LudumData

Shrink Bots by Flying Cat of the Pepes

[raw]
made by Flying Cat of the Pepes for LD 42 (COMPO)

The world is constantly shrinking, and you have to throw bombs, launch missiles, shatter glass bottles full of lava, and detonate nukes in order to keep the map from crushing you. Build machines to produce items and gold, and protect them from the border, your bombs, and missiles from enemy bots that parachute down from the sky. Destroy the borders to increase the size of the world, giving you more space to build and move and unlocking new items for purchase in the shop, but leaving more area to destroy for the next advancement of the world size. Try to beat your highscore in easy, medium, and hard modes.

I made a short trailer for it, if you want to see it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sceck-gXVwI

Shrinkbot 8<em>12</em>2018 9<em>00</em>51 PM.pngShrinkbot 8<em>12</em>2018 9<em>13</em>12 PM.png

Source code https://zoopei-white.itch.io/shrinkbots
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/42/shrink-bots

Ratings

Overall 256th 3.55⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Fun 208th 3.526⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 55th 3.9⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Theme 145th 3.975⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 412th 3.119⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Humor 174th 2.974⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Mood 159th 3.395⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Given 27🗳️ 1🗨️

Feedback

Devio
15. Aug 2018 · 00:58 UTC
Great submission And this idea can go far if you continue! I feel like the tutorial was a bit forced on me but other than that. Great job! Keep it up!
PixelFormedStudios
15. Aug 2018 · 23:53 UTC
Really great game with a lot of features. Loved the idea of having to buy the machines but also consider the placement to be able to fight and so that they wouldn't be easily destroyed. Great job worthy of a high rating!
🎤 Flying Cat of the Pepes
16. Aug 2018 · 00:57 UTC
@Devio Thanks! :) I added an option to skip the tutorial with my balance update.
🎤 Flying Cat of the Pepes
16. Aug 2018 · 00:57 UTC
@pixelformedstudios Thank you!!! So glad you liked it :)
Megalink
21. Aug 2018 · 10:25 UTC
This is awesome! Game idea is wonderfully executed and original. Tutorial was very helpful and specific. I didn't like how there was no way of progressing after you ran out of money and couldn't produce any more (unless there was a way out of it, and I just didn't know.) Art is simplistic but effective. Sound effects would definitely enhance the immersion and realism of the game experience, would love to see that in a post jam version! This game is amazing, keep up the good work! :)
dimesto52
21. Aug 2018 · 10:50 UTC
addictive stressful it's a good start of the game if there was more evolution and different enemies it would be top because the best weapon is the basic one
Sarah
26. Aug 2018 · 04:02 UTC
The robot is really cute! I love the way he flies around (: Good job on your entry!
CristiHKJ
26. Aug 2018 · 11:36 UTC
Great game! Very cool and interesting! :D
goudagames
26. Aug 2018 · 16:23 UTC
I like the idea, but judging from the original (not the post-jam version) the controls are very finicky. I think the machines get destroyed a bit too easily, I lost early because the robot destroyed all my missile factories.
Lerc
28. Aug 2018 · 00:19 UTC
There's a really good game here hiding behind a difficult user interface. Perhaps a controll system of: Mouse + WASD. Q and E to cycle back and forth though selected device and space to toggle the shop with your thumb. Selection should switch to items as you purchase.

As it is it fells like the hazards increase way too fast, but with easier to use controls that might change.
🎤 Flying Cat of the Pepes
29. Aug 2018 · 23:47 UTC
@lerc I don't know whether you played the original or the post-mortem, but the post-mortem uses WASD and you can press TAB to toggle the shop (With your ring finger, which isn't that bad). Using Q and E to cycle through items and selecting an item as soon as you purchase it are both good ideas, I'll make sure to add them if I make another update. In the post mortem, easy mode is also MUCH easier, and the barriers progress a lot slower, so it won't feel quite as fast.
bentglasstube
30. Aug 2018 · 05:45 UTC
I think this is a really interesting concept but I had a lot of trouble with the enemy robots showing up and blowing up all my buildings right away. The awkward controls and interface also didn't help. I tried a few times to play on easy as I liked the idea behind the game but I couldn't get very far ever. It sounds like you addressed some of these issues in the post-jam version so that's good to hear. Nice work.
ursagames
04. Sep 2018 · 06:41 UTC
Really impressive amount of content here! I couldn't imagine doing LD in java.. props! Thanks for sharing your game with my stream awhile back. Your game was played around 1:25 into this vod: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/298692367