Lumberjack by BrothersT

[raw]
made by BrothersT for LD25 (JAM)
***** IMPORTANT INFO IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE *****

- You have to jump in the air using the left mouse button.
- Click once to jump off the ground and then again to cut (you can only cut where there is a cut mark, and you must be situated over the mark to cut.)
- Cutting a cut mark makes you jump higher still, so to get to the top you have to bounce between the cut marks all in a row, without touching the ground.
- Jump and cut are assigned to the same button because having a key for jump and a key for cut (Which is essentially a jump move too) becomes VERY confusing. Just think of LMB as being a jump button, and the cut marks are points where you can jump again in the air.

Hope that helps!

***** "IT DOESN'T FIT THE THEME" *****
For anyone who thinks this game doesn't follow the theme, you have to reach the end to find out why it does (It's a very silly reveal, but it certainly fits! - we were going to have lots more on this stroy throughout the game, like endangered animals falling out of the trees, but we only got time to put something at the very end.)

Lumberjack is a game where you cut down trees by throwing your big axes and jumping from tree to tree, flailing madly. Be careful not to fall or you'll have to start again!

This is a hastily put together game under the worst of conditions. And somehow we managed to actually complete it! Well, no sound yet, and the prize at the end took about 3 minutes to conjure together. But you're missing the point, THERE'S A PRIZE AT THE END!

Also featuring impressive 3D Graphics, rendered in a 2D style. It the future of gaming, of the past! Today!

Enjoy!

Ratings

Coolness 88% 2
Overall(Jam) 3.80 26
Audio(Jam) 1.25 270
Fun(Jam) 3.96 7
Graphics(Jam) 4.18 32
Humor(Jam) 3.28 56
Innovation(Jam) 3.89 18
Mood(Jam) 3.09 107
Theme(Jam) 2.46 281

Feedback

valeroth
18. Dec 2012 路 03:31 UTC
Link links to last years entry so could not play unfortunately.
TehSkull
18. Dec 2012 路 04:12 UTC
"The key you provided for file download was invalid. This is usually caused because the file is no longer stored on MediaFire. This occurs when the file is removed by the originating user or MediaFire."
Nsmurf
18. Dec 2012 路 04:17 UTC
The key you provided for file download was invalid. This is usually caused because the file is no longer stored on MediaFire. This occurs when the file is removed by the originating user or MediaFire.
馃帳 BrothersT
18. Dec 2012 路 04:23 UTC
Please try again! The file is now available again.
TehSkull
18. Dec 2012 路 05:50 UTC
That was a pretty fun game but there was a huge issue with the vsync so the graphics were all ripping.
馃帳 BrothersT
18. Dec 2012 路 06:24 UTC
Thanks for the feedback TehSkull. I'm not sure how to force v-sync on in the application, but for now you can probably tell your graphics drivers to turn it on by default. I did try turning on v-sync, but it didn't work well with my fixed frame-rate, so I've just uploaded a version where the framerate is unclamped.

So as long as you have v-sync on by default, everything should be now be rip free :)
Prelucid
18. Dec 2012 路 12:12 UTC
Pretty cool game! Loved the mechanics.
MaTX
18. Dec 2012 路 17:00 UTC
Super awesome, probably the best game I've tried so far. Incredibly fun gameplay and polished graphics for a game in only three days. Congrats!
StoneMonkeyStudios
20. Dec 2012 路 00:27 UTC
This game gave me some serious joy. The gameplay was satisfying and the ending was hilarious (especially since the lumberjack looks a little derpy). Great work!
StoneMonkeyStudios
20. Dec 2012 路 00:37 UTC
You have a unique concept and well executed puzzle designs. The art style is very well polished, with fun animations and subtle yet distinctive gameplay cues, such as the indicators for where to cut, whether a cut has been made on a tree, and little things like the tree shaking when you bounce off them.

Given that so much of the conceptual groundwork is already present, I'd suspect that with only a few additions, such as more varied and interesting backgrounds, music and sfx, and some sort of slightly more intuitive introduction (I somehow missed it the first time that you could LMB on the cut marks to bounce off), that you could easily expand this game into a commercial product for mobile platforms.

