{"author_link":"\/users\/protzz","author_name":"protzz","author_uid":"protzz","comments":[],"epoch":1744290744,"event":"LD57","format":"md","ldjam_node_id":414552,"likes":17,"metadata":{"p_key":"211186","p_author":"protzz","p_authorkey":"1407191","p_urlkey":"450987","p_title":"How I made my game!","p_cat":"LDJam ","p_event":"LD57","p_time":"1744290744","p_likes":"17","p_comments":"0","p_status":"WAYBACK","us_key":"1407191","us_name":"protzz","us_username":"protzz","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":407191,"body":"https:\/\/protzz.itch.io\/hark\n![IMG_20250408_134204_185.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be1d.png)\nHi everyone!\nI took part in Ludum Dare 57 \u2014 one of the most well-known game jams focused on creating games in a short time. It happens twice a year. Some say it\u2019s the biggest event in the indie world, others prefer alternatives, but Ludum Dare has definitely become a part of game dev history.\n![IMG_20250408_190612_074.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be1f.png)\nParticipating is easy if you know where to go and how to upload your game. But it\u2019s always stressful: you want to finish in time, make sure everything works, and hope people actually notice your game. If you'd like to support me, I\u2019ve published my game in browser format \u2014 no need to download anything or worry about viruses. Just open the page and play. If you feel like it, there\u2019s a \u201cRate this game\u201d button that helps boost visibility. Every little bit helps \u2014 and of course, I\u2019d be super happy to hear your feedback.\n![IMG_20250408_183116_675.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be21.png)\nPreparation: Idea and Inspiration\nPreparation started on April 3rd, a day before the jam began. I knew I wanted to make a card game \u2014 that much was clear. Why? Because I\u2019ve been dreaming of creating one for a long time. I\u2019m a big fan of Inscryption and Balatro \u2014 both have a special place in my heart. Inscryption inspired the dark vibe and the idea of animal themes, while Balatro brought that addictive poker-based mechanic. So even before the theme dropped, I was pretty set on making a deckbuilder or something close.\n![IMG_20250407_180417_488.jpg](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be23.jpg)\nWhen the theme was announced \u2014 \u201cDepth\u201d \u2014 I instantly knew I didn\u2019t want to go with a literal water-based idea. I wanted to interpret \u201cdepth\u201d as psychological depth, narrative depth, or even atmospheric madness. A surreal, slightly creepy card game. That idea hit, and I jumped right in.\n![IMG_20250407_103111_522.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be24.png)\nDevelopment: First Steps\nI started with the mechanics. I didn\u2019t want to copy Balatro directly, but there were too many good ideas to ignore \u2014 and let\u2019s be real, poker foundations are timeless. I added a few challenges: collect less than a certain number, get only even-numbered cards, play at least one spade, etc. This made the player think more strategically about what cards to pick.\n![IMG_20250407_103138_875.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be25.png)\nAt the same time, I needed a setting. I didn\u2019t want the classic \u201ctable and deck\u201d look. I remembered the game Deceit, where the rabbit is kind of the mascot. That inspired me to add a rabbit too \u2014 not just a character, but a mysterious host. For visuals, I looked to Where Water Tastes Like Wine. Not the most popular game, but its art style is stunning.\n![IMG_20250410_140856_268.jpg](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be26.jpg)\nAdding Features: TV, Transitions, Tarot\nOnce the core mechanics were working, I realized the game felt a bit flat. So I added visual effects, screen transitions via an old TV aesthetic, and brought in the Rabbit as a shopkeeper. Then came the idea for Tarot cards. I was burned out from coding and needed a break \u2014 so I started drawing, aiming to add some atmosphere. I ended up making 10 cards, but only 4 made it into the game due to time limits.\n![IMG_20250410_140858_505.jpg](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be27.jpg)\nSurprisingly, the Tarot cards became a major feature. They affected gameplay so much that they changed the game\u2019s rhythm and strategy. Some could block suits, others would steal coins (which are hard to get \u2014 you only earn one every 40 points). Players had to think more carefully to maximize their income and improve their deck in the shop.\n![IMG_20250410_141000_521.