BoatAfloat by StratosKakalis

[raw]
made by StratosKakalis for LD 40 (COMPO)

Description

My first ever Ludum Dare submission. Had a lot of fun making it however I definetely got stressed and made many mistakes like focus a lot of my time on unimportant details. That is probably why the game is pretty simple (and has no ramps ;-;). It's a game about a boat that gets valuable items but if it gets too many then it sinks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0HMAtc7TxA

Menu.pngInGame.pngInGame2.pngInGame3.png

Tools used: -Unity 3D 2017.1 -Blender (some old version) -Gimp -Ableton Live 9

Ratings

Overall 466th 3.14⭐ 45🧑‍⚖️
Fun 438th 3.081⭐ 45🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 615th 2.417⭐ 44🧑‍⚖️
Theme 324th 3.488⭐ 45🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 236th 3.557⭐ 46🧑‍⚖️
Audio 329th 2.927⭐ 43🧑‍⚖️
Humor 461th 2.219⭐ 18🧑‍⚖️
Mood 331th 3.079⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Given 61🗳️ 32🗨️

Feedback

oxrock
04. Dec 2017 · 19:37 UTC
The exe file isn't supposed to be in the data file. Anyone who downloads this will need to take it out and put it in the same directory as the data file. As for the items, are they beneficial in any way? I didn't see any incentive not to just avoid them as long as possible.
Prostone
04. Dec 2017 · 19:48 UTC
Was gonna mention the exe problem as well. Just take it out of the folder. Love the mode and chest model! Controls are smooth and camera follow is great. Too bad theres not much more content after that, as it seems just evading is the way to go, while theres not any useful pickups or incentive to do anything else. All in all, good job!
🎤 StratosKakalis
05. Dec 2017 · 11:55 UTC
Thanks for the feedback, I initially had the .exe file and data file seperated but saw another game combine them so i figured it would work without actually testing :P. As for the gameplay I made many issues while sorting out my time (since this was my first ludum dare) and i tried adding some complicated physic-based movement to allow for ramps and other fun stuff which simply proved impossible with my time limit, so yeah the whole gameplay is just avoiding the items.
VikTris
05. Dec 2017 · 13:59 UTC
nice one! cool to see boat themed 3d game like ours! Theme on point!
Xarras
05. Dec 2017 · 15:34 UTC
Good game, fits the theme and controls smoothly! Good Job!
Joel Rochon
05. Dec 2017 · 20:37 UTC
The boat in this handles really well, and the speed of it is just right! Great stuff!

Is there a way that I can follow your work? I would love to see some of your other projects!
🎤 StratosKakalis
05. Dec 2017 · 21:21 UTC
I'm happy that you liked it! I haven't published any other projects because I like to keep stuff to myself however if I release anything it will definetely be in the linked itch.io account :)
Sarrixx
06. Dec 2017 · 05:06 UTC
A nice simple concept, quite relaxing. I feel like the lighting needs some slight changes, seems a bit bright at some angles. And would be cool to see an improved water shader as well. But for what is is, you have done very well. Kudos on a great game!
GoldRanger
06. Dec 2017 · 06:35 UTC
Cool! That's a solid entry!
you get more things and you get harder to see what's in front of you.
BTW I think you should pay more attention on the music in game than the music in menu. :joy:
🎤 StratosKakalis
06. Dec 2017 · 06:39 UTC
@goldranger Thank you! Also I know :p I produce my own little songs on my spare time but have no clue about game music (I have simply been ignoring it for too long). I'm going to try to get better
Charles Cox
06. Dec 2017 · 06:42 UTC
The Boat Handles well, but the post process effects are a little much sometimes
drazil100
06. Dec 2017 · 09:22 UTC
This game is simple yet great! The music is nice and relaxing and the controls are nice and easy to control. Thanks for sharing it with me!

Also I presently think I have world record which is 12414. Someone beat me!
Szekeres Szabolcs
06. Dec 2017 · 09:22 UTC
To me everything was perfect. Add some features and the road to the appstore is open for you.
Antti Tiihonen
06. Dec 2017 · 09:28 UTC
As you said, it's somewhat unfinished but still what was there was nice and smooth. Maybe an extra day of work and submission to the jam category would have served the game well? :thumbsup:
Potti
06. Dec 2017 · 09:50 UTC
Looks and feels very good, the art style is great. The music makes it very relaxing.
zantze
06. Dec 2017 · 19:44 UTC
The graphics are really well made, and the highlight of the game for me. I also really like how the theme is implemented here, although it doesn't make much sense, I just found it funny and it works well :D.

The core concept of the gameplay is where the game fells a bit flat since it's a very basic arcade style gameplay that you can't do much with.

All in all, it's a beautiful, although a bit basic game, good entry nevertheless!
Hegemege
06. Dec 2017 · 19:55 UTC
Simple and solid, good atmosphere and very nice controls and hit detection! The game didn't feel unfair at any point, and I was surprised I managed to squeeze through some of the gaps.

The treasure chest as an obstacle is a bit odd one, since usually players want to pick up all the treasures. It wasn't clear how the score was calculated either, and I for some reason got stuck at 60.

