Where therefore we go by pjchardt

[raw]
made by pjchardt for LD26 (COMPO)
Where therefore we go is made to speak for itself. I am happy to hear any and all feedback. Thank you for playing :)

Developed in Unity using C#

Graphics inspired by Barnett Newman's Voice Of Fire

http://www.inudge.net/ for music, recorded to audacity

used Bfxr and audacity for sfx

Photoshop for graphics

edit 1:
A Linux build is included now. However the best experience is playing the web version. If anyone is interested I can include Mac/PC builds as well. I just haven't because the web build is the optimal play experience.

Ratings

Coolness 91% 2
Overall 3.69 139
Audio 3.32 191
Fun 2.80 720
Graphics 3.62 219
Humor 2.05 690
Innovation 3.80 107
Mood 3.85 52
Theme 4.12 89

Feedback

EdoMiyamoto
29. Apr 2013 · 03:59 UTC
This is not only a game, it's art. Well done
nurabsal
29. Apr 2013 · 04:11 UTC
guys. guys. this is one of those special ones that actually means something in a greater context and makes you feel.

play it all the way through. no cheating and skipping with this one. chop chop now.
raincole
29. Apr 2013 · 06:28 UTC
the plot(or should I say metaphor) behind this game is awesome. one point: the fade in/out effect is too slow for me
Infernal
29. Apr 2013 · 06:33 UTC
The only problem I have is the little slide to stop that occurs when you stop input. In the tight spots between two bars, this can end in frustration as you try to park a letter to wait.
Otherwise, very artistic and clean!
Nonameghost
29. Apr 2013 · 06:39 UTC
Wow. Very nice! Reminds me a lot of And Yet it Moves in the sense of art style and sound, as well as the very unique gameplay. Nice work!
baldwinthree
29. Apr 2013 · 06:40 UTC
Excellent draw on resources from art. Excellent sound building. Excellent use of multiple windows. Excellent way of conveying information to the player. It even LOOKS like the minimalism art movement. This is awesome.
notajetski
29. Apr 2013 · 06:50 UTC
quick suggestion: change the background on the web player to an off-black so we can tell what's the background and what's a bad thing. Other than that, absolutely stellar.
Crefossus
29. Apr 2013 · 08:14 UTC
Overall amazing! I think this has all been said but here is what I noticed too: The pace is a little slow at times. The slide when you stop makes a few timing puzzles harder than they seem. The black being a goal and death is confusing.
🎤 pjchardt
29. Apr 2013 · 15:44 UTC
Thanks for all the feedback. The black background of the web page and the harmful black are meant to be the same color. This is a design decision because it has metaphorical meaning within the story. That being said, I see the point of confusion, especially about the goal being black. Looks like the game play suffers from a story decision. Same seems to be the case for movement. The slide is because all 4 characters move as a unit (for narrative reasons), and I couldn't get the code to stop on a dime and behave properly in motion because the group interpolates it's position. I will keep all the feedback in mind. Thanks again.
gilmore606
29. Apr 2013 · 17:12 UTC
Marvelous.
bigbazwa
29. Apr 2013 · 17:15 UTC
Very well done! My only nitpick is that the fades are sooo slow.
Shigor
29. Apr 2013 · 17:16 UTC
Excellent mood / art / ideas, one of the best entries I've yet seen... my only problem is that it's too slow, occasionally bordering on boring (slow pace, extra slow fadeouts and fadeins...)
Tiago Ling Alexandre
29. Apr 2013 · 17:17 UTC
Nice game! Slow pacing though.
comrad_gremlin
29. Apr 2013 · 17:18 UTC
Man, that's the best entry i've seen so far. Kudos, I hope you'll win. Great job.
AngelDE98
29. Apr 2013 · 17:19 UTC
Could you please upload the .exe to it? I'm on Linux and I even made a post regarding to this (wow xD)...
netmute
29. Apr 2013 · 17:19 UTC
Very nice style. The sound kind of creeped me out on those first levels ;)
pknowles
29. Apr 2013 · 17:25 UTC
I really do appreciate having many-button keyboards a whole lot more now
terrivellmann
29. Apr 2013 · 17:32 UTC
Loved the progression in this one, probably my favourite game from the ones I've played so far. I agree that its a bit too slow at times.
🎤 pjchardt
29. Apr 2013 · 17:39 UTC
@AngelDE98: Yes, I will post an .exe, it might take a few hours.
May I ask where you posted about it?

