Grid Cars by Germanunkol

[raw]
made by Germanunkol for LD31 (JAM)
UPDATE:
===========================================
Many people complained they could not play the game because it's multiplayer only.
So we have put up a dedicated server!

To join the server: Click the "Updated Version" below - there are Linux, Windows and Mac versions there. (Linux users, install the awesome Löve framework: "sudo apt-get install love" or similar)
Start the game, press "p" to enter your username.

! Address of the dedicated server: germanunkol.de (enter this in the IP field by pressing 'i', then connect using 'c'.)

We have not really added any other features. Still, if you feel that's cheating, the old links can still be found below - they work fine. In this case, please rate using those.

Grid Cars - a competitive racing game
============================================

Ludum Dare 31 entry. Made in one weekend.

Multiplayer only! This game is intended as an "in-betweener" at LAN Parties.

All cars are grid based. You have 10 seconds to make your move. Your velocity is "saved" between moves -
so the faster you went last round, the further you can go this round!

Once the round has started, use WASD to look ahead and the mouse wheel to zoom out.

Make sure to send us your custom maps if you make them!

Features:
---------------------
- Multiplayer!
- Custom maps!
- Absolutely no sounds.
- Full map really DOES fit onto one screen (zoom out to see) :P
- Configurable. Edit the config.txt in:
"%APPDATA%/LOVE/GridWars/ (Win)
~/.local/share/love/GridWars (Linux + Max)

Credits:
----------------------
Ramona B. (Graphics)
Peter Z. (Additional Maps)
Dudenheit (Programming)
Germanunkol (Programming)

More info and full README:
----------------------
https://github.com/Germanunkol/Cars

Make your own maps:
---------------------
Tutorial: http://www.indiedb.com/games/gridcars/tutorials/create-new-custom-maps

Ratings

Coolness 95% 2
Overall(Jam) 3.62 199
Fun(Jam) 3.40 242
Graphics(Jam) 3.04 620
Humor(Jam) 2.72 428
Innovation(Jam) 3.89 74
Mood(Jam) 2.93 586
Theme(Jam) 2.52 967

Feedback

Vulture Tamer
08. Dec 2014 · 10:40 UTC
pitty that noone is online :s

cool mechanic!
Lars Faust
08. Dec 2014 · 14:52 UTC
I love this and really really wish there were people on to play against.

The whole mechanic seems fleshed out and really works surprisingly well. You need to truly look ahead and plan your breaking and driving line. This is a great party game.
It controls very well, too.

Also, impressive stuff setting up multiplayer and a level import system up in this timespan.
rabbit
08. Dec 2014 · 17:59 UTC
Took me a minute to figure out how to play exactly, but after I did it was rad. Gj.
hwinwuzhere
08. Dec 2014 · 18:01 UTC
I really like the graphics. The multiplayer aspect (altough I didn't get the chance to play with others) is a really nice feature.
🎤 Germanunkol
08. Dec 2014 · 18:23 UTC
Thanks for the comments and kind words everyone!

If we get the chance to put up a dedicated server later this week, I'll make sure to post the address here, so that everyone can join the same server. Until then, get some friends or family together - it's really fun to play with others! :D
Wilson
08. Dec 2014 · 19:51 UTC
Cool idea, we need more turn-based racing games :) Bet it would be very fun with other people (no-one to play with here sadly)
flatgub
08. Dec 2014 · 21:46 UTC
I've seen a game like this before ages ago for windows 98!
it was a favorite of mine and your recreation of it is very nice! I cant wait to play it with some friends!
Jaloko
09. Dec 2014 · 09:35 UTC
Played this with a few friends. Good game!
Krimble
09. Dec 2014 · 09:38 UTC
Took a few crashes to get the hang of the movement overall not a bad game.
Snuux
09. Dec 2014 · 15:08 UTC
All 5 stars! Cool mechanic, cool multiplayer, and respect for use Love2D
Frozen Fractal
09. Dec 2014 · 20:03 UTC
Can't play right now for lack of friends, but looks interesting.
ViliX64
10. Dec 2014 · 21:21 UTC
Well polished game! :)
Dietrich Epp
11. Dec 2014 · 06:49 UTC
Hm, once I started, I couldn't figure out how to make the cars go. I swear I pressed every button on the keyboard.
🎤 Germanunkol
11. Dec 2014 · 07:32 UTC
Sorry, the jam was too short to include a tutorial :)
Click on one of the highlighted grid joints around the car. Then the car will move to that grid. In future moves, the highlighted grids (i.e. the places you can go) will always depend on the past move. The fast you go, the faster you will go next round.
hypnoticbytes
11. Dec 2014 · 15:20 UTC
Great achievement for just 72 hours!!! Lovely game!!
sharp911
11. Dec 2014 · 17:12 UTC
Nice game. Though no one online
besieger1
11. Dec 2014 · 20:02 UTC
Very good if you are able to play with others!
Arkrothe
11. Dec 2014 · 20:07 UTC
Woot turn based racing! Quite a fun concept, but apparently i'm too sucky at it! 5 stars for innovation :)
RHY3756547
11. Dec 2014 · 20:14 UTC
Very innovative! Me and Felix (@Mach60KAS) played your game earlier. Glad to see more multiplayer games this LD! We've seen 4 online ones so far, including our own.

