Shifting Paths by CtrlAltTea

[raw]
made by CtrlAltTea for LD35 (JAM)
Instructions:
Move using WSAD keys.
Reach the bottom-right corner of the 20x20 map.
Don't leave patterned tiles.


This was not to be a game… The theme „Shapeshift” brought back my old (very old...) idea to make a simulation based on (also very old) cellular automaton “Life”. My modification is simple: three types of cells, and a little bit different rules of cell multiplication and cell transformation. When I made the first working prototype of a “3Life” simulation – with simple shapes (triangle, circle and square) – I had noticed that for me it was not enough. So, I added a simple gameplay – the goal is to traverse whole 20x20 “live” board, from top left to bottom right corner. The board is in continuous evolution (one change per second), but the player neighbourhood (in a radius of 3 fields) becomes stable. Use WSAD keys to move a traveler – but watch out his step. Do not fall in deep water (empty blue field) because it's a permadeath game. You may also (accidentally) stay blocked on an “island”. But there is a button “new game” above the board...

This simple game-simulation was written in javascript, using knockout.js MVVM framework (my first time “boxing” with KO).

Ratings

Coolness 35% 1712
Overall(Jam) 3.05 711
Fun(Jam) 2.47 1002
Graphics(Jam) 2.84 827
Innovation(Jam) 3.26 370
Mood(Jam) 2.56 901
Theme(Jam) 3.44 465

Feedback

bluszcz
18. Apr 2016 · 22:37 UTC
Simply, but nice. I like minimalist style, and thanks for web version for play :)
Kudanaman
19. Apr 2016 · 21:37 UTC
Good game, simple and clean, but a little to easy.
Web version of the game is GREATLY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU :D
Freank
21. Apr 2016 · 16:56 UTC
Hi, nice game ! We're realizing a video with several games of the Ludum Dare #35.
Can you add your game on indiexpo.net ? (it's free)
So we can include also your game in the video ;)
p.s. write #LDJAM in the game's description
ChronoCrab
24. Apr 2016 · 04:31 UTC
I really like this one. The graphics were very neat. The gameplay was fun too! My 2C: The circle of static tiles seemed a tad out of place and might be better represented as a square or something (maybe even with shifting the color slightly for the tiles around your character), but this was good fun. Some item drops and other mechanics would have made this something to play long term. Nice!
monetai
24. Apr 2016 · 20:31 UTC
interesting concept. i had some problems with the controls.
tppr2046
25. Apr 2016 · 07:43 UTC
Simple, interesting. I like the shifting maze.
Is there a goal?
csanyk
03. May 2016 · 02:42 UTC
Well, OK. Not really much of a game. Just stand around and wait for a passage to open up, then take it. So it's missing a few things that would make it challenging. Once I realized I could step on grey or light blue tiles, it was much easier to advance.
Gamepopper
03. May 2016 · 12:18 UTC
Nice idea. I like the unpredictable nature of the levels changing, yet the game is still beatable.
Alphish
03. May 2016 · 13:00 UTC
It's not particularly innovative gameplay, though I like the idea of using cellular automata to alter the maze (not sure if it would work for a more advanced game, though). However, at some playthrough I've found that the end game point was stuck between walls and it seemed to be fixed that way (as if it reached a stable structure or something), so it seems the game is not always possible to complete. Good call with making area around the player stabilised, though.

Overall, pretty nice idea, though it's hard to tell if it'd lead to something greater.
Dining Philosopher
03. May 2016 · 22:06 UTC
Cool idea to use a cellular automaton to create the paths! The stable region makes the game too easy though, and perhaps a longer generation interval would be better.