LudumData

Simulacra in Space by Hob623

[raw]
made by Hob623 for LD31 (JAM)
You are on a mission, but sometimes you forget why. The idea came after first wondering why there would only be a single screen, and why it would be important. In this game, the one screen is a computer terminal in a spaceship that can produce lifelike simulations of dreams, presumably for the astronauts to amuse themselves with. Long haul space travel rarely is touched on in media, mainly because it is boring and slow, so this game was me trying to recreate the mood of tedium and transit, in a setting only existing in relation to the journey's end.

Might not be for everyone? Also, the audio noise is intentional.

I'm pleased with this game! I like how when using the computer your needs are obscured, as well as being quite fond of the beep noise. This was also the first time making a game completely by myself.

Controls: Arrow keys, mouse
Windows http://gamejolt.com/games/other/simulacra-in-space/41283/
Original URL https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-31/?action=preview&uid=34495

Ratings

Coolness 36% 1818
Overall(Jam) 2.52 959
Audio(Jam) 2.43 586
Fun(Jam) 2.22 967
Graphics(Jam) 2.30 898
Humor(Jam) 2.81 383
Innovation(Jam) 3.13 437
Mood(Jam) 2.91 603
Theme(Jam) 3.09 844

Feedback

jtpup0
09. Dec 2014 · 01:39 UTC
interesting concept and fun, a nice cross breed between point and click and survival
Bygmalion
09. Dec 2014 · 22:58 UTC
Feels like I'm in space.
chibiFlux
09. Dec 2014 · 23:34 UTC
Interesting idea. But the controlls where a bit too slow and i couldn't interact within the simulations. :(
Ken Scott
10. Dec 2014 · 05:43 UTC
Interesting. I was kinda hoping for more interaction or a bigger payoff. Well done, regardless.
Conflei
10. Dec 2014 · 22:13 UTC
Hahahaha Simulacra, en mi pais y en mi idioma seria un nombre muy muy gracioso, buen juego :) Saludos desde Venezuela.
ponk
10. Dec 2014 · 23:03 UTC
Clay monster is awesome !
Dreams are cools.

Here my suggestion about the game :
May be the controls could be speed up ?
And add velocity ? Like if it was zero gravity
Elemental Zeal Games Studios
12. Dec 2014 · 19:35 UTC
Neat idea!
Movement was super slow, though.
Good job (:
🎤 Hob623
13. Dec 2014 · 04:32 UTC
@chibiFlux @ponk @Elemental Zeal Games Studios Sorry about the movement thing. It was meant to lend itself to the feeling of sluggishness and the syrupy feeling of disconnection of being in transit, but if it got in the way of the game then I should have scrapped it. Also ponk the zero gravity thing would've been neat. Thanks for the feedback!
sorlok
14. Dec 2014 · 03:17 UTC
A cool idea, and evokes some interesting emotions. Feels a little unfocused, but definitely worth a play!
Empyrealhell
15. Dec 2014 · 06:33 UTC
I was hoping that I could talk to the pilot about the missing recordings, but unless I missed something there didn't seem to be a way to interact with him. This was definitely the least fun game I've played, but I don't think that was the point, and you did a tremendous job of capturing the tedium of a monotonous existence like one would have in deep space. I think the slow movement speed helped with that feeling, and I think a better answer to that issue would have been to make the hunger & health meters just tick down a bit slower so that you retained the sluggish pace, without having the player spend over 50% of the time walking back and forth.
daviosmash
15. Dec 2014 · 06:51 UTC
Definitely a bit slow on the controls, but it was fun anyways
Instant Noodles
15. Dec 2014 · 11:07 UTC
wwooo ! Sadly I don't have window but the screenshots are very original :)
Mechamew
15. Dec 2014 · 22:32 UTC
Please put together a Web or mac build! Based on the first screen shot, I think I'll love this!
caryoscelus
15. Dec 2014 · 22:53 UTC
Looking past simplistic graphics, it's a cool little game. Get yourself an artist and don't make the movement that slow, you might achieve great things.
Also, why not pause time during simulations?

lonely2012
🎤 Hob623
17. Dec 2014 · 22:47 UTC
@caryoscelus Time doesn't pause in the simulations because that's largely the point I was trying to make, that trying to entertain yourself with them was distracting you from your immediate goals (although the goals in this situation were so mundane as to be ridiculous). That's also why the dream window covers up your needs: When you're in any sort of simulation, the real world falls away and you have to concentrate to remember your needs. Maybe a bit too harsh and annoying for people wanting to poke around a short LD entry, but I thought it was important for the intended message of the game (Gosh that sounds pretentious). And thanks!

@Empyrealhell Interesting suggestion, thanks!

Also sorry to anyone who cannot run the windows version, I cannot export to anything else right now.
maxmetallica
29. Dec 2014 · 19:48 UTC
nice concept keep it up