{"author_link":"\/users\/424943","author_name":"LDJam user 424943","author_uid":1424943,"comments":[{"id":1195227,"author_name":"Ilya Kr","author_uid":"ilya-kr","epoch":1776753231,"text":"Cool. The minimalism made the game so enjoyable. Thanks for the description; I understood how to play right away.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1198689,"author_name":"bobanko","author_uid":"bobanko","epoch":1776785933,"text":"90-style, great time, great game!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1198916,"author_name":"ForsakenAginor","author_uid":"forsakenaginor","epoch":1776787537,"text":"Hard to play, hard to understand. Buy awesome style and theme match.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1199777,"author_name":"HardyTryer","author_uid":"hardytryer","epoch":1776793626,"text":"This was my first time playing a game made in PICO-8.\nLately, I\u2019ve been hearing a lot that developing games on this platform is a great way to improve your design skills, because its minimalism makes you stop thinking about unnecessary bells and whistles and focus on the core experience.\n\nI liked the minimalism in both the visuals and the audio. I also liked how, during movement, it feels like the environment is moving instead of the player - it gives off a certain retro vibe.\nAs for the progression system, I\u2019m not sure I fully understood how it works. It felt like the game wasn\u2019t really challenging even without upgrades.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1201560,"author_name":"Myokka","author_uid":"myokka","epoch":1776807696,"text":"Great game with NES vibes.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1204234,"author_name":"LDJam user 424632","author_uid":"424632","epoch":1776853509,"text":"The game runs even on mobile phone and works pretty good, which is a big plus, that wasn't even mention.\nThe atmosphere and stilisation is on point.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1204572,"author_name":"LDJam user 0","author_uid":"0","epoch":1776857751,"text":"Very cool! I enjoyed the graphics and sound, simple controls. ","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1204660,"author_name":"fkjaha","author_uid":"fkjaha","epoch":1776858721,"text":"At first I didnt understand that I was flying with up arrow, but when I got it, I have completed the game. The pico-8 aesthetic fit's well with the game. Great submission! :)","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1206106,"author_name":"matso","author_uid":"matso","epoch":1776878185,"text":"Perfectly executed for what it is. If I had this on an Atari 2600 cartridge 40 years ago it would have seen a lot of use! *Whoops gave away my age!* Very satisfying scooting away from enemy torpedoes in the nick of time. Great Entry that is exactly tied to the Jam's Theme! ","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1206876,"author_name":"tweekus","author_uid":"tweekus","epoch":1776887215,"text":"Cool game. I like the style and design decision to mark where enemies was spawned. ","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1217221,"author_name":"VenomousMouse","author_uid":"venomousmouse","epoch":1777287803,"text":"Very nice vibe. Gives me the feel of xenonauts, when you try to intercept the ufo. Cool idea.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1218218,"author_name":"Euler Moises","author_uid":"euler-moises","epoch":1777375608,"text":"I love Pico8 games and you did an excellent job. I'm a programming novice and I was wondering how you made the sonar code work.\n\nI liked the game but I found one thing unfair: sometimes the available aiming reticle doesn't allow us to hit the target (especially the boss) and he's stuck in a blind spot shooting. :( I don't know if Pico8's limitations allow this to be fixed.\n\nOtherwise, a good game.\n\nCongratulations!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1222134,"author_name":"AO-85","author_uid":"ao-85","epoch":1777927776,"text":"Interesting concept and presentation. If polished, it could become a quite interesting game.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1222219,"author_name":"Alexandr Gerya","author_uid":"alexandr-gerya","epoch":1777933737,"text":"runs super smooth on mobile too which is a massive plus great job on that","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1224772,"author_name":"LDJam user 0","author_uid":"0","epoch":1778329471,"text":"This felt like the old classics like Silent Service on crack. The battles may have been too quick for my taste but overall the game was great with plenty of feel. Good job!","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"},{"id":1225084,"author_name":"LDJam user 424943","author_uid":"424943","epoch":1779009976,"text":"@euler-moises\n\nThanks so much, and sorry for the late reply! I\u2019m really glad you enjoyed it.