LudumData

S-COM: Aftermath by chaosed0

[raw]
made by chaosed0 for LD32 (COMPO)
The alien invasion is over, but humanity's problems are just beginning. With the psionic abilities and plasma weapons left behind, the nations are now turning inward and beginning pointless wars. In the midst of this conflict, the S-COM project is one again activated - but this time, to preserve order.

Strike a careful balance between the continents, and develop the Mind-Control bomb before one of them falls into chaos - or the world will go with it...

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This game is, of course, based on the story of X-COM. In the latest remake (Enemy Unknown), there's lots of questioning about "what happens after the aliens are gone/what do we do with all this tech/how will it change humanity?" but the game never explores the idea. Here's my take on it, in strategy-game spreadsheet-crunching continent-clicking form.

If you get into the game and have no idea what to do, check out the "Help" button at the top-right.
Web https://straypixels.net/ld32/public/index.html
Alternate (Itch.io) http://chaosed0.itch.io/s-com-aftermath
Source https://github.com/Chaosed0/LD32
Original URL https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-32/?action=preview&uid=36360

Ratings

Coolness 55% 3
Overall 3.50 264
Fun 3.00 580
Graphics 3.00 579
Innovation 3.41 344
Mood 3.17 352
Theme 2.94 849

Feedback

mtanton
20. Apr 2015 · 02:12 UTC
Definitely a fan because XCOM. It was a bit difficult to tell how the deployments were affecting the countries. I enjoyed it though! Good game.
Tasteslikefuture
20. Apr 2015 · 22:17 UTC
Alot of experimenting is required, but a novel idea none the less. Kind of like risk, but more complex. Great job!
Jungle
20. Apr 2015 · 22:22 UTC
I am a XCOM fan too. I think your game have much potential but it not fit this LD theme. Lack of sound and music dont help. The mechanics is very good and intersting. I guess if you keep the project on you will make a great game!
jlauper
20. Apr 2015 · 22:51 UTC
A really fun game, that agent is a life saver!
Zeriver
20. Apr 2015 · 22:57 UTC
Neat game, simplistic but playable.
Agents OP, two-three agents and you are pretty much set for the win :D

I hope you will expand on this idea, i would like to see game telling us about events after X-COM, and you have pretty decent start to make such game.
ppvk
20. Apr 2015 · 23:13 UTC
Would have been great with a manual, but a fantastic game otherwise.
thumbgarden
20. Apr 2015 · 23:19 UTC
great looking game. Im not that into this genre but it looks great
Sim00n
20. Apr 2015 · 23:22 UTC
I still don't really understand what do the numbers mean. However I really liked the UI and overall feel of the game. Good job.
Alexander Ramsay-Baggs
20. Apr 2015 · 23:29 UTC
Cool idea! Not entirely sure on how theme-fitting it is, but really neat!
yuigoto
21. Apr 2015 · 01:01 UTC
The way the game is presented sets up a really nice mood to play. Graphics are simple, sure, but are perfect for this.

I kind of love games with this kind of setup and mood, even though I'm usually bad with strategy games.

Missing a little bit of audio, but it isn't te essential here. The overall gameplay is well thought and enough to keep this usually casual gamer have fun thinking a little bit and getting frustrated of not being able to prevent chaos.

Nice entry. :)
Teesquared
21. Apr 2015 · 01:19 UTC
Thank you for checking the bomb completion before stability failure :). I played this way too many times and finally won in 14 Months with a -48 stability in Africa and hit exactly 100%. It feels like you need a lot of patience to win this one but it is rewarding. That agent is critical. Good job. X-COMpleted :)
Timm638
21. Apr 2015 · 18:07 UTC
You should explain this game a bit more. Like can i end the wars?
Toby Pinder
21. Apr 2015 · 18:17 UTC
Really love the storytelling in this one. I'm hopeless at these sorts of games but it's an interesting, well put together piece. Its challenges are a lack of tutorial and audio/visual polish, but if you can work on those outside the jam timeframe I could see this being popular with a wider audience!
gogo199432
24. Apr 2015 · 13:56 UTC
Loved it! Old school, but that's why it's uniqe
ekkiiiii
26. Apr 2015 · 17:09 UTC
I was going to complain about missing feedback for the possible actions, but I won the first game after 13 turns and think I understood all the mechanics now. Very impressived by how intuitive it turned out, would like to play more!
DarkMeatGames
28. Apr 2015 · 12:08 UTC
Really cool concept that I really wanted to get good at. A bit too hard to understand what's going on though, or what the impact of different troops are. With some polish and better tutorial/guidance this could be a really really cool project. I hope to see more.
Frozen Fractal
06. May 2015 · 18:23 UTC
Great game! I lost miserably the first time, made it to 91% the second time. Not easy, but full of interesting decisions, and very well balanced. Great job!
Chaoseed
11. May 2015 · 19:04 UTC
Interesting stuff! I'm a fan of the old-school X-COM games, so I got the idea soon. ;) The interface is great and the gameplay seems polished, but it's hard to figure out the connections between the various things you can do. Great job, though!