Mama is Sick by JaymeeMak

[raw]
made by JaymeeMak for LD28 (JAM)
******IF PLAYING WINDOWS/MAC VERSION, PLAY AT 800X600******

"Mama is Sick" is a resource-management, hard-times simulation game.

YOU ONLY GET ONE DOLLAR A DAY to look after your family (thanks to a generous family from overseas) while papa is away and mama is sick.

Buy food and water to make sure the food, water and health bars of you and your family don't reach zero or death will occur.

If your education bar reaches zero, you won't graduate high school.

You have to last 50 days until papa comes back. Will you manage to graduate? Will everyone survive?

You can work in a clothing factory to earn 50c a day, but be careful not to miss too much school. You also need to study at least three days a week or risk not being able to graduate.

Minor Bugs:
Expect them.

Made by:
Guerric Hache a.k.a. GarrickWinter (Programming and Mechanical Design)
http://playingwithmeaning.blogspot.ca

Jaymee Mak a.k.a JaymeeMak (Art, Narrative and Mechanical Design, Audio)
http://appletomypi.wordpress.com

P.S. Read the instructions plox :P
P.S.S. Jaymee is not an artist. She will never be an artist. But Guerric has been banned from touching art. :P

Ratings

Coolness 100% 1
Overall(Jam) 3.59 84
Audio(Jam) 3.25 156
Fun(Jam) 2.83 268
Graphics(Jam) 3.08 305
Humor(Jam) 2.02 362
Innovation(Jam) 3.42 85
Mood(Jam) 3.74 48
Theme(Jam) 3.29 113

Feedback

GarrickWinter
17. Dec 2013 路 01:59 UTC
We did it, bugs and all! :D
doitle
17. Dec 2013 路 02:45 UTC
Is there anywhere else besides Facebook you could host the Windows download? (Dropbox, Google Drive)
LukeR
17. Dec 2013 路 02:46 UTC
Good game, but what has it to do with the theme?
Unept
17. Dec 2013 路 02:50 UTC
Wow. sobering and powerful. Something I should have my kids play when they complain about their "third world problems." Well done!
馃帳 JaymeeMak
17. Dec 2013 路 02:53 UTC
@doitle We are uploading a new link now, thank you for your feedback!

@LukeR Thanks for the feedback, in our game you only have $1 a day to help your family survive.

@Unept Your comment means a lot to us, we'd love to hear what your kids think about the game!
errorage
17. Dec 2013 路 03:01 UTC
This game deserves a lot more attention than I managed to give it now: "Oh, I'll just play one more game before I leave." I'm giving it a high 'first impression' rating, so it appears in my list of rated games. I'll give it a full playthrough later.
Nelien
17. Dec 2013 路 03:04 UTC
You almost made me cry.. Truth is I've met several people in exactly this situation, forced to choose work (at absurd rates) over school in my travels. This hit home. Nice work.
bsowers
17. Dec 2013 路 03:25 UTC
That was super depressing but also very, very good.
Ariake81
17. Dec 2013 路 03:29 UTC
an ace idea and great game mechanics, loved the music too!
Calahagus
17. Dec 2013 路 03:30 UTC
Really nicely done! The graphics are disturbingly happy for such a serious game, and the gameplay is very sound. My problem is that the upgrades were a little unclear as to what they did, but I didn't read the instructions so that's probably my fault. Good job!
MisterDerek2
17. Dec 2013 路 03:30 UTC
Nice work!
ambi
17. Dec 2013 路 03:34 UTC
One of the most brutal games I've encountered so far.
Pixelfan Games
17. Dec 2013 路 03:34 UTC
good job but i dont enjoy
dremelofdeath
17. Dec 2013 路 03:35 UTC
This fits with the theme, although the flavor text is a little dark. To be honest, this style of turn-by-turn game is not my cup of tea, but the graphics are really good, and the audio is well done.
Blooperly
17. Dec 2013 路 03:39 UTC
Wow that is great. Sad, but great. Also really difficult. Congrats!
Seigeengine
17. Dec 2013 路 03:46 UTC
This is a very interesting game. I found the interface a little confusing at times, but once I resolved the confusion, it was pretty simple, and the concept is powerful.

