Natural Killer Prototype by kr4ft3r

[raw]
made by kr4ft3r for LD 38 (JAM)

screen<em>_2017-05-01</em>02-15-31.png

  • Windows download (.rar): https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZYeDNZO0DL9tW02dJqnIgtMPXnJHn5B6Kk

  • If you want to know stuff in advance, here is video of me playing it, at couple of places (like 2:15) it shows process of eliminating adult virus, open on youtube for timeline. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iy6NgMdh2A

This game is set in the most epic battleground of tiny proportions, the immune system. It was meant to show 1% of this enormous battle, and I ended up making 1% of what I planned, but still it is a decent interactive visualization (more than a game) and this LD other was a worthy though draining experience as any other was.

To keep it simple - if you're confused and don't feel like reading explanations then don't try anything, just let the game run for 5+ minutes and then float around in Virustown, the inhabitants of which have bad manners and will spit sticky decoys straight into your face if you even look at them.

  • You are in control of an enhanced Natural Killer Cell, and use different methods to control the infection spread.
  • Only one type of infection got into the game (Virus) with two stages (young and adult) with adult being able to infect healthy cells into producing young viruses.
  • You are equipped with antibodies that will work on this type of virus (you were supposed to obtain correct antibodies for a type of infection first but that never got into the game) and can fire them with left mouse button
  • To kill young virus it is enough to get few antibodies stuck into it's shell, and they will eventually tear him apart
  • To kill adult virus you will have to use this complicated process:
  • 1) Get few antibodies stuck into it,
  • 2) Attach to it and drag it through layer of green goo which will attach to the virus if you previously hit it with antibodies
  • 3) Now that you have goo attached to a virus, it will be a tasty meal for one of those two big eater cells (phagocytes) located at bottom. To make phagocyte actually eat the virus, it will have to taste the goo on it's shell, after which it will suck in everything attached to it (except your Killer Cell)
  • -To kill infected cell simply attach to it and click the left mouse button. The trick is in finding it before it spawns too many new pathogens.

Virus lifeflow: 1) young virus (60 seconds), 2) adult virus doing nothing much (180 seconds), 3) adult virus hunting for and infecting cells. Adult viruses are able to spit sticky decoys towards you. Infected cell will spawn one or two young viruses per minute.

If you happen to be an immunologist please don't hate on me, I had to learn this stuff by watching a cartoon which wasn't too accurate in the first place.

If I had time and/or willpower there would be 4 types of infection (virus, bacteria, parasite(multicell), fungi), for each you would have to gather their droppings to develop a proper antibody, and also they would have their characteristics altered per each birth, and if altered enough (and survive) a new species would evolve which would mean your old antibodies wouldn't work. Also the ability of player's cell to clone a new plasma cell (fires antibodies around) and sentry cell which would pick up droppings for you. I was very close to implement that but ran out of time. Also a lot of cool sound/particle effects are missing.

screen<strong>2017-05-01<em>02-18-01.png screen</strong>2017-05-01</em>02-18-03.png screen<em>_2017-05-01</em>02-18-27.png

Ratings

Overall 593th 3⭐ 35🧑‍⚖️
Fun 717th 2.344⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 272th 3.344⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Theme 237th 3.71⭐ 33🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 300th 3.75⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Audio 237th 3.344⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Humor 636th 1.8⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Mood 398th 3.219⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Given 6🗳️ 25🗨️

Feedback

slimabob
01. May 2017 · 01:57 UTC
Oh my goodness, this is awesome! I don't think I'm smart enough to play this one very well, but I have to say I loved your audio design and how much care and effort clearly went into the game. Excellent work! :D
nickavv
01. May 2017 · 02:00 UTC
The graphics and sound especially are really awesome. I had a hard time understanding what to do or how to drive my cell around, so a little better teaching would probably be my biggest area for improvement. Good work though!
🎤 kr4ft3r
01. May 2017 · 02:25 UTC
Thanks, yea, this type of game is hard to get into without tutorial. For those who are interested in going tryhard, this is how it goes down: First thing you should know, apart from wasd controls you will most likely want to use E key a lot, which accelerates forward, SPACE as well for keeping yourself up. To go to upper layers quickly, e(while looking up)+space should send you spiraling up. At start 6 young viruses drop at top layer, you can go up if you want to start tracking them early. To kill them while they're young you should simply fire several antibodies into them, tho it is nearly impossible to kill all of them before some go mature (60 seconds). Adult viruses will eventually infect a cell so you should kill them asap. They can be killed only by shooting them first, and then attaching to them (by colliding with them, which will take some movement skill unless you're tactical), and then dragging them (while attached) through the green go which will stick to the virus (but it will stick only if virus was hit by your antibodies). After that you drag the intruder to the big cell at bottom area to get eaten by it, but it will work only if eater cell tastes the green goo stuff that is attached so you have to make sure the goo touches the membrane. Yea it's crazy but simple once you get the hang of it, video would be a better explanation really.
🎤 kr4ft3r
01. May 2017 · 02:49 UTC
To keep it simple - if you're confused don't try anything, just let the game run for 5+ minutes and then float around in Virustown, the inhabitants of which have bad manners and will spit sticky decoys straight into your face if you even look at them. Yea I like that, I think I'll put that in the description.
OccultOne
01. May 2017 · 04:57 UTC
Great graphics, it felt very simulation-ish. However, I was having trouble understanding what I was supposed to be shooting, what I was supposed to be doing, and what the core engagement was. The shooting sound also hurt my ears. Definitely needs a tutorial.
Everbrave
01. May 2017 · 06:32 UTC
Verified that there is only an EXE in the download, so no Mac support. Not sure about Linux, but I don't think so. Was hoping to test and rate. Maybe I'll jump on my PC next weekend and test it as I'm out of town with only my Macbook right now. Looks hectic
sagarpatel25700
01. May 2017 · 06:51 UTC
Every thing is good but smooth movement of player really annoys (direction to hit play )
TacomaBert
01. May 2017 · 07:09 UTC
I can confirm, no Mac download, only PC. Try to compile with a ".app" extension. Graphics look great. I also like how it relates to the Theme. I'll try to play it on a PC.
Mr. Chelnoque
01. May 2017 · 07:24 UTC
Style is great, and, on words, gameplay is great too, I really like the idea of the ecosystem, where you have to perform complicated procedures to achieve your goal. But for know it's very, very rough.

