A Stone's Throw by scoobyben

[raw]
made by scoobyben for LD28 (COMPO)
Made with Python 3.2 and Pygame.
(I don't have much experience with making python scripts exectuable, so let me know if there are any issues. You should be able to run the executable on Windows as long as you have python installed)

The game is a fairly standard fare platformer, with one main difference - the player character is blind. You can use the sound of your surroundings to get around, and you have with you a stone which you can throw to help you map out the levels. You only get one stone, so if you lose it (down a pit, for example), that's it.

There are some enemies, who also make sound (so you can see roughly where they are), and they can be killed by hitting them with your stone.

(N.B. sound is represented by tiles lighting up on the screen. There is no audio in the game)

Levels are procedurally generated, with two playable modes - one with a set number of lives (which you can set in game), and another which is endless.


CONTROLS

a/d = move left/right
w = jump
left/right arrow keys = throw stone
q = quit to main menu
k = kill self

GOAL

On each level there is a key and an exit - you must first pick up the key (once you have it a key icon will appear in the top right), then find the exit.

Ratings

Coolness 67% 3
Overall 3.00 491
Fun 2.88 478
Graphics 2.18 838
Humor 2.27 482
Innovation 3.79 59
Mood 2.85 438
Theme 3.39 221

Feedback

ossah
16. Dec 2013 · 18:30 UTC
Cool game mechanic with the sound! Controls were a bit fast for me but really enjoyed the mechanic. Has a lot of potential to be a great game if padded out more.
Donutttt
16. Dec 2013 · 18:30 UTC
A cool idea - but the field of vision makes it incredibly difficult. Maybe that's just me though. I had fun playing it regardless
Calciumtrice
16. Dec 2013 · 23:15 UTC
Cool atmosphere, did a good job of capturing that feeling of scrambling about in the dark trying not to trip up.
severus
16. Dec 2013 · 23:17 UTC
I like the idea, but graphics is poor, especially menu buttons.
PEBKAC
17. Dec 2013 · 11:25 UTC
I did not enjoy playing this. Game mechanics seemed to work as designed, so it's probably just not my kinda game.
Alismuffin
17. Dec 2013 · 11:27 UTC
This was an awesome idea, but I experienced some problems.
I found a door that said exit but I couldn't really go through it.
Other than that seemed to go fine! Great game design.
🎤 scoobyben
17. Dec 2013 · 11:33 UTC
@Alismuffin - I don't think I did a brilliant job of explaining how the levels work - you start in the middle , with a key on one side and an exit on the other - you need to pick up the key, then get to the exit. Sorry about the confusion!
Ditto
17. Dec 2013 · 12:22 UTC
Pretty interesting, hitting enemies is hard, and it's kinda frustrating to miss and be forced to kill yourself because you can't get passed an enemy. Finding the key is very satisfying though!
bodsey
17. Dec 2013 · 12:24 UTC
Really interesting idea. You should try and make a full game from that.
Capitals
17. Dec 2013 · 12:24 UTC
It has some potential!
joserodolfofreitas
17. Dec 2013 · 12:28 UTC
Wow, very nice core mechanic. Loved the idea.
Doctor Broccoli
17. Dec 2013 · 12:33 UTC
Neat idea, it really needs some kind of effect or animation when you die though. Right now when you die you just get teleported right back to the middle which is a bit confusing seeing as you're blind.
Poupi
17. Dec 2013 · 12:34 UTC
The idea is pretty cool, but the controls are a bit hard to master
KeyMaster
17. Dec 2013 · 13:10 UTC
Really nice idea and a good take on the theme. I think the controls could have used some work, and I also didn't think putting death pits in there was a fair choice. It basically screws you over even though it is not your fault. Otherwise great job!
d_0o_d
17. Dec 2013 · 18:05 UTC
Cool game, interesting idea, but i had a low framerate...?
sam1373
17. Dec 2013 · 18:14 UTC
Very good idea, but not very good execution.
🎤 scoobyben
17. Dec 2013 · 18:36 UTC
@d_0o_d - I'm not sure what to recommend, pygame should be setting the frame rate at a constant 30fps, and it's been fine on all the machines I've tested it on

@sam1373 - fair enough, may I ask what I should've done differently to help me improve in the future?
🎤 scoobyben
17. Dec 2013 · 18:38 UTC
@Doctor Brocolli - I agree, that's a feature I would've added but ended up running out of time.
javifugitivo
17. Dec 2013 · 19:06 UTC
Great concept and interesting mechanic. Maybe with better graphics the game would be amazing. Very fun and good job!
jadams
17. Dec 2013 · 19:09 UTC
Really enjoyed the core mechanic. Thought that the movement was a bit too quick and hard to handle.

I disagree with some of the comments that didn't like the pits, they added a needed element of danger that force you to take it slow (or take risks). Although losing the stone down a pit seemed excessively harsh and effectively resulted in death.
acp_ld
18. Dec 2013 · 04:19 UTC
interesting mechanics, good effort

I feel like the areas where you walked or threw the stone should be "remembered" and maybe even remembered across lives

also I didnt get any sound and this kind of game would be the perfect experiment with stereo sounds and simulated echos

finally for unforgiving platforming the controls should be tighter, for example having 1 jump per click rather than continuous jumping
Sylence
18. Dec 2013 · 12:17 UTC
A great idea!
Kane
18. Dec 2013 · 12:28 UTC
Promising idea, controls a bit unresponsive sometime, but the game was fun to play! nicely done!
Diptoman
18. Dec 2013 · 15:48 UTC
Game controls are cool and simple. The increasing lives option was cool.. Innovative theme... Though I think the fps increased on my pc a bit. Also sound didn't work for my pc.
🎤 scoobyben
18. Dec 2013 · 16:30 UTC
@Diptoman There was no sound (The "sound" of enemies and the stone is represented graphically). It's another thing I didn't have time to put in
GingerMess
18. Dec 2013 · 18:20 UTC
A little weird, but interesting.
jomomomo
18. Dec 2013 · 18:36 UTC
Can't play windows games :-(
Brian Mayberry
18. Dec 2013 · 22:43 UTC
Really great idea, and the mechanic was fairly well executed. Would have liked some sound to go with it.
peacegiverman
19. Dec 2013 · 18:54 UTC
Awesome idea! There was a similar game in 3D on Kickstarter and I also wanted to make something like this.

I was confused by that flying creature. It's too fast and avoiding it feels more like luck than skill. Try to add some more polish next time: death animations/screen fades, audio, prettier menu,... such stuff.
Fenmar
24. Dec 2013 · 19:26 UTC
I really like your game. If you want to have a look, I made a Let's Play with it :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laFsCiGVj1M
Jupiter_Hadley
24. Dec 2013 · 22:16 UTC
This game is really unique and cool! Too bad fraps wouldnt record it so I couldnt include it in my LD Compilation series...