{"author_link":"\/author\/xanderzoo\/","author_name":"Xanderzoo","author_uid":"50396","comments":[{"author_name":"RiverAndRun","author_uid":"57959","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 12:48am","epoch":1440463380,"text":"It was quite hard to control but was fun shooting the droid things."},{"author_name":"Nikteddy92","author_uid":"12659","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 12:50am","epoch":1440463500,"text":"I really like the gameplay idea, the grapich style is clear, well realised and enjoyable. \rI found a little hard to control the ship, it drifts a little too much but that's not a real problem!\rNice Game, Well done! :D"},{"author_name":"razavidn","author_uid":"54947","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 12:50am","epoch":1440463500,"text":"Th actual shooting component is great, but the max speed vs. playable space area is a little off the charts. It's easy to speed way beyond the enemies in a level, and I spent most of the game trying to find them rather than actually fighting."},{"author_name":"Slashee the Cow","author_uid":"29123","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 12:51am","epoch":1440463560,"text":"One of the best ones I've played so far! I love the parallax scrolling effect on the starfield, I've never been able to get that right."},{"author_name":"Halleflux","author_uid":"24741","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 12:55am","epoch":1440463800,"text":"Fun to play, though the controls are annoying. Sure it's realistic that ships don't slow down in space without another force applied to them, but it's also realistic that they can't accelerate given that there isn't anything there =P\rBasically, having a max velocity would be nice.\rOverall, it's a cool game. Well done!"},{"author_name":"TheRuseman","author_uid":"56263","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 1:02am","epoch":1440464220,"text":"Controls were a bit too floaty, and the twist at the end was obvious a mile away, but I still enjoyed playing this game quite a lot."},{"author_name":"kfarwell","author_uid":"55003","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 1:11am","epoch":1440464760,"text":"I wasn't able to get past the boss fight, but I peeked in the source python file to spoil the end for myself. :)\r\rOverall, a very fun game. It's a nice and pure 2D space shooter, not much innovative about it, but nothing wrong with it either. The sprites are good (though the player ship looks like a turd ;) ), and the music fits the game well."},{"author_name":"Xanderzoo","author_uid":"50396","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 1:47am","epoch":1440466920,"text":"I'm glad people like it. Because it seems a lot of people don't like the lack of friction, I'll try to release a post jam version that includes an option. I wonder, do you know that you can slow slow your ship to a stop using the 'c' button? I find it useful when maneuvering."},{"author_name":"Xanderzoo","author_uid":"50396","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 1:54am","epoch":1440467340,"text":"I released a post-jam version. The *only* thing it changes is it adds a friction effect. If you were annoyed by the controls before, this might help."},{"author_name":"Jimbly","author_uid":"55346","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 2:47am","epoch":1440470520,"text":"Fun! Took a moment to get used to strafing controls while facing the other direction, but it was great when I got used to it! Using 'C' to reset motion was definitely useful a lot (didn't see the post-game version). Died on final boss and didn't see the end of the story though :("},{"author_name":"pnkthrepwood","author_uid":"11961","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 3:43am","epoch":1440473880,"text":"Gameplay is a bit hard, didn't feel much in control, which is sad because history is very engaging!"},{"author_name":"Xanderzoo","author_uid":"50396","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 3:45am","epoch":1440474000,"text":"@pnkthrepwood\r\rYou complained about the control, so I am just wondering--have you tried the post jam version? All it does is add a little friction. Another thing that you may not be doing is slowing down by pressing 'C'."