LudumData

_So_Below by kimkillaqueen

[raw]
made by kimkillaqueen for Ludum Dare 46 (JAM)

(Before voting, I made all of the 3D models, however I DID NOT make the textures myself, but found free and available online)

My first Ludum Dare game jam entry, for Ludum Dare 46!

ludum<em>dare</em>46<em>entry</em>so_below.png

I wanted to make something kind of moody and minimalist, moderately inspired by Silent Hill 3 and Neir: Automata first level in rusty red visuals (and the little robot! :robot: ).

I first made the models in Blender, and had an idea in mind for the camera angle from the start. That made setting up the lighting in Unity after import pretty straight forward since I didn't expect the camera angle to change during development.

ldjam<em>stage</em>render.png (the stage rendered in Blender, not far off from the finished game, the lighting had to get fudged a bit though)

The game is played via tank controls for simplicity in programming, and to give the feeling of disconnect (the player is a robot after all) experienced in old school horror games.

There is no win/lose state, just a robot's futile struggle to keep their decrepit factory alive, if only for mere seconds... (also the best written code is no code at all! A win-win :nerd: :sunglasses: )

ENGINE: Unity ART: Blender

Youtube https://kimkillaqueen.itch.io/so-below
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/46/so-below

Ratings

Overall 1471th 3.383⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Fun 2237th 2.717⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 1122th 3.333⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Theme 231th 4.167⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 139th 4.45⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Humor 1784th 2.288⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Mood 34th 4.4⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Given 23🗳️ 36🗨️

Feedback

AndideBob
20. Apr 2020 · 09:04 UTC
A really interesting entry! It is more an interactive artwork that it is a game really, but it hits the spot. Maybe you could mention that spacebar is the interact button somewhere. It took me a while to figure that out. Well done!
Dante2001
20. Apr 2020 · 22:54 UTC
needs a story while you feed the furnace, or something else
Watcher
20. Apr 2020 · 22:58 UTC
Got some Nier vibes at first, very interesting indeed. Not much to say about gameplay, it is simple and suits the theme, so nicely done. As for the moody aspect that you aimed for, I think you did it. Very strong atmosphere, just needs a bit of story and gameplay diversity to turn into something truly amazing. Great job :)
Flyken
20. Apr 2020 · 23:34 UTC
Quite a good little game, I love the graphics and feel of the game, sound is definitely a plus, I could honestly see this going to something bigger in the future :)
RodPraet
21. Apr 2020 · 05:49 UTC
It's really beautiful. I liked the main idea to keep the furnace and the whole environment, but it was too simple. It could be a really nice game with few other features.
dconn537
21. Apr 2020 · 14:10 UTC
Very surreal as a whole, was an enjoyable experience
Qazikol
21. Apr 2020 · 23:16 UTC
I really like the fixed perspective! It's a very striking composition, and the lighting and animation help keep it lively. The simple audio really brings it together; you really got the most out of what you did!
microwerx
22. Apr 2020 · 02:20 UTC
This reminded me of Playstation games like FFVII with the perspective. The lighting and image effects were very well done. The mood was amazing. I would probably add some sound effects so you know whether you were successful in picking up coal.
ColeSlaughter
22. Apr 2020 · 05:45 UTC
I don't know what it is about this game, but I really dug the atmosphere of it.

It was almost meditative going back and forth between the coal and the furnace, I prolly played it for way longer than I was expecting to. I love the little details, like how your robot's eyes glow in the dark so you can still kind of see where you're going, even if the light is almost completely gone. :)

I think with a little more polish applied to the overall sound design, this could make for a really neat experience!
eva
22. Apr 2020 · 05:50 UTC
Cool scary vibes. It could use a sound when you pick up the coal, hard to tell when it gets dark.
misterG420
22. Apr 2020 · 06:43 UTC
Hey there! You achieved something "moody and dark" as you yourself mentioned. The art work somehow made me remember Stanley's Parable (the "no clutter textures" if that makes sense:D) Looking forward to the next game!
kiririn51
22. Apr 2020 · 20:12 UTC
i like games that are mostly a zen experience and this is no exception. and i can see that nier inspiration too, pretty cool!
dceddy7
22. Apr 2020 · 20:40 UTC
really liked the aesthetic, especially the glowing eyes when the light starts to dim!
LuCecyl
23. Apr 2020 · 03:27 UTC
Nice game! The art is sooo beautiful! I loved your interpretation of the theme and the minimalist aesthetics and sound! A piece of art game.
Elendow
24. Apr 2020 · 12:25 UTC
Good experience, the atmosphere is very cool, the audio and the lights are just on point. Obviously, the fun part is... ok, not fun, but not important in this kind of experiments. Like someone said earlier, this is more an interactive art than a game and thats not bad at all.

Good job.
Sciman101
24. Apr 2020 · 18:06 UTC
Like others have said, I really enjoy the aesthetic of this - from the grumbling of the furnace, the sparks floating up, and the generally oppressive atmosphere. Unfortunately, I didn't really feel any motivation to keep playing, since as you said there's no win/loss state. There's nothing wrong with that - more narrative driven, meditative experiences are interesting - but I feel like there's room for a little more as far as gameplay goes. Maybe the pile of coal is limited, or something.
Either way, once again good job on the atmosphere, I'd love to see this expanded into something bigger, game or not!
Leetchi_Heda
25. Apr 2020 · 00:43 UTC
Good job, very nice render.
edwardclombe
27. Apr 2020 · 19:09 UTC
Love the aesthetic! The robot was a little bit slow though. I wish you would expand a bit more the lore of this furnace and robot, seems like a good terrain for a short game. Congrats!
Israel
29. Apr 2020 · 12:32 UTC
Love the atmosphere and the graphics. fun lil' game, not much motivation to keep going but really loved the overall mood you got with this! good work brother :)
PatteDeCanaard
30. Apr 2020 · 16:53 UTC
The isn't many gameplay but the mood is amazing. I felt like a robot in Nier Automata. Good job!
Admiral Flapjack
12. May 2020 · 13:04 UTC
The design of the level and atmosphere is spot-on. The simple gameplay makes this almost (as others have said) interactive art. The attention to detail in designing the level makes me wish that there were more to the game than the one little gantry, just more to see while furiously shoveling coal. Overall well done.