Caribou Simulator by Gus the Shark

[raw]
made by Gus the Shark for LD 40 (COMPO)

In Caribou Simulator you play as a Boreal Caribou trying to save its kind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVop7mX4W3w

This game was completely made in under 48 hours by Gus "The Shark" Lopes Queiroz.

Controls: Arrow keys - move Space bar - action (Controller recommended)

Enjoy!

Ratings

Overall 30th 4.069⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Fun 81th 3.861⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 70th 3.819⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Theme 211th 3.694⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 68th 4.069⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Audio 69th 3.743⭐ 37🧑‍⚖️
Humor 186th 3.2⭐ 37🧑‍⚖️
Mood 52th 3.778⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Given 24🗳️ 30🗨️

Feedback

sovogirl
04. Dec 2017 · 07:53 UTC
Check the files! My PC said that archive is damaged
🎤 Gus the Shark
04. Dec 2017 · 08:05 UTC
That's odd, I just downloaded both the executable and the source files and both of them worked fine here. Did you try downloading it again? (You need to extract the files from the win-rar folder before executing the game)
Ham and Swiss
04. Dec 2017 · 08:19 UTC
Adorable graphics, and a really well done game. Not sure my emotions can handle the losses to the wolves :*(
kromeboy
04. Dec 2017 · 08:23 UTC
Same problem here. Using 7zip (that I usually use to open winRar files)
🎤 Gus the Shark
04. Dec 2017 · 08:54 UTC
I compressed the files again using ZIP this time and reuploaded them. It seems to be working now. @sovogirl @kromeboy
kromeboy
04. Dec 2017 · 09:43 UTC
Now it works. Nice Game. I have complected it with 20+ caribù, but i didn't quite get how to use the falling threes to avoid the wolves.

Great job!
sovogirl
04. Dec 2017 · 13:49 UTC
Working now!
Really like it. Graphics are nice.
Falling trees are really tricky I couldn't get a wolf)
🎤 Gus the Shark
04. Dec 2017 · 17:13 UTC
@kromeboy @sovogirl thank you! Yeah I didn't make it very clear but the falling trees don't damage the wolves just slows them down
Virtual Turtle Studio
04. Dec 2017 · 18:59 UTC
I really liked the game! It's very charming. The music is a really really nice touch and sounds pretty awesome! At first I though I had to flipkick the blue guys, but they turned out to be my buddies (and health). It's actually a pretty challenging game, but I managed to let the caribous out into the wild (aren't they cute?!). The only really challenging part were the trucks, because you have to learn the patterns and there isn't a checkpoint in the middle of the two roads. Good job on this entry!
Odrez
04. Dec 2017 · 19:11 UTC
Nicely done! I like the graphics and collecting the cubs is fun. The wolves are a bit overpowered though!
BelowParallel_Ian
05. Dec 2017 · 00:35 UTC
It's hard for me to wrap my head around this being created in only 48 hours. How long have you been developing games? Did you use any prior made assets for this game?

Great job. A lot of games on here have either an innovative concept or fun gameplay. This has both, plus great atmosphere. This could definitely turn into an awesome game if you decide to work on it some more.
🎤 Gus the Shark
05. Dec 2017 · 00:42 UTC
Thanks a lot @belowparallel-ian ! I've been making games for over 15 years now (as a hobby). Started with game maker and moved on to Unity now. I don't make games professionally but I do quite a bit of programming. This was my first Ludum Dare but I've participated in Global Game Jam every year for 5 years now, plus some indie games me and a couple of friends have developed in our free time. All assets, programming, music, level design I did for this game were created during the 48h of the event. I made a blog post about it if you want to read more: https://gustshark.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/caribou-simulator-my-first-ludum-dare/#more-621
Belea
05. Dec 2017 · 00:49 UTC
Really nice! It remembers me the "sheep" game I used to play when I was a kid. Nice music, cool graphics (I really LOVE the way the caribou moves, like randomly jumping). Controls feel a little weird, especially when you walk in diagonals, but I haven't tested with a gamepad. Maybe with gamepad feels better.

Really cool game, one of the best I have played this Ludum Dare by far :) Good job!
🎤 Gus the Shark
05. Dec 2017 · 00:53 UTC
Thank you so much @belea :blush:
darthnumbers
05. Dec 2017 · 00:54 UTC
Love the gameplay, graphics, and audio. What are you using for that flute sample? Sounds really good!
🎤 Gus the Shark
05. Dec 2017 · 00:59 UTC
Thanks @darthnumbers! I used only free instrument samples for Music Maker Jam. The flutes are from the Movie Score package.
Ale
05. Dec 2017 · 01:10 UTC
The music was amazing, definitely created a unique atmosphere. The gameplay itself was fun too, but the wolves sections was kind of annoying. I couldn't figure out how to get away from a wolf without losing at least 1 caribou.