Well implemented dodging game!
🎤 StratosKakalis
07. Dec 2017 · 05:43 UTC
@hegemege I used valuable objects because I originally wanted to work with the idea "the more money,the worse it is" but eventually had to bring it down to something simple and doable in the given time :P. (also the score is just time based, the longer you go the more the score but after everyone's responses I'm thinking of changing that to a more complicated one involving the objects you are carrying).
Honest Dan
07. Dec 2017 · 13:14 UTC
Well done on making this game! Enjoyed playing this on stream. The music seemed like it didnt fit, but I actually enjoyed the relaxed music. I am glad I beat your high score! Quite a simple concept really, but I quite enjoyed it. Controls felt tight and responsive.
FiloGC
07. Dec 2017 · 17:22 UTC
Although it's a basic game, it's pretty solid for a first time compo submission. The hitboxes seem completely fair and the relaxing music fits the simple zen gameplay. It fits the theme well because the more items you have the worse your vision gets, it would be nice if you got a score mutliplier while having items, so taking some items would be a possible high risk high reward strategy.
GettingRekt
07. Dec 2017 · 18:05 UTC
Good first entry, the sound effects and graphics are quite well done. Gameplay could use some more time in the oven. I also liked the music, much different from most other games in LD. The controls were good as well.
Kutase
07. Dec 2017 · 19:34 UTC
I like this game. Good concept of runner game.
🎤 StratosKakalis
07. Dec 2017 · 19:59 UTC
@filogc that was exactly my idea! If i keep working on this I'll definitely add a score multiplier glad you also think it would fit!
Korpokrowa
07. Dec 2017 · 23:20 UTC
Slow, relaxing game - i really like it. Good job!
TurbulentWinds
08. Dec 2017 · 21:01 UTC
Unfortunately, I could not play due to .rar file format. It would be nice to have a .zip as well.
🎤 StratosKakalis
08. Dec 2017 · 22:02 UTC
@turbulentwinds I'll look into that and try to release a .zip tomorrow, thanks for the feedback
rsim
09. Dec 2017 · 00:55 UTC
I'd love to see a WebGL version of this so those of us not on Windows could give it a go! Any chance of exporting one? :)
professor
09. Dec 2017 · 01:37 UTC
The 3D models were excellent! I enjoyed playing the game - thanks for submitting.
🎤 StratosKakalis
09. Dec 2017 · 06:58 UTC
Haha @professor thank you! I consider myself a programmer and not an artist but I am also pretty happy with the end result given the time limit :)
🎤 StratosKakalis
09. Dec 2017 · 07:01 UTC
@rsim Unity theoretically covers Linux and Mac with the same build (as far as I know) I simply got never around to test it on either OS so I dont want to say its a playable mac or linux game until i know it works in those platforms. If you could try it and tell me whether or not it works I could change the description. But if I manage I'll make a webGl version of it later today.
mess110
09. Dec 2017 · 16:54 UTC
Highscore 4907. Fun idea with nice feel. When my boat would have too many items it was difficult to navigate (I guess this goes with the theme), but maybe having transparency on picked up objects would be an improvement. Cool game.
🎤 StratosKakalis
09. Dec 2017 · 17:58 UTC
@mess110 haha yeah that was intentional, or at least a happy error (not planning on changing it :P). Thanks for the review!
Badly Drawn Rod
10. Dec 2017 · 12:26 UTC
Surprisingly more fun than I thought it would be. There's a knack to twisting from side to side trying to see ahead around the mountain of debris that you've picked up.

I played it a few times, particularly once I noticed my high score getting better each time, although I wasn't entirely certain what made my score go up.

A good entry, and I look forward to seeing your entries in future LDs.
Artur Hawkwing
10. Dec 2017 · 20:31 UTC
This was a truly fun game!! I love the simple yet very effective mechanics, and the mucic creates a great mood. The game fits teh theme very well, and overall I love it!!
zanzavar
24. Dec 2017 · 17:01 UTC
Camera and the responsiveness of controls feels great, also visuals are nice. It could use some additional mechanics to make it more interesting e.g. perhaps carrying stuff can help you navigate to later parts of the stage, like jumping on ramps while too light might send you outside the level.. Great release for a 1-person first LD!
SaraMartins
24. Dec 2017 · 17:05 UTC
Really fun entry! Although simple, it was a light and fun experience, a no brainer that I really needed! Avoiding objects is really the only thing I had to care about and that felt good. The controls were nice, and the response of the boat to them felt like driving a boat should be (I think, I never actually drove one lol). The camera was also smooth.

Although the environment was minimalist, it's not a turnoff. One thing that would probably add some pop to the game would be particles, like water splashing and trails, on a low poly kind of style too.

Maybe a simple background tune during the game would be a nice addition, the main menu one was really cheerful and good. The only thing I have to complain about are the in game menus (pause and lose) as their grey lettering is too hard to read.

Overall good entry, really had fun with it. Congratulations!
🎤 StratosKakalis
24. Dec 2017 · 18:47 UTC
@saramartins Thanks for the detailed review.The particles are such an obvious Must Have but yet they never crossed my mind. Will add them to the list :)