Memory Exception by rvenson

made by rvenson for LD 42 (COMPO)

Memory Exception is a game about the lack of memory of my computer. This is my second submission to the Ludum Dare.

Managing memory is an ungrateful job. You do all the work of keeping the user's computer running and it only reminds when everything stops running (minutes before the Ludum Dare starts).

In Memory Exception, you will be responsible for keeping applications standing, managing space, and changing blocks of data between main memory and hard disk. As if that were not enough of a challenge, things can get worse when malware tries to stop you from doing your job.

Bug Fixes (post compo submission):

Fixed lack of block which prevented the game from ending
Fixed game paused in the final scene

Commands:

AWSD or directional keys = Movement
Space = Actions
Mouse = Menu utilization
ESC or P = Pause

Screenshots

Source code	https://github.com/rvenson/LudumDare42_CompoSubmission
HTML5 (web)	https://rvenson.itch.io/memory-exception
Windows	https://rvenson.itch.io/memory-exception
Linux	https://rvenson.itch.io/memory-exception
Original URL	https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/42/memory-exception

Ratings

Overall	246^th	3.563⭐	26🧑‍⚖️
Fun	279^th	3.396⭐	26🧑‍⚖️
Innovation	187^th	3.5⭐	26🧑‍⚖️
Theme	153^th	3.958⭐	26🧑‍⚖️
Graphics	201^th	3.646⭐	26🧑‍⚖️
Audio	467^th	2.568⭐	24🧑‍⚖️
Humor	88^th	3.37⭐	25🧑‍⚖️
Mood	224^th	3.227⭐	24🧑‍⚖️
Given		24🗳️	19🗨️

Feedback

SimplePotential

13. Aug 2018 · 01:43 UTC

Lol, I like what you had going here. The second level though I could never get the set of 3 blocks placed. I tried several ways like moving the initial blue ones back to the HD even before the yellows were asked for and then the same with the others but the user always ran out of patience. I may just suck though.

SeaFishelle

13. Aug 2018 · 03:33 UTC

This is really neat. I think some balance work is needed, but it's a really cute game. :)

🎤 rvenson

13. Aug 2018 · 03:57 UTC

@simplepotential The second level is possible to be overcome unless there is some other problem that I did not find. Thanks to your comment, I was able to fix a flaw in the last stage, where really lacking a block prevented the player from progressing (and ending the game).

🎤 rvenson

13. Aug 2018 · 03:59 UTC

@seafishelle I really would like to do better balance in the stages. Thanks for the feedback.

🎤 rvenson

13. Aug 2018 · 04:00 UTC

UPDATE INFO: The game was updated about 6 hours after its submission only to correct a problem in the last stage, where the lack of a block prevented the game from ending. No other changes were made.

Wolfrug

13. Aug 2018 · 12:12 UTC

Lovely stuff! Not sure if there's more than three levels (won it, and then the game just went to black screen?), but even so I think it's a perfect length. Nice sounds, cute character, smooth af controls, and a bit of thinking needed. Gameplay wise the biggest problem is probably that to win the levels you have to know in advance what will next. Actually could be pretty fun as a storybuilding exercise too! "Oh, he's playing dwarf fortress again instead of opening up word.exe, so no studying today!" etc :D

🎤 rvenson

13. Aug 2018 · 17:10 UTC

@wolfrug There are three levels besides the tutorial. I found the bug that pauses the game in the final scene in some situations. I fixed and update the submission. Sorry for that and thank you for your feedback!

Oneiros

13. Aug 2018 · 19:12 UTC

I don't really like the gameplay of the game but the graphics are not bad for a 3D game ^^

maartene

13. Aug 2018 · 19:17 UTC

@rvenson I experienced the same issue @simplepotential had (WebGL version). Nevertheless, the concept of the game is simple, concise and clear. Which are good things in my book! And it shows how much working being a computer actually is. :smile:

Doey

13. Aug 2018 · 19:33 UTC

Great job! A fun idea and some pretty frantic gameplay. Like people have said above, it just needs a little balancing and more levels!

Blight Radiance

13. Aug 2018 · 20:42 UTC

Awesome game! It feels very polished.
For some reason second level seems impossible like in @simplepotential 's case.

🎤 rvenson

14. Aug 2018 · 00:21 UTC

@oneiros @doey @maartene @blight-radiance Thank you very much for your feedback! Maybe I could extend the time, but a hint is never walking without carrying a block. This could be more time efficient.

GuardHei

14. Aug 2018 · 02:38 UTC

The idea is super! Even got virus here. But like most people mentioned, the second level is really hard. Meanwhile, the audio is a bit of polish. Overall, well done!

Predominant

14. Aug 2018 · 03:20 UTC

Takes me back to my days of teaching operating system theory to students at university. If only this game existed back then! Awesome work!

🎤 rvenson

14. Aug 2018 · 03:49 UTC

@guardhei thank you for the feedback. I'm glad you liked. @predominant I taught discipline in technical high school. This was one of the inspirations too ^^

zchangvx

14. Aug 2018 · 04:16 UTC

The game was pretty creative in it's interpretation of data and memory, dialogue made me smirk once or twice, and the gameplay was solid and fun.
Theme didn't feel as much "running out of space" as "limited space" though.
Either way, a bunch of fun to be had.

Ossi

14. Aug 2018 · 05:16 UTC

I really like the story you got going on between the tasks that need to be done for the computer and the user waiting for their programs to load. Very simple gameplay that works really well! I did have some trouble getting the 3 yellow blocks to RAM, the timing is very tight on that part. Overall a very solid game!

heyycap

14. Aug 2018 · 05:27 UTC

I think you could definitely go further with it, maybe a temporary speed boost would keep interest up, or a way to quarantine viruses. Great job otherwise.

FizzpowMike1

14. Aug 2018 · 06:20 UTC

This is very well polished, I feel like you could have given some sort of sprint and a way to fend off the trojans however

🎤 rvenson

14. Aug 2018 · 21:48 UTC

@zchangvx Thank you for your feedback. The balancing in levels could make the theme more apparent, but I did not have much time for this.
@ossi This is a recurrent problem in gameplay, I will release a fix for this soon.
@heyycap @fizzpowmike1 I did not think about this! Are really cool improvements to my game. Thank you!

aplite

15. Aug 2018 · 13:26 UTC

Great entry! I love the fully developed tutorial level you included. Definitely adds a polish you don't see in most jam games. The mechanic was good, but having a randomizer to change up the color needs for the programs would add more variety to the game. Also loved the detail of showing the programs loading the the bottom right. Really well done!

Vlassis

17. Aug 2018 · 12:39 UTC

I had fun playing it! However the 2nd level was quite impossible to finish ;p

🎤 rvenson

17. Aug 2018 · 15:39 UTC

@aplite Thank you very much for your feedback. I'll strongly consider randomized levels in the next update. @vlassis I believe that the level has a way to be finished, but, yes, it's too difficult. Thank you for the feedback.