{"author_link":"\/author\/bzaraticus\/","author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","comments":[{"author_name":"Nick Knowlson","author_uid":"15084","time":"Aug 27, 2012 @ 6:38am","epoch":1346049180,"text":"Won't run on my machine for some reason, Windows reports it 'stopped working' as soon as I open it.\r<br\/>\r<br\/>I'm on 64-bit Windows 7\r<br\/>\r<br\/>Looks really promising though, wish I could run it!"},{"author_name":"aardvarkpalace","author_uid":"15243","time":"Aug 27, 2012 @ 11:45am","epoch":1346067600,"text":"Not to be condescending, but did you extract the zip before running the .exe? Because that would cause a 'stopped working' error."},{"author_name":"nate427","author_uid":"7563","time":"Aug 27, 2012 @ 6:37pm","epoch":1346092320,"text":"Seems like a cool game, but I couldn't get my ants to do anything. :C"},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 27, 2012 @ 7:20pm","epoch":1346094900,"text":"The &quot;level&quot; determines the rate of success for the ants doing actions, they wont always succeed first time"},{"author_name":"Follett","author_uid":"11500","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:10am","epoch":1346133900,"text":"Kinda though this would be like sim ant. Took my a long time to understand what was happening and I lost my ants a few times but something about that simplistic look just made me love it."},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:15am","epoch":1346134200,"text":"Ahh, I had never heard of simant before now, just looked it up. Yeah i'll post more of an explanation soon, turns out its not as straightforward to understand as I thought it might be"},{"author_name":"axcho","author_uid":"8060","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:21am","epoch":1346134560,"text":"It seems promising, and I like the pixel ants, but nothing I did seemed to affect the game... :("},{"author_name":"Mayto","author_uid":"16516","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:28am","epoch":1346134980,"text":"It seems like the map modifications aren't working on my machine ; I couldn't put any blocks, and my ants were not removing any too.\r<br\/>Or maybe I didn't understand something?\r<br\/>Anyway, if this is a bug I hope you'll fix it, 'cause the game seems really fun :)"},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:35am","epoch":1346135400,"text":"Sorry! yes, cant place blocks was a bug! uploaded the fix now, same download link"},{"author_name":"defiantburrito","author_uid":"7829","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:38am","epoch":1346135580,"text":"I think this is pretty neat, and I really wanted to like it.  Unfortunately it's very confusing, and I don't think the game design quite works.  \r<br\/>\r<br\/>It's too hard to select individual ants once you get more than a handful, and it's way too hard to keep track of which ant is leveling which stats.\r<br\/>\r<br\/>I ended up leveling Reproduction first (because digging is boring, and you can't seem to level Attacking without other ants to fight) and I quickly ended up with WAY too many ants... they proceeded to multiply until my framerate died.\r<br\/>\r<br\/>Maybe there should be a food limit or something that limits how many ants you can have, and it would also help if there were a better way of keeping track of your ants."},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:53am","epoch":1346136480,"text":"Funny you should mention the controlling thing. If I had had time the next feature would have been multiple selection, I still may do it as a later release not for LD, we will see."},{"author_name":"LemonTree","author_uid":"16595","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 7:14am","epoch":1346137740,"text":"Boring. It's too hard to play."},{"author_name":"jujule","author_uid":"13894","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 7:46am","epoch":1346139660,"text":"Couldn't run it on my Mac... Sad, it looked interesting."},{"author_name":"juaxix","author_uid":"10960","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 8:48am","epoch":1346143380,"text":"Got an error:\r<br\/>----------------------\r<br\/>  Nombre del evento de problema:\tCLR20r3\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 01:\tcellant.exe\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 02:\t1.0.0.0\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 03:\t503c72c9\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 04:\tSystem.Drawing\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 05:\t4.0.0.0\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 06:\t4ba1e086\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 07:\t328\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 08:\t2c\r<br\/>  Firma del problema 09:\tAMAG3AACMAWG2XAF344U21ACVE5PSTKL\r<br\/>  Versi&oacute;n del sistema operativo:\t6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1\r<br\/>  Id. de configuraci&oacute;n regional:\t3082\r<br\/>  Informaci&oacute;n adicional 1:\t0a9e\r<br\/>  Informaci&oacute;n adicional 2:\t0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789\r<br\/>  Informaci&oacute;n adicional 3:\t0a9e\r<br\/>  Informaci&oacute;n adicional 4:\t0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789\r<br\/>----------------------"},{"author_name":"ubear","author_uid":"14141","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 9:29am","epoch":1346145840,"text":"I can't run the game on ubuntu 12.04. I have installed libsfml-* and libalut0, but now it's throws an Exception:\r<br\/>Unhandled Exception: System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Unable to find the specified file.