While this game is interesting and enjoyable, it is really lacking in game play (you just press space when it tells you to). I really wish it had microphone input, or even a just few dialog choices to select from so I could respond when asked a question. Over all it is enjoyable, and the guy in the chair makes some good points, but I just wish the game let me interact with it more.

10/10, would hang out and drink with.

A dialog tree would be lovely... even the illusion of reaction to a response is acceptable. Very different...cool. You're a good listener too.

Very interesting and thought provoking. You make some really great points and the subtle interactivity of your questions allowed me to answer them for myself. Sometimes just sending a message through our work is enough to inspire others, and your message has resonated with me. Well done!

It was nice to take a break from playing and just have a conversation with you.

Actually not a game, but more like a video. But an interesting video.

Wow. Powerful. Easily my favorite entry yet. I really appreciate you too!

totally not a game, but i felt more 'connected' than in any other game so 5/5 theme, man. i love listening to people as well as writing on dead trees. thanks for the chat

Wow, I really liked that. A very respectable approach to the theme.

It's nice when games try to give you a message, and I like the topic you have chosen. But I really miss some interactivity and interesting gameplay, it's more like receiving a lecture or personal statement in a relaxed atmosphere.

I can proudly say that I went through the whole game. I have to say, that... I am really, really impressed! I loved the game, the way the story is told - more like the idea. If you ask me every game should be able to make a point and tell something like this game does. Even games made entirely for fun should have some way to tell you something even profounder. Fascinating work as I said, keep it up! And yee, I am a good listener. :P

Best interpretation of the theme so far. Ashamed to admit I checked my email several times during the game :(

Made me want to go outside and sketch, that's something I don't usually get from playing computer games.

Fun, nice to have a departure from everything. Of course, not a "game" but we don't really have a good vocabulary for interactive media like this. Would be interesting if you had some way of recording, receiving and collating everyone's input at each wait/think step, what you would here.

Hope you can stave off depression, and that this (and the response to it) helps/ed!

Wow, a lot of good ideas. Also, is that your voice because it is pretty good, well-spoken and clearly thought out speech. I like it :D

Wasn't expecting this, you know ;)

Nice surprise however!

good experience and good voice.
Maybe could just write some answer make the "game" more interactive... but maybe just listen is better... I don't know...

we should have a beer (if you like beer)

really cool experience, gj

My best ­"game" by far. Really mouving....

Ok, this is great!
I love how personal it feels, and it's a great art form (not game in the sense) but "experience"
Great writing, pacing and message

Love it!

and by the way, I never wanted to leave. You're still tapping away

Wow, this was really good. I know people will say it's not a "game" or whatever, but I appreciate you doing something experimental and honest, and the production values are excellent (the technicals of voice recording, and the narration, and the little character animations choreographed with the text). Solid.

I just wanted to say that I'm suffering from depression too, and sometimes it's really difficult. It nearly kept me from finishing my game, but somehow I made it through anyway. I'm hoping life will be like that, even when it gets hard that I'll make it through in the end. I hope that for you, too.

@Lissar
Depression sucks hard. The sole fact that you don't have control over many aspects of yourself sucks hard.
It's different for everyone but persistence helps. And it's good to hear that you've been able to finish your game!
Things that are difficult, over time, tend to be more meaningful.

@liquidminduk

<3

I should make a gif out of the last scene. I'll try to make it later today. :)

@mess110 and @Jellycakes

Both me and the character in the game (well sometimes I am this character) are up for hanging out during gamedev conferences. The next one I'm attending for sure is GDC in SF. But hey, if there's anything interesting going on anywhere and you're going to be around I'd have a solid reason to go. ;)

@Vytheros

Thanks!

It is indeed my voice.

Everything, including the font is made by me during the jam. I just knew that I need 3 days to achieve the final result so that's why it's a jam and not a compo. :)

<3

There's nothing else to say.

That was really nice. Depression was kinda the B-theme for my entry as well I guess. Anyway, good luck with the micro houses

So, have you ever enjoyed a.. a game with almost no interaction? *Press space when you're ready* Hm.. I have. The game shouldn't be dynamic or something to be good, it can even be hardly a game, you know?..