},{"author_name":"nihilaleph","author_uid":"49665","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 3:54am","epoch":1440474540,"text":"I really liked the art and music of the game! (Although I did find the player ship a bit wierd). Couldn't reach the end though... the controls are way to difficult for me since it controls force and it's relative to where the ship is pointing too... So I will try to beat it again later and then I rate the Theme! (although i can see where this is going)"},{"author_name":"nihilaleph","author_uid":"49665","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 4:04am","epoch":1440475140,"text":"Oh when I downloaded the game there wasn't a post jam version.... but well, following @kfarwell I did peak into the source file xp\r\r\/******* SPOILER ALERT ********\/\rEven if the ending was different I'd still considered the main character a genocide monster xp"},{"author_name":"A_K_","author_uid":"55485","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 5:17am","epoch":1440479520,"text":"I wish it had osx\/web version."},{"author_name":"boardtobits","author_uid":"57679","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 5:40am","epoch":1440480900,"text":"Fun little space shooter. I worked on one of these as a side project. Amazed at how much you did in 72 hours."},{"author_name":"Monkokio","author_uid":"6158","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 5:51am","epoch":1440481560,"text":"Feedback of shooting enemies was great.\rFlying controls are tough to use.\rNot really sure how this fits the theme."},{"author_name":"Xanderzoo","author_uid":"50396","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 6:41am","epoch":1440484560,"text":"@A_K\rWell, this is written in Python, so web is out. If I had a mac I could make a mac build. Sadly I don't.\r\r\r@Monkokio\r\rIf you don't finish the game you won't see how it fits the theme."},{"author_name":"Mathieu Muller","author_uid":"40544","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 4:00pm","epoch":1440518100,"text":"OK, this game is Solar Winds cross The Outer Limits episode "The Light Brigade" ? Love it!"},{"author_name":"Flaid","author_uid":"45697","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 6:12pm","epoch":1440526020,"text":"Who doesn't like a spaceship shooter game?? It was fun, the explosions felt right, and the controls seemed about right to me.\r\rI played the original (not post-jam) version because I wanted to play the actual entry. I can see why people complained about the lack of friction, but knowing that it was a problem allowed me to compensate for it while playing. \r\rAll in all, very impressive!"},{"author_name":"oskardevelopment","author_uid":"21518","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 6:24pm","epoch":1440526740,"text":"Awesome game, nice story - when the captain started to discuss the shape of the aliens I felt something was bad! Nice controls, though took a minute to learn them - perhaps add some easier step at the start to learn the controls? Was real fun and was surprisingly different strategies needed for different opponent ships!"},{"author_name":"blurryroots","author_uid":"15819","time":"Aug 25, 2015 @ 6:33pm","epoch":1440527280,"text":"Very cool slowmo effect. Nice use of the theme. Although the twist is certainly not necessary considering the xenophobe outright genocidal behavior of the player character ;)"},{"author_name":"kaype","author_uid":"25076","time":"Aug 26, 2015 @ 3:59am","epoch":1440561240,"text":"Really hard to control. Still fun though!\rgood audio too"},{"author_name":"bowlercaptain","author_uid":"14337","time":"Aug 26, 2015 @ 4:12am","epoch":1440562020,"text":""Strafe" is the most fun direction. When I remembered the theme I had an appropriate "Oh god no" moment. When I succumbed to the defense force I did not persist, for the good of ea2th. Did enjoy flying around, love the starfield. Full points for a convenient-to-run Pygame project."},{"author_name":"Chaosmore","author_uid":"57901","time":"Aug 30, 2015 @ 11:18am","epoch":1440933180,"text":"Finished the game, the control is fine, in fact I would state that it's actually well-thought. About the story can be predicted right at the beginning, after I predicted lots of other jam games before playing this one. But the way how the theme is used surprised me a little. Recommend finish it to find out."},{"author_name":"Biruts","author_uid":"25209","time":"Sep 1, 2015 @ 4:54pm","epoch":1441126140,"text":"Very nice project guys, i really love it, please check our game too and if you liked it give us a vote. Look for Road to hell and enjoy."},{"author_name":"Xanderzoo","author_uid":"50396","time":"Sep 1, 2015 @ 5:03pm","epoch":1441126680,"text":"@Biruts\rActually it's a one man team. :) I'll check out your game when I have a little time."},{"author_name":"Keon","author_uid":"12083","time":"Sep 5, 2015 @ 4:18am","epoch":1441426380,"text":"Very nice game. I like the floatyness, but strafing + lack of friction didn't work well. The theme was well done."