

Love the visual style and the delay. The feel is pretty amazing.
OnlySlightly24 Apr 2015, 04:09
That was beautiful. You had the visual style pinned down. It was really cool interacting with the whole world with this tiny computer. The audio was great, things like the new message notification were actually pleasing to hear. You had really nice touches like the dramatic pause before a bomb going off. It really captured the gravity and disconnect of the horrible event you caused just by making a few clicks on your computer.
zaibakk
zaibakk25 Apr 2015, 14:40
Thats was... FANTASTIC!
What a great concept! The mood is so cool, it remember me the good DEFCON. I hope to see more!
Very GJ!
spin-down
spin-down25 Apr 2015, 14:41
Loved it. From the graphics to the whole concept, it was expertly done. The silence before the bomb eventually landing gave it a very sinister feel and as the orders became more and more insane I actually hesitated a few times as I thought carefully about my next move.
ArcturusDeluxe25 Apr 2015, 14:56
Interesting game, very polished. I actually felt kind of bad when following the orders, which is an achievement considering the simplistic aesthetic. Would be cool to see it expanded into a full storyline!
ChuiGum
ChuiGum25 Apr 2015, 18:30
I loved the graphics, pretty sweet idea for a game too. Well done! :D
tughan
tughan25 Apr 2015, 23:39
Really liked the style and sfx. This game has potential. Good job!
danielilett29 Apr 2015, 23:36
This was a great entry - the graphics were spot on, and the game's atmosphere was very tense. The sounds, though basic, did fit the game well, and I think this would be great if it were fleshed out into a bigger game with a more refined storyline.
chromebookbob
chromebookbob3 May 2015, 18:48
Great art style. I like the orders idea. Great!
jk5000
jk50004 May 2015, 13:41
An interesting and intelligent game.
Tijn4 May 2015, 14:06
What an awesome entry. I love these kinds of games. I didn't manage to get another ending than being put to death yet, but I'll play it some more to see if there's a way :)
Boberro4 May 2015, 14:53
yay for 1989 Gameboy graphics. Music is not so gameboy though.
Traumendes_Madchen4 May 2015, 14:54
Not that unconventional for a weapon but the idea itself is really interesting and I like moral dilemmas ^^. Not bad for a game made in only 2 days!
Krunoslav
Krunoslav4 May 2015, 15:21
Very nice game, i like the graphic styles, and idea to send nuclear missils. And yes, it is unconventional weapon.
KaiseanGames4 May 2015, 15:58
Very nice looking game. I find the controls too hard to be usable - lots of menu navigation. But it would be really nice to have that on the gameboy. I can imagine playing this game on the gameboy. Nice job!
fleegle2000
fleegle20004 May 2015, 20:35
I like the retro style and the cold war theme (though it's not very cold in your version of events). I don't really have anything to complain about - I think it fits the theme okay. Good work!
greytram
greytram5 May 2015, 16:22
Very cute graphics and a lot of humor in this entry! Good work!
wademcgillis
wademcgillis12 May 2015, 00:30
this is dark!

i committed war crimes!

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