Keep It Alive by DoctorTM



The weather is cold.
You need to keep your heat source alive or you'll freeze.
Collect resources, cut down plants, use your tools.
But most import thing... Keep It Alive!
Tips:
- Press on the plants to break them.
- Press E and R or on the tools to use them (you need to have the right amount of resources)
Small Update:
Changed controls: now you can use E and R to use the tools.
| Youtube | https://doctortm.itch.io/keep-it-alive |
| Youtube | https://github.com/tom1milman/Keep-It-Alive |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/46/keep-it-alive-52 |
Ratings
| Overall | 1897th | 3.194⭐ | 33🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 2141th | 2.806⭐ | 33🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 1791th | 2.984⭐ | 33🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 728th | 3.887⭐ | 33🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 1987th | 2.935⭐ | 33🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 1153th | 3.117⭐ | 32🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 1269th | 3.371⭐ | 33🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 32🗳️ | 38🗨️ |
If you add explanations etc feel free to ping me and I'll try again.
Unfortunately I didn't have time to create a fine tutorial, I hoped the texts in the main menu will help, but I guess not.
Tip for next time (both for you and me): Let someone play test the game sometime on the last day of a jam. I thought the a player will be able to figure out the controls, but that's probably because I was the developer and it wasn't as intuitive as I thought.
Edit:
I changed the controls, now E and R can be used to use the tools (don't know why I didn't do that in the first place)
I really like the idea here and where you're going with it. Reminds me of Don't Starve. However, I think as you've identified already, clarity and balance are pretty rough and so it's hard to really get into it. I agree playtesting is really important! I had my wife my play my game and when she got pissed and stopped playing a couple levels in I knew I had to improve the tutorial and make it easier, haha.
I think this could be really cool if you further refine it!
All in all a good jam game, Nice job!
Fun: I had some real fun with this game, thanks for making it! To begin with, I had a lot of trouble figuring out how to do anything. The movement controls took some getting used to, and I couldn't see how to make or use the tools. I also had trouble working out how to cut down trees and bushes. I think a major factor in this is the lack of feedback when I am cutting; a sound each time I chop would do the trick. After a few attempts, I got the hang of things and realised that a good strategy is to mow the lawn around the outskirt of the light circle, only returning to the fire when I need to grow the circle significantly. In this manner I got the score above 1000 and reached the edges of the map. (If there is some way to win the game then I have missed it.) I didn't find myself making torches, since it is just possible to see objects in the dark.
Innovation: Sure
Theme: Yes
Graphics: Not bad - they do the job.
Audio: The ambient sounds are good. As mentioned above, I really think there should be audio feedback when I am successfully chopping (and maybe other actions too).
Mood: Good, thanks to the ambient sounds and the time pressure.
@reheated a sound when you chop a tree, that's so simple yet I didn't think of that :sweat_smile: That would have helped to clear up what's going on! Thanks for the idea, will try to remember for next time :)
There was no way of winning. It's one of those games that go on as long as you survive. Edge of the map - yeah I forgot to extend the map and didn't have time really to work on it :( Seeing in the dark is not something you should have been able to do haha. Thanks for the review! :)
@sztrovacsek thakn you very much! :) Yeah tutorial was lacking. I will remember for next time :)
I think with some improvement on controls/tutorial, this could be made even better. Great work.