LudumData

Typistry by mahalis

[raw]
made by mahalis for LD 41 (COMPO)

Use your words… TO LIVE. Typistry is an FPS typing tutor, wherein you face a horde of creatures armed only with a sweet laser typewriter.

screenshot

How to play

Point, click, and type. Each enemy has three words you can use to attack it; you can type the longest one to kill it in one hit, or the two shorter ones to wear it down. In version 1.1 and later, you can heal yourself by right-clicking and typing any of the words that appear.

Post-Jam Updates

I’m actively working on improvements to add in the stuff I didn’t finish in time. The first update, version 1.1, is available at the itch.io page below and includes:

  • a difficulty curve!
  • a sprint button!
  • scores!
  • healing!

Still on the to-do list:

  • more stuff in the level!
  • sounds!
  • another type of enemy!
  • better visual effects!

Tools used

  • Unreal Engine
  • Cinema 4D
  • Substance Designer
  • GarageBand
Windows https://mahalis.itch.io/typistry
macOS https://mahalis.itch.io/typistry
Source code https://github.com/mahalis/typistry
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/typistry

Ratings

Overall 374th 3.333⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Fun 374th 3.233⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 259th 3.533⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Theme 170th 3.933⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 194th 3.6⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Audio 405th 2.621⭐ 31🧑‍⚖️
Mood 438th 2.857⭐ 30🧑‍⚖️
Given 35🗳️ 28🗨️

Feedback

niterich
23. Apr 2018 · 20:25 UTC
Very interesting! At first I was hesitant to this game: I thought typing tutors were supposed to teach homerow and stuff like that. But I think you made typing tutors fun! The graphics looked pretty good, though my aging laptop couldn't quite handle it. Didn't really like the music though, and the lack of sound effects was kind of annoying, but by no means a deal breaker.
OmnipotentIndie
24. Apr 2018 · 02:41 UTC
Liked the visual effects, difficulty scaling would be nice because it's a bit easy right now. Very creative concept.
sirikan
24. Apr 2018 · 02:41 UTC
Fun game :). It could do with some sound FX though :).
Thy Duck
24. Apr 2018 · 02:42 UTC
I was definitely confused how someone could pull this off, and you did it perfectly! This could really benefit from sound effects, but other than that this is a great game!
Lecalat
24. Apr 2018 · 06:35 UTC
Felt a little bit easy and the cursor is offset a little bit, so its not very accurate to shoot things far away.

Good job anyway. I liked it.
frostdragonliz
24. Apr 2018 · 07:49 UTC
OMG a full version of thsis game migth help taech me to tyep proprly!
mrspeaker
24. Apr 2018 · 16:16 UTC
Damn it - I love typing games, and this looks awesome! Any chance of a mac or linux build?
🎤 mahalis
24. Apr 2018 · 16:42 UTC
Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I’m planning to add sound in one of the post-jam updates, and I might do another pass on the music too—it’s starting to grate on me :)

@mrspeaker, I’ll get a Mac build up ASAP—unfortunately UE4’s Mac performance is pretty rough so I may have to take an axe to the visuals.
Jupiter_Hadley
25. Apr 2018 · 11:16 UTC
Really lovely concept! I included it in my Ludum Dare 41 compilation video series, if you’d like to take a look. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPm7OCu9cQ8
🎤 mahalis
25. Apr 2018 · 14:41 UTC
Thanks Jupiter! I’m glad you liked it. @mrspeaker, and whoever else was waiting for a Mac version—it’s now up! Plays pretty smoothly on my 2013 MBP; let me know what you think.
masterkrepta
26. Apr 2018 · 21:48 UTC
ive only played a handful of typing games, but this one is pretty fun. I also agree it needs a difficulty increase but the core mechanics are pretty solid.
Zinkler
27. Apr 2018 · 07:43 UTC
Great take on the theme. Maybe you should have distinguished a "powerful" word from ordinary ones, because it's not really clear in the game that they are supposed to be different. Other that that, good job!
Triastase
27. Apr 2018 · 08:30 UTC
Great game, typing has never been so much fun (if, without a score, only for a while)! :smiley:

I have played the compo version (to rate fairly) and most of the possible improvements I could think of are already in version 1.1 or planned.

Maybe there could be a special attack, whcih requires you to type in a really long word with a special spelling?

Also I sometimes started with less than full health when I lost and tried again, because the projectiles in mid-air where not reset (although I don't know if you've already fixed that in the new version).
fashionbatman
27. Apr 2018 · 22:49 UTC
Neat concept, all it needs is some more feedback when you've been hit, like sound or something. But you already mention that on your to do list. I really liked the slo mo effect when typing, it felt really cool to play. Great job!
Nikolaj
28. Apr 2018 · 05:15 UTC
hilarious concept. Man i thought my typing was good, but apparently not.. kept getting slimed!

great job!
dimaswift
28. Apr 2018 · 05:35 UTC
one the most intense typing games I've played. Good job, you've made a use of the theme perfectly.
I love the visuals and smoothness of the game. It lacks sound feedback a little bit - when you type a correct/incorrect letter or kill the monster. But overall - really well done
mintarcade
28. Apr 2018 · 12:43 UTC
Nice idea. would be nice to add more keys to typewriter and sound for feedback. Everything else is super fun!
mrjoshuamclean
28. Apr 2018 · 15:14 UTC
For first-person games, it's great to have options for inverting the y-axis (and possibly the x-axis) and sensitivity adjustments for both axes. Mouses (and people) can vary wildly. XD

Would be nice to have colored the third word differently or marked it as special otherwise, to instantly inform the player that they can do the two top words OR the third word to shoot.

Love the typewriter gun. Looks fantastic.

The other ideas you have listed - especially scores and healing - will definitely round this out. Nice job overall. :)
Corbak
28. Apr 2018 · 15:32 UTC
Like the concept idea that you give to the game. The idea of using a typewriter gun and type to kill your enemy looks nice :)
I find the music a bit repetitive and pitty there was not any sound effects (or is there?)
Well done !
foolmoron
28. Apr 2018 · 21:26 UTC
Really cool idea, more to it than just a typing shooter. I like the choice of 3 words since it makes you think about which ones are easiest to type. Nice substance graphics. Needs more enemy types and objectives to make it less repetitive.
DeepTerror
29. Apr 2018 · 18:51 UTC
Typewriter + FPS, that's a crazy association and you did it ! Good job.
cristiano.m.garcia
30. Apr 2018 · 00:33 UTC
Good job! Cool game!
Pretty crazy that idea.

I left my rating of your game, if you can leave your feedback in our game, Witch's Escape.

I hope you continue with the project.

https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/witchs-escape