\r<br\/>  at System.Drawing.Text.PrivateFontCollection.AddFontFile (System.String filename) [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at QuickFont.QFont.LoadQFontFromFontFile (QuickFont.FontLoadDescription loadDescription) [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at QuickFont.QFont..ctor (System.String fileName, Single size, FontStyle style, QuickFont.QFontBuilderConfiguration config) [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at QuickFont.QFont..ctor (System.String fileName, Single size) [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at CellAnt.Panels.MainMenu.OnSetup () [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at CellAnt.Panels.GUIPanel.AddSubPanel (CellAnt.Panels.GUIPanel pnl, System.String nm) [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at CellAnt.MainWindow.OnLoad (System.EventArgs e) [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at OpenTK.GameWindow.OnLoadInternal (System.EventArgs e) [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at OpenTK.GameWindow.Run (Double updates_per_second, Double frames_per_second) [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at OpenTK.GameWindow.Run () [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0 \r<br\/>  at CellAnt.Program.Main () [0x00000] in &lt;filename unknown&gt;:0"},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 3:23pm","epoch":1346167080,"text":"Thanks for the errors, will look into getting it running on linux in the next few days (need a test machine)."},{"author_name":"Robotic","author_uid":"8502","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 4:12pm","epoch":1346170020,"text":"I like this kind of game, but it wasn't very clear what to do. For instance, if their job is digging and you set a target, why can't you choose where you want them to dig ? Or how to do it ?"},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 4:43pm","epoch":1346171880,"text":"At the moment you can only target other ants, didnt have enough time to also add land targets. sorry :\/"},{"author_name":"raoz","author_uid":"16059","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 4:46pm","epoch":1346172060,"text":"This game is a bit confusing"},{"author_name":"Zoomyzoom","author_uid":"7301","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:11pm","epoch":1346177160,"text":"Liking the graphic design!"},{"author_name":"thewiseguy99","author_uid":"14421","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 6:40pm","epoch":1346178900,"text":"has potential and a great basis to continue with. I had a tought time getting the idea but overall good job."},{"author_name":"bvanschooten","author_uid":"14520","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 7:22pm","epoch":1346181420,"text":"I like the idea of watching ants run around do their own things, but I found it hard to control anything.  It is hard to click each ant one by one (if you can make out which ones are yours in the first place).   I placed some purple blocks and the ants seem to get stuck in them.  It takes ages for something to happen, but I am now running the game in the background to see what happens."},{"author_name":"kevincorrigan","author_uid":"15028","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 7:28pm","epoch":1346181780,"text":"Ant simulation, awesome, it was fun, I attacked reproduced and took over, bwahaha!"},{"author_name":"Rabbits...","author_uid":"11321","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 8:07pm","epoch":1346184120,"text":"Seems really interesting but my ants weren't really doing anything...I tried giving them jobs but they ignored my...probly my fault though so good game..."},{"author_name":"kyyrma","author_uid":"8424","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 8:25pm","epoch":1346185200,"text":"There didn't seem to be that much of a game here, although the simulation itself was cool. The ants didn't really seem to change their behaviour no matter what orders I gave them. Also, selecting ants by clicking was rather annoying.\r<br\/>\r<br\/>Maybe I should've given them more time? Maybe there should be a timescale adjustment in the game, so that you can speed up the action on the screen."},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 8:32pm","epoch":1346185620,"text":"You need to be quite patient, its not meant as a quick thing, when the actions happened faster it soon got out of control. Its still a game really. And well, as I said in an earlier comment I didnt have time to do multiselection."},{"author_name":"Grouflon","author_uid":"14480","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 8:56pm","epoch":1346187060,"text":"I may have missed something, but the fact that you can't control the digging of your ants makes the game really boring. too bad, I really liked the graphics and the theme."},{"author_name":"sampyxis","author_uid":"6533","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 8:59pm","epoch":1346187240,"text":"I really like the idea - and how it fits with the theme - but I couldn't get my ants to do anything"},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 10:01pm","epoch":1346190960,"text":"Why is it people keep saying that? they dig fine (and better still when they have a target, ive even tested reproduction and fighting and for me it all works...)"},{"author_name":"Wydra","author_uid":"15541","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 10:37pm","epoch":1346193120,"text":"Fails on launch for me.  Windows 7 64 bit.  Yes I extracted the exe.  I even tried installing mono to see if that was the problem.  