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be28.png)\nCombos and Deck Building\nLater I added card combinations \u2014 directly inspired by poker and Balatro. These combos brought more strategy, and every 40 points earned you a coin for upgrades or Tarot cards. Then I had an idea: what if combos could level up over time if you used them often? After a few dozen hours, the game began to feel like a nearly complete prototype.\n![IMG_20250407_180415_929.jpg](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be2a.jpg)\nFinal Stage and Results\nIn the last hours, I focused on polishing visuals and sound. To me, those are essential in card games \u2014 without satisfying animations and atmospheric audio, it all feels flat. I couldn\u2019t implement everything I wanted. There were supposed to be 10 Tarot cards, more Jokers, extra modes \u2014 all of that is still on my to-do list.\n![IMG_20250407_103138_875.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be2c.png)\nIn the end, I completed about 50% of what I planned. But honestly, for two sleepless days, that\u2019s a win. Thankfully the jam happened on a weekend, so I didn\u2019t run into any scheduling issues. Though yeah, I felt like a wrung-out sponge afterward.\n\nIf you\u2019ve made it this far \u2014 thank you!\nIf the game sounds interesting to you, please give it a try. You can leave a comment, rate it (1 to 5 stars \u2014 but hey, 5 is nice!), and help it get noticed. The more exposure it gets, the closer I am to releasing it on Steam \u2014 even just as a demo or wishlist page. The game has potential, but there\u2019s still a lot of work ahead.\nhttps:\/\/protzz.itch.io\/hark\n\nThat was my Ludum Dare 57 journey: two sleepless nights, lots of cut features, but a playable prototype that already grabs attention. If things go well, I\u2019ll keep developing it into a full game \u2014 with a deeper challenge system, a bigger deck, all the Tarot cards, and new modes.\n\nThanks for reading! I\u2019d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you enjoy the game. Good luck at your jams too!<3","comments":0,"created":"2025-04-10T13:03:14Z","files":[],"files-timestamp":0,"id":414552,"love":17,"love-timestamp":"2025-04-12T16:33:42Z","meta":[],"modified":"2025-04-12T16:33:42Z","name":"How I made my game!","node-timestamp":"2025-04-10T13:12:24Z","parent":408952,"parents":[1,5,9,406845,408952],"path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/hark\/how-i-made-my-game","published":"2025-04-10T13:12:24Z","scope":"public","slug":"how-i-made-my-game","subsubtype":"","subtype":"","type":"post","version":1308198},"node_metadata":{"n_key":"414552","n_urlkey":"450987","n_parent":"408952","n_path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/hark\/how-i-made-my-game","n_slug":"how-i-made-my-game","n_type":"post","n_subtype":"","n_subsubtype":"","n_author":"407191","n_created":"1744290194","n_modified":"1744475622","n_version":"1308198","n_status":"WAYBACK"},"source_url":"https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/57\/hark\/how-i-made-my-game","text":"https:\/\/protzz.itch.io\/hark\n![IMG_20250408_134204_185.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be1d.png)\nHi everyone!\nI took part in Ludum Dare 57 \u2014 one of the most well-known game jams focused on creating games in a short time. It happens twice a year. Some say it\u2019s the biggest event in the indie world, others prefer alternatives, but Ludum Dare has definitely become a part of game dev history.\n![IMG_20250408_190612_074.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be1f.png)\nParticipating is easy if you know where to go and how to upload your game. But it\u2019s always stressful: you want to finish in time, make sure everything works, and hope people actually notice your game. If you'd like to support me, I\u2019ve published my game in browser format \u2014 no need to download anything or worry about viruses. Just open the page and play. If you feel like it, there\u2019s a \u201cRate this game\u201d button that helps boost visibility. Every little bit helps \u2014 and of course, I\u2019d be super happy to hear your feedback.\n![IMG_20250408_183116_675.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be21.png)\nPreparation: Idea and Inspiration\nPreparation started on April 3rd, a day before the jam began. I knew I wanted to make a card game \u2014 that much was clear. Why? Because I\u2019ve been dreaming of creating one for a long time. I\u2019m a big fan of Inscryption and Balatro \u2014 both have a special place in my heart. Inscryption inspired the dark vibe and the idea of animal themes, while Balatro brought that addictive poker-based mechanic. So even before the theme dropped, I was pretty set on making a deckbuilder or something close.