{"author_name":"WiggleWorm513","cat":"LD #22","comments":[],"epoch":1324722480,"likes":0,"metadata":{"p_key":"60031","p_author":"WiggleWorm513","p_authorkey":"5570","p_urlkey":"95783","p_title":"Gemclusion Postmortem","p_cat":"LD #22","p_event":"LD22","p_time":"1324722480","p_likes":"0","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"5570","us_name":"WiggleWorm513","us_username":"wiggleworm513","event_start":"1323993600","event_key":"8","event_name":"LD22"},"text":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here is the postmortem for our LD22 jam entry : Gemclusion<\/a>.\u00a0 This was our second Ludum Dare (this first being LD21), and learning from our experiences from the last one we decided from the beginning to make sure to keep the game simple (K.I.S.S.).<\/p>\n

Warmup<\/strong><\/p>\n

This time around we benefited greatly from an accidental warmup contest: Game Prototype Challenge<\/a>.\u00a0 It’s another for fun game dev contest, but it’s on a smaller scale than LD (29 entries in the last one).\u00a0 During the GPC contest, we made a point to keep it simple and have fun with the contest.\u00a0 This is an important thing to remember when doing these contests.\u00a0 Too often we get caught up in the malaise of trying to make the ultimate game and forget about having fun.\u00a0 It was after the GPC contest that we happened to remember that the next LD was starting soon.\u00a0 Once we realized that LD was coming, we started getting ourselves ready.\u00a0 The next week or so was spent relaxing and waiting for the Theme.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Theme<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the voting rounds there were main themes that we were hoping for.\u00a0 In particular, I was hoping that we would get more of an unconventional theme (like midgets) \u2026 sadly we will never know that greatness that would have been mighty midget magnets \u2026 but I digress.\u00a0 In the end Alone was chosen as the theme.\u00a0 Once it was announced, we immediately sprang into action and started talking out some game ideas that would fit an interpretation of Alone.\u00a0 Since we wanted something unconventional, we decided to stay away from any ideas involving a person being or becoming alone.\u00a0 It was at this time that we came up with a rough puzzle game idea where the goal was to get a single puzzle piece alone.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A small doodle of our LD22 Prototype<\/p><\/div>\n

Prototype
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n

Since we liked the idea we decided to do a quick and dirty prototype.\u00a0 It would have no effort placed in sounds, art or guis; instead it would focus just on the Gameplay.\u00a0 So I went to work with the quickness that is afforded to me by my bearded-ness. [PIC] Within moments I had re-made my doodle in Unity [PIC].\u00a0 Once the level was in place, I was able to quickly get all everything working for the prototype.\u00a0 It included moving the pieces with the goal of destroying all the pieces but one.\u00a0 To destroy a piece, you had to move it through an opening and into an invisible wall.\u00a0 It took about 2 hours to get the prototype completed.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

LD22 Entry - Alpha 0.5<\/p><\/div>\n

[PLAY THE PROTOTYPE<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Gameplay<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the span of the weekend, the gameplay was expanded upon a bit.\u00a0 Most of Saturday morning was spent adding new gameplay elements (warp points, breakable walls, pass-through walls, merging pieces and gate walls).<\/p>\n