Great work.
馃帳 BrothersT
20. Dec 2012 路 03:40 UTC
@StoneMonkeyStudios - Cheers dude(tte(s))!! This is definitely the game we have been most inspired to finish after a Jam. We'll definitely be coming out with a version with refined controls, more definied limitations and capabilities, better graphics and lots more (and harder) levels. The game's a bit short as is! We'll see about commercialising, but it's reassuring to hear you say that! :)
csanyk
20. Dec 2012 路 04:08 UTC
This is awesome! Great mechanics, wish the controls were a little easier (Does it support gamepad controllers? It would be great if it did.) No sound but the other elements here are outstanding. But why is a Lumberjack a villain?
馃帳 BrothersT
20. Dec 2012 路 04:13 UTC
@csanyk - Did you reach the end? :P And thanks! No gamepad currently not supported. We're still trying to work out the best controls to translate from foreign keyboards to ours with as many key presses at once supported on the average keyboard design.
recursive frog
20. Dec 2012 路 06:44 UTC
Hey there, I played the game and I got the axe throwing to work, but for some reason the lumberjack wouldn't "Jump+Cut" with the LMB. The best he ever could do was to just plain jump.

Was there something I'm missing?
馃帳 BrothersT
20. Dec 2012 路 13:31 UTC
You have to press the LMB when the character is near one of the cut marks (jump up to get to it. Sorry that wasn't more clear, we expected people to know what to do instantly I guess. :P our bad.
SonnyBone
20. Dec 2012 路 16:34 UTC
Wow. This was SO much fun. SO ADDICTIVE. Great visuals and awesome innovation. I didn't feel much of a theme connection throughout but DAMN this game is fun. I want a full version with music, SFX, and a level editor.
SonnyBone
20. Dec 2012 路 16:35 UTC
Dick.
hadesfury
20. Dec 2012 路 16:50 UTC
Love the Donkey Kong graphics and puzzles are well made, it all feel very instinctive. Congrats!
gameXcore
20. Dec 2012 路 19:22 UTC
Brilliant game, the obvious things such as lack of audio and the background/trees looking a bit placeholder, the main improvement I would like to see in this game is statistics for the levels such as time to completion, number of moves, with gold, silver, bronze medals. Maybe even some bonus collectibles, one in each level which makes it even more difficult to factor collecting that into the completion.

Other then that, this game is spot on, and I don't think the controls require any refinement.
馃帳 BrothersT
20. Dec 2012 路 20:10 UTC
Thanks guys! We appreciate the feedback.

@gamexcore - if you hammer the LMB when cutting you might change your tune! Also it gets hard to use the controls with the more advanced levels we've designed. Thanks for the great feedback!
Cabral
20. Dec 2012 路 20:30 UTC
Wow, that was awesome I just wish there was some sound, besides that it's pretty, solid and really well designed! And I wish there was more of it, of course =P

Great work!
Strkl
20. Dec 2012 路 22:06 UTC
That was amazing oO
The gameplay is great, it feel really tight and clean, a you made really great levels (and so manys ! )

for the complaints : the sound, its would have been so much better with sound ! (but I know who it goes better than anybody) and maybe I would have prefered less levels, but some variation graphics-wise

Anyway, max rating everywhere apart from audio :)
馃帳 BrothersT
21. Dec 2012 路 00:17 UTC
@csanyk - Initially the lumberjack was intended to be logging while avoiding the environmentalists, but that fell by the wayside when we started to run out of time. The ending will give you a brief taste of the theme, although we appreciate it wasn't exactly present throughout.

@Strkl - Thanks! Actually, because we had a primitive level editor, the levels took under an hour to design. Yeah, it's a shame we didn't have time for sound :(
mikemacdee
21. Dec 2012 路 01:18 UTC
dude, you missed the bus by not calling this "Lumberjerk".
blob
21. Dec 2012 路 01:37 UTC
Amazing stuff guys. Fun and innovative gameplay, some cool puzzle ideas and very nice render, animation and character design...
Puzzlem00n
21. Dec 2012 路 02:54 UTC
The computer I'm on right now doesn't appear to want to run this... I'll have to find a time when my brother isn't on the other one. Just know I haven't forgotten I have to play this one!
Alex Rose
21. Dec 2012 路 03:01 UTC
Awesome graphics, awesome game, funny ending, just perfect.

I was a little bit confused at the very start, if you release this you should add a little tutorial just showing how to swing jump. But yeah, amazing. Best LD entry I've played so far.

