Crane Quandary by Strato
You've become trapped inside a prize-grab arcade machine! Utilize the crane to manipulate your environment and solve puzzles, enabling you to reach the stuffed animals!
Controls: arrow keys to move, up to activate crane, Z/A to pick up, X/S to throw
Controller supported
Combined genres: puzzle platformer & crane machine
All programming, design, & art was done by me, https://twitter.com/Starto_Sil
Music is by http://twitter.com/mobiusdisco

| Windows | https://starto.itch.io/crane-quandary |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/crane-quandary |
Ratings
| Overall | 28th | 4.238⭐ | 63🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 77th | 4.008⭐ | 63🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 103th | 4.008⭐ | 64🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 251th | 4.016⭐ | 63🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 110th | 4.336⭐ | 63🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 44th | 4.161⭐ | 61🧑⚖️ |
| Humor | 357th | 3.297⭐ | 61🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 102th | 3.966⭐ | 60🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 33🗳️ | 16🗨️ |
how an i fix this???
btw i am runing on a 32bit (86x) version of windows 10
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############################################################################################
FATAL ERROR in Vertex Shader compilation
ShaderName: shd_pal_swapper
D3DXCompile failed - result
at gml_Script_pal_swap_set
############################################################################################
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
stack frame is
gml_Script_pal_swap_set (line -1)
gml_Object_oPlayer_Draw_0
I like the game, even though I'm bad at it. I strangely didn't mind suiciding very much. The puzzles were challenging but I think I could have gotten it eventually.
I hope you keep working on this in the future.
I think the pace of difficulty (for the LD build at least) could be improved a bit though, adding more "breather" levels. I stopped at this level because the level before it was a huge stress and I couldn't find the solution for this one...

There really isn't anything bad I can say about this game: the art is fantastic, the music is adorable, the controls feel really nice, and the puzzles are quite well-designed and do a great job of teaching the player the mechanics. I wish some of the puzzles didn't require as precise an execution, but I think that's more my personal preference than an actual negative aspect of the game.
Thank you for making this great game!
The art is very good, music doesn't hinder the experience, and the sound feedback is there.
I had a hard time figuring I was destroying the plush in first level, before grabbing a block ^^
The controls feel very good. An option to go from hold/release for initial movement to just tap/tap tap tap would be a good addition: you respawn a lot, the jump are short and plenty, to sum it up everything is very quick paced, and holding a key go against that flow.
Well, of course breaking the flow can also be good too ;)
Another idea would be to wait an additionnal tap once an item is grabbed to go back, it would give more time to ponder the actions (of course on the other hand it would slow down for skilled player)
People, don't let the graphics fool you, the person who made the game is MEAN!
The game made me feel dumb.
Puzzles are hard, execution is hard, and it ramps up real quick! I can definitely see the game get good success with youtubers etc ;)
I like how with puzzle you learn things as you go, just to be tricked by a new thing in the next level.
Overall, the quality and level of polish is amazing, it really is a must try of the jam: players will enjoy, and developpers will have their imagination stimulated !
This is excellent work, I will recommend.
I agree with previous comments though, it did take me a moment to figure out the controls as well, so perhaps a small indicator the first time you do use a coin would be helpful, I tried pressing A for a while and also didn't realize the level had become unbeatable when I messed up. But otherwise, this is wonderfully polished and fun, like it a lot.
Got really confused with the controls and and didn't figure out of what use the coins were. Had to see the gif on the itch page to pass the second stage and then understood.
The crane mechanic is very unforgiving, even more with moving targets, and despite the cute animation I got tired of restarting the level (the first one with moving bugs).
I'm pretty sure there's a good game here beyond the promising graphics. Please make it more approachable in a future release. Keep up the good work!
Also, you should show ingame the key to reset (and maybe add a key to go backward in time?)
very very very well done!
Well done with that!
Your concept is so simple but so new. The level design is really well sequenced. It remind me the Nintendo way of Level Designing, by showing an example of a new mechanic, and then a smart way to use it.
The graphism is simple but it really works like a charm, so i gave out a 4.5/5, where as i gave lower notes on more detailed designs
And man, the music is really really good. As a music designer myself, i think you truly got the feeling of the game, and make it work
Congratulations : )
hahha no that's me sucking at the game.
Love the art, it's great!
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