\n![IMG_20250407_180417_488.jpg](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be23.jpg)\nWhen the theme was announced \u2014 \u201cDepth\u201d \u2014 I instantly knew I didn\u2019t want to go with a literal water-based idea. I wanted to interpret \u201cdepth\u201d as psychological depth, narrative depth, or even atmospheric madness. A surreal, slightly creepy card game. That idea hit, and I jumped right in.\n![IMG_20250407_103111_522.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be24.png)\nDevelopment: First Steps\nI started with the mechanics. I didn\u2019t want to copy Balatro directly, but there were too many good ideas to ignore \u2014 and let\u2019s be real, poker foundations are timeless. I added a few challenges: collect less than a certain number, get only even-numbered cards, play at least one spade, etc. This made the player think more strategically about what cards to pick.\n![IMG_20250407_103138_875.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be25.png)\nAt the same time, I needed a setting. I didn\u2019t want the classic \u201ctable and deck\u201d look. I remembered the game Deceit, where the rabbit is kind of the mascot. That inspired me to add a rabbit too \u2014 not just a character, but a mysterious host. For visuals, I looked to Where Water Tastes Like Wine. Not the most popular game, but its art style is stunning.\n![IMG_20250410_140856_268.jpg](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be26.jpg)\nAdding Features: TV, Transitions, Tarot\nOnce the core mechanics were working, I realized the game felt a bit flat. So I added visual effects, screen transitions via an old TV aesthetic, and brought in the Rabbit as a shopkeeper. Then came the idea for Tarot cards. I was burned out from coding and needed a break \u2014 so I started drawing, aiming to add some atmosphere. I ended up making 10 cards, but only 4 made it into the game due to time limits.\n![IMG_20250410_140858_505.jpg](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be27.jpg)\nSurprisingly, the Tarot cards became a major feature. They affected gameplay so much that they changed the game\u2019s rhythm and strategy. Some could block suits, others would steal coins (which are hard to get \u2014 you only earn one every 40 points). Players had to think more carefully to maximize their income and improve their deck in the shop.\n![IMG_20250410_141000_521.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be28.png)\nCombos and Deck Building\nLater I added card combinations \u2014 directly inspired by poker and Balatro. These combos brought more strategy, and every 40 points earned you a coin for upgrades or Tarot cards. Then I had an idea: what if combos could level up over time if you used them often? After a few dozen hours, the game began to feel like a nearly complete prototype.\n![IMG_20250407_180415_929.jpg](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be2a.jpg)\nFinal Stage and Results\nIn the last hours, I focused on polishing visuals and sound. To me, those are essential in card games \u2014 without satisfying animations and atmospheric audio, it all feels flat. I couldn\u2019t implement everything I wanted. There were supposed to be 10 Tarot cards, more Jokers, extra modes \u2014 all of that is still on my to-do list.\n![IMG_20250407_103138_875.png](\/\/\/raw\/796\/36\/z\/6be2c.png)\nIn the end, I completed about 50% of what I planned. But honestly, for two sleepless days, that\u2019s a win. Thankfully the jam happened on a weekend, so I didn\u2019t run into any scheduling issues. Though yeah, I felt like a wrung-out sponge afterward.\n\nIf you\u2019ve made it this far \u2014 thank you!\nIf the game sounds interesting to you, please give it a try. You can leave a comment, rate it (1 to 5 stars \u2014 but hey, 5 is nice!), and help it get noticed. The more exposure it gets, the closer I am to releasing it on Steam \u2014 even just as a demo or wishlist page. The game has potential, but there\u2019s still a lot of work ahead.\nhttps:\/\/protzz.itch.io\/hark\n\nThat was my Ludum Dare 57 journey: two sleepless nights, lots of cut features, but a playable prototype that already grabs attention. If things go well, I\u2019ll keep developing it into a full game \u2014 with a deeper challenge system, a bigger deck, all the Tarot cards, and new modes.\n\nThanks for reading! I\u2019d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you enjoy the game. Good luck at your jams too!<3","title":"How I made my game!","wayback_source":[]}