I particularly enjoyed how the ending revealed just exactly why I was the villain.
Aslai
21. Dec 2012 路 05:57 UTC
The gameplay was solid and fluid, and I had a blast playing the game. All this really needs is maybe an extra mechanic or two and some more eyecandy, along with an easy to use level editor for the masses. You could make hundreds or thousands off this game if you market it right ;)
zkenshin
21. Dec 2012 路 05:58 UTC
Really fun game. Would be a cool game to see further developed. :)
char68
21. Dec 2012 路 18:35 UTC
The graphics were great, but the jump controls were a little difficult to work right. I kept getting stuck pressing the mouse button and would stay on the same tree, maybe there should be a really small timer?
DaviDeMo
21. Dec 2012 路 18:44 UTC
Ok. You win! I would have payed for this you know? fantastik game!
And the final... haha, too funny!
FrederickK
21. Dec 2012 路 19:48 UTC
My new favorite. Would be a great mobile/browser game, please, do it!
sclark39
21. Dec 2012 路 20:49 UTC
I got really far, but eventually needed to take a break. This is a freaking awesome game. You should really finish it and get it on Steam. Probably with some controls changes you could get it working really well on the iPad as well. I would buy this game. 5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5

Also, thanks for the awesome review on my 48hr entry. I left you a comment on there before coming here, check it out. Not sure if there's a way to send private messages through this site but if you're on Twitter, send me a message @sclark39. I don't want to miss out on any other games that you two create. :)
youdonotexist
22. Dec 2012 路 02:37 UTC
@BrothersT: Is it possible to get a Web/Mac build for this? I really want to try it out.
saguaro
22. Dec 2012 路 03:11 UTC
Very nice, great puzzle game.
Christina Antoinette Neofotistou
22. Dec 2012 路 15:10 UTC
In my list of queued games, I finally reached yours! This is a little gem! And you say it's hastily put together? Bah! It's awesome! Thank you for this
Christina Antoinette Neofotistou
26. Dec 2012 路 06:03 UTC
OMG and I just realized you made the circular fighter with the fantastic graphics last year. Kudos!!
ArkadyDracul
26. Dec 2012 路 10:58 UTC
4 for Graphic seriously, 1 for all the rest.
Jeremias
26. Dec 2012 路 13:32 UTC
This game is just perfect. Fantastic minimalistic art, nice character model, interesting and addictive gameplay. You could add sounds and music and upload it to a store.

Very small detail: The spawn point of the character should be near the first tree to take. Pressing "R" to restart the level and then run everytime to the first tree gets annoying ^^

Good job!
krutech
26. Dec 2012 路 15:31 UTC
Cool model and gameplay. Tight controls. Despite not having finished graphics, no audio nor followed the theme i like this entry very much. You have displayed a great understanding of game design. Congrats!
matthias_zarzecki
26. Dec 2012 路 15:40 UTC
Impressive character and animations!

The gameplay is fun, but confusing. How do I cut things? WHy is cut and jump the same button? And how do I even make a high cut?
馃帳 BrothersT
26. Dec 2012 路 16:25 UTC
Thanks everyone! Really appreciate it!

@matthias_zarzecki - Damn, we did have an explanation of this at the top but it's disappeared... Yes this is the main thing we found needed some more explaining. Many people get it straight away, many have no idea and try the right things but do it slightly wrong, leaving them thinking they've already tried the correct solution. Some just stare at it dumbfounded without even trying different things to see what would happen, waiting to be spoonfed the answer - we assumed people would just be able to experiment for a little bit and find the right technique pretty fast, but we are veteran gamers so of course we underestimated how hard it would be for certain people. In any case, our bad!

- You have to jump in the air using the left mouse button.
- Click once to jump off the ground and then again to cut (you can only cut where there is a cut mark, and you must be situated over the mark to cut.)
- Cutting a cut mark makes you jump higher still, so to get to the top you have to bounce between the cut marks all in a row, without touching the ground.
- Jump and cut are assigned to the same button because having a key for jump and a key for cut (Which is essentially a jump move too) becomes VERY confusing. Just think of LMB as being a jump button, and the cut marks are points where you can jump again in the air.

Hope that helps!

For anyone who thinks this game doesn't follow the theme, you have to reach the end to find out why it does (It's a very silly reveal, but it certainly fits! - we were going to have lots more on this stroy throughout the game, like endangered animals falling out of the trees, but we only got time to put something at the very end.)

