Loop de l'eau by jo_ann

[raw]
made by jo_ann for Ludum Dare 47 (JAM)

rain, water, steam, cloud
the water rhythm island
stuck in a chill loop
 

Vxl_Ml.png  ncc9pc.png  4SxCrE.png 

Ratings

Overall 1400th 3.02⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Fun 1632th 2.22⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 911th 3.24⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Theme 727th 3.692⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 780th 3.577⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Humor 1238th 1.7⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Mood 248th 3.923⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Given 29🗳️ 23🗨️

Feedback

js_
05. Oct 2020 · 21:41 UTC
I sort of didn't understand what is the goal or what should I do in the game. When does the game end or do I get any score? I don't know.

Also moving the mouse up and down didn't feel like it is doing anythig.
NicoCcino
05. Oct 2020 · 21:45 UTC
Really chill. But for some reason I am really struggling with the controls... It does weird things on my side (like when my mouse in on the right, the cloud still goes straight forward), especially when I am playing in fullscreen.

Still liked the experience (mood/graphics) and good take on the theme.
oneiromancer
05. Oct 2020 · 22:15 UTC
Such a chill game. Perfect for relaxing the nerves after the jam.
archgame
10. Oct 2020 · 00:20 UTC
@js The mouse up and down controls the environmental velocity intensity (i.e. wind/gravity), it could definitely use some tightening up. The goal is to relax :)
archgame
10. Oct 2020 · 00:21 UTC
@nicoccino We'll probably continuing working on this post-game jam, right now the vertical mouse position controls the intensity of the environment velocity (i.e. wind/gravity), but it's not super intuitive atm, especially since gravity is based partially on terrain surface normal. Glad you liked the experience <3
archgame
10. Oct 2020 · 00:22 UTC
@oneiromancer Thanks! Hadn't even considered the game would fit the mood of those coming out of the jam, glad you felt relaxed <3
Marc-Antoine Girard
11. Oct 2020 · 21:57 UTC
Very chill game! I thought there were no control until I read the comments. To be fair the game played itself and it felt nice hahaha :) Music super relaxing, visual also, overall I fell more calm now than I felt before! Well played !
Plasmonic
11. Oct 2020 · 21:57 UTC
Nice concept! I don't think I could get the controls to work, or maybe the effect is subtle and I couldn't tell I was having any effect? Good idea anyway!
SciDev
11. Oct 2020 · 22:01 UTC
The music and sounds were very calming, the idea of the water cycle for this jam would never have come to my mind. the controls for the game were a bit hard to notice, an indication would be good but otherwise good.
Pulni
11. Oct 2020 · 22:08 UTC
Pretty cool concept and theme interpretation! Two things that I feel could be improved are:
1. Camera movement - the camera follows the ground too rigidly. I'd like it more smooth, and also perhaps it should unzoom a bit when the speed is higher.
2. Variety - as it is, it's a bit too repetitive for me. Maybe if the mountain had some trees and objects, it'd be more enjoyable going down a different side.

In any case, good job!
Duke
11. Oct 2020 · 22:19 UTC
I really had problems understanding what to do. The controls on the itch.io page are split into two sections, with the second section describing actual in game controls. Though, I had no idea how they came into play. The game just played itself, and even clicking and dragging on the screen (or pressing space) didn't do anything. The game looked really interesting and I actually wanted to control the drop of water to collect more on the way down in the see. The general atmosphere was very nice, the music played a big role in that. Good composition! The graphics were pretty basic and rough, but the art direction was good! Loved the color scheme and depth of field effects.

As it is, it's pretty hard to rate in the overall and fun category since I wasn't able to really play the game. Watching a drop fall down a mountain isn't inherently fun. Maybe I've missed something?
archgame
11. Oct 2020 · 22:25 UTC
@marc-antoine-girard Glad the game felt nice playing itself and that you feel more calm now than before <3
archgame
11. Oct 2020 · 22:26 UTC
@plasmonic The controls have a pretty subtle effect, especially vertical mouse position, definitely something we'll be re-working post jam <3
archgame
11. Oct 2020 · 22:29 UTC
@scidev We had a meeting a week before the jam to discuss what we wanted out of the jam and the idea of between air and water came up during this meeting and when we saw that the theme for the jam contained a loop, this seemed like a really natural direction for us.

An indicator for a input is a really good idea and I feel kind of stupid that we hadn't considered this. I feel like updated the water and cloud shaders to do something when input is received would be a really good way to provide input indication without ruining the mood of the game. Thanks! <3
archgame
11. Oct 2020 · 22:32 UTC
@pulni

1) The camera is definitely not as fluid as we would like (as for the zoom, we actually will cap a limit to speed post-jam so hopefully this isn't an issue anymore)
2) The lack of variety is definitely a jam symptom. We have plans so that when the player is raining in the cloud mode, these rain drops will change the environment so it is constantly changing with each loop, including new plants and unearthing treasures, just ran out of time, but you've made me realize we should hint at this with variety from the git go, so thanks!

<3
archgame
11. Oct 2020 · 22:37 UTC
@duke The game was meant to loop on its own or be controlled by the player (for now the only big control is horizontal mouse pushes the drop a bit to the left and right, though it's not instantaneous and hitting space while in the cloud re-drops picked up water droplets onto the island). Glad you enjoyed the atmosphere! I don't think you missed anything, we weren't necessarily going for fun so that makes sense <3
PROJECTaroid
13. Oct 2020 · 00:45 UTC
Cool game! I like the concept and play on the theme. The art and music work nicely with the concept. Nice work!
Votron
14. Oct 2020 · 02:03 UTC
This is definitely in my top three games of the jam! More Please!
xatulu
20. Oct 2020 · 16:54 UTC
You know, I am a huge sucker for Idle Games. Therefore I must say, that I really enjoy the Simulation part of the game and just digging into the relaxing, soothing atmosphere the game is building. Easily the top game of the Jam for me!
cyberfrank
23. Oct 2020 · 08:30 UTC
Very cool concept! Nice and calming atmosphere, enjoyed it!
joleon
23. Oct 2020 · 09:09 UTC
Great interpretation of the theme!

The mood / visuals / animations / music are TOP.

As a game, it was very hard to play. I understood it eventually, but the control scheme is simply bad. Reversed mouse-Y and non-reversed mouse-X is just so weird to use, you should either reverse X or even better un-reverse Y. Honestly could have just been WASD controlled. And on top of everything, there was so little control, I was always fighting against inertia and gravity.

That said, it was super satisfying when I was able to collect other droplets.

Good job on this game! :)
acaral
27. Oct 2020 · 16:13 UTC
Chill'n visually nice !