{"author_link":"\/users\/buck-supergoose","author_name":"Buck Supergoose","author_uid":"1016451","comments":[{"author_name":"xoidberg","author_uid":"1001459","time":"2017-05-02T10:11:37Z","epoch":1493719897,"modified":1493719897,"text":"pretty fun! destroyed a friend of mine several times :D","likes":1,"format":"md"},{"author_name":"Zelos","author_uid":"1011708","time":"2017-05-02T10:20:58Z","epoch":1493720458,"modified":1493720458,"text":"I couldn't get someone else to play with me, so I'll just critique the parts I've seen so far.  \n  \n**Graphics**: These are pretty good and make it clear what's going on. The effect when swapping looks really cool. The planets in the background (or are they supposed to be stars?) could be a tad darker though. While it's not a problem to make out foreground from background, it could be a bit clearer.  \nI personally would've turned down the size of some of the particle effects, since the blurry nature of Unity's standard particle effect clashes a bit with your vector graphics.  \n  \n**Audio**: Actually really solid. The music is good and the sound effects are as well. I like the voiceover when Empathy Swap occurs.  \n  \n**Gameplay**: Not going to say that much because I just controlled one of the planets. The controls feel really weird and I would've preferred to have two pairs of buttons next to each other instead of WASD. WASD just feels like it should be movement only to me. Something like AD GH would've worked better I think.  \nThe mechanics seem really fun, but I'm not sure how to strategize the swapping thing without having someone to play with. But I like the idea, so this made a positive impression on me. I really feel like you can abuse it by just not building much though, which makes the game stand still if I understand the whole mechanic correctly.  \n  \nOverall it seems like a really good entry. Good work!\n\nBy the way: You should probably just start with the 'two players on one keyboard' from the beginning next time. If I hadn't seen V1.1 I would've just moved on to the next game, since most people will probably not have a gamepad attached to the PC when judging LD games. And I certainly didn't. :smile:","likes":2,"format":"md"},{"author_name":"Buck Supergoose","author_uid":"1016451","time":"2017-05-03T19:48:51Z","epoch":1493840931,"modified":1493840931,"text":"Thanks for the reviews. I agree with points raised. I definitely could improve the particle effects and background planets in the ways suggested and I did wonder about the control scheme when I asked a friend to playtest and they wanted to hit something else to shoot. Strong critique and useful feedback - thanks!","likes":0,"format":"md"},{"author_name":"Buck Supergoose","author_uid":"1016451","time":"2017-05-03T19:48:51Z","epoch":1493840931,"modified":1493840931,"text":"Thanks for the reviews. I agree with points raised. I definitely could improve the particle effects and background planets in the ways suggested and I did wonder about the control scheme when I asked a friend to playtest and they wanted to hit something else to shoot. Strong critique and useful feedback - thanks!","likes":0,"format":"md"},{"author_name":"DiegoCTorguet","author_uid":"1012898","time":"2017-05-04T12:01:08Z","epoch":1493899268,"modified":1493899268,"text":"This is a solid entry. It has every point of a complete game and I like a lot the multiplayer part. I felt that the bullets are not big enough sometimes, but maybe it's just lack of habit. Good job!","likes":1,"format":"md"},{"author_name":"dray","author_uid":"1010332","time":"2017-05-04T12:11:09Z","epoch":1493899869,"modified":1493899869,"text":"Wow really nice entry! the game is really fun to play and the idea of using our health as a weapon is a really cool concept. I managed to loose with an empty swap right before my missile hit the other planet :p","likes":1,"format":"md"},{"author_name":"Jupiter_Hadley","author_uid":"1000562","time":"2017-05-07T21:16:12Z","epoch":1494191772,"modified":1494191772,"text":"Neat little game! I included it in my Ludum Dare 38 compilation video series, if you\u2019d like to take a look :)\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VA-2r5Ryiv8","likes":0,"format":"md"},{"author_name":"ocarson","author_uid":"1003071","time":"2017-05-15T15:50:33Z","epoch":1494863433,"modified":1494863433,"text":"Really cool game with some interesting ideas.\nI did a little video with my thoughts.\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/2E_VB598v2c","likes":0,"format":"md"},{"author_name":"csanyk","author_uid":"1004118","time":"2017-05-19T01:51:04Z","epoch":1495158664,"modified":1495158664,"text":"I like the strategy implications of the swap mechanic. It makes the game tricky and yet balanced.  Great idea!","likes":0,"format":"md"}],"format":"md","images":["ld38\/16534-e7bfd21dd4e88adf16a59a1af05b8127.png"],"links":[],"metadata":{"g_key":"51722","g_author":"1016451","g_event":"LD38","g_eventkey":"69","g_subevent":"COMPO","g_urlkey":"240400","g_title":"Empathy Swap","g_status":"USEAR3","g_place":"99999","g_commentcount":"9","g_site2_node_id":"16534","g_hide":"Y","g_has_icon":"Y","g_rqueue":"0","g_random":"0"},"nds":{"n_key":"16534","n_urlkey":"240400","n_parent":"9405","n_path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/38\/empathy-swap","n_slug":"empathy-swap","n_type":"item","n_subtype":"game","n_subsubtype":"compo","n_author":"16451","n_created":"1492812770","n_modified":"1493718653","n_version":"76245","n_status":"COMMIT"},"node":{"id":16534,"parent":9405,"superparent":9,"author":16451,"type":"item","subtype":"game","subsubtype":"compo","published":"2017-04-23T20:23:16Z","created":"2017-04-21T22:12:50Z","modified":"2017-05-02T09:50:53Z","version":76245,"slug":"empathy-swap","name":"Empathy Swap","body":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=48EPTk1fYDs\n\n![j0RlkE.png](\/\/\/raw\/340\/4\/z\/10fb.png)\n\nLink: https:\/\/supergoose.itch.io\/empathy-swap\n\nSource code: https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=0B4WSIBJH0kK2TEd2ejdYSlRVLWM\n\nThis game was made as a solo project for Ludum Dare 38 (Compo). The theme for the game jams was \"Small World\".