\n\nI\u2019m still a beginner at programming myself, and I made a lot of this with help from Codex.\n\nThe sonar is split into two systems in code.\n\nPassive sonar uses 8 directional sectors around the player. The game only tracks one active enemy at a time, so each frame it checks the direction and distance to that enemy, computes a base signal from distance, and then distributes that signal across the 8 sectors depending on how well each sector lines up with the target direction. The sector that points more directly at the enemy gets a stronger value, and a small random noise term is added so the signal feels less perfectly stable. That is what creates the red directional hint instead of a precise target lock.\n\nThe active ping is handled separately. When you press it, the game starts an expanding wave from the player. The wave radius increases every frame, and when it reaches the enemy distance within a small threshold, the game triggers an echo return, sets a temporary reveal timer, and marks the enemy so you can line up a torpedo shot. So the ping is not an instant reveal everywhere \u2014 it\u2019s really a timed expanding ring check.\n\nThe important part is that pinging has a cost. It raises the danger meter immediately, and outside the tutorial it also adds to the enemy counterattack charge. If the current enemy is the boss, pinging adds even more pressure. So the whole system is built around a tradeoff: passive sonar gives rough direction, active ping gives exact information, but makes the situation more dangerous.\n\nAbout your comment on the blind spots: I think you\u2019re probably right that there is a real issue there. The game uses fixed firing directions, so targets can end up between the available shot angles. That can affect normal enemies too, but it becomes much more noticeable with the boss because the boss has a much narrower hit window. So I think the problem is real in general, just more visible in boss fights. I\u2019m still not fully sure what the best fix would be, since I\u2019m still a beginner myself, but I do think that part would be worth doing better.\n\nThanks again for playing and for the thoughtful feedback!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1225085,"author_name":"LDJam user 424943","author_uid":"424943","epoch":1779010665,"text":"@ilya-kr @bobanko @forsakenaginor @hardytryer @myokka @catanus @fkjaha @matso @tweekus @venomousmouse @ao-85 @alexandr-gerya\n\nThanks a lot for playing and for taking the time to leave feedback! I really appreciate it! ","format":"md","likes":2,"spam":"N"}],"format":"md","images":["ld59\/wayback-placeholder.png"],"links":[{"url":"https:\/\/kirill-balak.itch.io\/ping-attack-run","text":"Link"}],"metadata":{"g_key":"66126","g_author":"1424943","g_event":"LD59","g_eventkey":"113","g_subevent":"JAM","g_urlkey":"284878","g_title":"PING! ATTACK! RUN!","g_status":"WAYBACK","g_place":"122","g_commentcount":"17","g_site2_node_id":"424946","g_hide":"N","g_has_icon":"Y","g_rqueue":"0","g_random":"0"},"nds":{"n_key":"424946","n_urlkey":"284878","n_parent":"424249","n_path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/59\/ping-attack-run","n_slug":"ping-attack-run","n_type":"item","n_subtype":"game","n_subsubtype":"jam","n_author":"424943","n_created":"0","n_modified":"0","n_version":"1369045","n_status":"WAYBACK"},"node":{"id":424946,"parent":424249,"_superparent":9,"author":424943,"type":"item","subtype":"game","subsubtype":"jam","published":"2026-04-20T20:06:54Z","created":"2026-04-08T13:42:26Z","modified":"2026-05-09T12:24:31Z","_trust":1,"version":1369045,"slug":"ping-attack-run","name":"PING! ATTACK! RUN!","body":"**Update:** only the page description has been edited \u2014 the game itself remains unchanged.\n\nA short retro arcade-style sonar combat game made in PICO-8.\n\nTrack enemies by signal, use an active ping to reveal them, launch torpedoes, and escape before danger spirals out of control. Every ping helps you find the target, but it also makes enemies more aggressive.\n\nChoose a loadout, survive Operation mode, and see how long you can last in Endless mode.