Ludum Dare #48compo

Solar Winds

by bkelly

Overall★★★★★★★★★★3.14

Fun★★★★★★★★★★2.71

Innovation★★★★★★★★★★3.98

Theme★★★★★★★★★★3.23

Graphics★★★★★★★★★★2.59

Audio★★★★★★★★★★2.16

Humor★★★★★★★★★★2.88

Mood★★★★★★★★★★2.79

Explore alternate universes, controlling your trusty drone from afar. Literally. You can (optionally) utilize your smart phone's browser as a controller for this game - no app install required!

This game features:
* unique signal mechanic that causes your commands to take longer to get to your drone the deeper into the wormhole you go
* signal jamming hazards that completely drop your controls and video feed!
* asynchronous gameplay - use your phone as a second screen
* really bad programmer pixel art and sounds (hey, I tried!)

Check out the source on GitHub. Play immediately, right from your browser.

---

This is my first ever game jam and also the first full game I've completed start to finish. I learned a lot and had a blast doing so!

Tools used:

* Phaser 3 (framework) + VS Code (editor)
* PeerJS (WebRTC, networking)
* Piskel (characters)
* Spartan + Paint.net (tiles)
* Bfxr (sound) + Audacity (sound)

Tags: #pixel art, #procedural generation, #procjam

Tools: Audacity, Bfxr, Paint.net, Phaser, Piskel

Comments15

Elmando233326 Apr 2021, 02:52

Beyond my imagination, I can operate two devices at the same time. Good idea!

William Corrin26 Apr 2021, 03:48

Very unique concept.

kristinamay26 Apr 2021, 13:18

This is a very cool concept - needing to adjust for the ping delay in my head as I watch my lil guy run around is challenging. At first, I didn't realize that was why it was delayed, until I, you know, read the text. I think it'd be cool if the controls on mobile were a bit bigger so that I could watch my computer screen while I press the buttons on my phone. I kept fat-fingering them and needing to look down to press the right one. The sound effects are great, also!

CubeX26 Apr 2021, 13:34

This is a really good idea! The ping is my internet in a nutshell

thesnide26 Apr 2021, 19:17

You're fit to pilot drones on Mars. :rofl:

Very good idea indeed!

Predominant26 Apr 2021, 23:52

Great concept, well done!

cheesepencil27 Apr 2021, 05:08

any kind of networking in a compo game is a huge achievement. Also Phaser is awesome. What a cool experience

hypp28 Apr 2021, 05:13

Clever idea. I liked the ping time concept.

Solah28 Apr 2021, 05:38

Wow, that contept is really cool. The ping makes it intense to operate the drone, I guess that's a bit like what rovers' operators feel in spatial agencies xD
Art and sounds aren't that bad, I like them!
Really well done!

Fatebreak28 Apr 2021, 16:35

Very interesting concept! Especially with the phone controls. Really emphasizes the feeling of remotely controlling something. First time playing a died immediately on entering the first portal cause I spawned right next to an enemy so maybe some tweaking still needs to be done. But very clever nonetheless!

Jordan Carroll30 Apr 2021, 15:04

Whoa, never seen a game utilize my phone like that, super idea. Well done!

Marc Jones30 Apr 2021, 15:06

Interesting control scheme, it's a cool concept which adds to the immersion. I didn't find the core game loop very interesting unfortunately, and although the ping idea is clever and realistic, it felt frustrating. Perhaps if the game was turn based it would be less so, or if you had a way of reducing your ping by investing in relay towers or something then it would be something the player could mitigate. All in all, a very innovative concept.

Thijs Tak2 May 2021, 14:03

Interesting controls. I also liked delay of your inputs. If you create some interesting levels around the idea it would make for an interesting game. Very good entry.

Marta Vitos2 May 2021, 16:33

Wow I have never seen such an unique concept of using your phone in connection with your pc browser! Also ping system is really fun because you need to feel when it is time to move your character.

Zuvr17 May 2021, 11:04

Super cool! Loved the fact that I needed to plan my moves very accurately, and finding out that I can queue repeating commands in order to move a particular number of tiles was super useful!

Very very impressive! Good job!

Other games by @bkelly

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Bug's Museum of Fine Art

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Gorbo and Gobby's Incredible Third Dimensional Copying Contraption

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