HEXX by LDJam user 236545

[raw]
made by LDJam user 236545 for Ludum Dare 55 (COMPO)

hexx_banner.png

A strategic spirit-summoning game

Controls:

Mouse to interact

Hold down Escape to forfeit, or cancel tutorial

Antivirus Note:

This game was built with PyInstaller, which often gets flagged by antivirus software. This is a false-positive warning, the game is safe to run.

Unfortunately there's nothing I can do about this at the moment. Lots of malware distributors use it to package malicious code, so anything using PyInstaller often gets a blanket flag/removal from many antivirus scanners.

Ratings

Given 34🗳️ 38🗨️

Feedback

DecadeDecaf
15. Apr 2024 · 03:59 UTC
Brilliantly simple concept; the tutorial was super intuitive and I understood the rules immediately. I'm really glad this game has a multiplayer option, too. It reminded me of board games like Go. Presentation was great, too! Overall, a very solid compo entry. Good job!
lambbones
15. Apr 2024 · 04:02 UTC
Really fun stuff, super satisfying to make a move and convert a bunch of the opponent's pieces at once. Actually had some trouble against the AI, the game can be challenging. Feels really well designed, and designing something that tight in 48 hours is really impressive. Will have to try with 2 players at some point.
LDJam user 372150
15. Apr 2024 · 04:06 UTC
This is a really good chess-like game! I really like the concept and strategy, and well done on the visuals! I did manage to find a exploit immediately against the computer. Basically all I had to do was keep sacrificing to gain more ground and take over the 3 spawn points. That allowed me to just skip the other player's turn. Though, it did manage to crash 2 turns later.
altaf-creator
15. Apr 2024 · 04:15 UTC
Amazing! The gameplay is simple, the arts are beautiful, the tutorial is great, and most importantly, it is very fun. Also, the game runs on Linux! So, extra points for that. Even though for the game crashes mid-game, but I still managed to play most of the game. Overall, it's great!
🎤 LDJam user 236545
15. Apr 2024 · 04:27 UTC
@vegeo @altaf-creator Thanks for the feedback - Did you happen to get any info in the crashes? It's okay if not, but I'd love to nail down what was happening when the crash occurred.
altaf-creator
15. Apr 2024 · 04:35 UTC
@andrewkennedy Sure thing, I didn't check the logs when it crashed earlier, but I will try to reproduce the crash later on.
LDJam user 372150
15. Apr 2024 · 04:41 UTC
@andrewkennedy
```
File "entities\player.py", line 85, in on_turn_start
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'coordinates'
```
🎤 LDJam user 236545
15. Apr 2024 · 04:42 UTC
@altaf-creator appreciate it! On Linux, the logs should be in `~/HEXXLD55/CrashLogs`
🎤 LDJam user 236545
15. Apr 2024 · 04:46 UTC
@vegeo Thanks so much! Uploading a fix now. (Ironically it's the logging causing the crash, go figure :shrug: )
altaf-creator
15. Apr 2024 · 04:49 UTC
@andrewkennedy Found it! It was in Wine's directory (`~/.wine/drive_c/users/<USER>/AppData/Local/HEXXLD55/CrashLogs`). I forgot to mention you that I used Wine (compatibility layer to convert Windows API calls to POSIX).

**Anyway, here's the crash log:**
```
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "engine\utilities\papp.py", line 24, in crash_handler
File "main.py", line 21, in <module>
File "main.py", line 15, in main
File "engine\engine.py", line 231, in start
File "engine\engine.py", line 258, in update
File "engine\scene.py", line 144, in update
File "engine\internal_utilities\entity_list.py", line 183, in update
File "entities\game_manager.py", line 132, in update
File "entities\game_manager.py", line 208, in on_turn_start
File "entities\player.py", line 85, in on_turn_start
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'coordinates'
```
🎤 LDJam user 236545
15. Apr 2024 · 04:57 UTC
@altaf-creator Perfect! Same crash as Vegeo, so I think it's all sorted out now. Thanks for helping me catch this early.
altaf-creator
15. Apr 2024 · 05:05 UTC
@andrewkennedy Very cool! Glad to see it fixed!
goodwincek
15. Apr 2024 · 11:37 UTC
Really great! Very easy to grasp, nice simple tutorial, great visuals and love the satisfying effect when you get a big move that captures 4-5 enemy hexes. The AI was pretty strong in the early game and I was outnumbered 10:1 at one point! Had to stage an epic comeback, which had plenty of those multi-captures!

Wonder how you might be able to innovate this concept further to differentiate from the DOS game. Visually and aesthetically you've made a massive improvement over the original, but I could envision interesting directions you could take it even further! What if there were some special pieces with different properties like a chess board?