},{"author_name":"Lukbebalduke","author_uid":"26331","time":"Sep 6, 2015 @ 2:10pm","epoch":1441548300,"text":"Cool gameplay, but the graphics could be a little better, giving more information to the player about what is going on. The controls are a little bit weird, but it is a very solid entry, congrats =)"},{"author_name":"Cosmologicon","author_uid":"1151","time":"Sep 7, 2015 @ 6:34pm","epoch":1441650540,"text":"I tried the source version on Linux and it works great. Just chiming in to agree with everyone else. Overall quite good, fun shooting, I like the time slowing ability, too easy to lose control and go flying off, cool story but really obvious twist."},{"author_name":"WubAlliance","author_uid":"54258","time":"Sep 14, 2015 @ 4:26am","epoch":1442204460,"text":"Fun entry! The graphic quality is impressive, the background stars really caught me off guard. Like the other comments say, the viewable space vs the speed is a little out of scope and takes some time to get used to. Overall solid entry, one of my favorite so far! Keep it up!"},{"author_name":"Jupiter_Hadley","author_uid":"27744","time":"Oct 20, 2015 @ 2:25pm","epoch":1445350800,"text":"Well made game. I included it in my Ludum Dare 33 Compilation video series, if you would like to take a look :) https:\/\/youtu.be\/wEgI5I5KLKY"}],"images":["ld33\/50396-cf4edef8945ee4d324245453712eebed.jpg","ld33\/50396-ac99b1389d337836510972fa616cdebd.jpg","ld33\/50396-20da2be40a2c93d892eca38640ae57f0.jpg","ld33\/50396-678a65c9e210b40c0f6b1aea38a4913f.jpg"],"links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/sbx9j11nw9jsitr\/XanderzooLudumDare.zip?dl=0","text":"Windows"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/jmdwt1ym5t7tnb2\/LudumDare33XanderzooSource.zip?dl=0","text":"Source"}],"metadata":{"g_key":"8698","g_author":"50396","g_event":"LD33","g_eventkey":"29","g_subevent":"JAM","g_urlkey":"8731","g_title":"The Stars are Watching","g_status":"UCHK1","g_place":"466","g_commentcount":"32","g_site2_node_id":"0","g_hide":"N","g_has_icon":"Y","g_rqueue":"0","g_random":"0"},"nds":[],"node":null,"orig_images":["http:\/\/ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/compo2\/\/479518\/50396-shot0-1440460517.jpg-eq-900-500.jpg","http:\/\/ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/compo2\/\/479518\/50396-shot1-1440460517.jpg-eq-900-500.jpg","http:\/\/ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/compo2\/\/479518\/50396-shot2-1440460517.jpg-eq-900-500.jpg","http:\/\/ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/compo2\/\/479518\/50396-shot3-1440460517.jpg-eq-900-500.jpg"],"text":"***A lot of people are complaining about the lack of friction. If you would rather play this game with friction, download the post-jam version here: https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/rxxv01n487ue9aj\/XanderzooLudumDarePostJam.lnk?dl=0 \r\n\r\nALL it changes is the friction. The rest of the game is the same.***\r\n\r\nSomething mysterious has happened. One minute you are spiraling closer and closer to a black hole, the next you are teleported to a different region of space. Your ship's star maps do not store those star system. Does that mean no human has been here before?\r\n\r\nInstructions are given in-game, but they are summarized here:\r\n\r\nWASD or arrow keys to move. 'A' and 'D' strafe. Your ship points at your mouse. Click to fire. You can toggle 'slow mode' by hitting shift. The game then goes into slow motion. You can only be in slow motion mode for a certain length of time. You can see how much time you have left in the bottom left hand corner. (There is a bar.) Your \"slow-mode\" time regenerates every wave. \r\n\r\nKeys are rebind able. To rebind keys, enter the 'data' folder, and edit keymap.txt\r\n\r\nWritten in Python 2.7 and Pygame 1.92\r\n\r\nTo run the EXE, extract the zip, enter it, and go into XanderzooLudumDare. Then run game.exe.\r\n\r\nTo run the source, extract the zip, enter it and run game.py\r\n\r\nThe source should run on any computer that has the correct versions of Python and Pygame. The EXE should run on any windows machine.\r\n\r\nYou won't realize how the game fits the theme unless you finish it. If you don't finish the game, please don't rate it for theme. (Please rate it for everything else, though! :)\r\n\r\nRatings\/comments\/criticisms appreciated!\r\n\r\nPost jam version: https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/rxxv01n487ue9aj\/XanderzooLudumDarePostJam.lnk?dl=0\r\n\r\nThe ONLY thing I changed in this version is I added a little friction. (I literally changed one variable. :) )I also created it before submission hour ended. Anyway, I think a lot of people will like this version more. If you're annoyed by the lack of friction, you might want to try it.\r\n\r\nNOTE: I opted out of sound because I got music off the internet. Music credit to DST: http:\/\/www.nosoapradio.us\/","title":"The Stars are Watching"}