These were the best 10 minutes that I spent talking this week. Suggestion? Change nothing. Not a single pixel.
Oh BTW, the sound is not recommended, it is mandatory.

I really liked the approach to the topic, and the theme. Thank you for opening yourself up, and creating something real that makes people think.

Very thought provoking and meaningful, I enjoyed the animations of the character while talking. Good Job.

@43iscoding

I see what you did there. ;)

That was... quite an experience. Maybe not quite perfect and doesn't really apply to everyone (hahahah, how many people would say it's not about them while it indeed would be?), but still very unique. Perhaps you would like to participate in ruining the video games industry, as described here? http://itch.io/jam/ruinjam2014 I think you would do a great job here (and yes, that's a good thing). ;)

I guess the lack of interaction aside from pressing Space was troublesome, but I prefer that over having a few dialogue options from which none fits would be far worse here; there I am supposed to be me, and then the game tells me I can either want to be famous musician, or game developer, or get a tiny house, or I have no idea, or something; that would kinda spoil the experience. Though once we're at that, the last remark sounded a bit like the listener is assumed to be male; I guess in some cases word "man"/"guy" etc. might be used in relation to both genders, but I feel omitting that word (leaving something like "Thanks, I really appreciate you"; can't remember the exact quite) would convey the same without causing that trouble. ^^"

Also, good luck with fighting your depression. I'm not sure I understand what it's like to have it, but considering the fact it's not red and doesn't smell of potatoes, I wouldn't wish anyone to go through that. u_u"

I connected to this non-game on many levels and related to most of the notions you/the character (I don't know if it's personal or just really, really accurate) describe because I sadly also suffer from depression... those parts about not wanting to fail and delaying everything to the last moment in particular hit a chord with me. Talk about connecting worlds...

It's a special testament to the medium's capabilities when that happens.

I usually stick to affirmative monosyllables when I’m conversing in person so I found this to be a pretty realistic game, in terms of interactivity.

I wish there were some interactive thingies… even just peripheral toys or something that I could fiddle with while listening would increase my engagement. I think I need more tabs!

@Sunflower

I'm all about ruining the the video games industry! (And I'm a cutie if I can say so myself.)
I'm considering taking part in this jam, we'll see how it goes. I'm quite busy over the next few weeks (finishing a game and such) but I'll try to find a few hours here and there to hack something together.

As for the usage of "Thanks again man. I really appreciate you." I spent a lot of time thinking whether or not I should go with those specific words. In the end I decided to keep the text as it is because the flow of the sentence felt right. I'm still not 100% sure it was the best possible decision and I'd love to hear more opinions on this.

@esayitch

Thanks!
Stay strong and don't fear to ask for help when you need it.

@Mase

It's a really interesting idea! I'll try to experiment with this in the future. :)

At first I felt sceptical towards the lack of interactivity -- until I was asked 'have you ever lost interest in something you really loved?' And I was told to press space when I was ready. It made me pause, hesitate, contemplate. The game suddenly became profoundly interactive. Well done.

The tiresomeness of instant message and 24/7 social networking have really been dragging me down lately, so I was gripped from the start of the game. Then the intimate discussion of depression, the cathartic need to have some listen to you. It was really fabulous.

It's just the ending. It just didn't sit right with me either. I think it could have been omitted and the ending would still make perfect sense.

Nevertheless, this is definitely one of this LD's highlights. 5/5

That was one of the most meaningful conversations in video games! totally different. I love it. Thanks for this experience. 5/5

+mood

Weird how it really felt like you were talking to me, as it were. It when the depression reared its head it was that sinking dreading feeling you get when trapped at a mingle with the drunk ;)

I was expecting an interruption at any time, or some chink of double standards, but it never came :)

Spot on with the theme!!it could be perfect if it had some more gameplay besides pushing space...But it is for me the most memorable i played until now.

wow. That was truly an interesting experience. The subtle movements of the character and the subtitles that was synced with your narration worked perfectly to create a distinctive atmosphere which touched my heart. Game play wise it didn't have much but that made it a more rich full experience, it let me focus more on the story aspect.