I mentioned that the two main problems were server configuration: how it kicked me for not readying while waiting for someone (they actually got in, but got instantly kicked) and how the people attempting to join your server had to repeatedly try connecting for about 5 minutes, instead of joining as a spectator or at least waiting in a queue, with chat access.

The game itself was a really interesting twist on a racer, though I wasn't very good at it. :| It was incredibly hard to turn and slow down at the same time - it would have been nice to have some "drift mode" or whatever that you enter through turning harshly that slows you down and turns you while leaving tracks on the floor. (but obviously makes it really hard to turn the other way)

The chat was hilarious, but the server spamming messages kind of took away from the real p2p chat. I was also mega confused since the chat added at the top instead of the bottom. Either ways thanks for making this, I had fun.
ilokimo
11. Dec 2014 · 20:25 UTC
Great game, awesome to see a multiplayer, I guess its a challenge to get players, but this is definitely something that will be really fun at a LAN party!
obskyr
11. Dec 2014 · 20:25 UTC
Hahhahah, I've played this with pen and paper! Was that where you got the idea?
ilokimo
11. Dec 2014 · 20:49 UTC
Great game, awesome to see a multiplayer, I guess its a challenge to get players, but this is definitely something that will be really fun at a LAN party!
ilokimo
11. Dec 2014 · 20:50 UTC
oops, it double posted when I pressed back :o
Mach60KAS
11. Dec 2014 · 20:59 UTC
Very cool mechanic, really hard at first but great to play with friends. Played with one of the devs (as "Felix"), they were very helpful with teaching the game! Maps are varied, with plenty of shortcuts if you get the hang of the mechanics. Keep up the good work!
Windmill Games
12. Dec 2014 · 13:25 UTC
Although I only could try it solo, it was a very interesting, unique and fun game! Impressive that you had time to implement multiplayer support, I will test it out with some friends later.

Happy too see another awesome Löve game, well done! :)
🎤 Germanunkol
12. Dec 2014 · 16:18 UTC
Hey everyone - thanks for the great comments! Really encouraging! :)

@ RHY3756547: Thanks a lot for the extensive feedback. We implemented a few of your suggested changes:
- Server is no longer commenting on each
- The kicking of non-ready users had been taken out about 10 minutes after you left. It was a measure against idling people in the lobby, but it wasn't well executed. Instead, we added spectating now - everyone who isn't ready in time will just spectate.
- This also takes care of the joining issue: Now everyone can join, even during a game -> they'll just be spectators (Great idea here.)
We have not changed any game mechanics - I feel that would be "cheating", post ludum-dare. Also, I kind of like the simplicity of it, usually this game is played on pen and paper. But the server-side issues should all be fixed. Thanks for playing!!
el-pepi
13. Dec 2014 · 20:45 UTC
Very interesting and innovative! I liked it a lot!
I was really fun playing with you. The controls are hard, but make sence!
Very good game. I wish it had some sound.
Code Medicine
13. Dec 2014 · 21:21 UTC
What a neat way to blend racing and strategy. I had to play by myself but it handled really well. It was nice to see that you could move faster if you made the proper moves. Once I figured it out I really enjoyed it. This one could really benefit from a tutorial level. Multiplayer in a jam game is hugely impressive, though not having a player-base ruins that experience. The visuals were great and the whole thing feels well realized. Would be a great iOS or web portal game. Great work here.
leffe108
13. Dec 2014 · 22:37 UTC
Very interesting game idea. Reminds me of a turn based board game called Race where you get cards to move your cars forward in a race track.

I miss documentation about what keys to use to zoom in/out. Especially as your game is otherwise very well documented on what key to press for what action. Only after trying your game I saw that your game entry tells that there is a zoom functionality, which will sure be a great help when you play in MP and don't want to crash into the walls. :)
Elemental Zeal Games Studios
14. Dec 2014 · 16:29 UTC
Neat mechanic. Well done. :)
Lythom
15. Dec 2014 · 13:06 UTC
Hi ! Good entry there, I liked how well it works. Too bad I had nobody to played with, must be more fun with a lot of people !
Madball
28. Dec 2014 · 11:17 UTC
That's a fun game! I'm sure I'd play it more if there were more people online.
I'd like chat messages to have different colors depending on what kind of message it is. So, server and player messages should be easily distinguishable. Also, I want alternative controls for zooming, my mouse wheel doesn't work properly.
The idea isn't new. That would still make a great racing game if you continue working on it.
Also, couldn't find a way to make/import levels.
🎤 Germanunkol
28. Dec 2014 · 12:23 UTC
@Madball, thanks for checking it out and thanks for the feedback!
Different coloured chat is def. something we would have to add if we continue to update this. Alternate controls is a good point - they would make sense not only for zooming but also for the UI.
For making your own maps, we wrote a tutorial, check this out:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/gridcars/tutorials/create-new-custom-maps
SK16 Games
28. Dec 2014 · 17:10 UTC
Really innovative and fun to play game! You should develop this further, maybe upload it to some web-game site. I was "Sixten" in game, fun playing with you!
ETHproductions
28. Dec 2014 · 17:27 UTC
Awesome!! Just got off the server after racing with you and a few others. It's a whole lot like real racing. It relies more on strategy then quick thinking, which sets it apart from most racing games. The server can be pretty funny with its comments sometimes, too! :)