Well done.
Benjamin
17. Dec 2013 路 03:59 UTC
Sad but interesting game. It was very hard to understand the goat and upgrades mechanic, the fact that grey icon means you dont have the upgrade OR you have it but its unactive, is deceptive. Maybe hiding the price once you bought it.

Selecting the bucket everyday is boring, why not allocate it to someone until you change your mind ? ( like blanket )
Nut
17. Dec 2013 路 04:11 UTC
Wow this was really brutal. Excellent use of the theme. I managed to get to the end with only one family member dying, but only because I didn't try to stay in school at all.
GarrickWinter
17. Dec 2013 路 04:39 UTC
Wow, we are really happy and humbled to hear the game made such an impact with you all! Thank you so much for your comments!

@Benjamin & @Calahagus: Thanks for your feedback regarding the interface. This was our first real foray into interface design, so we still have much to learn. We really appreciate your feedback!
Pixelbear
17. Dec 2013 路 07:39 UTC
A very good game! You hit the mood spot on, and it made me empathise about what exactly I'd do if I also had $1 a day, haha. There were a lot of instructions to take in initially, but after reading I found out the game was pretty straight forward anyway. :)
MrTedders
17. Dec 2013 路 07:45 UTC
Wow, that was dark. Very nice atmosphere you have going in the game. nice work!
popogames
17. Dec 2013 路 07:47 UTC
Oh man, I can't keep my family alive :(
Denis Chakarov
17. Dec 2013 路 07:54 UTC
Very nice mood!
john_conder9
17. Dec 2013 路 08:30 UTC
Agh why! So sad and depressing, EVERYONE DIED except me. And at the end I had like $30. Man, if I just had a time machine :(

Well. It's hard. It is a bit emotional and sad, especially since the dad writes letters about waiting to see everyone when they are all dead. I don't think I could stand to play another minute of it, so... take that however you want.
Katamori
17. Dec 2013 路 19:19 UTC
First thoughts: DAT THEME...DAT MUSIC...step1, try not to cry, step2, cry a lot...instant 5 for Mood, without hesitation!

This is way the most powerful part of this game. Graphics are enough for this game, music fits perfectly for mood.

Not even sure if I should even rate Fun in this case.

A great-great 5 overall.
Xaychru04
17. Dec 2013 路 19:28 UTC
Depressing game, but nice too. Good job!
Ithildin
17. Dec 2013 路 20:48 UTC
Wow...you've done a terrific job. Gameplay is brilliant: it serves the sad story (and the theme) amazingly well, and so does music. Congratulations!
antila
17. Dec 2013 路 21:52 UTC
Great job!
_zulli
17. Dec 2013 路 22:00 UTC
Wow!
Great graphics and music.

Really a game that makes us reflect. Sad and the story box... powerful.
Great game! One of my favorites on this jam, for real! Awesome job!