Very interesting! There was some very good points there.

Interesting take on the theme. It was nice listening to you for a while :)

What a strange experience XD. Listening your voice was nice, and it sure felt "intimate", I'm just not entirely convinced about the whole thing. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood? But I'll be interested in a more interactive version ^^.

Not a game, but very captivating and deep!

It's good that you wrote how long it would take. I made coffee and listened to you man, it was a nice.

Pretty sick good voice you got there :)
Nice experience and very inspiriing. Good game!!

Don't make "normal" games!!! Continue with these things :D it's super cool

I loved it. I turned out my phone as requested but forgot about Facebook in the other tab. Of course, someone tried to talk to me...
The almost no interaction thing is a good idea, But I would have loved to chat with this guy more directly.

Ahh, I do love the attention to detail, and how straight up personal this is.

The text de-synchs just a liiittle bit halfway, but the conversation (as one-sided as it was) was so engaging I'm surprised I noticed.

Pretty cool. I'm the kind of guy who thinks Gone Home and Proteus are definitely games, but this is really leaning towards "not a game" for me, just because the *only* interaction is pressing spacebar, which doesn't even have much of an effect on the experience. I liked it though, the experience was cool.

I guess I just wanted to ask how important play is in Ludum Dare?

Random guy talking about life the video game.

Enjoyable, especially then ending (made me feel all warm inside). Nice talking to you too.

I think you already know that this is not a game but an experimental interactive something. It's awesome to listen though. Record sounds very natural.

Powerful and inspiring, really made me think.
Thank you for this conversation.

I feel you bro'. It's inspiring listening to you but (and I don't want to sound mean) this is not really a game :(

Enjoyed this experience. Way to try something different.

What a great and loveable experience! Simple but clever.

The speech moved me. The "gameplay" involves listening and thinking the answer of questions that are important to the author. Thanks for waking up my thoughts...

After you said, "writing on dead trees", all I could think about were the poor trees. I had visions of you leaping out the front door and scrawling messages on fallen trees. I wonder if your neighbours think that the neighbourhood is haunted by the phantom tree scribbler. :)

Not my cup of tea, but well executed! I can see you put a lot of time into making sure the timing of the animations and text lined up well.

i love the concept here. i could see it being more interactive for sure, but the pints are pretty interesting and spot on :) i read a few books that touch on similar topics - glad to see we are all searching for similar things and discovering that we cannot act in a reactionary mode anymore if we really want to stay creative (and in some sort of control of our creativity)

This was amazing!

That was really cool. I think it is important to be able to talk to people about certain things and to listen to people doing that. So what that boils down to, in my opinion, is the basic human need for belonging to a group of people, for not being alone, for knowing some people who sort of are on the same carrier frequency, so to say. And I think that your 'game', at least for me, conveyed that feeling pretty well. And I also think that it is pretty cool that now, with the internet, it has gotten easier to do that (although that is a bit contrary to what is expressed in the beginning of the game). Thank you.

Hate to be the only negative person here, but.. This isn't a game, and only very barely an interactive experience, if at all. I get the theme connection, but it feels rather weak; you could do the exact same "experience" with a monologue on any given topic. I have nothing against short films, which is what I'd say this is, but I don't think LD is about making those.

@Steve

I don't know if you realize that but your comment didn't bring any value to the discussion.

I get that the definition of what the game is varies from person to person. I get that you may not like something I made. If you're making games because that's what you believe is important and meaningful you start with those. Not everyone will experience the same thing in the same way - it is widely known fact. I value critique, I value views that are different than mine - that's how you can get better.

But your comment boils down to "it's not a game and I don't like it". Is this the constructive criticism? I expect better from the LD community.

Think about it.

Couldn't play wih sound but still great! Yep, a little bit boring but maximalized the theme as possible!

Not really a game, but I really enjoyed it. It was different (in a good way), and really innovative. It really gets you thinking about stuff...

I... I have no words.

Great experience. Everything is greatly balanced: speech speed, sounds, interactions, narrative. That balance complements the message very well.
Good job, and I'm always excited to play more 'games' like this.