@ArkadyDracul - still not sure why you disliked the game so much - did you not understand the controls? - check my comment on your game.

Christina Antoinette Neofotistou - Haha, thanks for all the great comments everywhere - I remember and loved your games from the last 2 Ludums too! And I've had another look at your page and can understand why the controls might not have been good on my computer, so I'll be having another look later!

Rob
Prealpha
26. Dec 2012 路 17:30 UTC
Why some people insist on making the rest of us look bad? Shame on you all and your astonishing weekend-game-making prowess!
I loved the design of the puzzles/levels, the control may need some rethinking (perhaps left mouse to jump/cut left, right mouse to jump cut right and shift+click to throw in that direction? - and sliding with one or two fingers on each side for a touch screen...), but this entry is among the most professional and full-development/money making worthy I've seen this time (not to undervalue the worth of the more experimental ones, but those usually work better as a one-time thing)
ArkadyDracul
26. Dec 2012 路 17:53 UTC
I'll explain all, sorry but I was in a hurry:
Innovation (2): Yes I understand the controls, but the gameplay is so repetitive at some point.
Fun(1): I do not have a lot of fun while playing.
Theme(1): I don't see the theme of the contest here, just a lumberjack with a maniac face without a story (even a little).
Graphics(4): Fuck! The graphics rock so hard! Seriously! Good Job!
Audio(1): Does not exist.
Humor(1): I don't see the humor in this, yes the cartoon-style is so funny but "humor" may be more,imho.
Mood(1): For all the reasons above my mood level is 1.
Overall (2).

These are the reasons, I understand your frustration when you see all those who say "hey great your game!" and then there's someone who does not like it.. it's a normal thing, all opinions are personal.

Cheers
馃帳 BrothersT
26. Dec 2012 路 18:01 UTC
@ArkadyDracul - The frustration was due to you leaving such an unhelpful comment, telling us that you'd given low ratings without giving feedback. We don't mind that you didn't like the game. Thanks for taking the time to reply!

p.s. There is a story, although you have to play to the end of the game to discover it.
fishbrain
27. Dec 2012 路 10:09 UTC
Excellent! - great job!
Norgg
27. Dec 2012 路 16:01 UTC
Nicely executed game here, the mechanics feel nice and solid and satisfying and the graphics are nicely done.

It does match the theme, but that feels a bit jammed in at the end, could do with a little foreshadowing earlier on.
goerp
28. Dec 2012 路 18:15 UTC
The lumberjack looks fantastic! Expressions in 3D aren't always as good as in 2D but here it is.
The tartan in the beginning was great as well. As a game I'm impressed what you did in little time, but I'm not coordinated enough to get beyond the second level. It was an interesting game mechanic.
Just a bit of sound would have been nice.
Puzzlem00n
29. Dec 2012 路 05:15 UTC
I feel as if I have become some sort of Lumber Ninja! Personally, I like it, and I'm not just saying that.

Bad:
-It's very long without really a break, or any sense of thing to answer "Will it end soon?"
-The story is barely there.
-A slightly incomplete GUI.

Good:
+These graphics have been crafted by archangels summoned from the high peak of Mount Olympus.
+The gameplay is very innovative and quite fun from my perspective.
+Loads and loads of levels!

In the end, this thing deserves a post-compo more than any other game I've played.
Cake&Code
29. Dec 2012 路 08:33 UTC
The gameplay and controls are nigh-flawless. I had a ton of fun going through all the levels though I wished there was a scoring system (possibly even some rewards for not using axes on levels that can done without them?).

The story at the end feels a bit tacked on to fit the theme, maybe if there had been some more exposition between levels as well as potentially an intro it might not have felt so jarring and misplaced. It was funny and relevant though, especially having that final word.

Overall, I really hope you all expand upon this! More levels and gameplay would be awesome :D
SamoojaMies
29. Dec 2012 路 12:03 UTC
I was quite skeptical before playing this, but it's indeed very fun game. Exceptional game controls. I'm waiting for the post combo version :).
bitbof
07. Jan 2013 路 16:05 UTC
The mechanic was pretty fun once I got the hang of it.
bobiniki
14. May 2013 路 20:44 UTC
Link is broken :(
馃帳 BrothersT
16. May 2013 路 11:17 UTC
Hmm. Seems to work for me!