In my opinion, more than tutorial ('cause I actually enjoy figuring things out by myself), game needs generally more clear indication of whats going on and tighter controls. I mean, E for speed up? Common, why not "shift" button, like, you know, in every other game? Why not just 3-dimensional WASD movement instead of weird "space" moving up without being able to see what is actually above? It took some time to figure out, that little things with green trails were my own projectiles, not baby viruses. And still, even when I knew it was my projectile, it's absolutely impossible to tell if you're actually hitting something or not. Sometimes viruses run away from you to the "bloodstream" and you can't do anything, because game won't let you to go there.

Apologies, if I was too harsh, it's actually out of frustration, that I was really into the idea and style, but basically can't play because of all of the listed reasons. It seems that you're going to expand the game, good luck with that!
Jazzpah
01. May 2017 · 08:25 UTC
I had to close the game early, because it gives me phobia of some kind, so my feedback might not be very good. But I think you nailed the atmosphere, the graphics and sound really worked well here. I could even run it smoothly with my potato computer.
Dev Dennis
01. May 2017 · 10:14 UTC
Hey,

Nice atmosphere, sounds and look to it. I enjoyed floating around and being small :) Like the other guys mentions it would be great with some kind of objective, I think there was one, but I didn't really get it.
Krigorn
01. May 2017 · 11:04 UTC
Nice graphics and athmosphere ! As the others mentionned, it need a tutorial or introductions instead of being dropped in the game. Anyway, good job ;)
mgadrat
01. May 2017 · 15:41 UTC
The ambience is great. Even if I didn't understand how it works, it was very relaxing to floant and jump around the immune system. :thumbsup:
fatPenguin
01. May 2017 · 19:35 UTC
I liked the mood and the controls were smooth and suited the game. With the hints at the bottom and top of the screen, it was possible to understand how everything works but it still was far from easy :smile:

At one point in the game, I wasn't able to attach to other cells anymore. I'm not sure if this was my fault or a bug but from this point on I just waited until everything was infested^^
Overall nice job and unlike most other LD games you could even learn something by playing this game. =)
dayvidmoreira7
01. May 2017 · 19:56 UTC
Muito bacana a proposta e o level design, porém eu recomendo poluir menos a tela, pro jogador nao se perder, mas muito legal e divertido!
Bendev_Games
01. May 2017 · 20:22 UTC
Smooth controls and a innovative game. Had some hard time at the beginning figuring out what exactly i was supposed to do, maybe a smoother introduction to the mechanics would make the experience a lot easier. I loved the idea and congratulations for making such a innovative game!
SneakyDeagle
02. May 2017 · 04:06 UTC
Art, sound, gameplay, everything really awesome. I didn't fully understand it yet but maybe I'll try it in the future again and go tryhard with your written tutorial. So that is the only downside, having to figure things out just from the game is really hard, but you heard that several times now in the comments :D

Still really nice entry! :)
andyman404
02. May 2017 · 06:21 UTC
I loved the graphics in the game, which definitely captures the "Small World" theme of the jam. How did you make those big dark cells that pulsate? Is that a shader or is it mesh manipulation? Very cool.
Mars
02. May 2017 · 17:59 UTC
The idea of this game is pretty interesting, it's a shame you weren't able to complete it.

The graphics are pretty good, and the sound is decent. It was a little bit hard to understand at first, but then I read the description and I got it. I think maybe the gameplay could get a bit tedious over time, but that could also change if you added the things you'd planned and maybe something like levels or measurable progress.

It does definitely feel a little bit unfinished at this point, but despite that I think it's a neat little concept.
ryte2byte
10. May 2017 · 18:56 UTC
An interesting concept, but I can't say I'm a fan of the execution. Not sure how WASD was supposed to move me. I just ended up using mouse and E and playing it like a space shooter. Except with gravity for some reason...

The stuff getting stuck to your ship (er, ya know, cell. Whatever) is just the worst! They are far too large, distracting, and constantly clipping through the camera plane. While the visuals are good, there is something a little... motion-sicky about them (I almost never have motion sickness issues). The audio, however, is all around superb!

Again, a cool concept, but perhaps a bit too alien for it's own good (Especially after reading your info/directions above after playing for a good while). Heck, maybe just ditching the 3rd person viewpoint would be the answer. You've definitely got something, but you need to figure out a way to tame this beast.
SiegfriedCroes
11. May 2017 · 19:32 UTC
A bit too complicated for me but it was still an awesome audiovisual experience :D