Error from the event log:\r<br\/>\r<br\/>Application: CellAnt.exe\r<br\/>Framework Version: v4.0.30319\r<br\/>Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.\r<br\/>Exception Info: System.AccessViolationException\r<br\/>Stack:\r<br\/>   at System.Drawing.SafeNativeMethods+Gdip.GdipDrawString(System.Runtime.InteropServices.HandleRef, System.String, Int32, System.Runtime.InteropServices.HandleRef, System.Drawing.Internal.GPRECTF ByRef, System.Runtime.InteropServices.HandleRef, System.Runtime.InteropServices.HandleRef)\r<br\/>   at System.Drawing.Graphics.DrawString(System.String, System.Drawing.Font, System.Drawing.Brush, System.Drawing.RectangleF, System.Drawing.StringFormat)\r<br\/>   at System.Drawing.Graphics.DrawString(System.String, System.Drawing.Font, System.Drawing.Brush, Single, Single)\r<br\/>   at QuickFont.Builder.CreateInitialBitmap(System.Drawing.Font, System.Drawing.SizeF, Int32, QuickFont.QFontGlyph[] ByRef, QuickFont.TextGenerationRenderHint)\r<br\/>   at QuickFont.Builder.BuildFontData(System.String)\r<br\/>   at QuickFont.QFont.LoadQFontFromFontFile(QuickFont.FontLoadDescription)\r<br\/>   at QuickFont.QFont..ctor(System.String, Single, System.Drawing.FontStyle, QuickFont.QFontBuilderConfiguration)\r<br\/>   at QuickFont.QFont..ctor(System.String, Single)\r<br\/>   at CellAnt.Panels.HUD.OnSetup()\r<br\/>   at CellAnt.Panels.GUIPanel.AddSubPanel(CellAnt.Panels.GUIPanel, System.String)\r<br\/>   at CellAnt.MainWindow.OnLoad(System.EventArgs)\r<br\/>   at OpenTK.GameWindow.Run(Double, Double)\r<br\/>   at OpenTK.GameWindow.Run()\r<br\/>   at CellAnt.Program.Main()"},{"author_name":"Bzaraticus","author_uid":"15242","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 11:02pm","epoch":1346194620,"text":"Thanks, looking into it, I also use Win7 64 bit but will try find the cause."},{"author_name":"QualityAssurance","author_uid":"15238","time":"Aug 28, 2012 @ 11:03pm","epoch":1346194680,"text":"The concept got me excited, but the gameplay was disappointingly slow paced."},{"author_name":"Maxium","author_uid":"13926","time":"Aug 29, 2012 @ 5:16am","epoch":1346217060,"text":"Couldn't get the ants to target anything :\/"},{"author_name":"feyleaf","author_uid":"3375","time":"Aug 29, 2012 @ 5:24am","epoch":1346217540,"text":"I gave it a chance, but didn't really figure out what it was I was supposed to do.\r<br\/>The autonomous ants were pleasing to watch for a while."},{"author_name":"Barry Abrams","author_uid":"14387","time":"Aug 29, 2012 @ 12:26pm","epoch":1346242860,"text":"Sorry. Couldn't get it to run. Could be my installation of mono."},{"author_name":"jplur","author_uid":"1066","time":"Aug 30, 2012 @ 1:54am","epoch":1346291340,"text":"I liked it quite a bit. The ai ants started with very specific rgb traits, my guys died pretty quickly.  Also it was hard to tell who's on what side ;)"}],"images":["ld24\/15242-b79b60503dc23fc7847a939e1e0bf65f.jpg","ld24\/15242-cf1df3c9758db3b43842c501ab0906a7.jpg"],"links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.leet.cc\/CellAnt_Build.zip","text":"Windows\/Linux\/OSX"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.go-mono.com\/mono-downloads\/download.html","text":"Mono (Required for OSX and Linux)"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.leet.cc\/0CellAnt_Source.zip","text":"Source"}],"metadata":{"g_key":"28612","g_author":"15242","g_event":"LD24","g_eventkey":"12","g_subevent":"COMPO","g_urlkey":"28642","g_title":"CellAnt","g_status":"UCHK1","g_place":"526","g_commentcount":"36","g_site2_node_id":"0","g_hide":"N","g_has_icon":"Y","g_rqueue":"0","g_random":"0"},"nds":[],"node":null,"orig_images":["http:\/\/ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/compo2\/\/163678\/15242-shot0.png-eq-900-500.jpg","http:\/\/ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/compo2\/\/163678\/15242-shot1.png-eq-900-500.jpg"],"text":"Cellular automata ant colony game. Control your own colony of ants in your battle to take over the environment and evolve your ants to specialise in particular skills. But be warned, the other AI colonies wont take too kindly to having their territory invaded!\r\n\r\nAnts start with a length of 2 blocks, these are the \"children\" and cannot reproduce, after 120 seconds these become \"adults\" and gain a 3rd block (this is how they remain for most their life, before becoming old [4 blocks] and then dying of old age).\r\nDuring the life of your ants they can be assigned one of 3 tasks, digging, reproduction or fighting\/attacking. The chance of each of these succeeding is based on the ants level in the respective area (and so will not always work first time, be patient). A child ant takes the highest of its parents levels, and breeding specialised ants is to your advantage. The colour of the ants head indicates how specialised it is the 3 stats (R,G,B colour components, one for each stat).\r\nAnts move randomly around the grid unless you use the \"Set Target\" button and click another ant to head towards, the selected ant is highlighted green and the target red, if you cannot see the target use the \"Find Target\" button to centre it in your view.\r\nSome of the blocks that your ants dig are converted into indestructible blocks (shown in the HUD) which can be placed for your own amusement with right click.\r\n\r\nThere is some sound! for death, killing and reproduction. If you play it long enough you may hear them ;)\r\n\r\nExtract the entire zip before attempting to run!\r\n\r\nMay also run on OS\/X and Linux using mono (tested and working on ubuntu 12.04 with mono-devel package and suitable opengl drivers)<\/p>","title":"CellAnt"}