Those Who Die As Cattle by ElliotS

[raw]
made by ElliotS for Ludum Dare 56 (JAM)

A WW1 trench warfare simulation game, with a personal touch. Take command of a Regiment in the First Battle of Ypres as either a French Colonel or a German Oberst. If you are so inclined, examine the casualty list (and click on the names).

Please note, due to time constraints:

  • The names may not be demographically accurate to 1914 Germany / France.
  • Some of the combat simulation is not based on historical data

ThoseWhoDieLikeCattlescreenshotbriefing.jpg

Heed the briefing. Play as France if you want a German attack to be inevitable, but weaken yourself sufficiently as any side, and you will be overrun.

thosewhodiescreenshotbattlefield.jpg

Though the interface may be simplistic, each soldier and artillery piece is simulated under the hood using an ECS system. Every artillery shot you hear is based on the simulation. Listen closely and you may be able to hear the enemy reserves being sent to the front. The AI hooks into the same interface you do, and plays a fair game. And each soldier's story is their own.

Two additional hours have been spent after the jam to polish up pages, instructions, and make some UI improvements for clarity.

Ratings

Overall 791th 3.296⭐ 29🧑‍⚖️
Fun 1020th 2.574⭐ 29🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 486th 3.37⭐ 29🧑‍⚖️
Theme 449th 3.796⭐ 29🧑‍⚖️
Audio 197th 3.771⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Humor 830th 2.425⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Mood 220th 3.926⭐ 29🧑‍⚖️
Given 54🗳️ 20🗨️

Feedback

Jake Pearce
07. Oct 2024 · 12:15 UTC
An interesting take on the theme, it works well
Knipsch
08. Oct 2024 · 04:06 UTC
Love this take on WW1 trench warfare, and the focus on the casualties and human cost. Really well done.
Raymond Bourke
12. Oct 2024 · 05:24 UTC
The most interesting use of the theme I've seen so far, and excellent score. The game does a good job of building mood with the intro text and the name as well.
LDJam user 355692
12. Oct 2024 · 07:02 UTC
Well, that's a unique experience for sure. Mood is top notch, music is really good and the whole atmosphere is great I love how you've interpreted the theme and how even if that's a simple numbers game in the end, you *start to think that these tiny creatures are just numbers*. Well done.
stmate03
12. Oct 2024 · 08:50 UTC
The lack of graphics is a perfect choice! the audio is a perfect representation of the engagement, it can and will give you a sensory overload, all the people are numbers, but the casualty feed give everyone a name, first you feel they are just tiny numbers, then you glance over the casualties, the horror sets in as your banzai charge of "just numbers" suddenly materialize as a massive list of people who died, artillery orders also play into this, shrapnels were super dangerous and painful, same with gas shells, this game has a strong mood, perfect audio to play into the mood, the perfect amount of visuals to let the whole thing set it, a well done, clean, and simple entry
MisaRavensoul
13. Oct 2024 · 05:29 UTC
I really enjoyed the audio! I wish I had more ways to see what was going on, or pause the situation - maybe a little tutorialization would help.
Halogen
13. Oct 2024 · 09:53 UTC
I love the fact you can see all the troops who had died there life. Its really immersive
t-pirozzini
14. Oct 2024 · 07:42 UTC
This one is heavy! I think I am good without more visuals. I appreciated the Warfare Primer in the description, but I've concluded that I would not make a very adept general haha. Great use of the theme and it's quite a unique entry. Thanks!
ChrisBeck
15. Oct 2024 · 11:12 UTC
Really like this entry, it's a very interesting take on the theme. I think it could have done with a tutorial to explain some of the gameplay mechanics, but overall a really solid and thought provoking game
Sasa_2010
19. Oct 2024 · 10:08 UTC
Wow! The game is so wonderful! Keep making games! plesa rate my game)
ratly
21. Oct 2024 · 22:37 UTC
Really interesting take on the theme. Usually war games are made to feel "fun," but this one felt (intentionally) like just a numbers game. And somewhere in the middle you realize that every decision made just adds the long and growing list of real humans who were casualties, and whose stories -- upbringings, families, thoughts on the war -- are interchangeable regardless of their country of origin.
Empyreans
22. Oct 2024 · 02:00 UTC
I will agree with the rest that it is indeed, an interesting approach to the theme.

It highlights a serious topic which sadly applies to modern days and will apply to the days yet to come.

Thank you for bringing this game to the stream :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSZ9jPg17KQ

~XpMonster
Empyreans
22. Oct 2024 · 02:00 UTC
I will agree with the rest that it is indeed, an interesting approach to the theme.

It highlights a serious topic which sadly applies to modern days and will apply to the days yet to come.

Thank you for bringing this game to the stream :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSZ9jPg17KQ

~XpMonster
tigerj
24. Oct 2024 · 20:32 UTC
Wonderful entry I had a great time. Check the chapter for a link to your specific game :)

https://youtu.be/MOQvnWwS2QI
Madbarron
25. Oct 2024 · 03:57 UTC
Fantastic!

It took me a few minutes to figure out that artillery was essentially limitless. And I was caught off guard when the German charge got to my trench very suddenly. I think the mood and theme are spot-on. An excellent jam game. Well done!