Video Telefaxer 570X by Hammers

[raw]
made by Hammers for LD36 (COMPO)
NOTE: This game opens external links in your browser. If you're playing the web version, these pop-ups may get blocked. Check to make sure they're not being blocked!

I would advise the download version if you can :)

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You are the lucky guy at the office who gets to use the amazing VIDEO TELEFAXER 570X! It's like 2 Fax Machines in one! And a VCR. And a washing machine. And...

Your job is to send as many faxes as you can. Keep completing orders before they run out of time! Click on the orders to open the instruction manuals, and go to the given page to find out what to do.

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This game was designed to see if it was possible to make a game based on real life instruction manuals for real life appliances.

Yes that's right the instructions manuals used in this game are actual manuals from actual machines. I hope that isn't considered breaking the rules. I don't actually include them in the game, only link to websites where you already find them. And they're not really the game, just the way of telling you how to play the game.

There's more to this fax machine than faxing. If you get through a few orders you'll see there's some other stuff going on. I would have loved to include loads more appliance types and loads more manuals and loads more instructions, but alas this is the way of the game jam. I think I got enough in though for a quick bit of fun :)

Assets used
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Fonts:
http://www.1001fonts.com/digital-7-font.html
http://www.hipsthetic.com/alien-encounters-free-80s-font-family/

Sounds:
http://soundbible.com/851-Fax-Machine.html
http://soundbible.com/1070-Dial-Tone.html

Feedback

Neonable
30. Aug 2016 · 07:08 UTC
Beautiful retro aesthetics!
Amazing sound design!
Never would I have thought that sending a fax could be fun :)
I really appreciated the detail that was put into making the whole environment interactive. I would very much like to see this become a series of games about retro appliances.
Congratulations for this great idea and excellent execution!
Ghen
30. Aug 2016 · 12:41 UTC
really awesome idea of the use fax machine, quite similar with my idea

anyway, love the graphics, feels the oldies vibe from it
the gameplay easy to jump to, but some mechanic need a bit of understanding, the other like delay fax need reading a bit

but very immersive and realistic experience, props!
BossHunters
30. Aug 2016 · 14:24 UTC
Awesome idea in a strange way and great implementation. Anyway I miss the ancient tech theme.
chipcaramel
30. Aug 2016 · 14:38 UTC
This is far deeper than I anticipated. Is it bad that I want to print the manual...?
cushycode
30. Aug 2016 · 15:18 UTC
The concept is really neat, dude! I think, that you chose of ancient technologies is perfect.

When I heard all these "beep" sounds I immediately remember my first attempt to use a real one. It was really hard that time, thou!

But it was so fun to use it again, btw.
The ability to load the pdf manual for the real fax makes me laugh.
kingpirux
30. Aug 2016 · 15:35 UTC
i have to say its creative but tedious xD really intresting concept, maybe KeepTalkingAndNoBodyExplodes is a good game to take in consideration.
DiegoCTorguet
30. Aug 2016 · 15:39 UTC
I simply love it. One of the most original games I've seen this ludum. Also that vaporwave aesthetic is nice.
MrBrenan
30. Aug 2016 · 15:42 UTC
Really great and original concept :)
It's a bit like "don't stop talking and nobody explodes".
It's really funny that you use a real fax notice.
I took time to understand and was looking the notice saying "huh..." i finally did it without notice.
I've lose after three completed orders but i've found the game a bit repetitive.

Also, this is a really nice game for a 48h made game.
Great job ! Continue ;)
jscottmiller
30. Aug 2016 · 16:12 UTC
Great idea! I'm amazed at how byzantine some of these instructions are... press function 1, 1, wait two seconds until the screen says "1. timer" and press stop!? wtf, how are these real manuals. The game does a great job of showing how absurd these things are.
CMangas
30. Aug 2016 · 16:22 UTC
Awesome concept! But I didn't get too far, were these things really that horrible? I've never used one...
RIPPorkins
30. Aug 2016 · 18:59 UTC
This is super clever! At first I was completely lost in the manuals, but after awhile you get the hang of it. You should turn this into a series of ancient technologies! VCR NEXT!
RIPPorkins
30. Aug 2016 · 19:00 UTC
Also wondering if HP and such are seeing a weird traffic pattern emerging :)
Diptoman
30. Aug 2016 · 23:57 UTC
This is the most innovative use of theme I've seen so far this LD. Brilliant work, kept me going and reading manuals for a while! One things I noticed which may be just me doing something weird - it sends a fax even if you did it wrong with no explanation. I probably would have wanted an explanation or it to not send it at all.
maxxorz
31. Aug 2016 · 05:37 UTC
Really fun and intriguing game. Reminds me a lot of Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes with the usage of the external manuals. The randomness of some menus and stuff kept things interesting all the way through, and the speed increases were actually balanced to how fast i was memorizing manuals. Great game!
Darenn
31. Aug 2016 · 09:55 UTC
The game is very complete, it is well-shaped, but I think it is not really fun. The sounds are nice, the graphics too, and you managed to link them perfectly, but I don't feel like reading the entire guide (Even if you tell me which page I should read) to complete the game.
However, this is a good job, continue like this, maybe try to include a "Help menu " instead of sending us to the instruction pdf.
Great job otherwise, keep creating games !
Geckoo1337
01. Sep 2016 · 17:30 UTC
Cool stuff. I like the main gameplay. Well done ++
Jupiter_Hadley
09. Sep 2016 · 18:17 UTC
Really awesome concept. I included it in my compilation video series of Ludum Dare 36, if you’d like to take a look :) https://youtu.be/QlYKcvCr0YM
Jupiter_Hadley
28. Oct 2016 · 16:38 UTC
I also included your game in an article of my favorites! :)
http://fireside.gamejolt.com/post/jam-favorites-ludum-dare-36-eyjmnpkp
Sadly, I couldnt award your profile an award as you have not posted on this site before so your profile is not public. When it becomes public, please email me so I can give you your trophy! Jupi@JupiterHadley.com