I had a lot of fun in my playthrough! Excellent work!
LDJam user 5243
15. Apr 2024 · 15:38 UTC
Simple and quick to understand, nice and clear graphics and animations. One of my favorite games this compo!
alanbrook
15. Apr 2024 · 17:33 UTC
Very nicely polished little game. The AI was quite good; I always seem to lose by only a hex or two :thinking:

@goodwincek What is the DOS game you are referring to? I've never played this sort of game before
🎤 LDJam user 236545
15. Apr 2024 · 17:39 UTC
@alanbrook , the DOS game is Hexxagon: https://dosgames.com/game/hexxagon/ , one of my favorite games as a kid!

@goodwincek My intention was to have two wizards standing on either side of the board (hence all the empty space), and to include a few more variations on the gameplay in the form of extra summons - like being able to remove an opponent's piece, or placing a piece anywhere on the board. Of course, time got in the way, and I was _just barely_ able to implement the core mechanics in time. I might do a post-jam version once the fatigue wears off!
pebkac
15. Apr 2024 · 17:42 UTC
Props for the graphics design and all of the fade-in 'n -outs! Very nicely done. Very fun gameplay too!
sirJupitron
15. Apr 2024 · 18:36 UTC
Hi! incredible feel, art and sfx. Thanks
m0zrat
15. Apr 2024 · 19:01 UTC
Windows thought it was a virus :(
stmate03
15. Apr 2024 · 19:25 UTC
The game is incredibly simple, yet somehow captivating and incredibly fun to play, sound effects are noice, the visuals are really cool, overall a really great game entry!
Danga
15. Apr 2024 · 19:47 UTC
This is probably my favorite game I've played from this Ludum Dare so far! I really loved it. There's a surprising amount of depth in the small set of mechanics, it works really really well.

I think the only thing keeping it from being "complete" is music, but honestly it doesn't really need it.
rhewid
15. Apr 2024 · 20:40 UTC
I love the art, minimalistic but juicy and clean. Great concept, perfect tutorial and even two player mode. Great entry
LDJam user 297990
15. Apr 2024 · 20:46 UTC
Wow! Really cool gameplay! I kinda wish i had this as a little boardgame to play with a buddy on longhaul flights.
Tight overall presentation even with how simplistic it all is.
Yorsh
15. Apr 2024 · 22:55 UTC
Interesting idea, and the game looks and sounds great! I wonder how it holds on when you play the game well, and what the best strategy would be. Really nice polish, especially for a compo!
Owtuvammo
15. Apr 2024 · 23:00 UTC
As others have said, this reminds me of go. Simple to learn how to play, but the strategy has the potential to be really complex. I found the AI to be a bit easy to game, but I'll have to bug a friend to play it with me later. The sounds could do with a bit of work in my opinion, but everything else about the presentation was spot on and the tutorial was exactly the right way to teach me how to play.

Edit: My first game (tried before the tutorial), I got schooled by the AI and I couldn't play on my turn and the game was bound up. It would be good to add a way to forfeit the game so it doesn't get stuck.
🎤 LDJam user 236545
15. Apr 2024 · 23:17 UTC
@owtuvammo Ah yeah, there's a small possibility of a soft lock that I didn't realize until today (if your only free move is to move into a "starting" tile for the opponent, you're unable to do so, but the "turn skip" detection sees it as a valid move).

