Asix LD31 Post Mortem: Monster Buster
This was my third attempt at Ludum Dare, but the thing that sets this attempt apart from the others is that I actually finished something! Making Monster Buster was a challenge and a fun one. I learned a lot about Unity (my tool of choice) and a great deal about coding. Even brushed up on my pixel art and even added in some old music I did awhile ago that’s been getting good comments. Overall this has been a great push forward in my endeavors to be a developer!
While I am definitely a better person after doing LD31, there are a lot of things I hope to improve on in the next Ludum Dare. I have issues staying focused and my time management could use some work. Actually my time management wasn’t too bad, I just have to adhere to the plans I set for myself. I’m not really a guy who likes structure, but I am learning to live with it. Even while writing this Post Mortem I am trying to make sure my thoughts flow and I am not rambling on. Hope I am doing a good job!
Another thing I have discovered about my game developing style is that I have a hard time making prototypes without graphics. For some reason I cannot code the game until it looks like a game! This means I am work on the graphics before I work on the core game. While this could work on my own personal projects, this fact almost prevented me from completed Monster Buster on time. Hopefully by time the next Ludum Dare comes around I will have broken the habit. I just like my games to look nice from start to finish is all.
Honestly this Ludum Dare has caused me to push myself in ways I never imagine. I freaking made my first battle system, something I thought was outside my abilities before LD31. Actually most of what I accomplished with Monster Buster was stuff I learned on the spot. My biggest achievement during LD31 was me learning how to use co-routines, something I shied away from for awhile because I found it kind of complicated. Ludum Dare was the Namek that unlock my hidden potential. I feel invincible!
So what does Asix Jin have planned for the future with his new hidden potential? Well you can expect Monster Buster to expand and be on android devices everywhere in the future. I have already started writing up some plans for it and I am beyond excited about it. I will also be doing a lot of jams next year since I see them as the best way for me to practice and further myself. I even want to get back into learning more about music production (mainly in FL Studios and Famitracker) since my music in Monster Buster has been getting good comments. To be honest I want to be a triple threat so I will be throwing in some pixeling in my training regime. Ludum Dare 31 is only the start of the awesomeness to come so please don’t forget the name Asix Jin Trigger!
I made three devlog post during LD31 which can viewed via the links below