LudumData

A Way Out by Jakob37

[raw]
made by Jakob37 for LD32 (COMPO)
Explore a struggle with dark thoughts using words as your weapon.
A brief typing game/shoot em' up game with emphasis on atmosphere.

Created for the Ludum Dare 32 compo.
Code, sprites, sound, music and text by Jakob Willforss, LinkPactGames (https://thesunwillgoout.wordpress.com).

Controls:
- Left/right arrow to navigate menu / change column in game.
- Space to choose in menu / fire in game (when a word is completed).
- Letters in game for typing the target words.

Known issues:
- Seems to be unable to play music on some versions of Firefox, while working fine on Google Chrome.

Toolkit
Code: JavaScript and Phaser
Music: FL Studio
Sound: Bfxr
Visuals: Gimp
Web http://jakob37.itch.io/ld32-awayout
Source https://www.dropbox.com/s/zfjf6r754nisqas/ld32_release1.zip?dl=0
Original URL https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-32/?action=preview&uid=50156

Ratings

Coolness 100% 1
Overall 3.43 322
Audio 3.44 165
Fun 3.35 317
Graphics 2.51 866
Innovation 3.19 486
Mood 3.50 162
Theme 3.65 305

Feedback

Jan Peter (jpdev)
20. Apr 2015 路 11:15 UTC
Wow, typing no problem - but aiming via cursor at the same time, not so easy :)

I also didn't get when my cannon had how much power :)
rogberth
20. Apr 2015 路 15:31 UTC
Great game that even makes you practise typing. Its hard for me in intermediate, I don't want to imagine how hard mode is, to much stress haha
HolyBlackCat
20. Apr 2015 路 15:41 UTC
Interesting idea and good execution. But some audio feedback on pressing correct/incorrect buttons would be nice.

Also, you've said in comments that my game doesn't work for you. What error did you get exactly?
馃帳 Jakob37
20. Apr 2015 路 16:11 UTC
Thanks for the feedback, all of you, very valuable :)

@HolyBlackCat: I have posted the error message in your games comments.
Borkleby
20. Apr 2015 路 16:24 UTC
Had sort of an abrupt ending, but other than that a masterpiece! I type really quickly so expert mode was a lot of fun.
HolyBlackCat
20. Apr 2015 路 16:45 UTC
@Jakob The error happens becuase your videodriver or videocard itself is too old. The only thing that can possibly help is updating the driver.
hypp
20. Apr 2015 路 17:07 UTC
Very well executed and a good idea.
local minimum
20. Apr 2015 路 18:40 UTC
I've seen typing games before as LD entries but this felt very new combining it with classic arcade game. I agree with the others that some more feedback on what to type might be helpful and also increasing the font a bit. Maybe have the current character to type slightly larger than the others too.

I don't know if it is a good idea, but what if you could save up your shots. Either because you don't need to shoot at the moment or because the shot becomes extra powerful if it is a two or even three word shot.

Oh almost forgot. Nice feeling with the words, the colors and the music.
petitpois
21. Apr 2015 路 05:16 UTC
I kept forgetting to move the character into the right position. However love the simple graphics and typing challenge. great game
Mr.Cassels
21. Apr 2015 路 05:19 UTC
inconsistent canon power was a bit annoying, but you nailed the mood, and I love the unconventional mechanics that worked surprisingly well!
SonderWorks
21. Apr 2015 路 05:19 UTC
I love typing games, and adding the aiming was an interesting twist. Made things pretty frantic, though, so I wonder if there could be an aiming system that could flow better? Neat premise, either way!
ZQMony
21. Apr 2015 路 05:19 UTC
Great game that can get stressful at times. Very fast paced.
jacketsj
21. Apr 2015 路 05:24 UTC
Frist 5/5 overall I've given, well done sir.
ChuiGum
21. Apr 2015 路 06:14 UTC
Great game, I was in expert mode and I was having fun!
馃帳 Jakob37
21. Apr 2015 路 06:29 UTC
Thanks for the feedback and the nice comments! I have got many ideas for possible post-Ludum Dare-improvements from you.

I liked local minimum's idea about storing words, together with some kind of visualization, which could replace the current somewhat diffuse charge-system. I wonder if there is an easier way of moving the character, will think more about that. Could also do a more smooth ending.