If you have time, rate my game too! I would really appreciate it :)
KayZ
17. Dec 2013 路 22:03 UTC
Sad game with fitting music. Very good. On my first try everyone died but second time everyone survived. Nice story too.
Toureiro
17. Dec 2013 路 23:15 UTC
Great experience. Thanks for making it!
robhor
18. Dec 2013 路 00:08 UTC
What a sad game. Well done.
taocayo
18. Dec 2013 路 00:12 UTC
Moving game, loved the music, the story... everything... I am playing it a second time, and I think I will another time after that. :D it reminded me of Papers Please, one of my favorite games right now!
ENDESGA
18. Dec 2013 路 00:16 UTC
This is a sad game :(
The graphics are pretty cool though!
I'm not too sure how this connects with the theme but, it's pretty cool nonetheless!
Rscar
18. Dec 2013 路 02:24 UTC
Dang this was heavy
Lyje
18. Dec 2013 路 02:54 UTC
Really moving.
netguy204
18. Dec 2013 路 03:26 UTC
Serious and well executed. Lots of stars.
olafsworld98
18. Dec 2013 路 03:33 UTC
everyone except me died so i survived dads coming back.
MatrixBai
18. Dec 2013 路 08:45 UTC
This game is so sad. You guys did it.
Bruno Massa
19. Dec 2013 路 06:10 UTC
really innovative. i tried several times.
funselektor
19. Dec 2013 路 08:08 UTC
That was intense, I hope more people play it.
Diptoman
19. Dec 2013 路 10:09 UTC
Brilliant use of the theme! Has all the right feels to it. Full score from me! :')
glovecat
19. Dec 2013 路 10:22 UTC
Oh, my mum died :( It's a sad game but really interesting and moving, great work!
hadesfury
19. Dec 2013 路 12:18 UTC
Great game ... played twice but mama did not suvive
ThatGuy
19. Dec 2013 路 18:17 UTC
Great way of making people experience, first hand, the hardships that the poorest of this world must go through. Everyone survived and I graduated, but it was rough. Great game!
jacklehamster
19. Dec 2013 路 19:00 UTC
What a cruel game!
After constantly failing at saving everyone even without going to school, I just tried the other way around, letting my family starve to death so I could study.
I was smiling the whole time until the end, graduated with high honors, and even got enough money to buy me some chic clothes! Yep!
jacklehamster
19. Dec 2013 路 19:15 UTC
Ok, I redeemed myself by taking the entire family to my graduation. Turns out it works better if you let one member starve for a while, then give double ration.
Good concept!
stvr
19. Dec 2013 路 19:17 UTC
A gripping and sad experience. I wish the upgrades were a bit clearer, but the ability to go to the menu and re-read the instructions makes it better. Really powerful.
Coblynau
19. Dec 2013 路 20:06 UTC
Very thought provoking, no perfect outcome. Good game!
Sertkaya
19. Dec 2013 路 20:55 UTC
Its soo good, I liked gameplay.
miwuc
19. Dec 2013 路 21:51 UTC
Beautiful music, nice graphics, and great backstory. Bug god this game is depressing :(
Alex Higgins
19. Dec 2013 路 22:38 UTC
This is one of the best games from the jam. Really, really great job at telling a story through game mechanics. This one drew me right in. Thanks for making this.
Mother, grandma, and brother all died the same turn. But at least I graduated, damn it.
Sorry you can't play Digital Toilet World! I wish I were able to port to mac.
StMatn
19. Dec 2013 路 23:26 UTC
Nice idea and good execution.
I like the graphics!
The setting is quite sad, but thats ok. I think the game will make people think about how hard lift can be for people in the 3rd world!
Nice work!
Reverend Speed
19. Dec 2013 路 23:59 UTC
Sad, interesting game. Music is lovely, though it repeats a bit. Could do with a little more feedback on selecting options - wasn't sure my clicks were registering.

Er...

...is it a little strange that the lesson I took from this was to go hyper-capitalist and let my family die immediately in order to max out my access to food, education and medicine?