\n\n\n\n**How To Play**\n\nStart with no resources. Plant mines to mine your planet for resources. Resources allow you to shoot missiles. Resources are also your health. Your health is reflected by the size of your planet. Get pickups to increase your health. Your paddle can shoot and can deflect missiles. You die when your health reaches zero. Last planet standing wins.\n\nAt random points throughout the game, an *Empathy Swap* will occur. Basically you swap to the other planet. One twist you could add is having to swap controllers at this point.\n\n\n\n**Backstory**\n\nMine resources in order to shoot missiles, gradually undermine your own defence in order to have a strong offence - a reflection of how we treat each other and our planet. A casual arcade game, or a sideways glance at the human condition, you decide.\u200b\n\nI used Unity 5 for dev, Adobe Illustrator CC for art and https:\/\/soundation.com\/ for the music. I used http:\/\/www.bfxr.net\/\u200b for sound effects.\n\n![g9yWbv.png](\/\/\/raw\/340\/4\/z\/3930.png)\n\n**Critique**\n\nThe game is an arena battle crossed with pong with a bit of RTS thrown in. As a game it definitely struggles with the \"too much going on\" side of game design, but the content was fun to make (particularly the sounds and voice acting) and I guess it could be quite strategic if you really got into it. It needs balancing too :\\\n\n\n**Requirements**\n\nOnly works on screen res 16:9.\n\nOnly tested on Windows 10, Intel I5, Nvidia GTX 960, 16gb RAM.\n\nOne controller supported.\n\n\n**Controls**\n\nI will be updating these so both players can play on one keyboard.\n\n**UPDATE: Version 1.1 supports two players on one keyboard (WASD and Arrow Keys)**\n\n*Gamepad controls (e.g. Xbox Controller)*\n\nLeft Analogue: Move orbit paddle\n\nA: Shoot\n\nB: Plant mine\n\n\n*Keyboard controls*\n\nA\/D or Left\/Right: Move orbit paddle\n\nW or Up: Shoot\n\nS or Down: Plant mine","meta":{"cover":"\/\/\/content\/340\/4\/z\/38c3.png","author":[16451]},"path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/38\/empathy-swap","parents":[1,5,9,9405],"love":0,"notes":9,"notes-timestamp":"2017-05-19T01:51:04Z","grade":{"grade-01":9,"grade-02":9,"grade-03":9,"grade-04":9,"grade-05":9,"grade-06":9,"grade-07":8,"grade-08":8},"magic":{"cool":86.135676921411,"feedback":5,"given":5.75,"grade":8.75,"grade-01-average":3.857,"grade-02-average":3.857,"grade-03-average":3.571,"grade-04-average":3,"grade-05-average":3.286,"grade-06-average":3.429,"grade-07-average":1.833,"grade-08-average":2.833,"smart":-5.5599718396965}},"text":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=48EPTk1fYDs\n\n![j0RlkE.png](\/\/\/raw\/340\/4\/z\/10fb.png)\n\nLink: https:\/\/supergoose.itch.io\/empathy-swap\n\nSource code: https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=0B4WSIBJH0kK2TEd2ejdYSlRVLWM\n\nThis game was made as a solo project for Ludum Dare 38 (Compo). The theme for the game jams was \"Small World\".\n\n\n\n**How To Play**\n\nStart with no resources. Plant mines to mine your planet for resources. Resources allow you to shoot missiles. Resources are also your health. Your health is reflected by the size of your planet. Get pickups to increase your health. Your paddle can shoot and can deflect missiles. You die when your health reaches zero. Last planet standing wins.\n\nAt random points throughout the game, an *Empathy Swap* will occur. Basically you swap to the other planet. One twist you could add is having to swap controllers at this point.\n\n\n\n**Backstory**\n\nMine resources in order to shoot missiles, gradually undermine your own defence in order to have a strong offence - a reflection of how we treat each other and our planet. A casual arcade game, or a sideways glance at the human condition, you decide.\u200b\n\nI used Unity 5 for dev, Adobe Illustrator CC for art and https:\/\/soundation.com\/ for the music. I used http:\/\/www.bfxr.net\/\u200b for sound effects.\n\n![g9yWbv.png](\/\/\/raw\/340\/4\/z\/3930.png)\n\n**Critique**\n\nThe game is an arena battle crossed with pong with a bit of RTS thrown in. As a game it definitely struggles with the \"too much going on\" side of game design, but the content was fun to make (particularly the sounds and voice acting) and I guess it could be quite strategic if you really got into it. It needs balancing too :\\\n\n\n**Requirements**\n\nOnly works on screen res 16:9.\n\nOnly tested on Windows 10, Intel I5, Nvidia GTX 960, 16gb RAM.\n\nOne controller supported.\n\n\n**Controls**\n\nI will be updating these so both players can play on one keyboard.\n\n**UPDATE: Version 1.1 supports two players on one keyboard (WASD and Arrow Keys)**\n\n*Gamepad controls (e.g. Xbox Controller)*\n\nLeft Analogue: Move orbit paddle\n\nA: Shoot\n\nB: Plant mine\n\n\n*Keyboard controls*\n\nA\/D or Left\/Right: Move orbit paddle\n\nW or Up: Shoot\n\nS or Down: Plant mine","title":"Empathy Swap"}