FRIEND-1 by everythingWasBees

A simple game about a small probe drifting through space towards its inevitable destruction.
Instructions: FRIEND-1 is running out of power. Replenish power using wayward satellites, avoid incoming asteroids, and escape the gravitational pull of large bodies.
Controls: LEFT to turn counter-clockwise, RIGHT to turn clockwise. UP to activate thrusters. R to restart.
Background sound effect is derived from recordings of SPUTNIK-1.
Made in GameMaker Studio 2. My first Ludum Dare submission.
| Windows | https://atlawrie.itch.io/friend-1 |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/39/friend-1 |
Ratings
| Overall | 321th | 3.333⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 267th | 3.286⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 397th | 2.952⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 95th | 3.952⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 137th | 3.762⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 312th | 2.857⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Humor | 359th | 2.188⭐ | 18🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 110th | 3.55⭐ | 22🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 18🗳️ | 23🗨️ |
\*Plays*
Aww, gameplay was a let down. :slight_frown: Would be better if there was some indication of where the nearest satellite was. I'd say to add more sfx too but perhaps you were going for realism!
Finding the source of satellite transmissions while avoiding asteroids and managing your fuel also makes for interesting gameplay, if rather unforgiving. The big planets, in particular, seemed to have too strong of a gravitational pull, which meant that as soon as you saw one on-screen, it was probably already too late.
Congrats on your first Ludum Dare submission, overall very solid! I liked it!