LudumData

The Kessler Problem by catbutt

[raw]
made by catbutt for LD 42 (JAM)

Earth's orbit is filling up! Some might say we're literally ...running out of space...

Your objective is to put as many satellites as possible into orbit whilst avoiding collisions.

Your performance is scored on how many satellites you can get orbiting at once. See how you compare to everyone else who has played on the online scoreboard!

https://youtu.be/sHS0WhiVtnE

Controls:

[A][D] for changing the direction to send your satellite into orbit.

[Left Click] and grab will move the camera around earth (arrow keys also function as camera movement).

[Mouse Scroll] T​o Zoom.

Hold [Space] to increase launch power (how large of an orbit your satellite will have).

Release [Space] to launch.

[F] Toggle display of Satellite Trajectories

Tips & Tricks:

Satellites orbiting at the same height will have the same speed, and orbital period.

Holding Space past maximum launch power will start to decrease launch power.

There is a 2 second cool-down on launching satellites

Windows https://winrarz.itch.io/the-kessler-problem
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/42/the-kessler-problem

Ratings

Overall 113th 3.915⭐ 73🧑‍⚖️
Fun 259th 3.593⭐ 72🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 62th 3.965⭐ 73🧑‍⚖️
Theme 50th 4.257⭐ 72🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 251th 3.951⭐ 73🧑‍⚖️
Mood 118th 3.814⭐ 72🧑‍⚖️
Given 85🗳️ 71🗨️

Feedback

alexkarate
13. Aug 2018 · 13:41 UTC
There are no download links?
Mormert
13. Aug 2018 · 13:48 UTC
Please upload game download links :)
Sauski
13. Aug 2018 · 13:57 UTC
Download links added!
Sthor726
13. Aug 2018 · 21:18 UTC
Great work! Loved the music and visual effects. really cool.
Amba
14. Aug 2018 · 01:00 UTC
Loved the reference to the Kessler Syndrome. Very atmospheric and good respect to the theme too!

Also, high scores are nice.
![Untitled.png](///raw/a43/91/z/18bdc.png)
jackw899
14. Aug 2018 · 01:17 UTC
Really enjoyed the game! Music and graphics were great and the gameplay although simple was very fun! I have no idea how anybody managed to get a score of 46 though! 4.5/5 overall for me!
Sauski
14. Aug 2018 · 02:44 UTC
@jackw899 Patience and careful launch power are the keys to success!
![40 satellites.png](///raw/0d6/3/z/18d1a.png)
CraigDuth
14. Aug 2018 · 02:44 UTC
High scores were a nice surprise. Felt pretty lost until I saw that you could enabled the trajectories. Fun game overall!
Jan
14. Aug 2018 · 02:54 UTC
Very nicely done!
MrSerp
14. Aug 2018 · 02:56 UTC
Great work! As a physicist myself, I'm glad someone implemented something like this to fit the theme!
stellaryyan2
14. Aug 2018 · 02:58 UTC
Really impressive. The game is with Zen state of mind.
You should open audio rating, because the music is great.
**Game tips**:first lauch satellites to the highest orbit.
Sauski
14. Aug 2018 · 03:18 UTC
@mrserp Thanks! Our initial plan was to have more elliptic orbits with varying eccentricity, but we struggled to calculate the correct periapsis and eccentricity from the launch parameters. We could do it confining the launch to a single plane but that seemed limiting, so circular orbits it is!
Gus the Shark
14. Aug 2018 · 04:36 UTC
Really cool graphics and atmosphere, pun not intended. The music gives it a nice mood. It gets a little disorienting when the catapult is on the other side of the planet. I know you can rotate with the mouse but I wish there was some option to make the camera follow the orbit. Also, the objectives are not very clear at the beginning, it seems more like a simulator than a game at first. Really nice work!
Lexyvil
14. Aug 2018 · 05:20 UTC
Second place with a score of 47! Very original game, and it really fits the theme too. There's a lot of replayability when it comes to figuring out the best distance and angles to avoid collisions.
drnoir
14. Aug 2018 · 05:36 UTC
I really loved this, couldn't get past 10 but didn't want to stop trying, streamed it on twitch will send link once its up on YouTube
Judy Kim
14. Aug 2018 · 05:41 UTC
I watched the promo vid (don't have Windows to download the game) and it feels super sophisticated and clean, an interesting contrast to the playful weird vibes that a lot of game jam entries seem to have! A unique and strong mood :)
Kayla
14. Aug 2018 · 05:42 UTC
Brilliant little game. Love that you're running out of space IN SPACE! Feels great, super responsive and smooth. I didn't place very high but oh well. I'll just have to keep trying. Loved the catapult by the way haha.
drnoir
14. Aug 2018 · 06:22 UTC
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/297110828 streaming playing it here
_Kassjak_
14. Aug 2018 · 07:56 UTC
This is so awesome! I love playing space games like Kerbal Space Program, Universe Sandbox and this. I'm definitely gonna play this in the future!
huskitch
14. Aug 2018 · 10:13 UTC
Really love the idea, fun to play
SamuelDeboni
14. Aug 2018 · 14:03 UTC
Realy nice game, I'm play a loot of games like kesbal space program, and any kind of realistic-ish space games are wellcome
KapiteinKoekwous
14. Aug 2018 · 19:39 UTC
Such a great concept! Really well executed, bravo! The Game Over sound/effect startled me a little bit though XD
Teelin
14. Aug 2018 · 20:47 UTC
Wow, really nice game. Its a nice simple game for playing to take up time would love to see it on mobile think it would be great. looks really nice and plays well. Well Done :smile:
HEXIEZ123
15. Aug 2018 · 02:30 UTC
Like the idea, but it could get tiring at times, this reminds me of Kerbal Space Program
Luis Giron
15. Aug 2018 · 05:00 UTC
A relaxing and beautiful game, great entry! :smile:
erebus
15. Aug 2018 · 06:13 UTC
Great entry! Thanks for bringing it by the stream!
Jared York
15. Aug 2018 · 06:27 UTC
Love the game! As a space/physics nerd, this is right up my alley. It really innovates on the idea of "running out of space". I doubt anyone thought of a game about satellites running out of space. Keep up the great work!
saoi-games
15. Aug 2018 · 07:43 UTC
Thank you for sharing your game with me. I played it on my stream tonight at https://www.twitch.tv/saoigames