Thanks again!
rantt
21. Apr 2015 路 12:42 UTC
Great idea to use words as a weapon. The graphics and music really fit the mood, and it was nice to have different options for difficulty. Fun game, great job :)
DarkGrisen
22. Apr 2015 路 15:08 UTC
I like typing games so much! But it's too easy if you don't have to worry about typing the wrong letters :P
xplicitone
22. Apr 2015 路 16:09 UTC
Great work!! Love the idea. I wish at the end it told you what wave you ended with and kept track of that but regardless it's fun :D
esayitch
22. Apr 2015 路 16:09 UTC
I played novice and quite liked it xD Typing was no issue, and the game had several small touches of variation throughout like the burst shot etc. Good entry :D Good luck!
agilejoshua
22. Apr 2015 路 18:22 UTC
Fun mechanism and good practice for typing, perhaps there should be more words I got the same ones alot.
SyBen
22. Apr 2015 路 21:24 UTC
Ambiance is good, so is the concept. I Liked the ending a lot.
shrapx
22. Apr 2015 路 21:51 UTC
i liked how the words were all learning and growing type words. I liked your music. The game was quite stressful, in a good way. :D
cdgugler
23. Apr 2015 路 04:50 UTC
I like the combination of game mechanics and the theme here. Nice job!
reiknight
23. Apr 2015 路 15:18 UTC
Not a new idea, but the execution is great!! The music is awesome and the game is challenging. I like it, good luck!!
xandy
23. Apr 2015 路 15:52 UTC
nice take on the typing game genre!
elpaulo
23. Apr 2015 路 16:59 UTC
Very good concept and music. enjoyed plaing it, even if my typing skills are not so good :-)
gogo199432
23. Apr 2015 路 16:59 UTC
interesting game, but it's a tiny bit annoying to switch between typing the words and moving the character around. Nice work anyway :)
gnx
23. Apr 2015 路 19:18 UTC
Typing is nothing new in itself, but this one has really cool mood and style to it :) Really enjoyed how the words, music and visuals fit together.
drludos
23. Apr 2015 路 19:19 UTC
Woaw, the game offers such a great mood - I love the music and the graphics!

The game itself is fun to play, I like the core idea, especially how you didn't limit yourself to "word typing" but also included the ship movement and space to fire. Kudos for releasing such a polished game in such a short timeframe!
Larzan
23. Apr 2015 路 21:49 UTC
Haha, nice one, a good game to practise writing skills. Well done!
Larry
24. Apr 2015 路 00:29 UTC
I did enjoy playing it. It was difficult to not instinctively hit return after each word.
dunin
24. Apr 2015 路 18:12 UTC
surprising fun!
It would be cool if words we are typing made sentences. You can add story in this way...
MegaBrutal
24. Apr 2015 路 20:23 UTC
Really fun! I didn't know that so much power lies within typing! :) I especially liked the music.
syncxzoz
26. Apr 2015 路 13:01 UTC
i wish i can write moreeee .... yeah... the concept so cool!!
sanojian
26. Apr 2015 路 13:27 UTC
The typing part was well done. I like the helper cursor that shows if you missed a letter so you don't have to type the whole word again. I am not sure if moving left and right added anything to the fun, though.
馃帳 Jakob37
30. Apr 2015 路 08:32 UTC
Thanks for all comments! Very appreciated :) I will sit down and summarize all the feedback when LD32 is over, and hopefully put it to good use for future Ludum Dares and other stuff.

I have attempted to play and give some thoughts on each of your games, and will continue to do so. I have enjoyed this a lot :)
MdotEdot
02. May 2015 路 11:18 UTC
Nice: but black text on black bg = :(
Crowbeak
04. May 2015 路 04:21 UTC
I dunno what you could have done to improve the controls (typing vs. having to move), but that was a thing that I didn't really enjoy. You did a good job of setting the mood, but I would have liked to have some understanding of why some enemies respawned instead of dying or why some of my attacks had multiple bullets instead of just one.
uberscientist
10. May 2015 路 00:44 UTC
Very cool game, concept and execution
John Vanis
10. May 2015 路 09:59 UTC
Nice game! I really enjoy it.
Embalaje
11. May 2015 路 07:23 UTC
Good idea! and challenging, specially for a non native englisch speaker(I play in novice :p )
Testing help: Instinctively I press "back" when I made a mistake, then I went to the previous webpage.
Very good mood! Nice!
Jupiter_Hadley
20. May 2015 路 13:53 UTC
Really nicely made game. I love typing games and having the option to hit space when you want to shoot is really nice. I included it in part 11 of my Ludum Dare 32 compilation video series, if you would like to take a look :) http://youtu.be/ArGc_dQ-3Lc