Ludum Dare #48compo
LuckySwimmer
Controls
(Mouse) - swimmer follows mouse, further away = faster
(Left Click) - boost, available when travel dir arrow is yellow
How Deep can you get? tehe
Not my usual arcade action style gameplay, with this theme I wanted to tell a story. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. I think just having some collectables in tough to reach places would have really elevated the gameplay, but I stuck to the compo timeline and here is what you get when 1 person creates everything from scratch in 48 hours.
*Edit, I moved an audio trigger post compo deadline, it already existed in the game but was hidden above the flem spawner, and plays a wonderful cello instrumental upon activation(to put it generously)... I moved this trigger from its easter egg position, into position just above the final stretch of the game, which adds some nice music to the otherwise lackluster ending.... also to eliminate potential frustrations, I added a small exit sign sprite to guide people away from the flem spawning position, which could spawn a flem on top of you and kill you. tiny adjustments tiny adjustments :)
(Mouse) - swimmer follows mouse, further away = faster
(Left Click) - boost, available when travel dir arrow is yellow
How Deep can you get? tehe
Not my usual arcade action style gameplay, with this theme I wanted to tell a story. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. I think just having some collectables in tough to reach places would have really elevated the gameplay, but I stuck to the compo timeline and here is what you get when 1 person creates everything from scratch in 48 hours.
*Edit, I moved an audio trigger post compo deadline, it already existed in the game but was hidden above the flem spawner, and plays a wonderful cello instrumental upon activation(to put it generously)... I moved this trigger from its easter egg position, into position just above the final stretch of the game, which adds some nice music to the otherwise lackluster ending.... also to eliminate potential frustrations, I added a small exit sign sprite to guide people away from the flem spawning position, which could spawn a flem on top of you and kill you. tiny adjustments tiny adjustments :)
Comments27
Gareld25 Apr 2021, 23:32
I did the thing.
Trexxak26 Apr 2021, 22:35
I won! Woo!
Great game of patience and fast reactions. A few checkpoints would be welcome, but as that would kind of lessen the luck the Lucky Swimmer has, I don't know :D
Great game of patience and fast reactions. A few checkpoints would be welcome, but as that would kind of lessen the luck the Lucky Swimmer has, I don't know :D
Slagywag28 Apr 2021, 20:35
Haven't we all won this game already?
PeachTreeOath29 Apr 2021, 05:22
I liked the variety of environments, it definitely compelled me to keep going just to see what all the systems were going to be and their mechanics. I will say that it was a bit too frustrating to die near the end with no checkpoints, so although I tried a dozen times or so, I never could complete it.
A couple of really good touches I noticed. First off the tail looks AMAZING. How'd you pull that off? Secondly, see where your previous runs died was very cool as well. It was hilarious to see 6 of them whipping around just on one tooth.
A lot of it reminded me a bit of Ren and Stimpy, which was a show that had no qualms about weird closeups on bodily subjects. Pretty unique game - not sure how many other devs will attempt this kind of idea lol.
A couple of really good touches I noticed. First off the tail looks AMAZING. How'd you pull that off? Secondly, see where your previous runs died was very cool as well. It was hilarious to see 6 of them whipping around just on one tooth.
A lot of it reminded me a bit of Ren and Stimpy, which was a show that had no qualms about weird closeups on bodily subjects. Pretty unique game - not sure how many other devs will attempt this kind of idea lol.
aCuriosity29 Apr 2021, 12:17
Thanks for playing, and commenting, happy you all subjected yourselves to this wondiferous experience ;).
@jeanne-rossat I tried to go for pg-13, not overly graphic, but incredibly suggestable.
@trexxak patience is not my usual gameplay style, but wanted to tell a story with the playthrough, I a pleased with how it came out, things can always be better, but given the limitations, pleased will suffice :)
@slagywag I think the first time we all played this game, and won, we have been in a different tract?
@jeanne-rossat I tried to go for pg-13, not overly graphic, but incredibly suggestable.
@trexxak patience is not my usual gameplay style, but wanted to tell a story with the playthrough, I a pleased with how it came out, things can always be better, but given the limitations, pleased will suffice :)
@slagywag I think the first time we all played this game, and won, we have been in a different tract?
aCuriosity29 Apr 2021, 12:39
@peachtreeoath Nail... Hammer... Head.... Kapow. Ren and stimpy for sure were an influence behind this thing. More recently Rick and Morty, had the anatomy park episode(S1E3) looping for a bit for visual inspiration. But Ren and Stimpy kept popping into the back of my head and I would giggle at the absurdity of the whole thing. Tried hard to ride that PG-13 line, and not cross too far into the r/x-rated stuff.
I had thought on checkpoints, but thought it would take away from the graveyard viewing, so opted for what I percieved as soft gameplay, I get it though, dying and restarting is frusterating after traveling so far. I really wanted to put a bunch of small collectables(think coins but not coins) just to control movement and provide some short term goals, but times a beach...
The tail, did a little research on how it works in real life, and tried to simulate that. The simulation starts with a series of points, as the head point moves, each subsequent point is moved towards the preceding one, creating what in unity would be similar to a 2D trail renderer(2D because this game is 2D). I then move each point away from its centerline(the vector from it to the preceding point) and rotate it around the centerline using a rotation seed that is incremented each frame ie(Rotate( rotseed + (index * rotStep)) Around Axis(pos[index -1] - pos[index]). the magnitude that I move each point away from its centerline is scaled according to its index value... The tail is the only thing that is 3D in the game... The tail is computationaly intense so last second I threw a cap of 40 of them that can exist, though never tested that limit... spawning the 41st time could be a game breaker, IDK.
