Ludum Dare #53compo
Decrypting Handwriting
Welcome agent, your final test will began.
You will have to decrypt some nasty handwriting to get the password and join our organisation
A few months ago I saw a Tom Scott video about trying to analyse hard to read handwriting and I always thought it was a great idea for a jam! So I've made it!
_Streamer warning : I advice the streamer to play the Post LD version, which has made it impossible to doxxed your self. The LD version has a address form to keep note of the addresses, but when you click on it, google/firefox might auto suggest your address!_
Post-LD version changes:
- Let you continue the game if you have failed
- Reverse Enhance direction
- Proofreading
- Made the template disable and safe for streamers
(i used an external generator to generate fake addresses, don't worry it is not real addresses, data used: https://www.briandunning.com/sample-data/)
You will have to decrypt some nasty handwriting to get the password and join our organisation
A few months ago I saw a Tom Scott video about trying to analyse hard to read handwriting and I always thought it was a great idea for a jam! So I've made it!
_Streamer warning : I advice the streamer to play the Post LD version, which has made it impossible to doxxed your self. The LD version has a address form to keep note of the addresses, but when you click on it, google/firefox might auto suggest your address!_
Post-LD version changes:
- Let you continue the game if you have failed
- Reverse Enhance direction
- Proofreading
- Made the template disable and safe for streamers
(i used an external generator to generate fake addresses, don't worry it is not real addresses, data used: https://www.briandunning.com/sample-data/)
Comments51
Ranthaz1 May 2023, 03:35
Fun
*I really like your game*
Thanks, keep working on it :D
MiniBetrayal1 May 2023, 10:47
I can't decide if I had fun while playing that, which at least means it was extemely engaging. I was not a fan of the address list being in no obvious order. perhaps by surname rather than id, but CTRL+F helped me enough to not need any specific order in the end. More just a nit pick. Good Job!
justslavic1 May 2023, 11:36
I was really difficult to read handwriting, so I didn't finish the game. Also controls might update the image on every update, instead of releasing mouse, so I can see how much I rotated the image.
Enhancing works in the opposite directoins, it seems, and doesn't make any sense, why would I move it to lower value. The focus length might be better fit for this control.
Enhancing works in the opposite directoins, it seems, and doesn't make any sense, why would I move it to lower value. The focus length might be better fit for this control.
pauljs1 May 2023, 11:40
@justslavic Thank you for your feedback! But to give you a bit of context, i did all of that on purpose, i wanted the control scanner to be a bit cluncky to give the mood of a hard to control scanner and so-on, for me it is part of the mood i am building! But maybe it didn't transpire enough, thank you for your feedback, nonetheless!
SlimeBOOS1 May 2023, 11:49
I liked it, a unique concept. You really captured the difficulty of decrypting an address using different handwriting and levels of damage on the paper.
My only question, why does increasing "enhance", ALWAYS pixelates the images? I'd say if the "ideal" position was picked randomly somewhere on the slider and then you would need to fine tune your "enhance", to get the clearest possible image.
My only question, why does increasing "enhance", ALWAYS pixelates the images? I'd say if the "ideal" position was picked randomly somewhere on the slider and then you would need to fine tune your "enhance", to get the clearest possible image.
pauljs1 May 2023, 12:01
@slimeboos that's honestly a great idea and would have fit perfectly, the enhance is a thing i added at the end last minut because i like the idea to have the stupid "enhance picture" from movie that is not a real thing x) But yes you are totally right finding the right enhancement would have been way more fun/on point than just having a slider (which indeed would have been better in the opposing direction!)
LDJam user 2778761 May 2023, 12:23
Really cool idea! I don't have all too much to add, you found a simple yet unique idea and ran with it.
ollie_d1 May 2023, 17:54
Wow, a great submission. I watched that video as well and was really impressed with how they did. I thought my handwriting was bad until I watched that/played this game! This would be a great way to (ethically dubiously) collect more training data for classification if you had users label individual characters ;)
drazil1002 May 2023, 01:33
This was a neat concept. A little too challenging for the level of fun but I did enjoy figuring out some of them.
jakeblake2 May 2023, 03:52
The most unique entry I've reviewed thus far. Thanks! I really like the premise. I'd love to see how it would play if the static document was instead a list of search results from the info you fill in. Maybe you could have wildcard character to represent what you're not sure about when filling it out. That's not a critique as much as a brainstorm. :slight_smile:
I had fun and enjoyed playing.
