Popcorn Mayhem by Cary Stanley


:smile:
Oh No!! All you wanted was some microwave popcorn and now your are trying to run for your life. * Use arrow keys to get out of there as fast as you can. *
(My first Ludum Dare!! Was only able to work on it for about 10 hours, since it was my daughter's birthday this weekend)
Note: Best played on Chrome Browser with a 60hz monitor
Bug Fixes: * Attempt to Fix issue with different frame-rate monitors * Fix to issue with "Phaser 3" physics group clearing "bounce" property * Fix to jumpTImer for variable frame-rate
| HTML5 (web) | https://carystanley.github.io/ld42-pop-mayhem/ |
| Source code | https://github.com/carystanley/ld42-pop-mayhem |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/42/popcorn-mayhem |
Ratings
| Overall | 355th | 3.394⭐ | 49🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 367th | 3.234⭐ | 49🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 212th | 3.468⭐ | 49🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 54th | 4.213⭐ | 49🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 200th | 3.649⭐ | 49🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 408th | 2.75⭐ | 46🧑⚖️ |
| Humor | 58th | 3.547⭐ | 45🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 296th | 3.06⭐ | 44🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 52🗳️ | 25🗨️ |
The second level I've finished after 10th attempt, and the third one turned out to be impassable :(
I don't know how this can be, but our game is also about microwave and popcorn: D
In the end I sort of got used to the controls, but I frequently got the impression that they were as much of an obstacle as the popcorn blob itself. In a way it contributed to the tension (omfg, the last level with the stairs!), but they certainly could use some improvements.
I'm not sure if this was intended or emergent behaviour caused by the physics, but in some cases I felt I could use the popcorn to my own advantage. I was only able to get some glimpses of it before being crushed half a second later, but I think this might be a really cool feature ("Ride the wave!").
Nice job!
I wrote the game to be retro style so it is actually only 256 x 220 pixels like the old "Mario Bros"/"Donkey Kong" (You can see this if you shrink the window size) This means the pixels are chunky and the jump will be a bit jagged.
I also made the jump variable, so it accelerates like in the the original "Super Mario Bros" for the first 8 frames that you press the button, this allows you to jump to different heights based on how long you press the button. I also allow right to left acceleration both on the ground and in the air to change trajectory, but like in the old "Super Mario Bros" this has less control in the air (about 1/4 of the horizontal acceleration). So its best to shift direction on the ground, not in the air.
Finally, the jump was originally higher, but I felt it made going up the stairs to easy (you could just jump to the top). So I reduced it to make the game a bit more challenging. I wanted you to have points in the game where the popcorn was getting dangerously close to you and you felt the pressure.
Feedback would be really helpful from anyone who didn't like the jump, would love to learn from this first Ludum Dare for the next one :smile:
What I take from other comments, the controls are somewhat clunky. The second level is really really tough.
Graphics are great, sounds effects are a good match as well.
https://youtu.be/vuUp1EYEiuA (The video may be uploading for a little while. If so, check back after a day or so)
The only thing that irritated me was the jumping - it was too slow, so one mistake made you look at how your character is slowly falling, the popcorn is quickly approaching and you can't really do anything about it - this made me feel powerless and I felt like blaming the game instead of my skill. If the player felt more in control (important note: he doesn't have to be, he just have to feel like it), it would be more fun and exiting.
But I have to add: it's amazing that you were able to create such a great game in only 10 hours. Keep up the great work!
Still, very impressive entry for such a short time to work on it!