Save The Children by MrAwesomeHimself

[raw]
made by MrAwesomeHimself for LD27 (COMPO)
keep some orphan hungry children alive, perhaps at a refugee camp.

The aim is to remind people that in the world every 10 seconds, a child dies of poverty related causes.

Please consider donating to world food aid type charities, and modify political leanings towards political parties which favour higher international aid budgets.

Edit
Another Screenshot + source code link

Edited - finish bug - scores were potentially infinite.

Edit - scoring explanation
the scoring algorithm operates like this:
score = score+ numberOfChildrenAlive*numberOfChildrenAlive/10 rounded down every 10 seconds.


the amount of food grows every 10 seconds, but rate of growth decreases. a very unwell child has a risk of imminent death if fed a ration.

Ratings

Coolness 33% 1528
Overall 2.64 937
Fun 1.63 1181
Graphics 2.50 789
Innovation 3.05 492
Mood 3.17 252
Theme 3.40 325

Feedback

lcass
27. Aug 2013 · 17:56 UTC
Are you kidding me? Im sorry but I didnt come to a game competition to feel sad. This is all over the media already I dont need a constant reminder that we live in an unfair world...
cafeine
27. Aug 2013 · 18:04 UTC
I like your entry, good graphics! IMHO it would have been interesting to have the food supply vary according to external causes (warfare, political instability, insufficient water supply, declining foreign aid), but it's difficult to model properly, especially when you have only 48 hours.
local minimum
27. Aug 2013 · 20:39 UTC
Good serious entry and nice graphics!
Tainted_Code
27. Aug 2013 · 21:21 UTC
Sad. must admit it made me feel bad.
Other than that, you have built quite an atmosphere with so little elements.
Quite good for LD standards.
Delca
27. Aug 2013 · 21:36 UTC
Your take on the theme was rather far-fetched, but the game itself conveys its message with efficiency.
That being said, I could not figure how the score worked : I tried three or four totally different behaviour (like overfeeding one child, being as fair as I could, not giving anything, and even feeding the dead), and it seemed to have no influence at all.
At least, the graphics are disturbingly accurate. I wish I will not do any nightmares because of it this night.
🎤 MrAwesomeHimself
28. Aug 2013 · 17:14 UTC
"been interesting to have the food supply vary according to external causes"

indeed, i'd thought of doing that but ran out of time.
Arrow-x
28. Aug 2013 · 17:16 UTC
this is so sad .... but u have a mood in your game and that is hard
immanuela
28. Aug 2013 · 17:24 UTC
Aww, this was so depressing.

But you have the right to make a game about anything you like, whether it's depressing or not! People make shooter games, families who have lost a member to gun violence complain. You cannot please everyone.

I like games like this. Could be a good puzzle game when you add other factors like cafeine said.
oajfh
28. Aug 2013 · 17:25 UTC
Definitely a tough 'game' to play...
koe415
29. Aug 2013 · 07:06 UTC
Well I've found the most depressing game I'll play today. I do like that the game manages to take a stance on a topic and stays true to a message. 'Good' art and interesting gameplay. Wish there was more to the gameplay than timing your food hand outs. Regardless, solid submission.
Valerien
30. Aug 2013 · 10:21 UTC
The use of the theme is very smart here, despite the limited realization.
I find strange the gameplay choice of having a very weak child die when he's being fed (and dies too if you don't feed him) though (and it is also possible to feed a dead child...).
Martin_Monosys
01. Sep 2013 · 19:45 UTC
I already complained about dead kittens, and then, this... Sorry, won't play.
deathray
04. Sep 2013 · 02:18 UTC
You get high points for mood, but definitely low for humor. I like the art style, and the game was interesting, but a little hard to figure out. I didn't know whether i was doing well or not.
garygreen
16. Sep 2013 · 19:21 UTC
I found it difficult to work out whether I was helping or not. However it was good to see someone trying to do something different in the competition, however (understandably) bleak it might have been.