I had fun and enjoyed playing.
JiexDrop2 May 2023, 10:04
Ok! Got in thanks to crtl-F too.
The last one was definitely tricky.
Liked the enhance filter joke.
The last one was definitely tricky.
Liked the enhance filter joke.
LDJam user 2796222 May 2023, 10:14
i'm a secret agent now 😎
AndideBob2 May 2023, 13:08
This was super cool! I love the idea and what you did with it! I honestly have nothing more to say other than maybe add more adresses. Really well done!
Tvorojok2 May 2023, 13:22
soo huge!!
osh.studio2 May 2023, 13:27
i absolutely LOVED this game. It reminds me of spy books with coded messages I loved as a kid, I want you to make more levels!! I could play that all day, my favourite game of the jam so far. Super unique and innovative idea, amazing entry :)
RIBOUT Horace2 May 2023, 14:23
Truely unique and quirky and fun! I like the mood which callback on the old scanner or old equipment that post man can still have even today, with laggy and not perfect tool. I cheat a little by copy-paste the data in a excel and having the ability to sort the data, but I think it fit the game too!
Some of my favourite entry so far
Some of my favourite entry so far
pdotjpg2 May 2023, 17:01
What a clever idea! Would love a more developed version of this with more advanced search and sort tools. But it's cool to sleuth over the PDF too. Very cool vibe - like Papers, Please or Stop Talking and Nobody Explodes, etc. Tactile and really makes you feel like you're sleuthing. One of the most original entries I've played.
JimmyMcGinger2 May 2023, 19:44
Very clever idea, loved this! Just needs some CSI music or something in the background and it would be perfect. Fantastic work!
Augmotic2 May 2023, 23:08
Thanks for hanging out in the stream and bringing your game!
Here is a link to the VOD that starts at your section.
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1809875425?t=00h34m50s
Here is a link to the VOD that starts at your section.
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1809875425?t=00h34m50s
Squidly3 May 2023, 02:16
Never in my life did I think I'd be taking the postal exam in a jam
But that was one of the most unique experiences I've ever had in one
But that was one of the most unique experiences I've ever had in one
jebouin3 May 2023, 02:56
Very unique entry, the last address took me a while to figure out!
DGo3 May 2023, 03:27
I love the idea! One of the most unique games I've played during the jam so far :)
Terrabalt3 May 2023, 06:54
I'll be honest, this feels more like work rather than a game. Not that i apreciate the idea and implementation of it, but to me it's one of thos ethat rely more on the presentation being top-notch, and this one unfortunately feels too clunky to be fun.
Rincs3 May 2023, 09:12
I'm a sleeper agent now.
ruruie3 May 2023, 10:35
Remarkably engaging for what it is.
greenphox3 May 2023, 13:04
Really nice idea! I just found way too hard, as English isn't my native language. maybe a difficulty setting would be nice, but it is of course really difficult to implement a difficulty setting to a jam game.
Nice one!
Nice one!
Andreadbx3 May 2023, 15:53
this is totally out of the box! love it!
Spacespytv3 May 2023, 17:35
Such a great idea, finally got round to playing it off stream, and I've got to say, it's interesting and just clever in general, turning an interesting mechanic like that and turning it into something engaging is so hard, and you nailed it. Well done.
Honest Dan3 May 2023, 21:39
very original content! Had a good time working through this. Its gonna be tough to appeal to everyone with these sort of games, but great if you got a bit of time to focus on it! Appreciated the warning about doxxing too, thoughtful.
Nivbeth3 May 2023, 21:49
Your idea is truly unique, I never saw something like this in a LD contest. Nicely done.
GreenwoodDrive3 May 2023, 22:01
Ok i must admit i saw the last address on Tobugis stream, but i figured out all the others ! Like i said in the chat, its such an original and great concept ! Amazingly innovative
abi.code164 May 2023, 11:20
What an innovative idea! I think this game is great and different from the others I have seen
Adam Gaskins4 May 2023, 11:48
Hahaha this is awesome, I immediately thought of the Tom Scott video when I saw this, and it really recreated the experience for me :D
aile4 May 2023, 12:58
One of a kind idea, I absolutely loved it. Felt so proud when I passed the test! xD Hoping to see it more polished, or maybe taken and used in some other context/game? Would be awesome!
