Conglomerates by A333

[raw]
made by A333 for LD30 (COMPO)
Simple strategy game. Capture the droid manufacturing worlds, connect them into giant half-sector size manufacturing conglomerates, upgrade your army, et cetera. Go play it, it's quite simple and (i hope) at least somewhat fun.

If game is doing nothing on start, please install xna4.0 redistributable.

In case of misunderstandings:

Basic rules:
- Manufacturing worlds (squares) produce simple squishy fighters every 10 seconds.
- To control the droids, select the world and point to the target with right mouse button.
- You could only control droids who are orbiting friendly planet, because retranslators and stuff.
- Droids will capture enemy/neutral planet if there's no threat. More fleets = faster capture.

Advanced rules:
- Some worlds provide upgrades. Capture them and they will work like your usual aura projectors.
- You could connect worlds into the manufacturing chains (conglomerates). Every manfacturing world in a chain will upgrade the ship class (up to four worlds), every module world will upgrade ship stats.
- You could disconnect any world anytime, just select it and then shift-rightclick on itself.

Quirky rules:
- Conglomerates transport matter between each other instantly, but there is a bureacracy of course, and also this worlds seem to speak on hundreds of different languages, so:
Larger chains = slower build times
but:
You could get your production at any chosen world. Just select one closest to your enemies and target to their bases.
- Conglomerates completely halt when under siege, single manufacturing worlds aren't. Then again, bureacracy.
- Building times are reset when you add/remove worlds from the chain.

Balance rules (even more quirky):
- I've tried.
- Fighters. Are agile and many. They can dodge damage, but not reliably enough to counter...
- Armored droids. There are 4, but they are designed to devastate fighters. You'll need two worlds and a bit of patience. (Two connected worlds generally beat two single worlds. Generally).
- Weapon platforms. There are only two in the squad. But they one-shot armored droids. However they are too slow to reliably destroy fighters. Balance! You'll need to connect three worlds to get the weapon platforms.
- One overpowered thing. Find it yourself, okay?

Used: XNA, 2D XNA Primitive Shapes Library (http://sourceforge.net/projects/primitives2d/), and as3sfxr (http://www.superflashbros.net/as3sfxr/) for sound effects.

Ratings

Coolness 66% 3
Overall 3.33 425
Audio 2.63 607
Fun 3.22 405
Graphics 3.62 251
Humor 2.13 694
Innovation 2.64 926
Mood 3.03 523
Theme 3.56 323

Feedback

ljdp
25. Aug 2014 路 09:48 UTC
Any chance of a build? So many games to play I don't have the time to compile!
Contraspect
25. Aug 2014 路 09:48 UTC
How do I run this game? I only see a source link.
elkiwydev
25. Aug 2014 路 09:49 UTC
Looks good but only source link..No playable stuff there
Majko
25. Aug 2014 路 09:51 UTC
Like, seriously? The game is looking so good, finally someone with sense for graphics... and you haven't build it?
馃帳 A333
25. Aug 2014 路 09:53 UTC
Sorry guys. I've uploaded the build at the first place, of course, but the site refuses to show the link (dunno why, just checked - link is good).
I'll upload it to the alt location, it's the same archive, hope it's not against the rules.
n42k
25. Aug 2014 路 10:17 UTC
Quite enjoyable game with a solid, done before, idea. Simplistic and appealing graphics. Fitting sound effects.

Just a minor bug: when I press my mouse outside your game while in one of the "tutorials" it skips it.
modbox
25. Aug 2014 路 11:17 UTC
Bit confusing? But i really like the idea, better than mine.
togie
25. Aug 2014 路 11:18 UTC
Reminds me of a "down to basics" version of a game i had played on ps3 for hours, i would love to see you continue this. I know im keeping this version to play endlessly lol
alpha_rat
25. Aug 2014 路 11:31 UTC
Good mood and graphics, the gameplay is nice : some kind of galcon fusion with a twist !
malf
25. Aug 2014 路 11:47 UTC
Good game , I wasn't able to pass the first level though :D
Markavian
25. Aug 2014 路 11:58 UTC
Awesome game, found the first mission a little tough, but after I got the hang of the mechanics it was very enjoyable. "Congratulations, commander!" Would be great to have a better UI, right mouse clicking and shift-right clicking is really fiddly, wasn't always sure if I was making or breaking connections, or where I was sending units. Final mission stumped me until my 4th attempt.
JetL33t
25. Aug 2014 路 11:59 UTC
I really like it and played a few rounds. But I just can't seem to win :P
Maybe next round
馃帳 A333
25. Aug 2014 路 12:12 UTC
>n42k
Yes, it needs some focus checks. But it's a minor, so may be in a remake =).
>modbox, Markavian, JetL33t
Controls are very weak. Input update, you should've seen that piece of code, it's a huge mess.
About difficulty - first level is actually badly designed, and the last level, well, i've never been able to beat it yet, but i've figured someone definitely would. Congratulations to you all =)
Markavian
25. Aug 2014 路 12:20 UTC
Last level: because of the way you'd balanced the AI, linking the middle two planets and defending against the reds with L2 ships was the priority. While purple started expanding north, I broke the link between their worlds, and used the extra fighters from that to claim the right side of the map, reinforcing the middle... then it was a slow game of holding off the reds until I could connect all the worlds and make super ships... I think I had a crazy chain of like 8 planets or something.
馃帳 A333
25. Aug 2014 路 12:35 UTC
You really know your way around strategies. Something that I should consider to learn before trying to make another strategy game.
Markavian
25. Aug 2014 路 12:43 UTC
Well, you made a good game, still playing it :D - my only complaint now is a lack of restart/reset after losing or winning a game. I'd be interested to see if it works on a larger scrolling map as well so you can have bigger battles.
micdoodle8
25. Aug 2014 路 20:56 UTC
Nice game. Very tough though, couldn't even capture a few worlds without being overtaken.
lkr
25. Aug 2014 路 21:07 UTC
Fun and well-made game :)
Difficult AI, but that's not a bad thing.
PaperBlurt
28. Aug 2014 路 09:14 UTC
Actually kinda complex game.
Very nice work!
TKia_
30. Aug 2014 路 11:35 UTC
Very cool, interesting, and fun idea for a strategy game! Reminded me of Galcon. Liked the look and design of it.. If only I could be good enough to last past the first level :P
Lvyn
30. Aug 2014 路 11:36 UTC
Nice game, good gameplay !
NiceAlexanderAS
02. Sep 2014 路 23:43 UTC
I've also made an RTS on XNA, HI5 bro xD The game is fun, i loved the graphics! great work :D
okmmjyygv
07. Sep 2014 路 19:15 UTC
Very complicated game but in a good way. I like this game a lot.