I think there is general consensus that the game is too slow. It is supposed to be slow to provoke thought and be a sort of meditative experience forcing patience in the player. However, it seems the speed is messing with the pacing thus getting in the way of the experience as a whole. Maybe I can make a post compo version? Thanks everyone for the feedback.
wonderwhy-er
29. Apr 2013 · 17:51 UTC
PRetty nice game, some curious artistic moves there, but by the end felt too long for its own content.
AngelDE98
29. Apr 2013 · 18:48 UTC
@pjchardt
http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/2013/04/21/unity-linux/
That's the post.
AngelDE98
29. Apr 2013 · 19:04 UTC
So, now my real comment after waiting for the linux version:

The game itself could've been faster but then it wouldn't tell the "story" it just told with it's art style and it's gameplay. Everything in all it's a game that I would like to see as a longer but faster (without destroying the meaning of the story) version.
Cosine
29. Apr 2013 · 19:57 UTC
I like how the character's a W. It's a cool game.
OnlySlightly
30. Apr 2013 · 04:43 UTC
Loved it. Seriously guys you do need to play this to the end. This is one of those rare games that conveys something and tells a story with the game mechanics themselves.
mildmojo
30. Apr 2013 · 05:51 UTC
Fabulous use of multiple windows and simultaneous control. I love the way the "family" builds and retires. It's not a game you can attack and cruise through on your way to playing all 2300+ LD games; it's really rewarding to finish.

Lovely art, music, style, design. The exploration part in the middle reminded me of the middle of Frog Fractions.

Great work, here.
mortus
30. Apr 2013 · 15:44 UTC
It's perfect. I just don't have anything else to say. Fade ins and outs are fine, controls are brilliant, you don't need to change them. Black border wasn't confusing a bit to me also. The only thing that 'disappointed' me just a little bit was the fact that at the end the W didn't appear on the background and game didn't restart in such a way, i kinda expected that, though it wasn't logical in terms of story.
Travis Irby
01. May 2013 · 02:56 UTC
thanks for the comment on my game! Wow this is one of the most creative games ive seen :) love the graphics and mood
argo15
01. May 2013 · 06:19 UTC
Looks great. Maybe I'm impatient but I wish it was a little faster paced though.
Jarrett
01. May 2013 · 06:29 UTC
Solid entry. I'm quite impressed :)
Colapsydo
01. May 2013 · 11:05 UTC
Really love it.
The way the gameplay is brought, the graphics, the sound, everything is good.
Really nice work.
TenTonToon
02. May 2013 · 04:28 UTC
Awesome implementation of the theme in every aspect of the game! It's artsy, moody and leaves a lasting impression. I especially liked the painted backgrounds; having your "signature" on the title screen (and after beating the game) is quite appropriate.

It's interesting to note how our two games have some basic similarities, yet they are vastly different.

Congratulations! :)
messiano
05. May 2013 · 21:27 UTC
Beggining was too slow paced, but then when other letters appear its a blast. Great idea.
Michael Hall
06. May 2013 · 02:25 UTC
Probably the best games I've rated so far. Good job.
Taro Omiya
13. May 2013 · 03:14 UTC
A fascinating study of limiting the player's interaction, as a methodolgy of telling a story. It's vague enough to be subjective based on a person's experience, but I really enjoyed it! Can't wait to see more!
KunoNoOni
20. May 2013 · 01:09 UTC
WOW! That was the most thought provoking game I've played in a long time. Nailed the theme and I love the art style!
Misael.K
20. May 2013 · 02:32 UTC
Nice flow, although the pace is excruciatingly slow. I understand that you were going for a "thought-out" and deep game, but it can do that and feel agile at the same time.
Considering this, I believe this was a nice experience.
I particularly liked the multi-view gameplay, and I wished that it had come sooner, and more often.
AestheticGamer
20. May 2013 · 03:57 UTC
An interesting letter tale. I kind of wish the limited direction this was used a bit more, and with some further developing this could be something interesting, but enjoyed it regardless.