I have rated your game, but all of my feedback was captured in the stream.

You can hear my comments in the archive at https://www.twitch.tv/videos/297520764
Pyjamaboy
15. Aug 2018 · 08:06 UTC
Really fun game, i really like the trajectory view it really helped to play the game!
Sharky3188
15. Aug 2018 · 08:30 UTC
This is a cool entry, i had a similar idea through the jam, but ended with something else, so its cool to see someone else bring it to life.
Starts out simple and escalates quickly. I like how once you have a few satellites orbiting it actually becomes a game about dodging the others.
Atmosphere is nice, pretty relaxing and first, until it gets a bit crazy in space. Would be cool to see other types of satellites or asteroids etc.
Well done.
BustosMan
15. Aug 2018 · 08:50 UTC
A very good game, but probably add another mechanic or thing for the player to do. Nice graphics and maybe add more stars to the skybox.
nikasxirtla
15. Aug 2018 · 11:47 UTC
Very unique idea, greatly made with good graphics and music. Fits the theme very well!
MiracL
15. Aug 2018 · 12:28 UTC
Very unique experience, the great and relaxing music, and the fact that there is a leaderboard makes me think that this is the best game of the jam that I've played so far. Excellent work
Crafty mine
15. Aug 2018 · 12:51 UTC
I really liked your style
And nice game concept
Good luck🍀
Dantho95
15. Aug 2018 · 13:22 UTC
Loved this game, this aesthetic, this graphics, this ambient music, this catapult, amazing. This is great game idea and execution is top notch.
KryStekku
15. Aug 2018 · 13:27 UTC
Unique. Great mechanics. Good work :)
matzetoni
15. Aug 2018 · 13:31 UTC
33 satellites :thumbsup: quite fun game. well done!
Devio
15. Aug 2018 · 14:12 UTC
Nice work, And you have even implemented a global leaderboard, Would have been nice to have different orbit line colours, as it can get difficult to tell different orbits apart. Simple audio, but what do you expect in space? Would have been nice to have some ambient ominous background noise.
LemADEC
15. Aug 2018 · 14:22 UTC
Simple and fun to play. Could use a different rendering for existing vs launching trajectories.
rEaX
15. Aug 2018 · 19:30 UTC
Actually a very fun game even though it is so simple to play. Perfect implementation of the theme. Good work. Very unique to see a working high score list! That made it much better.
By the way please delete my high score entry named "Imsorry". I was just having some "fun" with the game code.
Tannimun
15. Aug 2018 · 22:06 UTC
Highly addictive game! Played for maybe an hour?!
Nice graphics and great atmosphere. I liked how you could set speed and angle, as well as toggle trajectories.
I really got into planing and trying to figure out optimal strategies.
As of writing I'm second on the scoreboard, but I might get back tomorrow for another go, as I'm sure I can break into thr 3-digits.
Awezome job. Loved it!
Sauski
15. Aug 2018 · 23:16 UTC
@reax When you say fun with the code, I'm guessing you found our git repository :P Thanks for being honest, I've taken your score out.
designernap
16. Aug 2018 · 21:31 UTC
This is excellent. The best thing I have played so far! My first "top marks all round" too for this jam. Really impressed. Cool idea, well executed, feels great to play, scoreboard is a stroke of genius and just wow. Love this! Well done!
RyanJavanshir
16. Aug 2018 · 22:45 UTC
I really enjoyed this game. The mood was great and I love the trajectory trail.
ocekat3
17. Aug 2018 · 21:04 UTC
great game, the music sounds like Universe Sandbox 2 music, and the explosion at the end scared me. i was only able to get 20 satellites, it's actually hard!
Beard or Die
18. Aug 2018 · 01:37 UTC
All fives
halomegames
18. Aug 2018 · 09:14 UTC
Surprisingly polished and addictive!
God damn good job
Raktou
18. Aug 2018 · 19:53 UTC
Nice work with this game, the music, innovation and graphics are awesome!
Ryomayonnaise
26. Aug 2018 · 13:06 UTC
I had so much fun playing it ! 5 stars game !
ursagames
29. Aug 2018 · 13:29 UTC
Really cool entry! Loved the preview effect for your launches! Thanks for sharing this with my stream! here's a link to the vod: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/297569760?t=03h18m49s
Zicboy
31. Aug 2018 · 15:04 UTC
Awesome game! loved the energy and mood of this entry!
Shakedimus
01. Sep 2018 · 10:27 UTC
Very cool idea and it looks very good, with nice details like lighting on the dark parts of the earth, awesome job there! I really love these physics simulators but I think as a game it gets boring pretty fast and is very much luck based. I hope you use the physics and graphics you implemented to make something which has a bit more purpose.
HellSquirrel
04. Sep 2018 · 14:02 UTC
cool game!