Anyways, I had fun with it. Great job! Definitely one of my favorites from this compo so far. I could definitely see this turning into a fun little mobile game if you keep working on it.
interface
05. Dec 2017 · 05:04 UTC
Really cool, simple idea and executed very well! Couldn't get past the wolves, kept getting mauled :-(
Tony
05. Dec 2017 · 05:30 UTC
A good idea well executed, I really like the different obstacles like the roadroller that destroys trees and kill the wolves is well thought!
diptoman
05. Dec 2017 · 07:25 UTC
This is cute and charming! Also, nice use of theme! My main gripe would be the controls (yeah, I know it said controller recommended, but I'm gonna say it anyway) - it took me a lot to get used to direction key = immediate direction switching for the character. It feels like it would've been much better to have the simpler "up to move straight and left/right to rotate" as the control scheme!
But overall, good stuff!
Gao Ming
05. Dec 2017 · 07:39 UTC
the music really leave a deep impression on me,charming,solemn and stirring beauty,proceed in an orderly way and step by step,just like the wonderful flow of the gameplays. develop,move,lost and protect.
really awesome game!
Virtual Turtle Studio
05. Dec 2017 · 07:44 UTC
@interface Is that like a pun? You know, because your profile picture is darth maul? :P
kix334
05. Dec 2017 · 07:49 UTC
Such a simple idea, and yet it was so enjoyable! The perfect LD combination
Thomas Higgins
05. Dec 2017 · 07:50 UTC
cool idea enjoyed all the elements
Brenden
05. Dec 2017 · 12:51 UTC
As a Canadian I wholly approve of this game. Also it's pretty fun, good job :)
🎤 Gus the Shark
05. Dec 2017 · 17:04 UTC
Thank you everyone for your compliments and feedback!
mortus
05. Dec 2017 · 19:00 UTC
Very nice graphics and some cool mechanics involved! You can build quite a puzzle with even simple wolves, falling trees and some death harvesters from hell. Feels a little bit strange when you die after some amount of your caribou dies, but I guess it's better than keep playing only to arrive to a gate with not enough followers and none to collect on the map too.
Jeysym
05. Dec 2017 · 19:45 UTC
Great idea, graeat graphics, great music. This game is truly amazing ;). Crossing roads was really intense.
maoap
05. Dec 2017 · 21:28 UTC
Really nice game, I loved the graphics ;)
Reality Blind
05. Dec 2017 · 23:21 UTC
Really nice, the music really carries you through this forest of death, damned wolves ! :D
X Budsterized X
06. Dec 2017 · 10:59 UTC
I had such a hard time fighting those wolves :D killing them all with that machine was easy but getting them all to stay in front of it was not as easy :D

Great graphics, music and gameplay! :) Loved it!
SundanceKid
06. Dec 2017 · 19:29 UTC
Awesome cute little game, music is nice too. Those roads were hard to cross but I got it eventually!
NickZangus
06. Dec 2017 · 20:02 UTC
Great graphics and concept. I love the use of the "harvester" to clean up the way. I don't think that the music fits with the game.
🎤 Gus the Shark
06. Dec 2017 · 20:18 UTC
Thanks for the feedback @ale, @interface, @tony, @diptoman, @gao-ming, @kix334, @thomas-higgins, @brenden, @mortus, @jeysym, @maoap, @reality-blind, @x-budsterized-x, @sundancekid, @nickzangus!
DrunkardWolf
08. Dec 2017 · 11:46 UTC
Saw this on twitter during the jam time. Love the style and fits really well with the theme. Great game :D
09. Dec 2017 · 02:48 UTC
Hey! There's a lot I loved in this game. Special points for the graphics and game design. I'd say the way you introduced new challenges was perfect, i.e. when you let us know what wolves would look like even before we could face them. I loved the fact that there's an ending too, many jam games don't have this.
mess110
10. Dec 2017 · 01:32 UTC
Managed to lead them to the wild. Wolves were the hardest part. I really cared for those dead caribou..
Mowztouch
14. Aug 2018 · 15:06 UTC
haha, i liked your jam sub with the Dwarf, so i tried your others games. This one is good :) loved the music!
🎤 Gus the Shark
15. Aug 2018 · 23:10 UTC
Thanks @mowztouch, I'm glad you liked it!