Pacha4 May 2023, 13:00
This idea is soo nice ! Got caught in it for a long time ! Really well done
Aglou4 May 2023, 14:36
Super duper cool game, it was really fun to decipher the writings like an old postman.
LDJam user 2781464 May 2023, 14:51
Very clever idea. Would've liked some more like the last one where you really had to be creative with how you deciphered the address.
notdepressedeveloper4 May 2023, 22:34
In the beginning i really liked the game when after the time passes it made me feel really anxious. Your idea is really amazing
BodhiAgora4 May 2023, 23:37
Super unique, great idea for a game, and well put together! Good job!
NuiN5 May 2023, 00:10
Cool game, gave up on address 5 though that person deserves to be cremated
jitspoe5 May 2023, 00:21
I have a hard enough time reading printed letters... I can't believe you've done this!
Clever use of the theme and it gives me a new appreciation for those who figure out where those hand written addressed letters go!
Clever use of the theme and it gives me a new appreciation for those who figure out where those hand written addressed letters go!
SneakyFox5 May 2023, 01:03
Idea is great, I feel like I am detective, and it's so cool! But I spend a lot of time figure out where is this some adresses id's. And it is very hard and I don't finished the game, and it's disapointment for my experience. May be you should add single level at start, and make total length of submission form smaller.
I think you should simplify this game, and add some reveal to scanner where he can help you amd reveal some letters or words. And I don't like that list as pdf (literaly it's pdf), I wanna see the more simple and more gamified version of this game. Now it feels just like interesting work instrument if detective xD
I think you should simplify this game, and add some reveal to scanner where he can help you amd reveal some letters or words. And I don't like that list as pdf (literaly it's pdf), I wanna see the more simple and more gamified version of this game. Now it feels just like interesting work instrument if detective xD
Anchry5 May 2023, 17:39
This was fantastic, thank you for making such a unique game. Also loved the video that inspired this game, great entry!
Gmstochetto6 May 2023, 06:45
I really loved the game, of course there could be some improvements, like moving the image with the mouse and other things that have already been mentioned here, but the game works well as it is, there are no bugs, and it's fun to try to decipher the addresses. I think this was the most innovative game for me so far, and I really appreciated it. Congratulations :D
Fupi6 May 2023, 21:12
I DID IT!!! This is such a creative idea, I loved it. Only thing is that my eyesight is already kinda trash so I would have appreciated some bigger lettering on those buttons ;w; I'm surprised at how doable this was, from the screenshots it looked almost impossible, but with enough stubbornness I kept going. I think some QOL features on the scanner would be nice, like making the sliders for movement, zoom, etc update automatically as you change them, and I'm not sure what the use of the "enhance" slider is since you never want it to make the picture blocky anyway, I guess it's just there for that secret agent feel. x) Awesome game great job!!
yumykon7 May 2023, 00:04
Wow, this is the most original idea I've seen so far! At first, I was a bit confused, but once I understood everything, I felt determined to find all the id addresses and felt extremely accomplished when I entered everything and successfully obtained the code. I felt like a real secret agent inside the agency! 😎
I'm glad my best friend sent this game to me, congratulations on the creativity and great game with such a unique concept! (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
I'm glad my best friend sent this game to me, congratulations on the creativity and great game with such a unique concept! (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
Ategon7 May 2023, 07:58
Thanks for submitting your game to be played on the stream! If you wanted to watch my reaction again here’s the vod timestamped to your game
Lomby8 May 2023, 02:10
Thanks for submitting your game on the stream!
Here’s the stream if you wanted to re-watch initial thoughts (timestamps in the description to jump to your game!) youtube link
Here’s the stream if you wanted to re-watch initial thoughts (timestamps in the description to jump to your game!) youtube link
Francis8 May 2023, 06:00
Very cool and innovative idea! Would've loved to see more usage of the different image filters and stuff at the top. It seemed like once I turned on enhance all the way and remove scan lines, that I no longer needed to touch that at all. Enjoyed needing to scrape for bits of readable information and poring over the document to narrow the addresses down. Lots of potential here :)
Trexxak16 May 2023, 04:47
A unique twist on gaming, making you feel like a secret agent. A bit tricky, but tons of fun. Great job!
you have to continue it developing it, it has great potential