Might be worth emphasising the importance of family in small communities like this. Or not? Food for thought.
peacegiverman
20. Dec 2013 路 01:21 UTC
This is wonderful. You manage to set the right mood and bring us the difficulty that this family is having. And that is great art, especially for someone who isn't an artist.
tigerrenko
20. Dec 2013 路 01:28 UTC
Uh... good and strong one
javifugitivo
20. Dec 2013 路 04:30 UTC
Nice work!
Venks
20. Dec 2013 路 07:58 UTC
Interesting UI and a pretty nice game. I can dig it.
unusualcadence
20. Dec 2013 路 13:50 UTC
Heartbreaking. I had trouble playing, but for the right reasons! Great work.
Techblogogy
20. Dec 2013 路 15:34 UTC
Fixed, it
plaguespark
20. Dec 2013 路 15:59 UTC
Seems that apple users are mactards. Even main menu displayed with glitches. I mashed some <back> button on first day ... no results.
GarrickWinter
20. Dec 2013 路 16:52 UTC
@plaguespark Thanks for the feedback. We didn't explain how some of the buttons work in the instructions; I believe you were pressing the reset button (for resetting all purchases made that day). The "pause" button is actually what brings you back to the main menu. What kind of glitches occurred with the main menu?
occash
20. Dec 2013 路 18:44 UTC
I like it.. when I lost, I thought that I'll cry)
Good job!
Techblogogy
20. Dec 2013 路 19:24 UTC
Game is good, but I can't find a connection to the theme.
GarrickWinter
20. Dec 2013 路 19:32 UTC
Thanks for the feedback! Our interpretation of the theme is that the player only gets one dollar a day on which to survive.
zkenshin
21. Dec 2013 路 00:53 UTC
Great use of theme, though I died quite quickly.
Great job!
dementor561
21. Dec 2013 路 02:23 UTC
cool
eskivor
21. Dec 2013 路 03:32 UTC
Nice music, but can we win the game ?
GaTechGrad
21. Dec 2013 路 09:18 UTC
Neat game. I like how you have to balance all the different variables to keep everyone alive.
nSun
21. Dec 2013 路 12:44 UTC
So sad... Today we eat water. Bon app茅tit and especially chew well your water.
postmodestie
21. Dec 2013 路 19:48 UTC
Interesting experience, touching like Charles Dickens. And very good execution!
馃帳 JaymeeMak
21. Dec 2013 路 20:43 UTC
@eskivor In a sense - if you are very careful, you can help your family survive as well as graduate from school.
LoneStranger
22. Dec 2013 路 05:42 UTC
Depressing, but interestingly done.
OneDee
22. Dec 2013 路 13:05 UTC
Good job.. Somewhat depressing. Good job all the same!
Moosefly
22. Dec 2013 路 16:22 UTC
Good game with a well done mood! Very challenging. I liked it and found myself saddened when someone died because I wanted to see everyone survive. Well done! One of the best games I've played! -J
Kvisle
22. Dec 2013 路 16:39 UTC
This is a very sad game. It's good, but it's so depressing. I had my entire family die before me, before I managed to keep myself alive (but on the other hand, it suddenly got very easy)
bananaAndGames
22. Dec 2013 路 17:04 UTC
Now I'm all sad :'(
mcapraro
23. Dec 2013 路 06:01 UTC
very interesting concept
mmickyman
24. Dec 2013 路 02:10 UTC
The slow pacing and the subject make it a wearing experience. I lost 2 people but managed to graduate.

It's hard to tell with the UI how the upgrades work.
Christina Nordlander
28. Dec 2013 路 15:22 UTC
Wow, that's a powerful experience. You should definitely be proud of it. It looks professional, and most of the graphics are great. Excellent writing: the family members get quite a bit of personality, even the father. I like how you put in random events (at least I assume they were randomly generated; I only played a couple of times). I can see this game being used in debate/education about poverty.

On the downside, it took a while to learn what all the meters meant, and I'm still not sure I've figured it all out. But that's my problem, not yours.

A good gaming experience, without sugarcoating the unpleasant reality. I'll come back and see if I can do better next time.
Tex Killer
29. Dec 2013 路 06:15 UTC
Very sad, really takes you away from reality... It is nice to have something different :)
steamgirl
29. Dec 2013 路 17:30 UTC
Very touching game, really enjoyed playing it! What a great take on the theme. Boy am I grateful to that family that kept sending $1 a day, could not have survived without it. The storytelling was also very cute and added a lot of character to the game.

PS. I haven't rated the audio (for some reason it didn't play for me).
Kayelgee
30. Dec 2013 路 01:46 UTC
This game sets a really good mood.
ayame9joe
30. Dec 2013 路 10:43 UTC
Educational one.
UltraRat
30. Dec 2013 路 18:37 UTC
Nice take on serious theme. A few tooltips would go a long way to helping players understand the UI quicker.
TeamFlare
31. Dec 2013 路 14:57 UTC
A sad game, but well done. Good job.
AlexFili
04. Jan 2014 路 10:51 UTC
Quiet a sad game but well done. I often make games like this but it's good to see some interesting changes. The interface could be more helpful but overall a good effort.
steamgirl
04. Jan 2014 路 12:05 UTC
Over the last week this game has come up in conversation with almost everyone I've hung out with. Left a really strong impact.
joppiesaus
06. Jan 2014 路 19:24 UTC
Interesting. This is not a game you "play in a minute". I really like it. Everything is well balanced, you get a good mood of the game, the graphics are nice... I think this is the best game yet I've seen, this-style. Nice job! :)
VanhaVihtahousu
06. Jan 2014 路 20:41 UTC
I really didnt expect for this... really sad game and that is a compliment in this case. The mood on this one is spot on in this one. Not your usual gaming experience.
kbake
06. Jan 2014 路 20:49 UTC
Unept said it and I can't think of a better word: sobering. Well done!
Grafter
06. Jan 2014 路 22:54 UTC
A very moving game! Well Done!