A Matter of L and D by phren

made by phren for LD24 (COMPO)

EXPERIENCE OPTIMIZED FOR THE WEB! The source package includes both builds.

Click on a creature to open up its character sheet. You can close it by right-clicking or clicking the X in the top-right corner. Be sure to name some creatures and follow them!

You can try to find out the optimal gene setup for a species by mutating single genes. Mutating a creature has its dangers though. Each gene ranges from A to D.

Strength - Improves your appetite

Dexterity - Makes you faster

Constitution - You'll live longer

Intelligence - Find food & mates faster

Wisdom - Avoid dangerous situations

Charisma - It's sexy time!

DISCLAIMER: PROCEED WITH CAUTION! A Matter of L and D is a horrifying tale of rape, incest, pedophilia and cannibalism.

Windows	https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4110215/ludumdare/Evolution/AMatterOfLifeAndDeath/phren%20-%20A%20Matter%20of%20L%20and%20D%20-%20win.zip
Web	http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4110215/ludumdare/Evolution/AMatterOfLifeAndDeath/AMatterOfLifeAndDeath.html
Source	https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4110215/ludumdare/Evolution/AMatterOfLifeAndDeath/phren%20-%20A%20Matter%20of%20L%20and%20D.zip
Original URL	https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-24/?action=preview&uid=238

Ratings

Coolness	51%	3
Overall	2.73	504

Audio	2.43	368
Fun	2.08	653
Graphics	2.77	423
Humor	2.90	139
Innovation	3.12	265
Mood	2.29	552
Theme	4.00	29

Feedback

🎤 phren

27. Aug 2012 · 00:51 UTC

This time I didn't even have the energy to update the blog at all! Phew, 110% effort went to the game...

Dietrich Epp

27. Aug 2012 · 09:43 UTC

I killed a frog! I'm not sure what all the different mutate buttons do. Maybe if it started out with only a couple of critters it would be easier to follow?

Andrei Barsan

27. Aug 2012 · 11:49 UTC

Yeah, it was a bit overwhelming, and I couldn't really follow what affected what. The game felt a bit confusing to me.

dredlockz

27. Aug 2012 · 12:22 UTC

fantastic! really interesting simulation.

turnip

27. Aug 2012 · 12:25 UTC

I didn't really feel like there were any goals, so I didn't really feel compelled to do anything. The simulation part is great but I wasn't asked to explore it and see what was possible.

🎤 phren

27. Aug 2012 · 12:47 UTC

Perhaps there has been some confusion regarding the goal of the game. There isn't really any score or end result you should strive for. It's more of a sandbox "do whatever you want" type of game. As a very goal-oriented gamer I can understand your issues. :)

At work instead of playing solitaire you can give a creature a stupid name and go watch him sex up and eat its children. :P

SteelRaven7

27. Aug 2012 · 13:57 UTC

Pretty confusing at first, but it's nice to see a simulation with so many parameters.

Sergey Mohov

28. Aug 2012 · 17:22 UTC

Always fun to see a good simulation, and graphics are also pretty slick, considering the time constraint. Spore-ish :-)

ratking

28. Aug 2012 · 19:25 UTC

Uhm ... interesting! I don't have any idea what I do and how I do it, but I guess that's how Mother Nature created us, too.

refreshcreations

28. Aug 2012 · 19:35 UTC

Cool simulation, had a play for a bit with it but as there didn't seem to be a goal to the game such as get x number of worms / frogs on screen I left it alone after a while.

The mutation bit is also nicely done and you learn after a bit which gene is more likely to affect postively despite HP loss. Fits in very nicely with the theme also I have to say!

X-0ut

29. Aug 2012 · 19:56 UTC

I really had no idea what I was doing :D
Its very much on theme though.

Zed

30. Aug 2012 · 16:44 UTC

That was fun! Like a particularly good screensaver. Although, THOSE BASTARDS KILLED FRANK.

triliyn

01. Sep 2012 · 19:41 UTC

More of a sandbox than a game, but it was pretty fun to name one creature and watch its descendants blot out the gene pool. Speaking of which, if you let it run for a while it can get hard to see anything through the haze of names.

DustyStylus

03. Sep 2012 · 19:51 UTC

Quite fun to watch! :D Just a note to change your web link from http(s) to just http, some of us will just get the "Install Unity" page, even though we have it installed.

🎤 phren

03. Sep 2012 · 20:34 UTC

Oh, that's why it didn't work for some people! Thanks for the tip!

A big thanks to all that have played my game up until now. I appreciate it. :)

Gareth Jenkins

13. Sep 2012 · 18:46 UTC

A little too confusing -- not sure exactly what was happening or why.

Jedi

15. Sep 2012 · 23:37 UTC

Quite a steep learning curve on this one!

I had problems maintaining populations. I thought the way mutation worked was really innovative and cool but I think it costs way too much health to play with. I would also be frustrated when I would spend a lot of time improving my worm, and even if I was careful not to let it get low on health, some evolved beast would still come along and gobble him up a second later :(.

Still, it's an impressive sandbox!

mipi

16. Sep 2012 · 19:43 UTC

@phren did you read the walkthrough? It's on the end of the description, should help. But maybe I'm just presuming that people get it and I havn't made good enough instructions for this game, but I've tried.