Card Encounter! by Mechatodzilla

[raw]
made by Mechatodzilla for LD28 (COMPO)
Card Encounter is my first solo entry. I tackled a card-based pseudo-RPG idea using GameJs, Brackets for Mac, and GIMP.

I wanted to make a more creative use of the theme so I explored the idea that, "you only get one," and the rest will be used against you. This in mind, each round of cards gives you one new card, but passes two to your opponents.

This game isn't exactly a technological feat but I wanted to develop in iterations leaving almost everything on a long enhancement list. This worked out well as we got house guests at about 6 PM on day 2. You see what made it in, here are a few things that didn't:
Audio (What are ya gonna do?)
Modifier cards (armor, weapons, etc.)
Animations and particle effects (something to space out the rapid flow of the game)
Introduction and instructions
A bit more fanfare upon victory or defeat

I had fun and I learned a lot. Please enjoy.

Ratings

Coolness 45% 1141
Overall 2.54 846
Fun 2.33 841
Graphics 2.17 843
Innovation 2.96 464
Mood 1.94 903
Theme 2.79 545

Feedback

X-0r
16. Dec 2013 路 16:11 UTC
Nice concept - it took me a while to find out what "choosing a card" actually meant for the game (when I started, I thought it would apply that damage directly^^)

Would be definitely nice to have more options in cards and such, but 48 hours isn't too much - good job!
馃帳 Mechatodzilla
16. Dec 2013 路 18:03 UTC
Agreed on all counts. Thanks for trying it out!
vinull
17. Dec 2013 路 03:56 UTC
I took a few hands before I got what was going on - perhaps if my hand was always visible at the bottom and there were animations for the playing of cards it would be quicker to pick up. Very good idea and use of the theme!
bsowers
17. Dec 2013 路 04:03 UTC
Have you ever played the card game Biblios? It has a similar 'choose your card, the others go to your opponents' mechanic - though the impacts of that are less direct.

But yea, not a bad idea for a game. Maybe try turning it into a physical game?
FrederickK
17. Dec 2013 路 04:03 UTC
I really liked the idea, but I think the biggest problem is that the mechanic doesn't work very well, I won just by always picking the lowest card.
Maybe it is just needing a little more to work better, but I think you is in the right direction!
Hope you keep going, good job!
馃帳 Mechatodzilla
17. Dec 2013 路 04:05 UTC
I've always loved the idea of ending up with a physical game after something I started. Awesome. Thanks all.
zconnelly13
17. Dec 2013 路 04:57 UTC
Wow, I definitely liked this game. Like a lot. It was simple and well thought out and well executed. Couldn't really ask for more than that :) Very well done!
mystakin
17. Dec 2013 路 05:54 UTC
I appreciate games like this that have concepts I never would have dreamed of. It took me a bit to fully understand the rules of the game, but once I got it down I enjoyed the heck out of it. Red knight is such a jerk!
TheWhiteLlama
18. Dec 2013 路 00:33 UTC
It's a pity that you didn't have enough time to spend on planned things. Maybe on the next ludumDare contest :) Still a nice game
BlazingFanfish
18. Dec 2013 路 00:40 UTC
It's a well thought game. It would help if you know what's going on, the log on the bottom left doesn't help much >.<

I keep increasing my health while they crush each other, muahahaha
Kyle Mac
18. Dec 2013 路 01:46 UTC
This game seems like it has a clever idea but I just can't figure the mechanics.
jdpalmer
18. Dec 2013 路 14:56 UTC
Nice game - some animation of the cards would help make the mechanics more obvious but I was able to get it after a couple of rounds.
PlayHabit
19. Dec 2013 路 00:19 UTC
"Modifier cards (armor, weapons, etc.)"

This will be great. Right now the winning strategy seems to be picking the highest magnitude negative card, or positive (if there is a very high positive card). Even so, I can already feel an addictive card game in the making.

"Animations and particle effects (something to space out the rapid flow of the game)"

Animations will definitely help in showing that a card is being given to you versus what cards are being used against you. It took me a few games to see that played effects were being displayed at the bottom left, and cards on the screen were always going into my hand.
CarlsonAndPeeters
27. Dec 2013 路 23:54 UTC
Like others have said, this has the makings of a great game. Heck, for being made in 48 hours, its already a really solid game. Some more mechanics and clearer explanation and I could see myself playing many many rounds.
michail
30. Dec 2013 路 14:13 UTC
If you would add some weapons/armor cards as you have planned, it could be a really fine card game; but right now there is very little strategy in it.
BradleySmith
04. Jan 2014 路 20:42 UTC
Interesting take on the theme. :)