You can forfeit games with Escape, I really should have put that in the tutorial.
Owtuvammo
15. Apr 2024 · 23:23 UTC
@andrewkennedy Oh, I see that on your page now, so I feel silly for not noticing it. Even so, this thing is alot of fun! Great work!
OblivionCreator
15. Apr 2024 · 23:36 UTC
The first game so far that I've seen that made me immediately stop and play it - It's such a brilliantly simple concept executed flawlessly. (Even if the AI kicked my rear...) - Definitely keeping this as a game to play with friends. Great work!
pauljs
15. Apr 2024 · 23:36 UTC
Recall me of some old flash game I was playing when I was younger! Great lil game, well executed!
ick
16. Apr 2024 · 00:02 UTC
Fantastic presentation and a great game with a very approachable concept yet it is still difficult! It rules!
Leiv Erik
16. Apr 2024 · 00:27 UTC
Great game! Dont usually play the download games, especially if i have to turn of antivirus xD, but this one looked really fun!
Glad i did play it because it was really fun!
Good job on the game!
🎤 LDJam user 236545
16. Apr 2024 · 00:32 UTC
@leiv-erik Yeah, the antivirus problem is super frustrating. Although the options on my end are limited, I'm looking into some things that might make it less annoying in the future.
MaggardJosh
16. Apr 2024 · 01:42 UTC
Very polished for a compo entry. Extra points for having a tutorial, I understood the rules immediately. The AI demolished me the first time, but I got them in the rematch :smile: Great job!
nondisclosedartist
16. Apr 2024 · 02:42 UTC
Looks like a really neat concept, unfortunately my windows really didnt like the download and wouldnt open/run the project :(
🎤 LDJam user 236545
16. Apr 2024 · 02:51 UTC
@nondisclosedartist I compiled the game and my own computer flags it as a virus, so I get it. Thanks for the feedback - it's seriously valuable to me. This is my first game I'm releasing on my own home-grown game engine, and knowing these sorts of challenges to the end user is good (albeit unfortunate) feedback for me. I'm looking into ways to make this a better experience in the future!
Phobos001
16. Apr 2024 · 03:00 UTC
Super well executed gameplay! Very accessible and easy to understand. The sacrifice mechanic adds a lot of depth, as it can really open you up to some nasty counter attacks. Great work! :medal:
LDJam user 382819
16. Apr 2024 · 03:47 UTC
Oh man, what you've pulled off by yourself is just mind-blowing, my friend! Your game is seriously impressive and so polished. These puzzles are wicked smart – hard to believe they were dreamed up in such a short time. I'm already tearing my hair out – my brain is on fire!
Enreh
16. Apr 2024 · 05:30 UTC
Very, very fun and polished game; the fact it allows for 2 players is fantastic. My only complaint is the lack of a way to end a match early other than closing the game, but that's very minimal.
MissingPixel
16. Apr 2024 · 07:11 UTC
Well polished game, feedback was satisfying and the potential for strategic depth is strong. Great work!
OldDog
16. Apr 2024 · 07:57 UTC
best game of this game jam compo group,love this one so much,simple concept but a lot of fun, I must think some steps to defeat the game AI, you are such a genies
FramboiseDodue
16. Apr 2024 · 12:39 UTC
I love the game, quite simple and polished !
RaimondoSenpai
16. Apr 2024 · 12:54 UTC
Simple yet effective idea. wouldve been amazinga multiplayer mode but in the short ammount of time there is nothing one could do. easy to learn and fun
CO5MONAUT
16. Apr 2024 · 19:01 UTC
I had a similar idea once, but it didn't work out so interesting at the time. It's cool!
Kirass
16. Apr 2024 · 22:50 UTC
I like this game! You guys are great!
Gabrimer
17. Apr 2024 · 01:20 UTC
I love this concept! I think multiplayer would go a long way with this game, so it's nice that there's an option to play with a friend. This entry is a great example of simple, yet effective. The AI was pretty challenging to play against too. Nice job!
MAXLIN
17. Apr 2024 · 06:30 UTC
I like this Strategy-based chess game! It makes me to think how to defeat the AI. Quite Amazing!
Sariiger
17. Apr 2024 · 08:50 UTC
Such a simple concept and rules, but it works super well. This is some amazing game design, great job!
firellon
17. Apr 2024 · 19:15 UTC
That's a good example of an elegantly designed game. The strategy seems to be optimisable, got to win in the first match again AI with him only having 1 piece left. Also, would be nice if the game could calculate the state automatically when there are no more legal move by one of the sides.

I like it!
Yuu
17. Apr 2024 · 22:59 UTC
Loved all the visuals of the game! Game was simple yet very fun to play with friends. Impressive work for a compo game, nice job!
MaxguN
18. Apr 2024 · 09:48 UTC
Awesome entry! The design is simple and elegant, I can easily imagine different boards that can enable interesting moves. The feel is good and polished enough. It could also be played as an abstract boardgame ^^

Congrats for your entry!
Meranolean
18. Apr 2024 · 11:51 UTC
Hey! That's a game with the best gamplay I've seen on this Ludum Dare! I just have no complain, may be except it doesn't play with the topic a lot. But anyway, it's really interesting to play it again and again! It's like a good new version of GO. Thank you for your game!
Ryan Lockhart
19. Apr 2024 · 12:03 UTC
Almost finished a round, but it got into what I assume is a stuck state. I liked the art.
vidarn
20. Apr 2024 · 16:00 UTC
Very cool! I really like how the rules are so simple to learn, but lead to very complex gameplay. One move could make a huge change to the balance, which was quite interesting.
I found the AI well balanced. It was very smart, but made enough mistakes that you could beat it. I also liked the fact that you added a 2 player mode, this game would be perfect to play with a friend
Erlioniel
25. Apr 2024 · 18:55 UTC
Really simple concept and as any such board game it's balanced just because there are the same rules for both players
Nick Blackwood
28. Apr 2024 · 10:41 UTC
Ohhh this is so minimalistic but soooo deep! There were a lot of choices to make each turn, and I even started building guesses on how the AI works and thinking about what's the best possible way to make it work. It can easily be expended with more abilities (maybe even asymmetrical) and more maps, but it's cool as it is in its simplicity.
José Bonilla
01. May 2024 · 14:44 UTC
Really, really cool! I love the mechanics. Super minimalistic and yet a nice concept - makes me think about Reversi. Cozy background music and tutorial would have been nice.
samh
03. May 2024 · 14:54 UTC
Okay, I spent a lot more time on this game than I should have. The concept is simple and reminds me of a game I played some 30 years ago (I can't remember if it had holes in the board, though) but it's pretty solid. Good thing that you could write an AI within the time constraints instead of just making a two-player game!
🎤 LDJam user 236545
03. May 2024 · 15:22 UTC
@samh Was it [Hexxagon?](https://dosgames.com/game/hexxagon/)? That was the inspiration for this game :)