More importantly, Rate me! I’m first on my own list, that can’t be good 😉

http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=default

or more specifically:

http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=5952

http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=5952

Well, this was my first Ludum Dare, and all in all I like the result my game has become. Still, there’s enough to improve, if only on the motivational front.

What went right:

• I went to bed early on Friday, which increased my motivation and inspiration on saturdaymorning. However, it also meant I ‘didn’t feel like it anymore’ after about 12 hours.
• I had time to spare. I was pretty much done 8 hours before the final deadline, and that included 3 hours of Grand Prix of Bahrain.
• I like the game. It’s mostly robust, and mostly polished. There are a few glaring bugs, one which could, in the worst circumstances, break the game (Strand you on a planet, to be precise) but no crashes, and no big graphical problems.

What went wrong:

• Motivation issues. Not that my game is unfinished now, but I realize it could’ve been much better.
• The Grand Prix of Bahrain. Like the motivation, would’ve improved my game as well.
• Fear of bugs: I had a few more ideas, but I didn’t want to be overcome by feature creep. I’m sure I could’ve added some more features and still be done on time.
• I didn’t really like the theme. I had a great idea for Alchemy (Whether it’d be better than the game I have now is debatable) but this’ll have to do.
• I slacked my way through the sound and music. It’s reasonable, but no more then that.
• As mentioned, I had time left. It could’ve been better.

Future work:

• IOS Version
• Bug Fixes
• Adding some info on the HUD to make it easier to find planets.

Future-Future work:

• Planet Crashing
• Different kinds of trees, different kinds of seeds
• Other kinds of life
• NPC’s and other random elements
• Infinite-esque space
• Storyline
• Trading
• Spore(tm) meets Eufloria(tm) – no, just kidding.

Rating myself:
Overall: 4 stars:
Innovation: 3.5 stars: Most of the gameplay elements ‘just work’, but it’s not the most original I’ve seen.
Fun: 4.5 stars: There’s something about the freedom the game gives I really like. Of course, I’m biased.
Theme: 4 stars: While not the most original take on the theme, they are definitely ‘tiny worlds’.
Graphics: 3.5 stars: The trees are nice, the sprites are OK. More life would’ve been nice
Audio: 2.5 stars: Not all bad, but nothing exceptional
Humor: N/A: I don’t think I have any humor
Mood: 3 stars: It’s not mood-less, but it’s nothing special either.

(I’ve made this post with 17 days to go for rating, and I’m going to compare it with the averages I’m actually going to get)

#121 Overall: 3.56: half a star lower than I anticipated, but beating the average.
#153 Innovation: 3.53: Right on the mark
#169 Theme: 3.53: Half a star lower than I anticipated. Come on guys, they WERE small planets 😛
#262 Fun: 3.12: Massively lower than I anticipated. I guess it became boring more quickly than I anticipated.
#305 Mood: 2.91: Right on the mark.
#450 Audio: 2.44: Right on the mark
#531 Humor: 2.05: Well, to be expected rly.
#677 Graphics: 2.41: a star lower. Perhaps I should’ve focussed more on the trees or the more unique features.

Well, that’s it! I’d like to thank all the voters, and I know I shouldn’t be disappointed: 121st of over 1000 entries is very good for a first entry. And of course congratulations to all the winners!

I declare i shall join this competition for the second time.

I shall not waver or be afraid of the theme.

I shall make my own beautiful programmer art, and use CinderLib for my shenanigans.

Finally, i declare you shall give me a high rating. Thanks in advance.

See you in 3 weekends!

What I really want to do for this Ludum Dare is to allow the player to create something. Anything. Could be a train, plane, bus, spacecraft… Guess it’ll depend on the theme. But if I can make something where the player can design and use something, i’d be satisfied.

I’m not going out.

I am, however, going to downsize my plans and expectations.

As it looks now, I’m not going to have all weekend. I’m probably gonna be happy if I can get 8 hours in total into it.

I’m still going to try and deliver something, but it will be crappy. Hah.

See you in a week.

Good morning ladies. I decided to post ma working situ-aysh, see above.

I’ll post about some plans and such later on.

So, the engine is running now, and I’m going to have a bit of a talk.

Firstly, the moment I saw “You are the villain” I’ve been stuck with Britney Spears’ song Criminal ~ Thank you for that…

I’ve also been mulling around ideas, and here’s at least one I’ve discarded.

I decided NOT to do a terrorist game. My first (original-ish) idea was that you are a suicide bomber/pilot/what-have-you, you do your evil… stuff, and see the firey, blazing, bloody result of your actions.
Don’t get me wrong, I find these things terrible, there are much better ways to get your point across, but as a game, I see potential.
I see 2 problems: I’d never dare to show it to my family or co-workers, and I’m afraid radicals may get angry at me. So I’m going to do the smart thing and not do that.