I had thought on checkpoints, but thought it would take away from the graveyard viewing, so opted for what I percieved as soft gameplay, I get it though, dying and restarting is frusterating after traveling so far. I really wanted to put a bunch of small collectables(think coins but not coins) just to control movement and provide some short term goals, but times a beach...
The tail, did a little research on how it works in real life, and tried to simulate that. The simulation starts with a series of points, as the head point moves, each subsequent point is moved towards the preceding one, creating what in unity would be similar to a 2D trail renderer(2D because this game is 2D). I then move each point away from its centerline(the vector from it to the preceding point) and rotate it around the centerline using a rotation seed that is incremented each frame ie(Rotate( rotseed + (index * rotStep)) Around Axis(pos[index -1] - pos[index]). the magnitude that I move each point away from its centerline is scaled according to its index value... The tail is the only thing that is 3D in the game... The tail is computationaly intense so last second I threw a cap of 40 of them that can exist, though never tested that limit... spawning the 41st time could be a game breaker, IDK.
PeachTreeOath29 Apr 2021, 18:23
Absolute coincidence, but I JUST started watching Rick and Morty this week and I watched that episode maybe 2 days ago :dizzy_face:
Really good point about the graveyard, I hadn't thought of that angle. Thanks for the detailed breakdown on the tail. I thought maybe it was using some kind of joint system (if Unity) but it looked too good to be that. Really awesome that you pretty much figured out how to make that visual from scratch.
Really good point about the graveyard, I hadn't thought of that angle. Thanks for the detailed breakdown on the tail. I thought maybe it was using some kind of joint system (if Unity) but it looked too good to be that. Really awesome that you pretty much figured out how to make that visual from scratch.
shubart29 Apr 2021, 19:40
You re a genious. Hero of the day. I loved it
aCuriosity29 Apr 2021, 19:49
@shubart Awwwwwwe... I'm the hero? YAY! I'm glad you enjoyed it, hope it made you laugh and cringe!
BarelyEvenGames30 Apr 2021, 23:35
I played your game! Check it out!
aCuriosity30 Apr 2021, 23:51
@barelyevengames Thanks for playing, fun to watch a strangers reactions.
You missed the click to boost, which would have helped you make it through.
But tickled you played and included it in your video.
You missed the click to boost, which would have helped you make it through.
But tickled you played and included it in your video.
tanis1 May 2021, 16:50
LOL! I couldn't believe it was really this theme :) It's fun to play!
Lex1 May 2021, 22:38
It had to be done.
cheesepencil2 May 2021, 20:30
I won, but at what cost?
JormaRysky3 May 2021, 17:55
Can someone record ending?
TheGreenWorm5 May 2021, 09:37
I definitely shouldn't have played it before going for lunch. That sound design just killed me !
DDRKirbyISQ6 May 2021, 01:31
Oh....oh dear. That's...ehm...yeah. Is there a "dignity" category I can rate this a 1-star in? ;P
Maple6 May 2021, 01:36
Oh my god.
My first 5/5 for theme. This is exactly the kind of game I was hoping to see. I'm not sure I'm happy that I received it, though.
This is the grossest I've felt playing a video game. It takes skill to evoke a response like this. The graphics and sound certainly get you there. Well done.
And that fucking star wars theme at the end.
... I can't think of a way to improve the game.
My first 5/5 for theme. This is exactly the kind of game I was hoping to see. I'm not sure I'm happy that I received it, though.
This is the grossest I've felt playing a video game. It takes skill to evoke a response like this. The graphics and sound certainly get you there. Well done.
And that fucking star wars theme at the end.
... I can't think of a way to improve the game.
aCuriosity6 May 2021, 01:41
@ddrkirbyisq Thank you so much for playing.
aCuriosity6 May 2021, 01:51
@maple Thank you ever so much for playing my friend, and for making it to the end. I hope your face moved about in disgust, or intrigue, as you played. I had a good and weird time making it.
Maple6 May 2021, 02:01
@acuriosity It certainly did, lmao. You are very much welcome. I think the games that we enjoy making most turn out to be the best ones. Keep it up
Peace Of Cake Games6 May 2021, 03:34
Never before has winning made me so confused. (I'm so confused I don't think "confused" is even the right adjective for how I feel.) I honestly don't know what to say other than:
- Good news for you, my face displayed the emotions you were hoping for.
- @ddrkirbyisq's comment basically sums up my post-playing thoughts.
- Good news for you, my face displayed the emotions you were hoping for.
- @ddrkirbyisq's comment basically sums up my post-playing thoughts.
ardorugus6 May 2021, 23:22
Some females found it confusing... Needs checkpoints, not to start all over. Funny, a bit ugly take on the theme. Though, narrative driven, gets you thinking whose mouth and other whateverness there it is... Maybe, some fun dialogue behind the scenes (as if some adult scene was just shot) could be a humorous addition. Or a commentator! Total s(p)wimmer race, man! Why not.
LDJam user 017 May 2021, 03:38
Made it quite far, but you need a checkpoint system. Also it was pretty gross, but I imagine that was intentional.
LDJam user 017 May 2021, 03:49
I tried to play again to get to the end but the intestine was completely blocked.
FrauKauz17 May 2021, 12:20
What did I just play :laughing:
This is a very original take on the theme "Deeper and deeper" and the sound effects were killing me (so... 5/5 at "mood", I guess?)
This is a very original take on the theme "Deeper and deeper" and the sound effects were killing me (so... 5/5 at "mood", I guess?)
Good job !