{"author_link":"\/users\/duke-ua","author_name":"DuKe.ua","author_uid":"duke-ua","comments":[],"epoch":1744285161,"event":"LD57","format":"md","ldjam_node_id":414539,"likes":3,"metadata":{"p_key":"211175","p_author":"DuKe.ua","p_authorkey":"1337697","p_urlkey":"450976","p_title":"Post-Mortem: Descent Protocol","p_cat":"LDJam ","p_event":"LD57","p_time":"1744285161","p_likes":"3","p_comments":"0","p_status":"WAYBACK","us_key":"1337697","us_name":"LDJam user 337697","us_username":"337697","event_start":"1743811200","event_key":"111","event_name":"Ludum Dare 57"},"node":{"_collation":{"body_sanitizer":"TextUtils::SanitizeHTML via existing importer","event":"LD57","removed_author":false},"_superparent":406845,"_trust":1,"author":337697,"body":"Hey everyone! Here's a quick breakdown of our experience making [**Descent Protocol**](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/descent-protocol-1) for Ludum Dare 57.\n\n### \ud83d\udd73\ufe0f What's the game about?\n\nYou descend into a dangerous, vertical dungeon using your trusty grappling hook and rope -- your only lifeline as you swing, jump, and navigate deeper and deeper into the unknown. It\u2019s all about momentum, timing, and not falling to your doom. \ud83d\ude05\n\n![ezgif.com-optimize.gif](\/\/\/raw\/127\/25\/z\/6be04.gif)\n\n### \ud83e\uddf0 The development ride\n\nWe built the game in Unreal Engine 5, and while it gave us some great tools, it also threw a few curveballs our way. Specifically, the rope physics were a huge challenge. UE5\u2019s physics system has its quirks, and making a grappling hook that feels good and behaves somewhat realistically was... let\u2019s just say \u201can adventure\u201d.\n\nThat said, we\u2019re super happy we managed to get it all working within the jam window -- rope mechanics, movement, level flow, the whole vibe -- without any major issues. (Okay, maybe a *few* \u201cgrappling into the void\u201d moments during testing...)\n\n### \u2705 What went well\n\n- The core mechanic swinging around with the grappling hook came together in a way that feels more orless satisfying.\n- Atmosphere and level design helped give it a real sense of danger and depth.\n- We hit all the features we planned without crunching too hard.\n\n### \ud83e\udd14 What could be better\n\n- The rope physics still feel a bit unpredictable at times (Unreal, we love you, but... why tho?)\n- More tutorial or feedback to help new players get into the swing (literally) would be nice.\n- We'd love to expand on this with more hazards, enemies, and maybe upgrades down the line.\n\nThanks to everyone who\u2019s played and left feedback -- it really means a lot!  \nAnd if you haven\u2019t tried it yet, swing by and check it out here: https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/descent-protocol-1\n","comments":0,"created":"2025-04-10T11:03:36Z","files":[],"files-timestamp":0,"id":414539,"love":3,"love-timestamp":"2025-04-10T13:37:43Z","meta":[],"modified":"2025-04-10T13:37:43Z","name":"Post-Mortem: Descent Protocol","node-timestamp":"2025-04-10T11:39:21Z","parent":413377,"parents":[1,5,9,406845,413377],"path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/descent-protocol-1\/post-mortem-descent-protocol","published":"2025-04-10T11:39:21Z","scope":"public","slug":"post-mortem-descent-protocol","subsubtype":"","subtype":"","type":"post","version":1308132},"node_metadata":{"n_key":"414539","n_urlkey":"450976","n_parent":"413377","n_path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/descent-protocol-1\/post-mortem-descent-protocol","n_slug":"post-mortem-descent-protocol","n_type":"post","n_subtype":"","n_subsubtype":"","n_author":"337697","n_created":"1744283016","n_modified":"1744292263","n_version":"1308132","n_status":"WAYBACK"},"source_url":"https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/descent-protocol-1\/post-mortem-descent-protocol","text":"Hey everyone! Here's a quick breakdown of our experience making [**Descent Protocol**](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/descent-protocol-1) for Ludum Dare 57.\n\n### \ud83d\udd73\ufe0f What's the game about?\n\nYou descend into a dangerous, vertical dungeon using your trusty grappling hook and rope -- your only lifeline as you swing, jump, and navigate deeper and deeper into the unknown. It\u2019s all about momentum, timing, and not falling to your doom. \ud83d\ude05\n\n![ezgif.com-optimize.gif](\/\/\/raw\/127\/25\/z\/6be04.gif)\n\n### \ud83e\uddf0 The development ride\n\nWe built the game in Unreal Engine 5, and while it gave us some great tools, it also threw a few curveballs our way. Specifically, the rope physics were a huge challenge. UE5\u2019s physics system has its quirks, and making a grappling hook that feels good and behaves somewhat realistically was... let\u2019s just say \u201can adventure\u201d.\n\nThat said, we\u2019re super happy we managed to get it all working within the jam window -- rope mechanics, movement, level flow, the whole vibe -- without any major issues. (Okay, maybe a *few* \u201cgrappling into the void\u201d moments during testing...)\n\n### \u2705 What went well\n\n- The core mechanic swinging around with the grappling hook came together in a way that feels more orless satisfying.\n- Atmosphere and level design helped give it a real sense of danger and depth.\n- We hit all the features we planned without crunching too hard.\n\n### \ud83e\udd14 What could be better\n\n- The rope physics still feel a bit unpredictable at times (Unreal, we love you, but... why tho?)\n- More tutorial or feedback to help new players get into the swing (literally) would be nice.\n- We'd love to expand on this with more hazards, enemies, and maybe upgrades down the line.\n\nThanks to everyone who\u2019s played and left feedback -- it really means a lot!  \nAnd if you haven\u2019t tried it yet, swing by and check it out here: https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/descent-protocol-1\n","title":"Post-Mortem: Descent Protocol","wayback_source":[]}