\n\n![ping attack run p8_3.gif](\/\/\/raw\/feb\/76\/z\/70df4.gif)\n\n## Controls\n  \n- `Left`\/`Right` Arrows \u2014 turn  \n- `Up` Arrow \u2014 speed up  \n- `Down` Arrow \u2014 slow down  \n- `Z` (`O` on mobile) \u2014 fire  \n- `X` \u2014 ping\n- `P`\/`Enter` \u2014 pause  \n\n---\n\n## How To Play\n\n- Follow the red signal to find an enemy\n- Move close enough to get a better reading\n- Press `X` to ping and reveal the target\n- Fire with `Z` (`O` on mobile)\n- Keep an eye on Danger: pinging makes enemies more aggressive\n- In Operation mode, clear each patrol and choose one upgrade before the next wave\n\n---\n\n## Loadouts\n\n- Standard \u2014 balanced all-round option\n- Reserve Rack \u2014 more torpedo sustain\n- Silent Drive \u2014 safer pinging and longer reveal time\n- Hunter Tube \u2014 faster, more aggressive torpedoes\n\n---\n\n## Game Modes\n\n- Operation \u2014 complete a chain of patrols, take upgrades between waves, and survive to the end\n- Endless \u2014 survive as long as possible and beat your best time and kill count\n\n---\n\n## AUTHORS:\n- **Juliet.mg** \u2014 cover art, testing, idea feedback, moral support, inspiration, and motivation\n- **Kirill Balak** \u2014 everything else\n\n---\n","scope":"public","node-timestamp":"2026-04-22T08:00:04Z","meta":{"author":[424943,426638],"grade-05-out":"1","cover":"\/\/\/content\/feb\/76\/z\/710d0.png","grade-06-out":"1","grade-07-out":"1","allow-anonymous-comments":"1","link-01":"https:\/\/kirill-balak.itch.io\/ping-attack-run","link-01-tag":[42336]},"meta-timestamp":"2026-05-04T16:29:21Z","path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/59\/ping-attack-run","parents":[1,5,9,424249],"files":[],"files-timestamp":0,"love":0,"comments":15,"comments-timestamp":"2026-05-09T12:24:31Z","grade":{"grade-01":26,"grade-02":26,"grade-03":25,"grade-04":26,"grade-08":26},"magic":{"cool":150.20646947144,"feedback":30,"given":34.125,"grade":25.8,"grade-01-average":4,"grade-01-result":122,"grade-02-average":3.854,"grade-02-result":131,"grade-03-average":4.043,"grade-03-result":60,"grade-04-average":4.292,"grade-04-result":96,"grade-08-average":3.792,"grade-08-result":325,"smart":7.8327732034384},"_wayback":{"timestamp":"20260510143516","url":"https:\/\/api.ldjam.com\/vx\/node2\/get\/428372+426894+429779+424800+430898+428389+424976+427251+424946+424662+430857+430662+428836+430625+425738+430739+428062+430832+424958+428212+428642+427179+425948+429754"}},"text":"**Update:** only the page description has been edited \u2014 the game itself remains unchanged.\n\nA short retro arcade-style sonar combat game made in PICO-8.\n\nTrack enemies by signal, use an active ping to reveal them, launch torpedoes, and escape before danger spirals out of control. Every ping helps you find the target, but it also makes enemies more aggressive.\n\nChoose a loadout, survive Operation mode, and see how long you can last in Endless mode.\n\n![ping attack run p8_3.gif](\/\/\/raw\/feb\/76\/z\/70df4.gif)\n\n## Controls\n  \n- `Left`\/`Right` Arrows \u2014 turn  \n- `Up` Arrow \u2014 speed up  \n- `Down` Arrow \u2014 slow down  \n- `Z` (`O` on mobile) \u2014 fire  \n- `X` \u2014 ping\n- `P`\/`Enter` \u2014 pause  \n\n---\n\n## How To Play\n\n- Follow the red signal to find an enemy\n- Move close enough to get a better reading\n- Press `X` to ping and reveal the target\n- Fire with `Z` (`O` on mobile)\n- Keep an eye on Danger: pinging makes enemies more aggressive\n- In Operation mode, clear each patrol and choose one upgrade before the next wave\n\n---\n\n## Loadouts\n\n- Standard \u2014 balanced all-round option\n- Reserve Rack \u2014 more torpedo sustain\n- Silent Drive \u2014 safer pinging and longer reveal time\n- Hunter Tube \u2014 faster, more aggressive torpedoes\n\n---\n\n## Game Modes\n\n- Operation \u2014 complete a chain of patrols, take upgrades between waves, and survive to the end\n- Endless \u2014 survive as long as possible and beat your best time and kill count\n\n---\n\n## AUTHORS:\n- **Juliet.mg** \u2014 cover art, testing, idea feedback, moral support, inspiration, and motivation\n- **Kirill Balak** \u2014 everything else\n\n---\n","title":"PING! ATTACK! RUN!","wayback_recovered":true,"wayback_source":{"timestamp":"20260510143516","url":"https:\/\/api.ldjam.com\/vx\/node2\/get\/428372+426894+429779+424800+430898+428389+424976+427251+424946+424662+430857+430662+428836+430625+425738+430739+428062+430832+424958+428212+428642+427179+425948+429754"}}