But then what.

Luckily, there are other villains, and my plan now includes the man of 2012, also declared Most Sexy man in the world, and it’s not even Psy of Gangnam Style.
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/files/142912688_0.jpg

Here, listen to this:
Skrillex – Kill Everybody

I’ve broken my own rules in that I’ve decided to use a bit I’ve never used before: Box2D.

In combination with my good, old-fashioned, CinderLib.

So. First Screenshot Saturday Screenshot of the day. It’s still pretty basic as I’m still getting used to Box2D, but I’ve got this arrow missile thing, and I can give it a slingshot esque boost, so I’m actually pretty happy with my progress so far.

So yeah um, I’ve got these splosions… Anyway screenshots.

Well, after doing Borderlands 2 for the.. err.. entire afternoon, cough, I’ve decided to create a level editor with QT and cinderlib. Make a house ish thing, then blow it up. You know the idea.

EDIT: On second thought, I’m not even going to bother with QT; i’ll just use cinderlib to put up a little editor.

Got some good progress on my level editor, so another screenshot time~!

From creation in the level editor:

To flying with mah rocket:

Right down to da ‘splosion:

And here’s some destruction:

So I should make a post mortem over my game:
http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-25/?action=preview&uid=5952

What went right?

• I figured out how to work with the physics engine Box2D, and how to combine it with my game library, CinderLib.


• I sorta-finished everything I wanted to finish, and I technically had time to spare.
  
• I have a functional, albeit simple, level editor.


• The gameplay idea was pretty ok

What went wrong?

• Motivation. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy making the game, but I can’t seem to keep myself loaded up for the entire weekend.


• I couldn’t be bothered to polish much due to motivation. The game is too easy because of that, it’s more of a physics sandbox than an actual game.


• No sound, little variation, all because of motivational issues.


• The excecution of the game isn’t very good

Yeah, I’m a little too late for a new game idea based on the theme, so I thought I’d share it anyway for your reading pleasure.

My idea is as follows:

The player creates a level based on certain elements. These could include simple platforms, ground, but also pitfalls and traps.

Then a hero goes and runs through the level with some basic AI. At first he is a weak simpleton, but he can upgrade.

The trick is for the player to balance the level, so the hero does die due to lack of skill, but isn’t actually unable to complete the level.

Because if the hero is unable to complete the level, the upgrade mechanic kicks in. If there is a jump which is simply too far to ever get across, the hero gets a jetpack. If the hero finds himself stuck in a cave, he gets a drill, stuff like that.

Blah, idea.

So yeah, I’ve rated roundabout 40 games, and the game I’m about to link I enjoyed the most up till now.

Not that I have the best tastes, mind you.

http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-25/?action=preview&uid=14576

Yeah, i know, it’s not in the Ludum Dare idea to reward prizes, but I’m just trying to do something nice.

My STEAM inventory

The game I personally find best of the games I will play for the next few weeks made for #LD48 will have a choice for a free game in my steam inventory, as linked above.

Impress me 😉

C++; Visual Studio; CinderLib.

Yes, that’s right, I’m gonna try to stay away from the likes of GIMP and other drawing or sound/music programs. Especially for sound/music this is gonna be a challenge, but I’mma try anyway!

Ok! Screenshot time.

As promised, I’m making something procedurally generated. with blocks and enemies.

I’m not ENTIRELY sure where I’m going to go with this, but hell, perhaps I have a game at the end of the weekend. hah.

Anyway, here’s the goodies:

I’ve had 1 proper ludum dare, and it was my first ludum dare ever.

For some reason, since then, it never really came back together, due to lack of time, or lack of interest, or lack of inspiration, or other less distinctive lacks.

But I really want to make another cool game. So here’s to hoping my GF doesn’t take too much of my time, I’m in a good mood, I feel like programming, so let’s do it.

I actually bought the discounted ‘Pickle 2’ to help me with pixel art. Not that the pixel art will look any better than it ever did, cause I’m a programmer! But still, I hope I can use the tool to make somewhat more interesting art.

I’ll be using:
Unity 3D
Pickle 2
And probably tools like SFVX or whatever that thing’s called which produces sound effects, as well as some overtly random music generator.

If I use the last 2 of those list, I’ll have succeeded, as that means I gotten far enough with my game to even consider putting sound and music in.

It’ll be a distinct 2D game, and I’d really love to make some kind of builder game, whether it be City Building, RTS, Spaceship building or whatever, but I’ll let that depend on how well it’ll fit into the theme.

However, I’m also considering doing a 3D game with 2D sprites (real ortagonal-like) but I’m not sure if that’ll work, and again it’ll depend on the theme.

Anyway, good luck to all, go forth and make games!