LudumData

Signal Relay by AkihiroF

[raw]
made by AkihiroF for Ludum Dare 59 (COMPO)

🛰️ About the Game

In this game, you take on the role of a signal router, building paths between antennas to transmit a signal from point A to point B.

To succeed, you’ll need to plan your route carefully and make smart use of modifiers: - 🔋 Signal Boosters increase your antenna range
- 📡 Jammers reduce coverage and block efficient paths

⭐ Progression

Each level can be completed in different ways, but to earn a star, you must finish it while still having unused modifiers.

  • Complete a level → ✔️
  • Complete it efficiently → ⭐

🎯 Goal

Your objective is simple:

Complete all three levels and earn all three stars.

Think ahead, optimize your signal path, and use your resources wisely.

GitHub https://github.com/AkihiroF/Ludum-Dare-59.git
Web https://akihirof.itch.io/ld59
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/59/signal-relay

Ratings

Overall 287th 2.475⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Fun 285th 2.25⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 258th 2.75⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Theme 124th 3.825⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 271th 2.5⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Humor 212th 1.611⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Mood 280th 1.917⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Given 12🗳️ 19🗨️

Feedback

SteveOfStevesGames
Apr 20th · 10:29 UTC
That was a lot of fun. i managed to get stars on the last level.
Confusing at first but easy enough to figure out.
I could see this as a bonus level on command and conquer.
MountainGoose
Apr 20th · 15:15 UTC
Good idea! Got the tutorial and first level finished once I figured it out I enjoyed it. Well done!
LDJam user 234567
Apr 20th · 17:52 UTC
I try many times but I don't understandd how the antennas work :confused:

I don't understand how to align the antennas.

I'd like to understand because the game looks good
Fatality67
Apr 20th · 22:53 UTC
I'm a little confused on how the game works and the range of the different tower but i think the concept has some potential.
nathmate
Apr 20th · 23:37 UTC
Interesting concept. The antennas seemed to have different default ranges regardless of the use of boosters, or was that just depending on their distance to the closest jammer? Not knowing what the new range of an antenna would be after the use of a booster was also a bit frustrating. The tutorial could also have been a bit clearer by showing what the antennas looked like in each of their respective states.

I'm not sure the game gains anything by being 3D, and it complicates the control scheme and visuals in what is otherwise a top-down 2D game.

I do really like the idea.
LDJam user 240476
Apr 21st · 14:03 UTC
@nathmate Yeah, in most cases antennas have different base ranges, but the booster affects all of them equally—the multiplier is the same for every antenna. Also, if you noticed, the multiplier changes from level to level. So each level is essentially a mix of antennas with different ranges, and you play through it with a specific boost factor.

I had the idea to clearly show the different antenna states in the tutorial, but I was short on time, and it felt like players would understand it naturally while playing.

As for the 3D aspect—I just enjoy making 3D games more than 2D, that’s all. Thanks for the detailed feedback!
Mr. Flower
Apr 22nd · 02:43 UTC
okay, a little confusing (no idea how to use no boosters so far, lol), but still a fun idea. Like one of the others said, doesn't really gain anything from being 3d. However, still a cool concept, nice simple puzzle that's still fun to play around with. Good job :D
Pincushion
Apr 22nd · 11:50 UTC
It's a good idea for a game, but it needs some quality of life improvements. The relays vs interference makes for a good puzzle and the efficiency for stars is a solid incentive to replay it too.

The biggest QoL improvement for me would be to have a convenient way to fail. Since the different relays have different ranges, and I can't tell what range they have until I try it. So I get stuck a lot having to restart. There doesn't appear to be a restart or undo button, so I need to reload the whole game. I made it to the second level, but I got stuck and I didn't want to have to redo the whole game so that's where I stopped.
SMOLBIGBY
Apr 22nd · 20:20 UTC
Good idea, but it’s quite confusing. I don’t fully understand how the game works, but I think it has potential. The game should include a tutorial that guides the player through the mechanics by showing how they work in practice.
Akuta Zehy
Apr 24th · 07:10 UTC
Thank you for providing the web version. Perhaps I should switch back to Unity instead of Godot :thinking:

A notable gameplay issue is the occasional very unnatural camera rotation, which made me a bit dizzy from 3D motion sickness, haha.

Overall it's a pretty game. The varying ranges of the signal towers often result in one-way paths, so find right timing to avoid jammers and carefully plan your routes is crucial.
LDJam user 240476
Apr 24th · 14:33 UTC
@pincushion Press "P" to open pause menu. Thanks for feedback
vydra
Apr 25th · 19:18 UTC
I tried to play tutorial and had a problem. I don't understand how signal transmitted from one antenna to another. I interact with white antennas and that simply makes sphere around them bigger. But do nothing. I read instruction in tutorial again and understand that i can interact with antennas. But i didn't understand how to send signal... :(
LDJam user 240476
Apr 26th · 09:44 UTC
@vydra Game loop - Switch antenna mode to search mode (green sphere) -> transmit signal to another antenna (click on an antenna within range of the current antenna).
How do you know when you can transmit a signal and where? If search mode is active, the current and available antennas follow the cursor.
vydra
Apr 26th · 09:47 UTC
@akihirof, thanks for help! I'll try again with your description!